Final-SOP-CICs - December 2020 - consultants and individual contractors management

Aug 31, 2026

Business process guidance for managing consultants and individual contractors within Umoja/Inspira workflows, including engagement flow references and job opening workflow structure. Provides criteria for determining fee and remuneration based on responsibilities, complexity, specialization, required qualifications and experience, and prior Secretariat assignments. Defines fee levels A to E with expected outputs, authorization requirements, and special alignment for exceptional arrangements, including handling proposals above level D and required justifications.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatDOCX

Pages16

Reading Time6 min

AccessFree to download

Business Process Overview

Management Workflow References (Umoja/Inspira)

Fee and Remuneration Levels

Determination Factors

Fee Range Levels A–E

International Consultants and Individual Contractor Rates

Proposals Above Level D

Definitions

Consultant

Individual Contractor

Business Process Document: consultants and individual contractors management Business Process Document Business Process Flow Diagram Inspira/ Umoja process flow Source: Engagement_of_consultants_Handbook, v2.0- September 2014, Inspira Inspira Job opening workflow Source: Engagement_of_consultants_Handbook, v2.0- September 2014, Inspira Consultants/ Individual Contractors Management in Umoja workflow Source: Umoja User Guide: Requesting services of Consultants and Individual Contractors (CIC) V1.3 internal use Delegation of Authority Please refer to the latest Standard framework to record further delegation of authority. Fee and remuneration levels for Consultants and Individual Contractors Determination When setting the consultant’s or individual contractor’s rate of pay, the following factors should be considered: Level of work in terms of responsibilities and complexity of the assignment, Degree of specialization required by the assignment Knowledge, qualifications, experience and skills required Fees paid to the consultant for previous assignments with the Secretariat (or other United Nations agency) Heads of department, office or mission shall keep records of how the fee level was determined. Fee Range Level A. This level is established for the engagement of support services not available in the Organization related to projects or technical tasks of a narrow scope for which limited technical skills or experience are required. Level B. This level is typically used for projects of moderate complexity with either broad scope or limited depth or restricted scope and considerable depth that have an impact on the performance of systems, processes and team(s) within the Organization. This level is typically used for individuals with a specialized degree or training and several years of relevant experience in one of the substantive, technical and/or administrative fields of the Organization. Level C. This level shall be authorized to engage an individual with extensive relevant professional experience requiring specialized or technical knowledge and skills. Individuals at this level will be expected to develop new approaches, techniques or policies and/or design guidelines, standard operating procedures and a project’s theme. Individuals would be engaged in projects of broad scope and considerable depth that will have an impact on the overall execution of programmes or service of a function or various interrelated areas. Expected outputs of the consultancy at this level may relate, inter alia, to providing technical support; leading group dynamics; and undertaking report drafting or project-wide proposals. Level D. This level shall be authorized to engage highly specialized individuals with extensive relevant experience and the highest level of expertise in the corresponding area of work or programme for which they are engaged. The individual’s services, work and recommendations, for example, may form one of several contributions to the accomplishment of a crucial programme or service or functional area of a broad scope, involving high complexity and impact. Some of the expected deliverable outputs would primarily relate to the following: providing functional leadership and expert advice; preparing intricate and complex technical papers to working groups; undertaking the drafting of reports or proposals for projects of a large scale or a broad scope. The individual’s assigned duties may relate to large-scale programmatic and operational activities involving large commitments of staff and funds. Level E. This level can be authorized only by the Office of Human Resources Management. The level is reserved for essentially very exceptional arrangements related to services and work to be obtained from a well-known, worldwide authority in a highly specialized area. Normally, these types of engagements may result in programmatic and/or operational activities involving either large commitments of staff and funds or an exceptionally complex

FAQs

What factors should be considered when determining a consultant’s or individual contractor’s pay rate?

Consider the level of responsibilities and complexity, degree of specialization, required knowledge/qualifications/experience/skills, and fees previously paid for similar assignments with the Secretariat (or other UN agency). Records of how the fee level was determined should be kept by heads of department, office, or mission.

How are fee range levels A to E described and what distinguishes higher levels?

Level A covers support services with limited scope and limited technical skills. Levels B and C expand scope, depth, and expected specialization, including designing guidelines or drafting reports. Levels D and E cover highly specialized expertise, intricate technical papers, and—at Level E—exceptional arrangements authorized only by Human Resources Management.

What happens for proposals for individual contracts with rates above level D?

Rates above level D must be referred to the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Resources Management for review and a decision. Submissions for rates above level D must include appropriate justification for the tasks involved.

Aug 31, 2026

Upload by Quinn Holloway