Lead Author UNDG Post-2015 Consultations Reports, New York

 Closing Date: Wednesday, 02 January 2013
United Nations Development Programme
304 East 45th Street
New York

LEAD AUTHOR - UNDG POST-2015 CONSULTATIONS REPORTS

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Application Deadline :

02-Jan-13

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Post Level :

International Consultant

Languages Required :

English 

Starting Date :

(date when the selected candidate is expected to start)

10-Jan-2013

Duration of Initial Contract :

7 Months



Background

In the years up to 2015, the world needs to remain focused on securing as much progress as possible on the current set of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). At the same time, discussions have already begun on the goals and targets that could build on and succeed the MDGs.



Discussions on any post-2015 development framework should start with an analysis of the present MDG agenda and its underlying approach, as well as assessment of what has worked and not worked. Any development framework for post-2015 must also take into account how the context for development has changed since the MDGs were agreed. It will need to consider climate change and environmental vulnerability, recent crises and volatility arising from economic globalisation, the changing nature of global governance, patterns of inequalities between and within countries, as well as trends relating to technology, demography, urbanisation, and migration, among others. Rio+20 can help establish a roadmap for the Post-2015 agenda (P15A) and also setting out the principles to guide the development of on which a post-2015 framework should be grounded. There is consensus on the need of having only one set of international development goals.



In the outcome document of the 2010 MDG Summit, Member States requested the Secretary General (SG) to initiate annual reporting on the activities, consultations and analytical work that needs to take place to inform the inter-governmental debate on the post-2015 UN development agenda. In this vein, the SG has requested UNDP and DESA to lead system-wide preparations for the post- 2015 UN development agenda, with support from all UN agencies and in consultation with relevant stakeholders.

It will be critically important that the vision for the world we want to live in – and any ensuing goals and targets – be informed by the perspectives of people from all parts of the world, including poor people. In setting out his vision for developing a post-2015 agenda, the SG announced that the UN will seek to be an advocate for and facilitator of a bottom-up and inclusive approach defined by national and local priorities. Within the UN system, the UN Development Group (UNDG) is well placed to make strong contributions to this effort, drawing on the resources of UN country teams.

As Chair of the UNDG, UN Development Programme (UNDP) is currently mobilising support around an initiative that aims to:

    Build a strategic coalition of partners to shape the post-2015 development agenda through broad engagement of poor and vulnerable people, governments, NGOs and grassroots organisations, the private sector, trade unions and workers, and the academic community;
    Ensure that the post-2015 development agenda accounts for the changing development context and critical challenges of our time, builds on the momentum of and lessons learned from the MDGs, and is guided by core UN norms, values and commitments.
    To facilitate the process, the following activities are in preparation:
    Inclusive national consultation processes to stimulate the debate on the post-2015 development agenda. These outreach exercises would complement formal consultations led by the UN’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) on behalf of the General Assembly (GA), and others that the UN is supporting such as those in preparation of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20);
    Thematic consultations on 11 topics to discuss key issues pertaining to the post-2015 development agenda with academia, media, private sector, employers and trade unions, civil society, and decision makers.
    Support an open interaction and information exchange between stakeholders and harness the voices of citizens around the world and connect them to the formal UN post-2015 by using social media tools and web based technologies.

The evidence and perspectives generated through these activities listed above will be synthesised so as to feed into the work of the UN Secretary General’s High Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, the Open Working Group on the Sustainable Development Goals that was agreed in the Rio + 20 outcome document, and the full intergovernmental process on options for a post-2015 development framework.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Lead Author will be responsible for writing two reports that capture the outcome of the UNDG Post-2015 consultations, fully synthesizing and structuring the outputs of the various consultations. The first report will be published in early March 2013; the second in September 2013 in time for the opening session of the 68th UN General Assembly. The Lead Author will liaise with those responsible for overseeing the different consultations, and will report to the leader of UNDP’s team on post-2015.

The key results have an impact on the image, reputation and public image of the UN’s work and leadership on the Post-2015 Development Agenda. Successful completion of the functions will enable an effective use of the knowledge generated by UN Country Teams and UNDG agencies.

Competencies

Corporate:

    Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modeling the UN/UNDG’s values and ethical standards;
    Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDG;
    Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Development understanding:

    Keen understanding of issues related to sustainable human development
    A technical and political understanding of the MDGs and the UN led process on post-2015

Communications and Outreach:

    Outstanding writing and editing skills in English, preferably with experience of writing for print media
    Demonstrated ability to produce high quality outputs and in a timely manner
    Ability to focus on impact and results for the client, promoting and demonstrating an ethic of client service;
    Excellent organizational skills and ability to work independently;
    Sound judgment, strategic thinking and the ability to manage competing priorities;
    Ability to manage a great volume of data and synthesize it in an easily understandable written way

Partnership building and team work:

    Excellent negotiating skills;
    Demonstrated flexibility to excel in a multi-cultural environment;
    Provides constructive coaching and feedback.

Advocacy:

    Ability to write clearly and convincingly, adapting style and content to a diverse audience;
    Strong presentation skills in meetings with the ability to adapt for different audiences;
    Strong analytical, research and writing skills with demonstrated ability to think strategically.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

    Master's degree in development, media relations, journalism, publishing or related field.

Experience:

    Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in the field of development at the national or international levels in research, communications or advocacy;
    Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, good knowledge and experience in handling of web-based management systems;
    Excellent English writing and editing skills and a demonstrated ability to clearly communicate development ideas and experiences;
    Experience in conceptualizing and managing the production of printed materials, including detailed reports;
    Experience in designing and implementing communication and/or media outreach plans in support of overall corporate goals is desirable;
    Demonstrated experience in developing content that clearly communicates development ideas and experiences for media, web, and print production

Language Requirements:

    Excellent proficiency in English (written and oral).

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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.