Consultant - Business and Private Sector Engagement

Area of Specialization/Thematic Areas:

Private sector and business engagement, strategy and partnership, guidelines, due diligence, risk assessment and contracts

Overview:

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is an autonomous entity created within the framework of the United Nations. As a voluntary-funded, project-based institute focusing on training and research, UNITAR works to develop the individual, institutional and organizational capacities of countries and other United Nations stakeholders through high quality learning solutions and related knowledge products and services to enhance decision-making and to support country level action for overcoming global challenges. UNITAR is not a norm-making organization. In delivering on its mission, UNITAR engages with a broad spectrum of partners, including with business and the private sector, to mobilize resources, deliver programmes (e.g. as a project partner or exceptionally as implementing partner) and engage in other forms of collaboration (e.g. exchanges of knowledge, innovation, outreach, etc.).

United Nations engagement with business and the private sector has evolved over the past two decades and is today built on a principled approach, with the specificities of such engagement varying across the UN landscape. Recognizing the pivotal role that business and the private sector play in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, UNITAR is reviewing its approach and guidelines with the objective to enhance its engagement with business and the private sector while ensuring that its interests are protected, risks are sufficiently mitigated, and UN principles are upheld.

General Objectives of the Contract:

Review approaches and develop a strategic approach, framework and guidelines for engagement with the private sector commensurate with the needs and characteristics of UNITAR.

Responsibilities/Description of Professional Services:

• Review UN principles for engagement with business and the private sector and related documents.
• Review existing approaches/guidelines/strategies on business and private sector engagement in the United Nations system, including approaches to due diligence for assessing and managing risk.
• Review the portfolio of UNITAR programmes and the landscape of business and private sector partnerships, risk assessment criteria and modalities for partnership engagement.
• Engage in consultations with directors, managers and/or other relevant staff with a view to obtaining perspectives on the level of UNITAR’s risk appetite and delegation sought when engaging with business and the private sector.

  Benchmarking:

  • Compare UNITAR practices to those of selected other UN and relevant entities, including commonalities, differences and emerging trends.

    Engagement framework and guidelines:

    • Based on a-e above, develop a strategic approach, framework and guidelines for engagement with business and the private sector, consistent with UN principles and commensurate with the needs and characteristics of UNITAR. The draft framework and guidelines should include consideration of whether exclusionary criteria should apply to certain types of businesses or industries and the level / depth of due diligence or risk mitigation that is required based on the partner type and partnership modality. Measurable outputs/deliverables/schedule of deliverables:
      1. Benchmarking synthesis paper drafted, comparing approaches across the UN landscape with the existing UNITAR approach (Deadline: 8 March 2024)
      2. Draft strategic approach, framework and guidelines for engagement with the private sector developed. The framework and guidelines should differentiate between forms of private sector engagement (e.g. resource mobilization, programme delivery/implementing partner, etc.), type of private sector partner (e.g. for profit commercial enterprises/businesses operating at different levels, corporate foundations, privately owned organizations/foundations, etc.), thresholds, due diligence/risk management modalities, including criteria, scope and depth of due diligence; exclusion criteria; modalities for due diligence and risk assessment, and modalities for partnership engagement, etc.) (Deadline: 15 April 2024)
      3. Strategic approach, framework and guidelines for engagement with the private sector revised following Management review and comments (Deadline: 29 April 2024)

         *To be adjusted depending on the contract signature and to be agreed upon with the Supervisor.

         Performance Indicators for evaluation of results:

         The performance indicators for evaluation of results for this assignment are the following:

         • Quality of benchmarking synthesis and draft framework and guidelines (depth, analysis and writing).
         • Timely submission based on schedule of deliverables. Reporting structure:

           Director of the Division for Strategic Planning and Performance, UNITAR.