Consultant - Governing Systemic Risk at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Objective

The objective of this assignment is to prepare an analytical paper on the building blocks of effective risk governance systems that are fit for purpose to manage systemic risk in the 21st century. The paper will conceptualize a new risk governance paradigm that can navigate the new normal in a post COVID world and that is equipped to manage systemic risk, as well as emerging risks for which no historic track record exists yet. It will illustrate the characteristics of risk governance systems that are resilient to shocks, while also fostering the resilience of other systems with the objective to accelerate sustainable development.

Scope Of Work

The assignment will be implemented under short-term consultancy arrangements through individual contracts under the guidance and direct supervision of the global DRR Team Lead, and overall leadership of the Head of the DRT. The assignment may require a team approach since the deliverables may exceed the capacities of a single expert.

The Scope Of Work Requires

• A review of the strengths and weaknesses of the dominant risk governance approach based on existing practice reviews, evaluations, lessons learned etc., taking as a point of departure the governance of disaster, climate change, environmental, health and conflict risks.
• A literature review and comparative review of existing and emerging concepts and elements on the governance of systemic or multi-dimensional risk, including the compilation and review of key tools, methodologies, guidance notes on systemic/multi-dimensional risk governance.
• A synthesis report describing the key characteristics of a new risk governance paradigm that is fit for purpose in the 21st century.
• Country case studies to test the new paradigm against reality to identify gaps and capacity development needs.
• Design and facilitation of in-house consultations in the form of webinars or dialogue series with UNDP's regional and select country teams, GPN technical teams (i.e. gender, governance, sustainable development, conflict prevention, climate change, SDGs, environment), as well as external consultations with relevant global and regional organizations, academic and research institutions (e.g. ODI, UNDRR, International Risk Governance Council, OECD, and selected donors).
• Specific recommendations and key messages for policy makers, development practitioners, and UNDP on how to strengthen the governance of systemic risks with proposals for progress and impact indicators.

Methodology

The assignment will use existing analysis, publications and knowledge products on the topic of risk governance. Also ongoing analysis and research shall be used as appropriate and accessible. Country case studies may be required to complement existing materials which will be instrumental for comparing the new risk governance paradigm with the realities at country level.

The assignment will have a thematic coverage which entails systemic risk governance; risk-informed development; resilience; and systems thinking. It will take a multi-sector; governance coverage. It is expected to explore in particular, but not exclusively, the following characteristics of a new risk governance paradigm which are emerging from a preliminary analysis, i.e.: (i) can support the identification of risks and their interlinkages across relevant systems, (ii) can nurture capacities that contribute to the resilience of systems that are able to absorb, adapt, anticipate, prevent shock and threat, and eventually be transformative, (iii) can identify, negotiate and manage trade-offs between different interests originating from sub-systems (political economy), (iv) can bring together a broad range of perspectives and viewpoints by connecting formal and informal institutions and networks in a multi-stakeholder and people-centered approach to decision-making, (v) features new forms of public and societal accountability that address the diffused responsibility of complex networks, (vi) can consider linkages from the local to the national and global scale whilst being able to keep complexity at a manageable level, (vii) fosters systems thinking and learning to handle complexity and uncertainty more effectively.

Duties And Responsibilities

1. Work plan and inception report detailing methodology and approach to deliver the above scope of work, including selection criteria for country case studies, and internal and external review steps for key deliverables;
2. Literature review and analysis report on the strengths and weaknesses of dominant risk governance approaches, including overview of key tools, methodologies, guidance notes;
3. A synthesis report describing the key characteristics of a new risk governance paradigm that is fit for purpose in the 21st century, based on the analysis of existing and emerging concepts and elements;
4. A report summarizing the country case studies (four countries across at least three geographic regions) that are testing the new paradigm against reality to identify gaps and capacity development needs;
5. Concept notes and support for the organization of in-house and external consultations (i.e. webinars, or dialogues), and participation in consultations;
6. A guide for policy-makers with recommendations and key messages for decision-makers, practitioners, and UNDP on how to strengthen the governance of systemic risks with proposals for progress and impact indicators;
7. Slide decks on the findings of this assignment and key messages tailored to specific audience (internal, external).

All key deliverables will be subject to internal and/or external review.