National Consultant to develop the Maldives Country Analysis (CA)

Result of Service(3a) Desk Review Desk Review of all the available studies, reports, evaluations, surveys produced by the country, including the UNSDCF 2022-2026 annual reviews and final evaluation, Annual One UN Results Reports and the draft UNSDCF Evaluation Report. (3b) An Inception Report The inception report outlines the detailed methodology, timeline, and data sources/tools to be used in the development of the CA, including stakeholder engagement plans, and questionnaires that will be used during the stakeholder meetings. (3c) A Draft Country Analysis Report (max. 30 pages) that: o Integrates findings from both desk research and stakeholder consultations. o Reflects a system-thinking approach across development, humanitarian, peace, and human rights dimensions. o Addresses data availability and gaps. o Identifies those left behind and the structural drivers of inequality and vulnerability. o Analyzes regional and cross-border influences, multidimensional risks, and the enabling environment for sustainable development. o Assesses the national sustainable financing landscape. o Identifies the UN’s comparative advantages and capacity development needs. o Offers recommendations and identifies key opportunities for UN support. (3d) Stakeholder Validation Workshop A stakeholder validation workshop is to be conducted and ensure the findings are inclusive, accurate, and reflective of the national context. The workshop should include representatives from government institutions, civil society, development partners, the private sector, academia, and UN agencies to review and provide feedback on the preliminary findings of the CA. The consultant should include identifying the key insights, any gaps, and include the feedback from the workshop in the final report. (3e) A Final Country Analysis Report The final report should incorporate feedback from the UNCT and stakeholders, meet the quality standards of the UNSDG CCA Quality Checklist, and serve as the primary input for the design and prioritization process of the new UNSDCF. This includes a 2,500-word Executive Summary and relevant annexes. All deliverables must align with the principles of the UN Charter, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, human rights, gender equality, environmental sustainability, resilience-building, and the imperative to leave no one behind and in support of the ABAS priorities. Work LocationMale, Maldives Expected duration21 Aug - 31 Dec Duties and Responsibilities(1a) Background The United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) is the most important instrument for the planning and implementation of United Nations development activities in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the country level. In the Maldives, the current Cooperation Framework (2022–2026) is the product of an inclusive and participatory process, co-led by the Government of Maldives and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), in consultation with government institutions, civil society, the private sector, development partners, and other national stakeholders. The Cooperation Framework is designed to support transformative, inclusive, and sustainable development pathways aligned with national policies and strategies, grounded in human rights, gender equality, and leaving no one behind. In line with the UNSDCF guidance from the UN Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG), the Country Analysis (CA) previously referred to as the Common Country Analysis (CCA) serves as the independent, impartial, and collective assessment and analysis of the country context. It is a key analytical function of the UNCT and forms the foundation for strategic prioritization and decision-making in the design, implementation, and adaptation of UNSDCF. The CA aims to provide a robust understanding of the national development landscape, highlighting progress, gaps, and challenges in achieving the SDGs and fulfilling international commitments, including human rights obligations. It offers an integrated, multidimensional view of the development, humanitarian, peace, and human rights dimensions, examining structural drivers and root causes of vulnerabilities and inequalities. The analysis also reflects regional and cross-border dynamics and identifies key opportunities for sustainable development. Recognizing the complex and evolving development landscape, the CA is no longer a one-time exercise, but rather a living document that is continuously updated to respond to new data, emerging trends, crises, and policy shifts. This ensures that the UNCT remains agile and evidence-driven, able to support the Government and stakeholders with timely, relevant, and strategic interventions. To prepare a high-quality, inclusive, and data-driven CA, the UNCT in Maldives, under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC), and with the technical input from the UNSDCF Technical Team (UNTT), UNCT is undertaking a collaborative process involving all UN entities active in the country. The process is designed to be participatory and iterative, engaging national institutions, experts, and partners to ensure that the analysis reflects the lived realities and priorities of the Maldivian people. This CA will serve as the analytical backbone of the next phase of the UNSDCF implementation and adaptation, guiding the UNCT’s programming and partnerships to accelerate progress towards the SDGs and contribute to a peaceful, just, and resilient Maldives. Under the overall guidance of the UN Resident Coordinator and direct supervision of the RCO team, and in close consultation with the UNCT, UNTT and key stakeholders, the consultant will: (2a) Stocktaking and SDG Progress Analysis • Analyze Maldives’s progress in implementing the 2030 Agenda and achieving the SDGs, drawing on official statistics, national reports (e.g., Voluntary National Reviews), UN agency assessments, and global databases. • Assess data availability, quality, and gaps in national SDG indicators, including discrepancies between national and international sources. • Identify bottlenecks and structural constraints hindering progress, with emphasis on those furthest behind and areas requiring transformational change. (2b) Governance, Institutions, and Capacities • Examine the national governance architecture, institutional capacities, policy coherence, and coordination mechanisms related to SDG implementation. • Identify institutional strengths and weaknesses, including capacity gaps at national and subnational levels. • Analyze the enabling environment for civic space, accountability, and rule of law. • Apply strategic foresight tools such as horizon scanning and trend analysis to anticipate future governance challenges and opportunities. (2c) Risks, Vulnerabilities, and Inequalities • Identify and analyze multidimensional risks—economic, social, environmental, political, and institutional—that may affect the country’s sustainable development trajectory. • Map population groups that are at risk of being left behind and assess the drivers of inequality and vulnerability (e.g., gender, disability, age, income, migration status). • Integrate a robust gender and human rights-based analysis, including discrimination, exclusion, and deprivation. • Integrate the detailed analysis that has been carried out, including conflict analysis, assessment on drivers of fertility, situation analysis of disability inclusionand agency-specific country analyses by the UN team as well as other relevant issues • Incorporate horizon scanning and trend analysis to anticipate emerging risks and evolving vulnerabilities. (2d) Human Rights and International Commitments • Assess the country’s progress in meeting its international human rights obligations and commitments under international norms, treaties, and mechanisms. • Integrate relevant recommendations from UN Treaty Bodies, Special Procedures, and the Universal Periodic Review (including the latest UPR) into the analysis. • Utilize foresight approaches to explore how future trends may impact the realization of human rights and the country’s international commitments. (2e) Stakeholder Mapping and Comparative Advantage • Identify key national and non-state development actors, including government institutions, civil society, youth groups, women’s groups, organizations of persons with disabilities, migrant rights groups, trade unions and employers’ organizations, representatives of vulnerable groups that are at risk of being left behind, the media, private sector, academia, international financial institutions, bilateral partners and regional entities. • Assess their respective roles, capacities, and contributions toward achieving national SDG priorities. • Outline the UN’s collective comparative advantage in supporting national development efforts vis-à-vis other stakeholders (2f) Regional and Cross-Border Dynamics • Analyze relevant regional, sub-regional, cross-border and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) specific trends and risks that influence the national context and achievement of the SDGs. These may include trends in trade, migration, labor markets, environmental risks, disaster and climate-related vulnerabilities, and geopolitical shifts. • Identify opportunities for regional cooperation and cross-border collaboration and partnerships with other SIDS. (2g) Financing for Sustainable Development • Review the national sustainable development financing landscape, including public, private, and blended finance sources. • Identify constraints and opportunities to mobilize and align financing with SDG priorities, including through partnerships, innovative financing mechanisms, and SDG financing strategies. (2h) Synthesis and Integration • Ensure that findings are synthesized across sectors and themes, reflecting integrated, systems-based and cross-pillar thinking. • Highlight interlinkages among SDGs and implications for coherent and integrated UN programming while identifying how the UN can support implementation of national development frameworks such as the ABAS priorities and other relevant strategies. (2i) Validation and Engagement • Engage with national stakeholders, including government counterparts, civil society organizations, and development partners through consultations and validation workshops. • Incorporate feedback to ensure national ownership and relevance of the analysis. (2j) Deliverables • Produce a comprehensive CA report that is concise, accessible, and actionable, with disaggregated data and visualizations where possible and analysis of future-informed trends and signals to support forward-looking planning • Prepare an Executive Summary highlighting key findings, challenges, opportunities, and recommendations. • Provide inputs for presentation materials and facilitate knowledge-sharing sessions with the UNCT and stakeholders. Qualifications/special skillsAdvanced university degree (master’s and equivalent) in development studies, economics, social sciences, international relations or any other related field. At least 5 years’ experience of conducting country/national level situational analysis, UN Country programming processes, some of which must be related to 2030 Agenda for sustainable development/SDGs; and SDG nationalization and reporting processes. Previous experience of conducting UN Country Analysis is an asset. A good understanding of Maldives’ economic context and fiscal environment is an asset. Substantial professional application of human rights, gender equality, women’s empowerment, environmental sustainability, results-based management, resilience, and capacity development in research; with excellent understanding of inclusive economic growth, decent work, development risks, hazards, vulnerabilities and challenges of upper-middle income countries, including those linked to climate change. Experience in the discourse around UN development system reforms and related trainings/workshops of the UN System Staff College and other UN entities. Ability to design and implement participatory, inclusive, and innovative methods and tools. Ability to deliver a high-analytical report in a very short time and ability to lead a research team and work effectively and constructively in a multi-agency setting. Languageso Excellent analytical writing and oral presentational English o Excellent writing and oral presentational Dhivehi. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE 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.