World Health Organization
Result of Service
Drafting of the 2024 – 2028 Cooperation Framework
Work Location
Lilongwe, Malawi
Expected duration
The assignment will be for 55 working days between 1st Oct 2022 and 31st January 2023.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Background and purpose of the assignment
The existing five-year United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) expires in 2023. Therefore, the Government and United Nations Country Team in Malawi comprising Resident and Non-Resident Agencies launched the process to develop the 2024 to 2028 United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), also known as the Cooperation Framework (CF). The CF is a strategic tool between the Government of Malawi and the UNCT to plan and implement the UN development activities at the country level in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Malawi 2063 (MW2063), a successor to Vision 2020. Malawi 2063 inspires to have an inclusively wealthy and self-reliant industrialized upper-middle-income country by 2063. This Vision 2063 will be operationalized by the National Development Plan known as the 10-year National Implementation Plan (MIP-1) which defines specific strategies that will take the country to the lower-middle-income status by 2030. Furthermore, the Government of Malawi has developed the 2021-2023 COVID-19 National Socio-Economic Recovery Plan (SERP) to provide strategic transitional redress to the COVID-19 pandemic and facilitate the operationalization of Malawi 2063 through MIP-1.
The development of the new Cooperation Framework (CF) will be a participatory and inclusive process, co-led by the UN System and the Government of Malawi. The Consultant will proactively involve a wide range of national stakeholders in the CF design process, creating space for active and meaningful engagement, including for the most vulnerable groups. The CF design process will be informed by evaluations and lessons learned during the 2019-2023 CF and the Common Country Analysis (CCA).
The new Cooperation Framework shall be designed in accordance with the UNSDCF Internal Guidance (3 June 2019) and its Consolidated Annexes (24 May 2019), the complementary Cooperation Framework Companion Package (May 2020) and the CF Roadmap, which outlines all the components of the process as well as the timetable for their implementation. The UN programming principles for the Cooperation Framework will be integrated throughout all stages of the CF design process.
2. Duties and Responsibilities
The position is based in the Malawi Country Office in Lilongwe. However, some of the tasks can be performed remotely, depending on a mutual arrangement with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (UN RCO). The International Consultant will operate with a high degree of independence but in close coordination with the UN Country Team (UNCT), government, and other stakeholders to ensure that different views and needs are well captured when drafting the 2024 – 2028 Cooperation Framework. The duties and responsibilities of the International Consultant will include:
a. Undertake a desk review and develop an Inception Report outlining the consultant’s approach to work, action plan and timeline.
b. Support UNCT to undertake the prioritization and consultation process, by organizing the workshop to define strategy priorities, and identify development solutions, outcomes, and outputs for the 2024-2028 Cooperation Framework.
c. Facilitate discussions that will enable the UNCT develop a ‘Theory of Change’ against prioritized development solutions, as well as a Results Framework (based on Theory of Change) and a multiyear Monitoring and Evaluation plan, in consultation with key stakeholders.
d. Lead the overall process of drafting and finalization of the 2024-2028 Cooperation Framework and related Annexes (integrating/consolidating comments and inputs received from stakeholders) as well as submit the final UNSDCF document (in English) that is accepted and approved by the RC and the Government.
e. Participate in regular and/or ad-hoc virtual teleconferences, meetings, and discussions with the UN Resident Coordinator, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (UN RCO), United Nations Country Team (UNCT), Programme Management Team (PMT), Pillar and Outcome Groups, Gender, and Human Rights Technical Working Group (GHRTWG), Monitoring, and Evaluation Advisory Group, UN subject experts, government officials, and other groups and individuals necessary to draft and complete the UNSDCF.
f. Provision of quality assurance of the process relates products against relevant corporate guidelines, including inputs from the Inter-Agency Peer-Support-Group (PSG).
g. Develop a presentation of the Cooperation Framework or other visualization products.
3. Reporting and Management arrangements
Reporting: The consultant will report to the Chair of the Programme Management Team through the RCO Team Leader.
Government – UNCT Joint Taskforce: In line with the adopted Roadmap for preparation of the 2024-2027 Cooperation Framework, the Government – UNCT Joint Taskforce with the support of Programme Management Team (PMT), Pillar and Outcome Groups, Gender, and Human Rights Technical Working Group (GHRTWG), Monitoring, and Evaluation Advisory Group will provide the overall strategic oversight and guidance for the entire process, including the participation in the visioning and prioritization as well as validation sessions and review/endorsement of the initial and final drafts of the Cooperation Framework. Furthermore, the taskforce will agree on the co-chairs from the UN and the Government on the selected strategic priorities and outcomes.
Office of the UN Resident Coordinator: The RCO will be responsible for the overall coordination and daily management of the assignment. It will also provide guidance, data, analytical support and quality assurance in consultation and coordination with the UNCT, PMT and Pillar groups. The RCO will also manage the administrative, logistical aspects of the assignment, including liaison with the consultant and the PSG on behalf of the UNCT.
Qualifications/special skills
Competency: • Experience in facilitating group discussions, and workshops, managing group dynamics to build consensus
• Experience in applying the Theory of Change approach and Result Based Management principles in the development of strategy documents.
• Technical competence in undertaking complex analyses which involve the use of mixed methods.
• Ability to compile, review and synthesize large amounts of information rapidly, and to distinguish major issues from minor details.
• Ability to deliver results and quality products under pressure and a strict deadline
Academic Qualifications: Advanced University degree in international development, economics, social sciences, or related field is required. A first level degree with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
Experience: • At least 10 years of experience in the facilitation of UNDAF/UNSDCF consultations or other strategic programmatic exercises using foresight analysis or any innovative approaches is required.
• Knowledge of UN role, UN reform process and UN programming at the country level, particularly strategic programming is desirable.
• Familiarity with the 2030 Agenda and SDG-related processes is required.
• Strong understanding of the development and political context and working experience in Southern Africa or a closer region is desirable.
• Good communication skills, (verbal and written) and experience in report writing is required.
Language: 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.