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CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Democratic Governance Roster for Experts in Governance Assessment

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP supports over 132 countries around the globe in the areas of Poverty Reduction, Democratic Governance, Environment and Energy, Capacity Development, Gender, HIV/AIDS and Crisis Prevention and Recovery. The Bureau for Development Policy (BDP) is UNDP’s policy bureau. BDP plays a key role in helping country offices accelerate human development through UNDP’s programmes and initiatives.

The Democratic Governance Practice (DGP) is the largest practice area in UNDP/BDP. It works on building effective and capable states that are accountable and transparent. The principal areas of work are organized around 3 clusters: Inclusive Participation, Responsive Governing Institutions, and International Norms and Principles.

  • The Inclusive Participation cluster supports efforts for expanding opportunities for civic engagement – particularly of the poor, women, youth, indigenous people, and other marginalized groups – in the channels of interaction with the state, at national, regional and local levels.
  • The Responsive Institutions cluster promotes the development of institutional capacity, and accountability, in the area of access to justice, rule of law and security, public administration and local governance at the national, regional and local level to ensure these institutions reflect and serve the needs, priorities, and interests of all people. Programme priority is given to strengthening the mechanisms of responsiveness and public accountability to the concerns and interests of poor people, women, and other vulnerable or excluded groups.
  • The International Norms and Principles cluster promotes integration of UN principles, policies, practices, and strategies (on human rights, anti-corruption and gender) within and outside the UN family

Through the Global Programme on Governance Assessments, UNDP seeks to assist developing countries conduct country-led assessments to better monitor performance on democratic governance goals. The aim of the Programme, co-ordinated by the UNDP Oslo Governance Centre, is to develop the capacities of government, the national statistics office and civil society in the collection, maintenance and analysis of governance related data and to assist the development of an inclusive and consultative framework for the systematic assessment and monitoring of democratic governance targets.

When conducted successfully, a nationally owned governance assessment serves to strengthen democratic governance at the country level: A democratic governance assessment provides a critical accountability mechanism for government and for citizens to engage on governance issues and voice their opinions, and the data produced by the assessment reflect and address citizens’ concerns. Democratic governance assessments may also offer a superior evidence base for national decision making: Benchmarking progress provides a record of reference for planning, monitoring and evaluation. The Global Programme on Governance Assessment is currently providing financial and technical assistance to 20+ country projects of this kind. For more information, please see www.gaportal.org.

In its efforts of scaling up support to country-led democratic governance assessments, UNDP is looking to expand its roster of technical experts in governance assessments available for consultancy assignments.


Duties and Responsibilities

The range of tasks that would typically be expected from a consultant includes:

  • Capacity development of relevant national stakeholders with regards to assessing governance performance, including but not exclusive to workshop facilitation and trainings;
  • Indicator development including indicators for measuring corruption, local governance, civil society, public administration, parliament, political parties, forest management, climate change, extractive industries, democracy, conflict, electoral systems, gender, human rights, justice or media;
  • Assessment facilitation through dialogue, inclusive participation, consensus building and multi-stakeholder approaches.
  • Technical assistance to specific country projects related to project design, adjustment in implementation and project evaluations.
  • Assistance with writing, drafting, researching and substantive editing of knowledge products related to governance assessments.

Competencies

  • Communication: ability to communicate ideas concisely written and verbally
  • Teamwork: Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity, including gender balance;
  • Gender Mainstreaming: Ability to identify and address relevant gender perspectives in substantive work;
  • Language Requirements: Excellent command of written and verbal English, Working knowledge of another UN language is a plus.
  • Computer Skills: Experienced and competent user of WORD. Other software packages a plus, such as SPSS, STAT or other statistical, qualitative research, or indicator related programmes.
  • Proven relevant working experience in a region (Africa, Arab States, Asia & the Pacific, Europe & the Commonwealth of Independent States and/or Latin America & the Caribbean) is an asset.
  • IT literacy and ability to operate with on-line web-based applications and tools
  • Proven relevant regional expertise / or work experience in a region is an asset
  • Knowledge of projects and experience in the area of country-led assessments
  • Knowledge of UNDP; its mandate and engagement in governance assessments/indicators particularly UNDP’s expertise and niche in this area.
  • Knowledge of projects and experience with strengthening accountability, related to parliamentary oversight, citizens accountability, accountability within public administration or local governance, oversight functions of independent institutions such as anti-corruption agencies or other types of domestic accountability

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Advanced university degree (Master, PhD) in political science, law, international relations, development studies, public or business administration, or equivalent field.

Experience:

  • Minimum 5 years of proven work experience in the thematic area of expertise.

Language:

  • Working knowledge of at least 1 UN working language (English / French)
  • Proficiency in additional official UN languages (English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic) is desirable.
  • Professional and demonstrated excellent English verbal and written skills, related to knowledge products, reports, academic articles and or other

Evaluation of Applicants

Applicants will be screened against qualifications and the competencies specified above.

  • Short listed candidates will be invited to participate in an interview and/or assessment.
  • Candidates’ references –including past employers- will be verified and confirmed;
  • Selected candidates will be invited to create a profile in the roster; where they can be considered for consultancy opportunities as needs arise.

Contracting Arrangements

Successful candidates will be included in UNDP’s Democratic Governance Vetted Experts Roster for a period of 2 years. Inclusion in the expert roster does not guarantee a contract with UNDP.

When a request for services arises, the hiring unit/office shall:
  • Contact the roster manager or search the roster to select at least three qualified experts;
  • Send the procurement notice and ToRs for the assignment to the selected experts with a request to confirm availability and submit a financial proposal for the assignment within 3-5 business days;
  • Review the submissions and financial proposals; and
  • Select an expert for the assignment based on the ‘Best value for money’ approach.
  • Issue an Individual Contract to the expert;
  • Notify the roster manager of the decision and of the duration of the contract issued to the expert.
  • Submit an evaluation of the expert to the roster manager once the assignment is completed; and before the final payment is issued.

The contracting unit/office will provide a specific Term of Reference (ToR) outlining the outputs for each assignment and issue an Individual Contract (IC) to the consultant, detailing the time frame, and frequency/modality of payments.

Conditions of a particular assignment may be negotiable.
Payment

Payment/s shall be made following certification by UNDP that the services related to each deliverable, as specified in the contract, have been satisfactorily performed and the deliverables have been achieved by or before the due dates specified, if any.

Please note that an evaluation of the expert must be submitted by the hiring unit before issuance of the last payment on the assignment.

Application Procedure

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via the UNDP website.

This call for applications is specifically directed at Governance Assessment Experts. Interested candidates are advised to carefully review this ToR and ensure that they meet the requirements and qualifications described above.

Experts can apply to more than one expert roster. Candidates interested in being considered for other thematic rosters should submit a separate application, in response to the specific vacancy announcement for that thematic area.

All Democratic Governance Vetted Experts Roster announcements are accessible below:
Experts must submit all materials requested for each thematic area of interest.
  • Applications (for each roster) should contain:
  • A brief cover letter, clearly identifying the sub-area(s) of interest and expertise for which the applicant wishes to be considered. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application.
  • A current completed and signed P11 form/ UN Personal History Form in English (blank form can be downloaded from www.sas.undp.org/documents/p11_personal_history_form.doc); please upload the P11 instead of your CV.
  • Contact details for 3 references. Please note that your previous employers could also be contacted.
  • Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you provide all requested materials
  • The deadline for submission of applications is 14 October 2011.
Qualified women and members of social minorities are encouraged to apply. Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are only able to inform the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.

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.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Democratic Governance Roster for Experts in Governance Assessment