Deadline for applications: 24 July 2022, 5pm (America/New York)
Background
The purpose of the consultancy is to support the ongoing development of the Regional Private Sector Forum (RPSF) of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) through the development of a regional strategy and action plan. The UNFPA, together with UNDP, UN Women, and the Office of the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes, is jointly implementing an EU-funded Programme in support of ICGLR with the overall objective to promote ongoing peacebuilding and consolidation efforts in the African Great Lakes Region.
The three overall outcomes of the project are:
· Outcome 1: The ICGLR Peace and Security Programme is strengthened.
· Outcome 2: Control of the exploitation of selected mineral resources (tungsten, tin, tantalum and gold) is enhanced.
· Outcome 3: The provisions of the Protocol on Prevention and Suppression of Sexual Violence Against Women and Children are effectively applied in the Great Lakes Region.
UNFPA is responsible for activities under Outcome 1, i.e. “A1.5 Support for the participation of the ICGLR Fora (multifunctional regional Women Forum, Women Forum, Civil Society Forum and Private Sector Forum) in the ICGLR consultative process”. This consultancy is part of the activities planned in support of strengthening activities of the RPSF.
The Great Lakes Regional Private Sector Forum (RPSF) is a constituent programme of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR). The Member States of the ICGLR formalized the establishment of a Great Lakes Region Private Sector Forum (RPSF), pursuant to the objective of decision 36 of the Declaration of the Summit Heads of State and Government of the ICGLR held in Luanda, Angola, on 15 January 2014. The Declaration directed the ICGLR Regional Inter-Ministerial Committee (RIMC) to establish a Private Sector Forum of the Great Lakes Region to promote common integration projects and sustainable development in the Great
Lakes Region.
The Forum which was formally launched on 15 September 2015 by the Executive Secretariat of the ICGLR, allows the Private Sector to play a major role in promoting economic development which is essential to the reinforcement of peace, security, stability, and poverty eradication and mutual understanding in the Great Lakes region. Moreover, it enables the private sector community to play an integral role in reviewing national and regional investment policies, identifying constraints hindering investment growth, and advocating for measures aimed at mitigating these impediments and fostering economic growth.
The forum covers the twelve (12) signatory countries of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework (PSF-F); Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
RPSF focuses on three main areas as it engages in promoting economic development in the Great Lakes Member States for the realization of peace, security, stability and economic growth:
· Peace and Security: The RPSF aims to enhance peaceful, democratic and inclusive societies in the Great Lakes Region through sustainable economic and social empowerment. This is premised on the fact that a disruption of the means of livelihood and economic income leads to poverty, inequality and unemployment, being some of the root causes of conflict. The RPSF aims to strengthen the private sector to create value, in order to mitigate economic factors that destabilize peace and stability.
· Trade and Investment: The RPSF organizes events and other platforms to enable Private and Public Sector operators, donors and other partners to exchange information on business opportunities and investments in the Great Lakes Region. The Forum identifies obstacles to cross border trade and investment in the region and generates dialogue to initiate practical and policy reforms to eliminate impediments to the ease of doing business in the region. The Forum keeps abreast of key regional developments in trade and investments and encourages cooperation and collaboration of the private sector to attain mutual benefit.
· Economic Empowerment: The RPSF aims to optimize the economic contribution of businesses in the region as a result of job creation and improved livelihoods leading to ultimate alienation of poverty. The RPSF builds the capacity of businesses and provides platforms for networking and partnership to widen their investment and trade options. The Forum is also keen to support public-private partnership and dialogue to facilitate trade, access to credit facilities for SMEs in the formal and informal sector and the empowerment of women and youth.
Supervision Arrangements
This consultancy assignment will be supervised jointly by the UNFPA, RPSF Secretariat, OSESG-GL, and the ICGLR Secretariat (Dir: Economic Affairs and Integration).
The day-day monitoring and guidance will be provided by the UNFPA ESARO Regional Program Specialist - Adolescent and Women, together with the UNFPA-appointed International Consultant appointed to implement Outcome A1.5 of the EUUN programme and RPSF Programme Coordinator.
Monitoring and progress control:
Weekly update and review of progress against KPIs set in Inception Report.
Report of strategic planning workshop to be submitted within 1-week of the workshop including outcomes and key decisions made (if applicable).
Delivery dates and how work will be delivered:
· An inception report detailing the methodology, approaches, and timelines associated with the assignment. Due within 15 days of awarding the contract.
· A needs assessment report highlighting the status and gaps in RPSF’s strategic direction, covering both internal and external factors relevant to the organizational operating environment. Due within 30 days of awarding the contract.
· A strategic planning workshop for the RPSF’s Staff, the Executive Committee and selected partners. Date to be agreed with key partners.
· Draft 3-year Regional Strategic Plan and draft 1-year Regional Action Plan to be presented within 60 days of the awarding of the contract.
· Final version of Regional Strategic and Action Plans due within 75 days of awarding the contract.
Expected travel:
This consultancy will be home-based, with possible trip to region to facilitate strategic planning workshop.
General Objectives
To continue discharging its mandates effectively, there is a need to review the RPSF strategic direction to ensure that it retains its relevance in its spheres of influence, of key importance, is harmonization and aligning its roles, mandates and activities with the national Chambers in the region.
The overall objective of the consultancy is to develop a three-year Strategic Plan that aligns and harmonizes RPSF strategic direction with the objectives and activities of the ICGLR Secretariat, UN Strategy for Peace Consolidation, Conflict Prevention and Resolution in the Great Lakes-Action Plan 2021-23, Private Sector National Chambers, and other private sector organizations in the region.
Scope of Consultancy:
The scope is the development of a new strategic framework for RPSF that will take into account the Forum’s current internal and external operating environment to enhance effectiveness and sustainability in the area of programming, policy, and advocacy in the Great Lakes Region. It is expected that the strategic framework, will build on RPSF’s previous achievements and take into consideration its current operating environment. The plan will clearly define:
· RPSF’s Vision, Mission, strategic areas, and objectives; including priority focus areas for the strategic period.
· RPSF’s situational context, through a SWOT, PEST, and other relevant analysis.
· RPSF’s Sustainability plan; including proposals for effective financial and human resource strategies.
· RPSF’s stakeholder map and identify relevant strategies to engage them to advance the organization’s stated objectives.
· RPSF’s functional organizational and leadership structure.
· Monitoring and reporting framework to enable effective tracking of the strategic plan.
· Risk analysis and management approach.
· Costing of the strategic plan.
The Strategic plan development will be a participatory process that will encompass the following activities:
· A review of internal documents and benchmark with similar institutions and organizations
· Consultations between RPSF’s Executive Committee, staff, selected partners and stakeholders to review the current operational environment and set priorities for the strategic plan.
· Holding a strategic planning workshop with staff, Executive Committee members, and selected stakeholders to generate proposals and inputs that will feed into the draft Strategic plan.
· Developing a draft 3-year Regional Strategic Plan.
· Draft and outline and suggestions for a 1-year Regional Action Plan based on the Regional Strategy
Key Deliverables
· Inception Report
· Needs Assessment Report
· Regional Strategic Plan (2023-25)
· Regional Action Plan (2023)
Qualifications and Experience needed
Education
A minimum of a postgraduate qualification in the field of Business Administration, Organizational Development, Strategic Planning, or a related field
Experience
Essential:
· A minimum of 5 years of experience in strategic planning;
· A working knowledge of unique challenges faced by businesses and/or organizations in the Great Lakes region;
· A good knowledge and understanding of the regional Private Sector operational environment, and the key Private Sector organizations and stakeholders in the Great Lakes region;
· Excellent inter-personal and facilitation skills;
· Exceptional ability to communicate, verbally and in writing, in English;
· Highly motivated and committed to values of Professionalism, Accountability, Confidentiality, Integrity, and Teamwork
Desirable:
· Experience in organizational development/strengthening;
· Experience in organizational management/support, e.g. through secretariat functions;
· Experience from international development context/s;
· Experience of the UN-system, regional economic communities or government agencies;
· Working knowledge of French or Portuguese (oral and writing) is an added advantage;
Preference will be given to candidates based in the Great Lakes regions would be desirable.
How to apply:
Interested applicants should send an expression of interest (EOI) highlighting relevant experience in delivering similar work with relevant links, a detailed CV & an example of a recent similar work conducted to jobs-esaro@unfpa.org. The email subject should clearly state "ICGLR Regional Private Sector Forum Consultancy". The CV should include at least three (3) references.
UNFPA will only respond to those applicants who meet the criteria and in whom we have further interest.
Disclaimer
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing, or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Fraudulent notices, letters, or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, embracing diversity in all its forms, integrity, and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities for all including persons with disabilities.
