SDGS Localization Coordination and Review Consultant - Mozambique

Result of Service

The consultancy is intended to provide technical and logistical guidance to the Ministry of Economy and Finance on how to accelerate the localization of the SDGs through the reporting by provinces, districts, municipalities, and other local governments on the implementation of the SDGs through Voluntary Local Reviews, to acquire better understanding of progress, challenges and any existing capacity gaps. The aim of the work is to build the capacities of national and local government officials in localizing the SDGs and in monitoring and reporting their progress through the preparation of VLRs, and facilitating linkages between VLR and VNR processes as relevant.

Work Location

Home-based consultancy

Expected duration

90 working days, with possibility of extension

Duties and Responsibilities

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) embody the strategic vision and aspirations of all countries for the future of development. Their implementation will require comprehensive actions at the global, regional, national and local levels, as outlined in General Assembly Resolution A / RES / 70 / 1 on Transforming Our World : The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Local and regional authorities can make crucial contributions to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs and they are increasingly engaging in sub-national reviews of their SDG implementation, also called Voluntary Local Reviews (VLR). As observed by the Secretary-General, "VLRs have contributed to advances in all dimensions of SDG localization - from data innovation, to planning and policy coherence, to project development and financing." Interest in carrying out such reviews, which are modelled after the national level Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), has grown dramatically over the last few years. In Africa, local and regional governments in countries such as Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, The Gambia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe have carried out VLRs and several national governments, including Kenya and Zimbabwe, have utilized these to enrich their country's Voluntary National Reviews. In other parts of the world, cities as diverse as New York, Helsinki, Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Tokyo, and Mexico City have undertaken one or more reviews, and VLRs are increasingly also being taken up by smaller cities and localities, including in rural areas. So far, more than 200 reports by towns, cities, provinces and state governments have been published by the Division for Sustainable Development Goals on its dedicated website. Mozambique has adopted a decentralization model as part of the country's agenda to consolidate peace and deepen citizen participation. In its 2020 VNR, the Government of Mozambique emphasized the importance of operationalizing the decentralization framework and of the greater participation of local level actors for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. It further underscored the importance of involvement of local governments at provincial, municipal and district levels to promote dialogue and consolidate the principle of leaving no one behind. To accelerate SDG localization efforts, the UN system in Mozambique led by UNDP is implementing an "SDG Localization Project" which seeks to engage the highest level of Governance structures on the implementation of the SDGs at the local level, thus strengthening their inclusion in the planning, budgeting, monitoring and reporting processes at the local level as well as to sensitize the public about the importance of the SDGs and their application in public policies and their relationship with the planning processes carried out in the different provincial, district and municipal institutions. The Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG) in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) acts as the Secretariat for the SDGs, providing substantive support and capacity-building for the goals and their related thematic issues, including water, energy, climate, oceans, urbanization, transport, science and technology, the Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR), partnerships and Small Island Developing States. DSDG plays a key role in the evaluation of UN systemwide implementation of the 2030 Agenda and on advocacy and outreach activities relating to the SDGs. In this regard, DSDG requires the of a national consultant in Mozambique to provide coordination support and substantive inputs to the development of up to six VLRs with the following duties and responsibilities : - Provide substantive, logistical and continuous coordination support to drafting and finalization of the Voluntary Local Reviews, including supporting local coordination and drafting meetings in each of the participating local government authorities (LGAs), as needed. - Provide substantive and logistical support for preparation and carrying out of a national VLR validation and "next steps" workshop. - Prepare a synthesis report on the main messages, findings and key conclusions from the VLR processes, as a possible input to the voluntary national review process. - Serve as a coordinator of the relevant VLR efforts in Mozambique, liaise between the Ministry of Economy and Finance, UNDESA, UN Resident Coordinator's Office, UN Country Team and participating local governments in relation to the preparation and finalization of the VLRs and their potential interaction with Mozambique's VNR process.

Qualifications / special skills

Advanced university degree in development policy, economics, social sciences or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with 2 additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in national development planning, local development research, sustainable development and localization analysis, data visualization, principles of effective governance for sustainable development, and training of LGAs on sustainable development. Familiarity with Voluntary National Reviews and Voluntary Local Reviews processes, the Sustainable Development Goals and AU Agenda 2063. Knowledge of the development challenges facing Mozambique and of the most relevant actors desirable. Previous experience with the United Nations and / or its agencies, funds and programmes is desirable. The consultant must be a national of Mozambique or hold a legal residency in Mozambique

Languages

Excellent oral and written command of English and Portuguese. Knowledge of another UN official language is an asset.

Additional Information

Not available.

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.