Value for Money (VFM) Consultant

The Department for International Development (DFID) leads the UK’s work to end extreme poverty, deliver the Global Goals, and tackle global challenges in line with the Government’s UK Aid Strategy. DFID–Bangladesh (DFID-B) funding for the “Strengthening Humanitarian Preparedness and Response (SHPR)” programme aims to provide a more effective, timely and predictable humanitarian support to refugees in Bangladesh and to vulnerable communities following disasters. It also aims to strengthen the ability of the Government of Bangladesh to effectively meet the needs of these groups and to reduce the scale of impact of disasters when they occur. UNOPS is acting as the Fund Manager of certain components of the SHPR programme.

The principal objectives of the SHPR are articulated around three Pillars:

Pillar 1: Augment disaster preparedness and disaster risk reduction including for large‐scale catastrophic emergencies and recurrent, predictable events;

Pillar 2: Respond to the impact of disaster events through the provision of predictable, timely and high-quality humanitarian support;

Pillar 3: Deliver urgent humanitarian support to Rohingya refugees and needy host communities as well as creating an enabling environment for Rohingya related relief agencies through support to coordination fora.

As the Fund Manager, UNOPS will be responsible for multiple functions vis-à-vis the SHPR Programme including, the design of an early recovery/emergency response facility, fiduciary management, legal and technical oversight, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, quality assurance and communication. UNOPS will also be required to support DFID in its humanitarian agenda from the onset of this project. This requires the management of multiple individual grants supporting UN agencies and NGOs, including some consortia.

The objective of this assignment is to develop an overarching VFM strategy and design a customised VFM framework for the fund management role performed by UNOPS and various implementation models implemented by SHPR partners.

The incumbent will have a direct reporting line to Fund Manager and will work closely with the Senior Project Support Officer and M&E and Learning Specialist.

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Project Support Officer and working closely with the M&E and Learning Specialist, and guidance from DFID Senior Economist, the Value for Money (VFM) Consultant will carry out the following tasks and duties:

• Review existing programme documentation providing background on SHPR Programme including its operations/fund management approaches, portfolio of Implementing Partner (IP) projects, its M&E, oversight and reporting systems including templates.
• Review and assess the adequacy of existing VFM approaches to delivering, monitoring and evaluating VFM for the Fund Management Office (UNOPS), IPs and their projects (including any existing VFM strategies).  Review existing evaluations and reviews of IP projects, summarise the VFM findings of these, and assesses the adequacy of how VFM was evaluated/reviewed in them.
• Review literature concerning VFM approaches for humanitarian programmes of similar nature implemented by means of grants to local NGOs, international NGOs and UN agencies.
• Consult with DFID and understand the requirements for VFM and reporting.
• Support UNOPS to develop an overarching VFM strategy for the SHPR Programme including DFID direct partners working under Pillar 3/Rohingya response. This should consider equity, economy, efficiency, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness – with the greatest weight given to the latter.
• Recommend changes to ways of working and systems for the Fund Management Office (UNOPS), IPs and their projects to improve the achievement of VFM.
• Propose and evaluate a range of options for VFM assessment in line with the SHPR programme, that reflect current international good practice. The analysis should include:

1. A concise definition of VFM to be used by the programme that fits the programme context
2. Define possible methodologies for assessing the VFM for the Fund Management Office (UNOPS), IPs and their projects; define performance measures and recommend monitoring arrangements (including indicators).
3. Review and provide recommendations to improve the existing reporting system including templates to facilitate VFM assessment and reporting.
4. Propose criteria and tools for the Fund Management Office (UNOPS) could use in assessing VFM of proposals submitted to the Fund
5. Review and proposed revisions to the Budget templates and Implementation plan template used by IP that facilitate VFM assessment of IP proposals and projects.

• Propose options for how VFM should be included in both overall programme level and IP project level reviews and evaluations.
• Conduct a1-day workshop to discuss and make decisions on programme VFM (DFID and UNOPS). This should include: (i) priorities for a VFM strategy; (ii) changes to ways of working and systems to improve VFM and options for VFM assessment.
• Conduct training for Fund Manager (UNOPS) staff and IPs on VFM in SHPR programme, assessment approaches and reporting.

• Inception Report – Summarizing the approach to consultancy as per the TOR (5 days).
• Workshop to discuss and make decisions on programme VFM. Background material including options and recommendations to be considered at the workshop should be sent at least 5 working days before the workshop, (5 days).
• Draft Report – covering fully the requirements of the TOR for the consultancy (15 days).
• Final Report – incorporating all reviews and comments by the SHPR team (up to 5 days).
• Training for Fund Manager (UNOPS) staff and IPs on VFM in SHPR programme, assessment approaches and reporting. One training will be held for the staff of the Fund Manager (UNOPS), including relevant staff of DFID; one for the partners of Pillar 1 in Dhaka and one for the partners of Pillar 3 in Cox’s Bazar. (12 days).

Education 

• Master’s degree in development studies, economics, business administration, or other related field relevant to the above duties (or bachelor degree with additional 7 years of relevant experience).

Work Experience

• Master’s degree with minimum 5 years or Bachelor degree with minimum 7 years of experience in international development or humanitarian disaster response is required.
• At least 2 - 3  years of proven experience with the design and application of diverse VFM approaches, including substantial previous experience of VFM approaches for humanitarian programmes, is required.
• Previous involvement with and knowledge of donors including DFID or other bilateral agencies that uses VFM assessments, UN agencies, international NGOs and civil society is an advantage.
• Computer literacy, including demonstrated expertise in Microsoft Word and Excel is required.
• Proven skills in facilitating workshops and designing/conducting training are required.

Contract type: ICA
Contract level: I-ICA 2
Contract duration: Short-term - Maximum duration 3 months

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.