National Consultancy for 2011 UNDAF Annual Review Opportunity in Uganda

Background
The United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) for Uganda sets out the strategic focus of the UN's collaboration with the Government of Uganda from 2010 to 2014. It articulates the jointly agreed development objectives between the UN and the Government of Uganda for a stronger harmonization and coherence of UN assistance in Uganda in line with the principles of the Paris Declaration and the Accra Action Plan. UNDAF is a high level framework, implemented through the programming instruments of agencies, funds and programmes.
The 2011 annual review of the UNDAF, then, is recommended:

• As a venue for consultation and feedback with national development planning authorities.
• To ensure accountability of UN agencies for results.
• As a means for strategic input to UN planning processes.
• To provide input to the Resident Coordinator's report to headquarters

Objectives and Key Questions:
The annual review will be done to track progress of UNDAF results at the UNDAF outcomes and agency outcome levels. Agencies will track their progress and that of their Joint Programmes, against the specific agency level programming instruments and this will be used to inform the progress against the UNDAF outcomes, agency outcomes and outputs.
The annual review will address the specific questions:

• What progress has been made towards the realization of UNDAF Outcomes, Agency Outcomes and Outputs and in terms of indicators as reflected in the UNDAF M&E Plan during 2011?
• What are the best practices, key achievements and success stories in the realization of the UNDAF in 2011? What are the main factors that contributed to the realization or non-realization of the UNDAF outcomes, Agency outcomes and outputs (issues and challenges)?
• Assess the contribution of the current joint programmes to the achievement of the UNDAF. Identify new opportunities for convergence and synergies across agency programmes, joint programmes and M&E activities.
• How were risks and assumptions addressed during the implementation of programmes? What is the status of the stated UNDAF risks and assumptions? What are the new risks and assumptions, if any?
• What are the recommendations for follow-up in 2012? Are there any necessary revisions to programme approach, cross-cutting strategies, partnerships, resource mobilization and allocations and the UNDAF M&E Plan?

Duties and Responsibilities

• Submit an Inception Report that includes a Work Plan and tools.
• Submit a final set of UNDAF Review tools (with the comments from the JUNT M&E) for collection of data from UN agencies, funds, programmes and joint programmes.
• Collect and analyze: Data from the review matrices submitted by UN agencies. Information on Progress against the UNDAF Outcomes and Agency Outcome indicators. Information on the Activities in the UNDAF M&E Calendar.
• Analyze the synergies, gaps and duplication in the implementation of UN joint programmes.
• Meet with the JUNT M&E group members to solicit input and feedback into the review.
• Discuss findings with the RCO and with their guidance to senior management of other agencies
• Collect best practices/success stories from agencies on how they have increased efficiency and effectiveness in UN development activities (e.g. achieving collective UNDAF results, UNCT engagement in the national development strategy, joint programmes, etc.).
• Submit and present a draft report according to the format outlined below to the JUNT M&E.
• Submit and present a final UNDAF Review Report (MS Word) to the UNCT (upon review and approval by JUNT M&E and PMT).

Key Deliverables

• One or two success stories to as separate Annexes to the final report according to a given format
• A final UNDAF Review Report according to the standard format and a report for the UNCT . The proposed outline of the report is as follows:
• Objectives of the review
• Methodology and process followed
• Major findings (results achieved, constraints, lessons learned and recommendations) – make distinct and comparative analyses of joint programmes and agency programmes vis-à-vis the UNDAF
• Follow-up actions for 2012.
• Observations Report that documents the review process so that the process can be improved each year
• As annexes to the final report: (1) An updated UNDAF M&E Matrix and, (2) Updated and/or revised UNDAF Review Tools (matrices)
• An updated UN Geographic Coverage Listing as another annex to the final report that includes
• List of Districts where the agency or JP had programmes present during calendar year 2011
• List of Districts where the agency or JP had a field presence during calendar 2011
• List of Districts where the agency or JP plans to have programmes present during the period 2011 through 2014
• List of Districts where the agency or JP plans to have a field presence during the period 2011 through 2014.
• An updated and complete UNDAF M&E Calendar and Calendar Tracking tool as separate documents to be submitted to the JUNT M&E Chair

Duration and timing:

• Agencies are conducting their annual reviews between November 2011 and February 2012.
• The Consultant will be engaged for a total of 45 working days over a three month working period (mid-November 2011 to mid-February 2012).
• A work plan will be submitted by 18th of November and presented to JUNT M&E on the 22nd of November 2011 (as basis for first payment of 20%).
• The first draft of the UNDAF annual review report will be submitted by 3rd February 2012 and presented to the JUNT M&E by 10th of February 2012 (as basis for second payment of 40%).
• The final UNDAF Annual Review report (as basis for final payment of 40%) with complete annexes: success stories and updated M&E matrix, and the updated M&E Calendar Tracking tool will all be due on the 15th of February.

Reporting:

• The UNDAF annual review will be led by the JUNT on M&E, which reports to the UN Programme Management Team. The consultant will be directly supervised by the RCO M&E Specialist.

Competencies

• Advanced academic background in social sciences/studies
• Experience in field research; excellent qualitative research skills
• Capacity to undertake independent work and produce high quality reports
• Excellent analytical and communication skills with the ability to conceptualize
• Politically astute and culturally sensitive

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• Master's Degree or equivalent in International Relations, Political Science, Economics or related social sciences

Experience:

• 5 years of relevant experience at the national and international levels in Uganda and international development issues, both in the field and HQ.
• 10 years experience in monitoring and evaluation with a background in the analysis of socio-economic issues and related policy matters.
• 10 years experience with conducting research using different methodologies / tools.
• 10 years experience of participatory processes
• Proficiency in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.
• Solid knowledge of the UN system including the UN agencies and policy frameworks in Uganda

Desirable:

• Familiarity with the UNDAF, UN agencies, mandates, programmes and activities
• Experience working in Uganda.
• Experience working with the UN
• Knowledge of Uganda political and social culture, policies/laws and programmes is an asset.

Language Requirement:

• Fluency and excellent command of written and spoken English is a necessity.

Application Procedure - applicants are required to submit an application and proposals, which include the following:
I. Job Proposal:

• Letter of Interest.
• Explanation as to why you consider yourself suitable for the assignment
• A brief methodology on the approach and implementation of the assignment.

II. Personal CV

• Highlighting past experience in similar projects.
• Work references - contact details (e-mail addresses) of referees.

III. Financial Proposal

• Financial proposal indicating consultancy fee, lump sum fee or unit price together with any other expenses related to the assignment (e.g. travel costs, translation interpretation, holding of workshops/focus group discussion etc). A lump sum fee will be paid against the completion of specific, measurable deliverables as identified in 'Key Deliverables'

Please note that the system will only allow you to upload one document, therefore all the job and financial proposals are to be attached to the CVs and uploaded together at once.
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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