Job Title: Research and Partnerships Coordinator
Organisation: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
City Kampala,
Country Uganda
Category Research
Reports to: Lab Manager
About UNDP:
Global Pulse is an innovation initiative of the United Nations Secretary-General, established to harness today’s new world of digital data and real-time analytics to gain a better understanding of changes in human well-being. Global Pulse aims to contribute a future in which access to better information sooner makes it possible to keep international development on track, protect the world's most vulnerable populations, and strengthen resilience to global shocks. Global Pulse is being implemented as a global network of Pulse Labs, bringing together expertise from UN agencies, governments, academia, and the private sector to research, develop, test and share tools and approaches for harnessing real-time data for more effective and efficient policy action. For more information on Global Pulse go to http://www.unglobalpulse.org.
Pulse Lab Kampala
Global Pulse is establishing an innovation hub for real-time monitoring in Kampala. The Lab will function as an open innovation space where policy experts together with UN development practitioners and other partners experiment with new types of data and emerging technologies to evaluate their potential to enhance both public policy decision-making and community resilience. Following the development of useful approaches, Pulse Lab Kampala will support institutional adoption of these innovations into policy and practice.
Working Relationships
The Research and Partnerships Coordinator will forge partnerships and lay the groundwork necessary for launching a fully operational Pulse Lab. The incumbent will work with the Data Scientist and Global Chief of Research to engage with stakeholders across the UN system, government and private sector to solicit Big Data project ideas, develop scopes of work and project proposals, identify appropriate research partners, and manage the execution and delivery of research project results.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Establish and coordinate UN Global Pulse partnerships in Uganda;
Support initial research project discussions, design and implementation;
Establish and maintain relationships with relevant Government entities, UN specialists and other partners involved in research projects;
Advocate for the objectives of Global Pulse.
Partnership Building
Review the partnerships landscape in Uganda to ensure optimal win-win partnerships for Pulse Lab Kampala;
Identify and mobilize key strategic private sector partnerships to enhance impact of Global Pulse’s strategic priorities;
Maintain effective relationships with counterparts in the UN system to promote and strengthen coordinated support for Pulse Lab Kampala;
Actively keep track of events and conferences of interest to Global Pulse.
Coordination
Develop and implement the Pulse Lab Kampala partnership strategy in line with the overall Global Pulse partnerships strategy;
Review and refine the strategy at regular intervals to harness new emerging opportunities, to anticipate changes to the internal direction and external environment, and to make mid-term adjustments;
Lead the Lab’s engagement with the local innovation sector, while advocate the goals of Global Pulse in relevant forums (e.g. meet-ups, workshops, conferences, etc);
Lead the establishment and achievement of specific private sector resource mobilization/partnership goals and objectives;
Provide support to the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in partnership consultations, including convening meetings and events.
Project Management
Ensure the smooth and efficient day-to-day operation of assigned research projects;
Act as the principal operational liaison for research partners;
Monitor the progress of research activities, develop and maintain research records, and prepare periodic and ad hoc reports as required;
Implement quality control process throughout the research process;
Coordinate Pulse Lab Kampala’s ongoing research projects by ensuring that work scope, research protocol and UN Rules and Regulations are followed;
Responsible for final output and delivery of completed research projects, and related output materials (reports, write-ups, presentations) on deadline;
Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
Key Outputs and Deliverables:
Landscape mapping of tech and priority private sector partners. Required end of first month;
Contextual funding and partnership strategy based on overall Global Pulse strategy. Required end of third month;
Project management of research agenda and final production of research methods papers. Required end of sixth month;
Two technology (data, tools, etc) partnerships secured. Required end of sixth month;
Analysis report on partnerships. Required end of sixth month.
Institutional arrangement
The Research and Partnerships Coordinator will report to the Pulse Lab Manager;
He or she will report on the progress of activities on a weekly basis and this will be done in line with the set deliverables of the assignment;
The Consultant will be supported with all required equipment and supporting resources to conduct the Research and Partnerships Coordinator works at Pulse Lab Kampala.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
The candidate should possess a master’s degree in social sciences, international development, public or business administration, economics, law, or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
At least five years of relevant experience, preferably in business management, setting up/managing diverse and innovative partnerships, producing workable process documentation for technical innovation projects;
Experience with technology innovation and demonstrated ability to translate between technical non-technical stakeholders;
Work experience in a Start-up, and proven ability to start initiatives in rapidly changing environments highly desirable;
Background in project management or consulting highly desirable;
Demonstrated success in multilateral negotiations with government and private sector actors;
Practical professional work experience in marketing, public relations and/or management activities related to partnerships building an asset.
Language Requirements:
Proficient in the English language (Written and Oral).
Language Requirements: Fluent in English (both oral and written); knowledge of a local language is desirable.
Personal Competencies:
Understanding of technology industry;
Strong persuading, influencing, communications and writing skills;
Ability to effectively work with multi-disciplinary teams in ambiguously or undefined problem spaces;
Demonstrated sense of initiative and problem-solving skills;
Knowledge of utility of real-time data;
Understanding of government partners’ workflows and agendas;
Excellent computer skills; software development skills an asset.
Evaluation Criteria:
The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and;
Highest Combined Score (based on the 70% technical offer and 30% price weight distribution) where the minimum passing score of technical proposal is 70%.
Evaluation Criteria:
Technical Proposal (Maximum 70 points):
Relevance of education – 5 points;
Language skills – 5 points;
Relevance of experience (professional / work experience)– 30 points;
Interpretation of the assignment and methodology – 30 points.
Financial Proposal (Maximum 30 points): To be computed as a ratio of the Proposal’s offer to the lowest price among the proposals received by UNDP.
How to Apply:
Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications in one single PDF document:
Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP (see Annex II);
Updated Personal CV highlighting past experience in similar assignments and with 3 professional references with contact details (email and telephone);
Technical Proposal: suggested outline for technical proposal: The offerors interpretation of the assignment; Approach and methodology for undertaking the assignment.
Financial proposal (in template provided in Annex II) stating an all-inclusive fixed lumpsum fee for this assignment in Ugandan Shillings or US Dollars, supported by a breakdown of costs. Such total lump sum price must include professional fee, and costs necessary to conduct the assignment such as communication costs, travel etc. The consultant will be paid against the completion of specific, measurable deliverables as identified in this TOR.
Annexes (to be downloaded from UNDP Uganda Website, procurement notices section: www.undp.or.ug):):
Annex I - Individual Contractor General Terms and Conditions;
Annex II – Offerors Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability for the Individual Contractor Assignment.
NB: UNDP is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified Women are encouraged to apply.
Deadline: 25th September, 2013
