Writing a chapter on the importance of social accountability mechanisms for promoting democratic governance and achieving the MDGs in post-conflict an

Consultant: Writing a chapter on the importance of social accountability mechanisms for promoting democratic governance and achieving the MDGs in post-conflict and fragile state situations for the UNDP publication, ‘Social Accountability for Improved Governance and Achievement of the MDGs: 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. 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 innovative approaches of civil society actors, UNDP and other development actors. 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 the chapter on the importance of social accountability mechanisms for promoting democratic governance and achieving the MDGs in post-conflict, crisis and fragile situations. Rebuilding state legitimacy and improving efficiency calls for the establishment of responsive and accountable institutions, inclusive political processes and resilient state-society relations. To achieve this, an inclusive social contract that explicitly focuses on building social cohesion, strengthening peace and security, promoting civic engagement and transparency and accountability is required between the state and its citizens. This chapter will focus on the importance of social accountability mechanisms in strengthening social cohesion, rebuilding state legitimacy and improving efficiency for the achievement of the MDGs. Specifically, the chapter will address the following questions through examination of specific examples: How can social accountability mechanisms contribute to building trust, enhancing community security, strengthening state-society relationships and promoting participatory (MDG) policy processes in post-conflict and fragile situations? What are the challenges in desgining and implementing social accountability mechanims in post-conflict and fragile situations? What are some of the key lessons learnt from various actors’ (including CSOs’) efforts in designing and integrating social accountability initiatives into reconstruction and rebuilding processes? How can they inform future 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. The chapter should draw on existing UNDP concepts, frameworks and language for addressing these issues in fragile contexts and should also explicitly explore how social accountability initiatives in fragile and conflict contexts differ from such initiatives in other contexts. 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 post-conflict and fragile state situations. It will showcase innovative experiences, particularly from the south, on how social accountability initiatives helped to rebuild state legitimacy, and improve efficiency for the MDGs achievement.

Competencies

Track record of publication in the given area – crisis prevention; community security and social cohesion; state-building. Strong understanding of development programming and the current development agenda, including the MDGs. Specialist knowledge in the thematic area(s), particularly social accountability in post-conflict contexts. Track record of research in democratic governance. 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 conflict prevention and recovery, social accountability and the MDGs. Experience or knowledge of UNDP; its mandate and work in democratic governance, civil society, fragile contexts, 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: 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.

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 the importance of social accountability mechanisms for promoting democratic governance and achieving the MDGs in post-conflict and fragile state