Consultant, Scoping Exercise for the Commonwealth Pacific Governance Facility (CPGF)
Reference: G/PGPAC/0428
Location: Honiara, Solomon Islands
Duration: 5 weeks
Closing Date: 20 Jun 2011
Rationale and Context
The Commonwealth Pacific Governance Facility (CPGF) was established by the Commonwealth Secretariat to address the strategic gaps in the governance of Pacific Island Countries (PICs). The CPGF represents the Secretariat’s support to the governance aspects of the Pacific Plan[1] ratified by the Pacific Forum Island leaders, governance being one of the four pillars of the Plan.
A high level regional consultative meeting was held in Suva in May 2006 involving participants from the 11 Pacific member countries, regional organizations and key donors to the Pacific. All the countries represented endorsed the development of the CPGF with a focus on four governance themes:
Democratic Institutions, Processes and Culture;
Anti-Corruption Institutions;
Official Information Dissemination and Accessibility;
Land Information Management Systems.
A programme document was completed in November 2007, and shared with member governments, development partners and stakeholders in the region. While the responses were positive there was a general consensus that the Programme was over ambitious. This led to a second exercise, carried out between February and May 2009, to review, revalidate and refocus the programme in order to add value to other Pacific governance programmes.
The development of the CPGF was the outcome of the 2009 review. The Facility was designed to be the primary mechanism of assistance for Commonwealth Pacific governance initiatives during the period 2009–2013. It is based on a flexible structure to deliver quickly effective demand-driven governance initiatives. It will only operate where the Commonwealth Secretariat has a comparative advantage and where there are strategic links to broader Commonwealth programmes and to other donor programmes.
Based in Honiara, the CPGF opened its offices in June 2010. Currently, the CPGF delivers a number of short term technical assistance projects to Pacific member countries and is in the process of finalising its first regional project (under its second pillar – strengthening anticorruption institutions) to support Government procurement reform. That project, developed in support of the FEMM’s roadmap to improve public financial management, will provide savings from increased efficiency in Government procurement, stem corruption and attain value for money in the procurement of goods, services and construction work. That project places emphasis on stronger accountability measures, enhanced capacity of procurement officers and better procurement frameworks and systems.
It is now a priority of CPGF to develop a second regional project under the ambit of its first pillar, strengthening democratic institutions, processes and culture. To do this, a scoping exercise will be undertaken to update the 2007 and 2009 assessments, identify current regional priorities and existing gaps in development partners’ support of Pacific member countries’ good governance priorities.
Purpose of the Project
The primary purpose of this scoping exercise is to update the Commonwealth Secretariat’s understanding of current priorities as they relate to the first pillar, and identify existing gaps in development partners’ interventions to address the governance priorities of Pacific Island Countries. More specifically this exercise is to review Pacific member countries’ priorities on governance and determine:
The extent to which PIC governance priorities have been supported by development partners thus far.
The existing gaps in that support that the CPGF could strategically address under its first pillar.
The best approach, whether nationally or regionally, to address those existing gaps.
The possibility of the CPGF collaborating with other development partners to address existing gaps.
Scope of Services
The consultant shall perform the following services within the given timeframe:
Review the Pacific Plan progress reports (2006-2010); hold telephone discussions with stakeholders including PIFS and other relevant CROP Agencies; identify other development partner governance projects in the region (bilateral and/or multilateral).
Analyse all available relevant information and material with a view to identifying priority areas of intervention and/or collaboration with development partners in the region.
Create a revised matrix of priority areas, activities currently undertaken, projects in the pipeline, funding agencies, and project details including their regional or national scope.
Provide recommendations for:
Focus areas
New initiatives
Proposed model of coordination, including identifying the CPGF’s comparative advantage/s and potential niche areas in governance as they relate to the first pillar
Best approach in terms of regional vs national focus
Time Frame and Methodology
The assignment will be for five weeks. Three weeks will be allocated to desk reviews and telephone consultations, and two weeks for writing the report. The Commonwealth Secretariat and CPGF will have five days to provide comments to the first draft. Within two days of receiving and incorporating comments, the final report will be submitted.
As this assignment will be based on desk reviews and telephone consultations, no travel is anticipated.
Expected Deliverables
A comprehensive report containing suitable suggestions and recommendations on the way forward. A draft report will be submitted to Director, Governance and Institutional Development Division (GIDD) for comments and copied to CPGF Director. A final report will be submitted incorporating comments shortly thereafter.
Reporting Arrangements
The consultant shall report to the Director, GIDD or nominee through the CPGF Director.
Professional Qualifications and Skills
Applicants must hold post-graduate qualifications in development and governance related fields of study.
Experience
Proven experience of working closely with high level government officials, policy makers and civil society
Sound knowledge and experience of governance capacity development work in the Pacific
Experience of implementing programmes in the Pacific
Understanding of donor policies and strategies
Competencies
Strong understanding of governance and development issues in the Pacific
Highly developed analytical skills, with the ability to provide clear and objective advice and recommendations
Ability to synthesise volumes of complex material
Strong written and communication skills
Able to work on initiative with minimal supervision
Submission of Applications
For information regarding this consultancy or to submit your application and the Personal History Form, please contact:
Mrs Puja D Sharma
HR (CFTC), Commonwealth Secretariat
Pall Mall
London SW1Y 5HX
Email: p.sharma@commonwealth.int
Phone: + 44 207 747 6531
Fax: + 44 20 7747 6520
The application and the Personal History Form should be forwarded to the contact officer as an attachment to an email or by post / fax.
Please Note: This invitation is open to independent consultants who are nationals of Commonwealth member countries.
[1] Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (2005) The Pacific Plan for Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Integration.
Location: Honiara, Solomon Islands
Duration: 5 weeks
Closing Date: 20 Jun 2011
Rationale and Context
The Commonwealth Pacific Governance Facility (CPGF) was established by the Commonwealth Secretariat to address the strategic gaps in the governance of Pacific Island Countries (PICs). The CPGF represents the Secretariat’s support to the governance aspects of the Pacific Plan[1] ratified by the Pacific Forum Island leaders, governance being one of the four pillars of the Plan.
A high level regional consultative meeting was held in Suva in May 2006 involving participants from the 11 Pacific member countries, regional organizations and key donors to the Pacific. All the countries represented endorsed the development of the CPGF with a focus on four governance themes:
Democratic Institutions, Processes and Culture;
Anti-Corruption Institutions;
Official Information Dissemination and Accessibility;
Land Information Management Systems.
A programme document was completed in November 2007, and shared with member governments, development partners and stakeholders in the region. While the responses were positive there was a general consensus that the Programme was over ambitious. This led to a second exercise, carried out between February and May 2009, to review, revalidate and refocus the programme in order to add value to other Pacific governance programmes.
The development of the CPGF was the outcome of the 2009 review. The Facility was designed to be the primary mechanism of assistance for Commonwealth Pacific governance initiatives during the period 2009–2013. It is based on a flexible structure to deliver quickly effective demand-driven governance initiatives. It will only operate where the Commonwealth Secretariat has a comparative advantage and where there are strategic links to broader Commonwealth programmes and to other donor programmes.
Based in Honiara, the CPGF opened its offices in June 2010. Currently, the CPGF delivers a number of short term technical assistance projects to Pacific member countries and is in the process of finalising its first regional project (under its second pillar – strengthening anticorruption institutions) to support Government procurement reform. That project, developed in support of the FEMM’s roadmap to improve public financial management, will provide savings from increased efficiency in Government procurement, stem corruption and attain value for money in the procurement of goods, services and construction work. That project places emphasis on stronger accountability measures, enhanced capacity of procurement officers and better procurement frameworks and systems.
It is now a priority of CPGF to develop a second regional project under the ambit of its first pillar, strengthening democratic institutions, processes and culture. To do this, a scoping exercise will be undertaken to update the 2007 and 2009 assessments, identify current regional priorities and existing gaps in development partners’ support of Pacific member countries’ good governance priorities.
Purpose of the Project
The primary purpose of this scoping exercise is to update the Commonwealth Secretariat’s understanding of current priorities as they relate to the first pillar, and identify existing gaps in development partners’ interventions to address the governance priorities of Pacific Island Countries. More specifically this exercise is to review Pacific member countries’ priorities on governance and determine:
The extent to which PIC governance priorities have been supported by development partners thus far.
The existing gaps in that support that the CPGF could strategically address under its first pillar.
The best approach, whether nationally or regionally, to address those existing gaps.
The possibility of the CPGF collaborating with other development partners to address existing gaps.
Scope of Services
The consultant shall perform the following services within the given timeframe:
Review the Pacific Plan progress reports (2006-2010); hold telephone discussions with stakeholders including PIFS and other relevant CROP Agencies; identify other development partner governance projects in the region (bilateral and/or multilateral).
Analyse all available relevant information and material with a view to identifying priority areas of intervention and/or collaboration with development partners in the region.
Create a revised matrix of priority areas, activities currently undertaken, projects in the pipeline, funding agencies, and project details including their regional or national scope.
Provide recommendations for:
Focus areas
New initiatives
Proposed model of coordination, including identifying the CPGF’s comparative advantage/s and potential niche areas in governance as they relate to the first pillar
Best approach in terms of regional vs national focus
Time Frame and Methodology
The assignment will be for five weeks. Three weeks will be allocated to desk reviews and telephone consultations, and two weeks for writing the report. The Commonwealth Secretariat and CPGF will have five days to provide comments to the first draft. Within two days of receiving and incorporating comments, the final report will be submitted.
As this assignment will be based on desk reviews and telephone consultations, no travel is anticipated.
Expected Deliverables
A comprehensive report containing suitable suggestions and recommendations on the way forward. A draft report will be submitted to Director, Governance and Institutional Development Division (GIDD) for comments and copied to CPGF Director. A final report will be submitted incorporating comments shortly thereafter.
Reporting Arrangements
The consultant shall report to the Director, GIDD or nominee through the CPGF Director.
Professional Qualifications and Skills
Applicants must hold post-graduate qualifications in development and governance related fields of study.
Experience
Proven experience of working closely with high level government officials, policy makers and civil society
Sound knowledge and experience of governance capacity development work in the Pacific
Experience of implementing programmes in the Pacific
Understanding of donor policies and strategies
Competencies
Strong understanding of governance and development issues in the Pacific
Highly developed analytical skills, with the ability to provide clear and objective advice and recommendations
Ability to synthesise volumes of complex material
Strong written and communication skills
Able to work on initiative with minimal supervision
Submission of Applications
For information regarding this consultancy or to submit your application and the Personal History Form, please contact:
Mrs Puja D Sharma
HR (CFTC), Commonwealth Secretariat
Pall Mall
London SW1Y 5HX
Email: p.sharma@commonwealth.int
Phone: + 44 207 747 6531
Fax: + 44 20 7747 6520
The application and the Personal History Form should be forwarded to the contact officer as an attachment to an email or by post / fax.
Please Note: This invitation is open to independent consultants who are nationals of Commonwealth member countries.
[1] Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (2005) The Pacific Plan for Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Integration.
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