UNDP Jobs - 31331- ICTs, Governance and Conflict Consultancy

ICTs, Governance and Conflict Consultancy

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

13-Aug-2012

Application Deadline :

27-Jul-12 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

4.5 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

5 months

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. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Emerging social movements, including those in North Africa and the Middle East as well as others in both developed and developing countries, have reemphasized the relevance and impact of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) on governance and conflict transformation processes. Both social networks and mobile technologies have provided new communication channels that have generated global support for these social movements and also helped mobilize people at the local level. While ICTs certainly do not create revolutions they do indeed change the way people interact both with each other and with governments. People's voices are increasingly being heard across the world through new media channels. And, for the first time, many of them are actively participating in governance and conflict transformation processes. While these processes are articulated through different means in conflict and non-conflict contexts, the tools to mobilize and share information in a transparent way and in real-time are essentially the same.

While the role of social networks in these processes have been overhyped, the reality in developing countries such as Egypt and Libya - to name just two, indicates that most of their populations still lack access to the Internet -never mind access to well-known social platforms that are commonplace elsewhere. This has however been compensated by the amazing growth of mobile technologies which are now available to 4.5 billion people of developing countries according to the latest estimates of the ITU.

With usage of mobile and other ICTs expanding rapidly in the developing world, new avenues of participation, engagement, and accountability are emerging. This opens the potential for transforming the relationship between people and governments and thus lead to the emergence of a new 'social contract’. Within governance, mobile phones and ICTs can offer new ways of empowering citizens and stakeholders by opening and enhancing democratic processes and mechanisms to strengthen inclusive development processes.

For conflict prevention in fragile settings, mobiles and ICTs offer similar potential to increase linkages and interaction between stakeholders at different levels of society and rapidly share actionable information for early warning and early action. New technologies have given greater power and opportunities for people to monitor and share real-time information, including information about conflict, crisis, and peace initiatives. Such information can in turn be used to inform appropriate responses, feeding into and capitalizing on existing preventive mechanisms that are part of a nation’s internal capacities for ensuring good governance and peace (i.e. a nation's infrastructures for peace).

ICTs can play a critical role in increasing information-sharing, enhancing civil society engagement in processes concerning both governance and collaborative conflict prevention. Accountable, participatory, and transparent governance practices directly relate to a nation’s ability to constructively address tensions and remain peaceful.

In recognizing the significant opportunities for integrating the use of ICTs into UNDP's development programming, BDP/DGG and BCPR are working to collaboratively capture related experiences to date and bring together the ICT for Development (ICTD), e-governance, and conflict prevention communities of practice to identify appropriate opportunities where the strategic use and deployment of ICTs, in particular mobile technologies, can enhance UNDP’s effectiveness and ability to empower communities and build resilient nations.

In this context, UNDP's Bureau for Development Policy and Bureau for Conflict Prevention and Recovery (BCPR) are collaborating on an effort that will create a Guidance Note on ICTs, Governance and Conflict Transformation. To develop the note, BDP and BCPR are recruiting an external consultant who will be leading the the process and assisting in the overall research and writing process.

Duties and Responsibilities

Overall Objective

Under the supervision of the Policy Advisor of e-Governance and Access Information, in collaboration with the Programme Specialist, Conflict Prevention, of BCPR, the Consultant will conduct the necessary research and provide analytical support towards the development and completion of the Guidance note. The Consultant is expected to produce a draft report, conduct relevant research, and analysis, and assist in the editing processes of a publishable report. The Consultant is also expected to contribute towards the dissemination of the report through various media and platforms.

Specific Tasks and Responsibilities

More specifically, the consultant is expected to undertake the following tasks:

Analyze trends and identify best practices in UNDP and other organizations in the use of ICTs for governance and conflict prevention
Identify key lessons learned, challenges and obstacles particularly in efforts to incorporate ICTs into ongoing or planned conflict prevention initiatives.
Highlight new social innovations that UNDP practitioners need to harness to be more effective on the ground, including trends in the use of mobile technologies/services/applications in developing countries
Consider the various approaches used in assessing and measuring the impact of ICTs on both governance processes and conflict situations.
Compile and systematize relevant academic and data resources
Undertake any other related tasks at the request of the Supervisor

Deliverables

The consultant is expected to produce the following outputs:

Literature review of ICTs in governance and crises
Mapping of existing initiatives on ICTs, governance and conflict prevention, including lessons learnt
At least six related case studies
Draft final report, including several iterations after feedback provided by UNDP

Expected Duration and Location
The Consultant is expected to work for 60 days, with an expected start date of 1 August 2012. The consultant will be home based but is required to be at the UNDP premises at least once a week for consultations. The consultant is not expected to travel.

Competencies

Extensive experience in conducting applied policy-oriented research
Excellent writing, communication and presentation skills
Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment
Solid knowledge of UNDP's work on democratic governance, ICTD and conflict prevention
Previous experience with UNDP or another UN agency
Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to take initiative and be innovative
Ability to work collaboratively in a team structure in a multicultural environment

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Graduate degree in social sciences or directly related areas (with a focus on development, international affairs, conflict prevention, etc.)

Experience:

At least five years of directly relevant professional experience
Experience working on the ground in a developing country (field research experience a must)
Excellent knowledge of ICTD, governance, and conflict prevention
Excellent knowledge of policies and programmes utilizing new ICTs (particulalry mobile phones) for development and conflict prevention in developing countries
Good research skills with knowledge of data analysis tools

Language:

Perfect command of English (knowledge of or fluency in another UN language desirable)