Individual Contractor – Development Account Project

Result of Service

The Individual Contractor is requested to produce the following outputs: 1. Monthly reports outlining all activities undertaken for the project, including logistical support, contacts with relevant focal points in government for organizational purposes, participation in meetings, compilation of lists of participants, correspondence, research, etc. 2. Preparation of Minutes of meetings with counterparts in relevant countries. 3. Other functions related to this position as defined by the supervisor and in line with the activities of the Development Account Project 2427J.

Duties and Responsibilities

SIDS have been persistently lagging other comparable economies in the developing world on the path to sustainable development. This is caused in part by the diverse characteristics of SIDS, which include low- and below sea-level- lying coastal communities, multi-island jurisdictions, and their attendant vulnerabilities. Many also have small populations or limited usable land area, which limits their development options. The COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events have further aggravated this situation by hampering the sustainable economic growth of these island economies and undermining the security of their populations. Promoting innovation and digital transformation in the Caribbean can help countries to ‘build back better’ by delivering services in a more effective and inclusive way, particularly to underserved, rural, physically disconnected, and otherwise marginalized segments of society. However, the public sector in the Caribbean appears to be facing a capacity challenge in delivering change and transformation, with challenges being experienced in relation to mindsets, capacity, processes, and right skillsets. Implementing effective, accountable, and inclusive governance and institutions, and pursuing opportunities for innovation and digital transformation, including digital services, could build resilience through progressive structural changes, and mitigate geographical remoteness. The Development Account Project 2427J aims to strengthen public sector national capacities for Innovation, Digital Government Transformation and Changing Mindsets in three Caribbean SIDS (The Bahamas, Guyana, and Saint Lucia) by:

• strengthening public servants’ skills, knowledge, and understanding of the importance of public sector transformation by promoting changing mindsets strategies and approaches in support of innovation and digital transformation to support the implementation of the SDGs; and
• strengthening institutional arrangements, structures, mechanisms and approaches to promote innovation and digital governance transformation to improve public service delivery, leaving no one behind and reaching the furthest behind first.

The aim of the consultancy is to support the implementation of the Development Account Project on “Innovation, Digital Government Transformation and Changing Mindsets in the Caribbean SIDS” by providing organizational, administrative, and logistical support in preparation of inter-regional and national workshops in the Caribbean SIDS and other project activities, as detailed below. The national workshops are in support of the design and implementation of strategic action plans on changing mindsets, innovation and digital government transformation, including aspects related to institutional arrangements and human resources. The Individual Contractor will perform the following duties:

• Support the organization of an inter-regional workshop on innovation and strategic foresight to be held in November for the Caribbean SIDS by identifying speakers, liaising with participants, assisting in preparing the draft Agenda and other relevant material, and following-up with all organizational aspects of the event. This is in line with Output
• (Organize an interregional workshop (online) for key stakeholders [government, academia, civil sector] on strategic foresight and policy coherence to better understand their role in supporting innovation and digital transformation) under Outcome 1 (Policymakers in selected Caribbean SIDS have an enhanced understanding of the importance of their role in digital transformation and innovation of public service delivery).
• Take notes during the above-mentioned inter-regional workshop and provide inputs to the final report of the workshop. This is in line with the above-mentioned activity.
• Support the organization of online and an in-person workshop in The Bahamas, Guyana, and Saint Lucia to be held in the last part of the year based on the confirmation of the dates by the Government of The Bahamas, Guyana, and Saint Lucia.
• Support the organization of national workshops in The Bahamas, Guyana, and Saint Lucia in early 2025 depending on agreed dates with respective governments.
• Assist in undertaking research, gathering information, and summarizing lessons learned from good practices from around the world to be presented at the national workshops.
• Create communication material for the above events, including image cards, news stories, social media content, and update and upload content on the divisional website. In addition to the above, the contractor will perform other functions related to this project as assigned by the supervisor, in line with the expected outputs of the project document of Development Account 2427J, such as attending virtual meetings and meeting with DPIDG colleagues, as needed. In order to meet the above objectives, the contractor will be required to undertake the following tasks in addition to the above, but not limited to the following: a) Review all related documents to the DA project 2427J, including the project document and related material. b) Produce a summary report of the assignment highlighting the work undertaken.

Qualifications/special skills

• A minimum of 1 year of experience in administrative and communication matters is required. Bachelor’s degree in public administration, economics, business administration, international development/relations and/or related field. Work experience in conducting research, project management, excellent use of Excel, PowerPoint, all Word Office programs and proficiency with internet research tools.

Languages

• Proficiency in spoken and written English is essential. Good understanding of French (for Saint Lucia) is an advantage

Source: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/239203?language=en