Application Deadline : 23-Aug-21 (Midnight New York, USA)
Time left : 12d 1h 52m
Additional Category : Management
Type of Contract : Individual Contract
Post Level : International Consultant
Languages Required :
Arabic English
Starting Date :
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 31-Aug-2021
Duration of Initial Contract : 217 WD (10 months)
Expected Duration of Assignment : 10 months
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.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
Background
Since the fall of the former regime in 2011, Libya has been embroiled in a series of crises that have created political, social, and economic challenges, especially for some of the most vulnerable populations. Coupled with falling oil prices, a UN backed oil embargo amid a growing COVID-19 pandemic the economic backdrop of Libya continues to look bleak for many who are losing or have lost their livelihoods.
This complex scenario is further compounded by the presence of armed militia gangs in key locations, which continue to play a destabilizing role in the political and social fabric of Libya, especially in the border areas to the south. Often times the interests of these gangs typically coalesce with those of violent extremist groups, especially in the economic arena. For many young men (and sometimes women) these economic interests often present themselves as a way out of a challenging socio-economic predicament, which can often lead to their involvement in cross border illicit crime (human trafficking, drug smuggling and arms proliferation). However, it has also led to the recruitment of youths by violent extremist (VE) groups. The peculiar vulnerabilities of marginalized youths, especially in border communities, constitutes a gateway for organized criminal and violent extremist groups to enter into and operate both in and from Libya.
Developing comprehensive strategies to dissuade these youths from being lured into these two distinct but mutually affirming entities requires a thorough understanding of the pull factors, gender dimensions, economic impact, and cross-border dynamics of violent extremism. In addition to these factors, violent extremism in Libya has often times been a conflict driver that has either a regional origin or a transboundary/ regional impact on neighboring countries. Anecdotal evidence shows that border areas are often times left behind in fragile states with limited or no State presence, which is true for Libya. The communities that live along the southern border areas of Libya have had lower access to basic services and justice, which has often led to higher rates of poverty and unemployment. There is also a higher prevalence of gender inequalities and a pervasive sense of abandonment felt by border populations, which is further exacerbated by weak local governments incapable of providing decent services to their constituents.
In conflict and post conflict settings like Libya, border areas are also impacted by forced movements of people (i.e., IDPs, refugees, armed groups, and criminal gangs) which only adds more pressure on the local population that is already struggling with development issues. To counter these threats a cross border pilot project focusing on livelihoods, jobs creation, and counter violent extremism messaging. These local level initiatives need to be complemented by a broader national level
Broader PVE considerations
An effective and informed National PVE Framework – adhering to regional, national, and local considerations – involving the coordinated dissemination of counter violent extremist messaging at the municipal/ local governance level, in schools as well as at the communal and religious levels. This will help stem the tide of youth involvement in illicit trade and their eventual recruitment by VE groups. Therefore, at the local level, a coordinated PVE framework will be implemented along three (but not limited to) distinct yet interrelated pillars / activities:
Livelihood and Engagement: (only in the 5 border municipalities, under the cross-border pilot project):
Livelihood: Carry out an analysis in each context (vulnerabilities and opportunities), develop a strategy (for UNDP), and recommend programs (for UNDP)
Adult media literacy: Develop curriculum, carry out training. Work with local CSOs and with religious and traditional authorities
Education:
Children and youth media literacy: Develop curriculum, carry out training with school teachers
Dialogue, debate, and critical thinking skills: Develop curriculum, carry out training with school teachers
Potential extra-curricular activities?
Local Governance and Research:
Develop a regular consultation and coordination mechanism with local stakeholders, and coordinate all pillars of intervention
Provide UNDP and local stakeholder with the timely information they need to inform their plans and actions
Help Municipal authorities assess their weaknesses
Help Municipal authorities devise a strategy to mitigate local PVE drivers and integrate it in their development plans;
Community outreach: Counter VE messaging
Develop a context-specific counter-messaging strategy
Train local religious and traditional authorities and help them deliver counter-VE messages
Project Outputs
The expected outputs include the following:
Local Advisory Committees: Form a Local Advisory Committee (LAC) in each locality. The LAC will include key local state and non-state authorities involved in the areas of intervention (Pillars I to IV), a local Team Leader, and a Deputy Team Leader, both working part-time on the project. The Team Leader will be the local coordinator of the LAC.
Each LAC will participate in the elaboration of the local PVE strategy and in the design of the specific action plans.
Research facility: Develop an instrument capable of carrying out on-demand, action-oriented research on selected topics in each locality of intervention (Zuwara, Misrata, Bani Walid, Sebha, Murzuq, Ghat, and Kufra).
The objective of this facility is to equip the UNDP PVE team and local stakeholders with a flexible, rapid, and effective research capacity that is able to generate the information and analysis that are needed for the success of all PVE programs (pillars I to IV).
The beneficiaries of the research include UNDP, and local state and non-state governance actors (e.g. NGOs, community media). The research facility will consist of a local Team Leader and Deputy Team Leader in each locality, which will be working part-time on the project. In addition, it will have to include another six local researchers that will work upon need, under the direction of the local Team Leader.
Weaknesses Assessment: Assess the local governance weaknesses together with the LAC and drawing from the local governance and PVE research carried out by UNDP. The assessment will include the following dimensions:
Quality of service provision
Local Security
Justice
Corruption
Community Discrimination and Marginalization
Gender equality, women, and youth
Trust in Institutions
Social Cohesion, participation, and engagement
Local PVE Framework: Together with local authorities, draft a local PVE strategy that seeks to address some of the weaknesses identified through the weakness assessment. The local PVE strategy will include all 4 action pillars.
Coordination: Coordinate the actions of all 4 action pillars and consultants to ensure the coherence, cohesion, and alignment of all actions.
Impact Evaluation: Assess the extent to which each project output and goal was achieved
Duties and Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, and under the supervision of the UNDP Libya Development Programme Specialist, the senior consultant expert shall be responsible for the following duties:
These explain the specific activities related to each deliverable (output) listed under section 2
Conduct stakeholder mapping of local state and non-state authorities to form a Local Advisory Committee (LAC) in each of the targeted municipalities (i.e., Al Kufra, Murzuq, Ghat, Sebha, Bani Walid, Misrata, and Zuwara).
Design and develop local PVE framework and action plan according to the specific local context.
Design and develop ad hoc research facility (including local team leader and deputy team leader) to deploy in each municipality
Develop a weakness assessment matrix to assess local governance vulnerabilities. The matrix will measure the quality of service provision, local security, justice, corruption, community discrimination and marginalization, gender equality, women, and youth; trust in institutions; and social cohesion, participation, and engagement
In coordination with local authorities, use the local PVE framework (for each municipality) to address key weaknesses highlighted in the weakness assessment matrix. Develop four action pillars
Develop a coordination mechanism to coordinate the actions of all four action pillars
Develop impact evaluation tool to assess project output and goals
Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
Integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity.
Functional Competencies:
Ability to think conceptually and flexibly, capacity to adapt, innovate, and propose multiple options.
A team player with good interpersonal skills
Time management skills.
Enjoy sensitivity for research and academic integrity.
Ability to work well under pressure and stressful environment
Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents
Building support and political acumen
Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication
Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning
Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking
Required Skills and Experience
Academic Qualification:
At least an advanced university degree (Doctorate) in Global Security, Political Science, Research and Statistics, Mathematics, Development Studies, or another closely related field
Experience:
Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience in the design, planning and implementation of research projects on social, political, and security dynamics in Libya
At least 8 years of experience training research teams, CSOs, and NGOs on democracy, civil society, and local governance dynamics in Libya is required
At least 5 years of experience in managing diverse stakeholders (i.e., governments, UN agencies, funds, programmes, and donors) engaged in socio-economic research in Libya is required.
A minimum of 3 years experience working with UNDP is highly desirable
At least 2 years experience conducting research on human rights and human development-related issues in Libya and/ or the MENA region
Languages:
Strong written and spoken English. Working knowledge of Arabic is an asset.
Documents to be included when submitting the proposal:
Applications without i) financial offer, ii) P11 form, and iii) Documents mentioned under Technical Proposal will NOT be considered for evaluation.
The financial proposal should be in the provided format (i.e Annex 3- OFFEROR’S LETTER TO UNDP);
Firms are not eligible for this consultancy assignment (open only for national individual consultants).
An incomplete application will not be considered, it will be disqualified automatically.
Please complete the Statement of Health form and submit it along with the proposal
Please complete the Vendor form and submit it with the proposal
Note: While submitting your proposal via email please put the reference no. IC-UNDP-21-033, without reference no. proposal shall not be accepted.
ANNEX
ANNEX 1- TERMS OF REFERENCES (TOR)
ANNEX 2 – INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
ANNEX 3- FINANCIAL PROPOSAL TEMPLATE
Annex 4- Health Statement form
Annex 5- Vendor registration form
Detail Terms of Reference, P11 Form, Financial Proposal Form, and other relevant documentation can be found in the following link:
https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=81853
An application through this website is not acceptable.
Advertisement on this website is for circulation purposes only.
Apply Now
To help us with our recruitment effort, please indicate your email/cover letter where (vacanciesinsyria.com) you saw this job posting.