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 the SDGs, and they are increasingly engaging in sub-national reviews of their SDG implementation, also called Voluntary Local Reviews (VLR). Interest in carrying out VLRs, which are modelled after the national level Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), has grown dramatically over the last few years, with an estimated 400 VLRs have now been published by local governments, large and small, from all regions of the world. Since the approved and adopted institutional mechanisms by the South African government in 2019 for the coordination and implementation of the National Development Plan, Sustainable Development Goals, AU Agenda 2063 and SADC-Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP), South Africa has embarked on the process of domesticating these developmental agendas at all levels of government spheres. To facilitate the preparation of VLRs and their linkages to Voluntary National Review process, the Government of South Africa, through the National Planning Commission, requested for capacity building on Voluntary Local Reviews from the Division for Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DSDG/UN DESA). With the support of the Government of Italy for the 2023-2024 project “Improved local and national government capacities for localizing SDGs progress through Voluntary Local Reviews”, UN DESA, in coordination with the United Resident Coordinator Office and the United Nations Country Team provide the requested support and, during the project, VLRs were prepared by ten city or municipal governments. The Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG) in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) 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 a National Consultant for South Africa to support project activities, working closely with relevant government officials and other stakeholders, particularly the South African Local Government Association. The national consultant’s role is to support the SDG localization, coordination and review work in South Africa, with the following duties and responsibilities: In supporting the preparation VLRs by cities, regions and local governments, the Consultant will provide specific services, in consultation with the National Planning Commission, South Africa Local Government Association, selected local authorities, and UN DESA, UN ECA and the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in South Africa, as follows: (a) Prepare an inception report including: 1) An introductory state of play on SDG localization in the participating localities; an overview of existing data and gaps; and an initial mapping of relevant institutional coordination mechanisms for implementation of the SDGs and local development plans in each of the participating local governments; and 2) a detailed and inclusive work plan for the conduct of the reviews by local authorities taking into account DESA Global Guiding Elements for Voluntary Local Reviews and UN ECA’s Africa Regional Guidelines for Voluntary Local Reviews. The work plan should clearly show how inclusive the process will be, setting out approaches to be taken to ensure inclusivity and gender and human rights perspectives. It should also contain suggestions for the stakeholder engagement strategy to be employed in the review process. (b) Support the development and finalization of Voluntary Local Reviews by five selected local governments, including by: • Supporting preparatory activities of the selected local authorities, including guidance on the application of the methodology and implementation of the work plan; Preparing summaries of held workshops and meetings as relevant. • Suppling participating local governments with substantive supporting inputs to the VLR process, such as aiding the mapping of data sources, institutional arrangements, relevant stakeholders and efforts to leave no one behind; • Reviewing the Voluntary Local Reviews of participating municipalities for consistency with UN DESA’s Global Guiding Elements for the VLRs and ECA’s Africa VLR Guidelines and delivering feedback to each of the local governments, in coordination with UN DESA, as necessary; • Providing statistical support for the development of the VLRs highlighting existing relevant data and collecting information on the statistical needs of municipalities to improve local monitoring systems on the SDGs in coordination with national institutions and their country-wide monitoring processes; • Equip local governments with inputs from statistical sources for visualization of key data, as well identifying sources of data and information to bolster the development of their respective VLRs, including data manipulation to develop sections in the VLRs (e.g. mappings, infographics, etc.); • Contribute to analytical assessment of potential follow-up actions to be taken up by the participating LGAs and the national government after the VLR process. (c) Oversee in country organization and ground level arrangements for a national validation workshop on the development of VLRs.
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. Knowledge of the development challenges facing South Africa and of the most relevant actors desirable. Familiarity with Voluntary National Reviews and Voluntary Local Reviews processes and the Sustainable Development Goals. Previous experience with the United Nations and/or its agencies, funds and programmes is desirable. Demonstrated commitment and professionalism, strong analytical and communication skills and ability for teamwork.
