Remote: International Consultant (Cost Effectiveness of the Triple Nexus)

Apr 25, 2023 | UN Office at Nairobi
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The triple nexus refers to the interlinkages between humanitarian, development and peace actors, with a focus on collective outcomes and collaboration based on comparative advantage. Operationalization of the triple nexus is a priority for the United Nations in Somalia. Based on the 2019 Somalia Common Country Analysis, the United Nations Country Team established three nexus taskforces on the critical areas of Water Management, Durable Solutions and Anti-Corruption to accelerate work and better coordinate humanitarian, development and peace actors both within and external to the United Nations.

Many of the evaluations and lessons learned exercises conducted globally on nexus approaches focus on qualitative recommendations, such as identifying a division of responsibilities between key actors at different stages of a crisis to improve programming efficacy, using pooled funding mechanisms to enable greater flexibility and partnering with local governments and other local actors in support of decentralization. However, robust quantitative data on the benefits of nexus approaches is lacking.

Some attempts have been made though, both in Somalia and globally, to quantify the impact of resilience-building interventions. Such studies could be drawn on in an attempt to measure the benefits of the triple nexus. For example, 2018 USAID study on the economics of drought resilience in Somalia found that investing in early response and resilience measures yielded average benefits of $2.80 for every $1 invested and could save an average of $53 million per year. A 2021 University of Oxford and Centre for Disaster Protection study in Bangladesh found that anticipatory action prior to the 2020 flood season reached more people at half the cost of the previous year’s humanitarian response. And the World Bank found in 2019 that investing in resilient infrastructure (power, water and sanitation, transport and telecommunications) in low- and middle-income countries can provide $4 in benefits for each $1 invested.

Similarly, the 2020 Review of United Nations Integration uncovered the key enablers and barriers to integration in fragile and crisis settings, and offered 25 recommendations to align the structures, individuals and shared objectives necessary for whole-of-UN coherence. An integrated presence refers to the configuration of the United Nations system in a conflict or post-conflict situations where the United Nations has a country team comprising Agencies, Funds and Programmes (AFPs) as well as a peacekeeping operation or Special Political Mission – in the case of Somalia, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM). One priority in the review was the development of a business case for integration which would articulate the benefits and costs of specific types of collaboration in a given area and propose the most impactful type of collaboration.

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Head of Integrated Office of the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (DSRSG/RC/HC), the Consultant is expected to carry out the following duties:

• Conduct a desk review of related quantitative studies (both in Somalia and internationally) and summarize findings and gaps to inform the consultancy.
• Consult with relevant staff in UNSOM and AFPs to determine an area of focus that builds a business case on the benefits of United Nations integration.
• Consult with relevant staff within and external to the United Nations to determine appropriate proxy indicators for measuring the benefits of nexus approaches and integration.
• Develop three economic models which demonstrate the quantitative benefits of nexus approaches and United Nations integration in Somalia.
  Write a brief report for publication summarizing the results.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in international or development economics, sustainable development, international studies, public policy, social science or related area is required. A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree required.

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in development economics, sustainable development policy, project/programme management in the context of development cooperation, humanitarian affairs or other related area is required.
• A solid understanding of the humanitarian-development-peace nexus is a requirement, including the implementation of nexus approaches in the field.
• Strong analytical skills and experience in developing models are also mandatory.
• Working experience in the United Nations or similar organization is desirable.

Languages

Fluency in oral and written English is required.

Result of Service

Models developed measuring:

• the return on investment of nexus interventions in water management and durable solutions programming.
• direct and indirect benefits of anti-corruption efforts in the form of risk reduction, cost savings and sustainable growth.
• the benefits of collaboration between UNSOM and AFPs in an area to be determined jointly by the Consultant and the Integrated Office of the DSRSG/RC/HC.

Report produced outlining the models and findings.

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

3 months

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.