Lesotho
Expected duration
The expected duration of the assignment is 30 days. The days will be spread from 05 September to 31 December 2022 Duties and Responsibilities
Background
Under the coordination of the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s office in Lesotho and working with the UN Country Team (resident and nonresident UN agencies), United Nations Lesotho is seeking for the services of an international consultant to undertake the drafting of the Common Country Analysis that will inform the design of the new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. The UN Common Country Analysis (CCA) is the UN system’s independent, impartial and collective assessment (i.e., a description of a country situation) and analysis (i.e., a description of causes and their implications) of a country’s situation with government’s involvement in the process. Together with the UNDAF evaluation, it is the foundation for the design of the UN’s programmatic response through the Cooperation Framework. The CCA responds to the urgency of the 2030 Agenda by delivering integrated, forwardlooking and evidence-based joint analysis of the context for sustainable development in a country.
The UN Common Country Analysis (CCA) provides an analysis of a country’s situation to support the development of the Cooperation Framework. It is designed to identify progress, gaps, opportunities and bottlenecks to a country’s development through a multidisciplinary approach that encompasses socio-economic development, humanitarian, environmental, peacebuilding and human rights-based factors, whilst also considering geopolitical dynamics and the legal, institutional, policy and financial landscape. Ultimately, the CCA should identify and support Lesotho’s trajectory to achieving the 2030 Agenda. The development of the CCA in Lesotho will engage the entire UN system at country, regional and global levels for a well-informed people-centred Cooperation Framework with a development agenda that leverages on domestic resources (financial, human capital, knowledge, skills).
The approach to be used in CCA process includes;
– in-depth analysis of root causes and factors affecting Lesotho’s development, from the perspective of political, economic, social exclusion, environment, governance and institutions.
– disaggregated data analysis, trend analysis, forecasting and modelling
– emphasis on cross-pillar and multi-dimensional risk, understanding of both slow and rapid onset crisis, violence and conflict and, therefore, offers a framework for risk reduction and prevention
– a more extroverted CCA process – providing stronger analysis of strategic stakeholders relevant to the 2030 Agenda in Lesotho and laying the foundation for expanded partnerships.
– Include cross-border and regional dimensions, as well as regional and international commitments (the AU Agenda 2063, SADC, SDGs, etc.) that impact Lesotho’s development trajectory
– include a review of the financial flows (domestic, international, private and public) that can accelerate SDG implementation in Lesotho
– Provide evidence on what has worked well and can be replicated with proven development theories of change
Working under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator the Consultant will work closely with an inter-agency CCA Task Team and direct supervision and support from the RCO Team leader to implement and deliver the key deliverables as per the agreed milestones. The deliverables will be signed off by the RCO Team Leader before payment is made.
Responsibilities
Review of diagnostic papers: Diagnostic papers to be developed by CCA Task Team on key thematic areas. The papers, together with the meta-analysis will be building blocks for the CCA.
Output: Diagnostic Papers on key thematic areas developed
Meta-analysis of existing reports to inform CCA: Meta-analysis to identify interconnectedness of issues, trends, gaps, data, evidence of impact and scalability as well as sustainability etc. This will be a comprehensive desk review of existing data, statistics, analyses, reviews, research, studies and resources from within and outside the UN system including development of theories of change, economic models of development and concepts for transformation.
Output: Zero draft of CCA report
Stakeholder consultations: To further support the analysis based on secondary data, primary data collection through stakeholder consultations will also be conducted. At the national level, first phase of consultation with a wide range of stakeholders (relevant government bodies, civil society, women organizations, people living with disability and HIV AIDS, returnees, migrants, children, youth etc) will be conducted to identify key development challenges and validate developed problem trees. Feedback will be sought from participating UN agencies and other key stakeholders for improvement. A second phase of consultation with specific groups will delve deeper into issues that were not prominently featured in the first phase of the consultation. Most importantly in this phase, discussion with the Expert Groups from research institutes and academia will be used as a means to validate the output of the analysis thus far.
Output: Revised zero draft of the CCA triangulated and validated
Stakeholder consultation – the draft CCA will be shared with key stakeholders to review and finalize. Focus groups will be held in different districts to bring on board community experiences and inform a CCA that will leave no one behind. They will also be a platform to:
1. To hear the lived experiences of communities and other stakeholders
2. To test the assumptions being made in the CCA
3. To triangulate the data, evidence against real life experiences and practice
4. To learn from the community and different stakeholders how they see the interconnectedness of the issues and validate the theories of change
5. To discuss the prioritization of the key development challenges
6. Explain next steps following the conclusion of the CCA
Output: revised CCA draft that includes stakeholder understanding of development and its impact on their lives
Validation Workshop with key stakeholders particularly policy makers and development partners (government, development partners, Representatives of civil society, academia, the Church and private sector). A two-day retreat will be held to discuss the emerging conclusions of the CCA analysis. The focus of the retreat will be held to discuss,
– Revised CCA draft
– Partnership analysis
– Initiate discussions on the development of the Cooperation Framework
– Resource strategies that will support the development agenda of the country Completion of report: The final report will be presented to and approved by UNCT, and then will be submitted to the regional Peer Support Group (PSG) for feedback. Their
input will be reviewed, considered for incorporation into the report.
Output: Final CCA report
Development of a Lessons Learnt Report: After the completion of the CCA, a lessons’ learnt report will be produced to document some of the challenges faced during the process, the lessons learnt and recommendations to feed into the 2021 CCA process and for sharing with colleagues in other countries. The lessons learnt report will identify, document, analyze, store and share recommendations.
Output: Lessons learnt report Qualifications/special skills
Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in economics, development economics, sustainable development, public policy, business or public administration, social sciences, education or related area is required. A bachelor’s degree in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
Experience: – Minimum ten years of relevant professional experience including previous experience as team leader designing and conducting evaluations is required.
– A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in sustainable development policy, economic analysis or project/programme management in the context of development cooperation or related area is required.
– Experience in undertaking statistical and econometric analysis using relevant tools and models for lower middle-income countries is desirable.
– Extensive knowledge of, and experience in applying, qualitative and quantitative data collection methods and use of secondary data to complement primary data is required.
– Demonstrated managerial competence and experience in organizing, leading and coordinating multicultural and multi-disciplinary evaluation teams is desirable.
– Prior experience in working with multilateral agencies is desirable.
– Process management skills, such as facilitation skills and ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders is desirable.
– Excellent writing, spoken and reporting skills in English, as well as communication and interviewing skills is required.
Language: English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For this position, fluency in oral and written English is required.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.
Closing date: 19 August 2022