Voter Registration Advisor (National Consultant), Dhaka

UNDP supported Bangladesh Election Commission (BEC) to create a fresh voters' list with photographs and biometrics through 'Preparation of Electoral Roll with Photographs' (PERP) project. The project has digitally registered more than 87 million voters and created the most accurate and the most authenticate electoral database in the history of Bangladesh. As a byproduct of the electoral database, BEC issued National ID Card (NID) to all registered voters. The exercise of creating voters list with photographs and biometrics involved procurement of huge hardware, software and other ICT equipment, its deployment and operations; the voter registration, first of its kind in the country, required unprecedented levels of technology, ICT and operational skills. The PERP project has ended from development partners' side while operationally it would continue till June 2012 under GoB.

Legislation requires the voters' list be updated on an annual basis and since the initial registration in 2007/2008, BEC has under taken a number steps to institutionalize the project gains and updated the voter list in 2009 for the first time by its own staff. Furthermore, a policy decision was taken to decentralize the voter registration system, allowing election offices to manage and update the voter list at local level. The process requires development of updated software as well as revised standard operating procedures. At the same time, the issuance of national ID cards continues to be a responsibility of the BEC and therefore linked to voter registration process. A separate project under BEC shall manage the NID while electoral database shall be the source of NID information.

For better development and institutionalization of project gains, UNDP provided technical assistance to the BEC and PERP project in the formulation of a comprehensive master plan known as “Bangladesh Voter Registration System (BVRS)”. BVRS being implemented by PERP project and all future voter registration shall be carried out under this BVRS. In 2009, voter list was update following the experience of 2007/2008. To meet the legal obligations, BEC needs to update voter list in 2011 which shall be different from the ICT set up of 2007/8 and 2009.

UNDP is currently seeking a voter registration advisor to provide technical assistance to the BEC in developing and implementing operational manual for updating electoral database in 2011 and develop monitoring and coordination strategy for BEC to ensure the timely implementation of all activities relate to voter registration under BEC projects.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Voter Registration Advisor shall work under the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist, Elections, with overall guidance from the National Project Director. The Advisor will work closely with BEC, various sections of Election Commission Secretariat, National Project Director, Project Manager and other project staff.

• S/he will be responsible for high quality advice and guidance on all matters related to voter registration.
• Carry out need assessment for voter registration under voter list update programme in 2011
• Review all forms related to voter registration and recommend amendments/modifications if necessary to ensure compliance with rules/regulations and BVRS.
• Develop operational manual for pilot project
• Assist BEC and the project to implement the operational manual in pilot project
• Analyze the feedback of the pilot project to formalize operational manual for nationwide voter list update programme.
• Prepare budget for voter registration under voter list update programme in 2011
• Assist BEC in implementing BVRS.
• Assist BEC in developing web service to support voter registration related services online
• Develop business process for online verification services from electoral databases to other government and nongovernmental departments
• Develop monitoring tool for BEC to oversee all activities under its projects.
• Prepare procurement plan for update programme
• Assist BEC/project in carrying out procurement in support of voter list update programme
• Formalize Memorandum of Understanding between BEC and other organizations for sharing electoral database.

Deliverables:

• Advisory notes (process/procedures on voter registration for BEC as applicable).
• Need assessment report (voter registration under voter list update programme in 2011).
• Form review report (all forms related to voter registration).
• Operational Manual for pilot project
• Services (discussions, presentations, visits etc) for capacity building (assist BEC and the project to implement the operational manual in pilot project and to implement BVRS).
• Feedback report (analyze the feedback of the pilot project)
• Operational Manual for nationwide voter registration under update programme 2011 (based on experience and feedback on pilot project)
• Budget for voter registration (under voter list update programme in 2011).
• Site map (assist BEC in developing web service to support voter registration related services online).
• Defined business process document (for online verification services from electoral databases to other government and nongovernmental departments).
• Monitoring tool (for BEC to oversee all voter registration related activities under its projects).
• Procurement plan for voter registration under update programme 2011.
• Tender documents, evaluation tables etc if BEC/projects intend to carry out procurement in support of voter list update programme.
• Memorandum of Understanding (between BEC and other organizations for sharing or getting services from electoral database)
• Report (Coordinate with other projects (A2I and Birth and Death Registration Projects) to recommend options for compatibility and interoperability of electoral database with those of others).

Impact of Results:

Enhanced management capacity of BEC in voter registration and services from electoral database

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted minimum eligible criteria and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

* Minimum eligible criteria weight; 70%

* Financial Criteria weight; 30%

Only candidates obtaining minimum marks of 49 out of 70 would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

Criteria Weight Max. Point

Minimum eligible criteria 70% of 70 points.

Masters in business administration, operations management, computer science, law, MIS or any other relevant discipline ---------- 20 points.

Progressive 15 years professional experience in public or private sector.-------20 points

Proper explanation the set of experiences mentioned in the TOR------- 20 points

Working Experience with International Organizations--------10 points

Financial ---- 30 points

Total- 100 points

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN's values and ethical standards (human rights, peace, understanding between peoples and nations, tolerance, integrity, respect, results orientation (UNDP core ethics) impartiality
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Behavioral competencies:

• Good interpersonal skills;
• Demonstrable results-oriented approach to work;

Knowledge Management and Learning:

• Display understanding about electoral issues;
• Demonstrate knowledge about co-operational issues;
• Excellent communication skills;

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Minimum masters in business administration, operations management, computer science, law, MIS or any other relevant discipline.

Experience:

• Must have minimum 15 years of progressive professional experience in public or private sector.
• Must have managed at least one project of voter registration with photographs and fingerprint registering minimum 50 million voters.
• Must have proven experience in developing operational manual for voter registration.
• Must have proven experience in managing electoral database with Automated Finger Print Identification System.
• Must have experience in integrating voter registration data collected from the field with central database.
• Must have proven experience in developing policy and procedure for decentralization of correction of electoral information nationwide.
• Must have experience in policy and strategy formulation at national level.
• Prior experience in developing MOU for the government is needed.
• Prior experience with the multiple governments would be an advantage.
• Experience in public procurement and UNDP procurement certification would be an advantage.
• Experience in designing and implementing large and complex ICT management for electoral database would be an advantage.

Language

- Must be fluent in written and spoken Bangla.

- Fluent in both written and spoken English

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.