Two Electoral Assistance Consultants

Position description

 

UNDP’s democratic governance practice focuses on fostering inclusive participation, strengthening responsive governing institutions, and promoting democratic principles. Inclusive participation expands equal opportunities for engagement by the poor, women, youth, indigenous people, and other marginalized groups who are excluded from power. Efforts in this area aim to strengthen opportunities for civic engagement in the core channels linking people and the state, at the national, regional and local levels.

Work on governing institutions has traditionally emphasized the design and functions of the core pillars of the state, including the legislative, executive and judicial branches, at national, regional and local levels.  Strengthening responsive governing institutions entails promoting the core channels of representation and accountability in the state at the national, regional and local levels. Responsive institutions mean that the state reflects and serves the needs, priorities, and interests of all people, including women, the poor, youth, and minorities.

Supporting national partners to strengthen democratic practices grounded in human rights, anti-corruption and gender equality require UNDP leadership in promoting integration, coordination and information-sharing of policies, practices, and strategies strengthening democratic governance within and outside of the UN family.

The Global Programme for Electoral Cycle Support (GPECS) has become UNDP’s most important vehicle contributing to the formulation and implementation of electoral policy.  GPECS sought to respond to the growing demands and to ensure global coherence while balancing and responding to regional and country realities. The programme consists of country, regional, global and gender components that sustainably support policy development, knowledge management and programme support and that use a process-driven approach rather than an event-driven one.

The overall goal to which GPECS contributes is towards deepening democracy and accelerating human development.

In 2007, an EC-UNDP Joint Task Force (JTF) on Electoral Assistance, composed of EC and UNDP representatives based in Brussels, was established to further strengthen and facilitate the already existing EC-UNDP partnership in the field of electoral assistance, and to improve the overall efficiency and adherence of UNDP projects benefitting from EU financial contributions to the common EC-UNDP strategic approach. The JTF monitors and supports the partnership, from the early formulation missions to the end of the contractual obligations; seeks policy convergence in both organization’s electoral assistance, including advocating adherence to UN and multilateral norms and standards; better positions UNDP with the EC in the domain of electoral assistance and related areas; encourages the professional development of EC and UNDP staff, and improves knowledge of the institutional aspects of electoral assistance projects. Since 2009, UNDP support to the work of the EC-UNDP Joint Task Force has come from GPECS, and JTF staff based in Brussels have been part of the overall GPECS framework, linking in their country-support closely with the global and regional policy advisors.

Under the overall guidance of BPPS Democratic Governance Director and the day-to-day supervision of BPPS Electoral Advisor and coordinator of the EC-UNDP joint task force, the candidate will strengthen and facilitate cooperation between UNDP and all UNDP country offices requiring assistance, facilitate cooperation between the EU and UNDP. S/He will assist senior management on managerial, political and operational issues relating to EC-UNDP electoral assistance projects and support the development of the SELECT SIXTEEN initiative centered around conflict prevention and democracy strengthening

 

 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the UNDP Programme Advisor – Elections and Coordinator of the Joint EC-UNDP Task Force on Electoral Assistance (JTF), the consultant will expect to perform the following tasks:

Advise relevant UNDP and EU services in the drafting project documents (including the definition of operational procedures, selection of personnel/contractors and resource mobilization for projects);

• Advise on the design and implementation of Early Warning Systems as part of the conflict prevention component of the SELECT SIXTEEN programming (including conflict mapping and analysis; monitoring and ongoing support)Assist with resource mobilization from both the European Commission (geographical funds), the European External Action Service (Instrument for Stability and SPRING funds), EU Member States and all other potential donors for UNDP electoral assistance projects at country level;
• Support the work of the senior staff of the JTF in establishing links and initiate the drafting of MoUs relating to electoral assistance activities between UNDP Country Offices, EU Delegations, governments, other donors and EMBs, whilst taking into consideration the lessons-learned in Country Offices and EU Delegations;
• Participate, where requested in in DPPA-led electoral Needs Assessment Missions at country level;
• Conduct project formulation missions, following the DPPA-led NAM process, to design and produce project documents for UNDP Country Offices, in consultation with the UNDP Regional Electoral Advisers and Brussel’s Programme Advisor/JTF Coordinator
• Assist senior Electoral Assistance Specialist as backup for Regional Electoral Advisors and HQ Advisors in the provision of advisory services to Country Offices in the area of electoral assistance;
• Liaise with UNDP Country Offices and EU Delegations to promote the use of the Joint EC and UNDP Reporting and Visibility Guidelines for electoral assistance projects.

 

 

Competencies

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of the UN system;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:

• Demonstrates ability to juggle competing demands, to manage time effectively and adhere to deadlines, and to work flexibly in a multicultural team
• Demonstrates excellent written and oral communication skills
• Good communication and interpersonal skills, ability to foster networks and partnerships
• Attention to detail
• Ability to work in a team and to communicate in a clear fashion
• Computer proficiency in standard software applications (MS Office, Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

 

 

Required Skills and Experience

Education: Advanced university degree (MA) in the field of International relations, Law, Political Science or related subject. Significant experience may be considered in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Languages:

• Fluency in English, French, written and oral.
• Some understanding of Spanish is an Asset.

Experience: 

• Minimum 2 years specialized experience in international context, in election observation, electoral assistance and democratization, majority of which must be in electoral assistance and at least 1 of which involves research, programming, formulation, management and advice on electoral assistance activities;
• Good technical knowledge of the field of electoral assistance, as well as a general knowledge of cross-cutting democratic governance issues that are often addressed through electoral cycle or deepening democracy programmes;
• The candidate should have significant experience in providing practical advice to policy makers;
• Practical experience in designing, managing, and monitoring electoral assistance programmes in developing countries, preferably also with UNDP and EC procedures;
• Experience in conflict mapping and formulation of conflict prevention activities is an asset.
• Field-based experience in formulating UNDP electoral assistance projects;
• Knowledge of donor coordination, donor-government relations and formulating a multi-donor basket fund an asset;
• Experience in working with transnational and emerging democracies and post-conflict environments an asset, especially for the areas of Eastern Europe, Africa and Arab States which are the main target of EC contributions to UNDP managed basket fund in support of electoral processes;
• Computer proficiency, including working knowledge of MS Office products (Word, Excel, Powerpoint);
• Proficiency with ArcGIS is an asset;
• Experience in website design and maintenance or other visibility material for electoral assistance an asset.

Application Evaluation Process

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the cumulative analysis methodology (weighted scoring method), where the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Technical Criteria weight: [70%]

Financial Criteria weight: [30%]

Only Individual Consultants obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70%) on the Technical evaluation will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 70 points:

• Cover letter – 20 points
• Proven knowledge in formulation and needs assessment activities – 25 points
• Relevant experience in conflict mapping and formulation of conflict prevention activities– 10 points
• Experience with working with country-level entities, preferably in the field of development and governance – 15 points

Application instructions

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