Writing a chapter on environmental challenges, social accountability and achieving the MDGs for the UNDP publication, ‘Social Accountability for Impro

The UNDP Oslo Governance Centre [OGC] was established in 2002 as a centre of excellence designed to provide support to the practical and operational work of UNDP in assisting partner countries in developing more democratic and effective forms of governance for sustainable peace and development. The OGC is a unit of the Democratic Governance Group [DGG] in the Bureau for Development Policy [BDP]. OGC consists of two units: Governance Assessment (GA) unit and Analysis and Learning unit (DGAL). The objective of DGAL is to codify, analyze and disseminate the results of UNDP’s work in democratic governance, with a view to informing democratic governance policy and programme. One of the focus areas of DGAL is related to strengthening civil society and social accountability. UNDP’s Civil Society Division, housed in the Partnerships Bureau (PB) is responsible for strengthening UNDP policies and methods to engage and collaborate more effectively and systematically with civil society and its organizations at all levels. UNDP’s Social Accountability Work: UNDP considers the concept of social accountability to be at the heart of its democratic governance work – as social accountability focuses on promoting citizens’ voice and engagement, and linking citizens’ engagement with efforts to build responsive institutions. Fostering inclusive participation and building responsive state institutions are the two priority areas identified by both the UNDP Strategic Plan [2008-2013] and the Global Strategy to Strengthen Civil Society and Civic Engagement [2009] as a means to strengthening democratic governance. In addition, the civil society strategy emphasizes support to a range of social accountability mechanisms through which citizens and CSOs can engage with state officials at various levels to bring about more transparent, accountable and responsive governance. In an effort to further integrate social accountability principles into democratic governance programming, UNDP produced the ‘Guidance Note on Fostering Social Accountability’ in 2010. The note offers practical guidance to programme staff on how to incorporate the practices of social accountability into programming. It also highlights the experiences of several UNDP countries offices, notably Albania, the Philippines, Kenya, and the Pacific Regional Centre among others, in promoting social accountability. Further, many UNDP country offices are keen on integrating social accountability initiatives in their programmes and there is a growing demand for practical examples and lesson learnt in promoting social accountability. In response to this demand, OGC is currently establishing a database of social accountability and citizens’ monitoring initiatives implemented by UNDP and other actors on the Governance Assessment Portal (GAP). This database will be built with an explicit aim to systematize and share experiences and lessons learnt in the area of social accountability. Background to the comparative experiences publication, ‘Social Accountability for Improved Governance and Achievement of the MDGs’: Many of the successes in achieving MDGs have been made possible through strengthening governance, promoting inclusive national ownership, civil society and community involvement, in addition to international and regional cooperation and support. Social accountability mechanisms have provided a practical means to promote a critical aspect of localization of the MDGs i.e. local communities’ and CSOs’ involvement in setting targets and tracking the MDGs (particularly in education, health, and water and sanitation sectors). These mechanisms have also helped to improve institutional arrangements for service delivery and hold state institutions to account on service delivery. However, little attention has been paid to assessing the impact and effectiveness of such initiatives. Indeed, much is not yet known about whether and how the use of social accountability mechanisms has strengthened responsive governance, improved service delivery and contributed to the achievement of the MDGs. Nor has there been a concerted effort to understand what needs to be done to strengthen people’s voice, stimulate civic engagement, and build responsive institutions that deliver on the MDGs – within the context of urbanization, social exclusion, rapid advancements in the information and communication technologies sector (ICT), environmental challenges and climate change, and rising crises and fragile-state situations. Therefore, UNDP will produce a comparative experience publication that will explore emerging social, political, environment and technological trends and illustrate how different actors, including CSOs, are responding to these trends and promoting people’s engagement in development processes, including the achievement of MDGs. It will examine how social accountability initiatives, when linked with governance processes, can help in developing people’s centred approaches that could advance the achievement of the MDGs. The purpose of this publication is to present and analyse strategies and approaches that have been successful in bringing about responsive governance and policy change, including the innovative approaches of civil society actors, UNDP and other development partners In addition, the publication will also make recommendations towards enhancing social accountability programming within UNDP. The publication will specifically highlight experiences from across regions and contexts that have successfully promoted two-way dialogue between citizens, civil society organizations and state institutions, addressed social exclusion and increased civic engagement, and enhanced state actors’ responsiveness and accountability.

Duties and Responsibilities

UNDP is seeking a consultant to develop a chapter on the relevance of social accountability mechanisms for enhancing people’s voice in formulating and implementing climate mitigation and adaption strategies, and also achieving and sustaining MDG achievement. In the context of the critical environmental challenges that could affect human development and the achievement of the MDGs, it will analyze lessons learnt from promoting people’s engagement (including that of marginalized and indigenous people) in natural resource management and other initiatives to protect the environment. It will explore how these lessons can inform current environment and climate change programming, including UN REDD. Specifically, the chapter will answer the following questions through examination of specific examples: Why is participation of those affected by environmental challenges essential for developing better resource management plans and also disaster risk reduction and climate mitigation plans? How can social accountability mechanisms enhance people’s voice in better management of resources, addressing environmental challenges and promoting accountability of the state? What are the difficulties in promoting social accountability mechanisms in the context of climate change and other environmental challenges? What are some of the key lessons learnt from civil society and other actors’ initiatives to promote social accountability in this area? Are there any lessons for future UNDP programming? What can UNDP do to strengthen its partnership and advocacy strategies with actors, including civil society actors that have achieved demonstrable success in this area? This question should be addressed in a separate section. In answering the above questions, the chapter should highlight key aspects related to environmental challenges and the achievement of the MDGs, and the role of social accountability mechanism in addressing the challenges. Within these broad parameters, the author may choose which particular environmental issue(s) to highlight - resource scarcity, deforestation, forest degradation, depletion of natural resources, climate change, and so on. The chapter may also explore some of the constraints in balancing the demands for energy and natural resources (including water), protecting the environment, safeguarding the rights of the people, including indigenous people. Duties and Responsibilities: The key output of the consultant will be a chapter of approximately 6000 to 7000 words. Among other aspects: The chapter will address the questions and issues indicated in section 4 above. It will also highlight other relevant issues that may have not been covered in section 4 but are nevertheless vital for promoting social accountability, strengthening governance and achieving the MDGs – within the context of current environmental and climate change challenges;. It will showcase innovative experiences, particularly from the south, on how social accountability mechanisms have increased people’s voice in addressing environmental challenges and sustained the MDGs achievement.

Competencies

Strong understanding of development programming and the current development agenda, including the MDGs. Specialist knowledge and track record of publication in the thematic area(s), particularly environment, climate change and sustainable development. Track record of research in democratic governance, including social accountability. Excellent analytical and research skills. Proven publication record in English. Ability to write and communicate in a clear and concise manner.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: Advanced degree in social sciences, political science, law, international relations, development studies. Experience: Minimum of 7 years international experience in the field of democratic governance. Strong publication record in the field of environment, social accountability and the MDGs Experience or knowledge of UNDP; its mandate and work in democratic governance, civil society, social accountability and MDGs. Language: Fluency in written and spoken English. Time frame The final chapter should be produced before 30th July, 2011. The author(s) should present a complete draft of the chapter for comments and input from the OGC and CSD. The final draft will incorporate all comments and suggestions. Payment A lump sum payment will be made following satisfactory submission of the final draft to the OGC. Supervision The consultant will be supervised by the Democratic Governance Advisor, Oslo Governance Centre.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Writing a chapter on environmental challenges, social accountability and achieving the MDGs for the UNDP publication, ‘Social Accountability for Improved Governance and Achievement of the MDGs’