UNDP Jobs - 49182- Developing Institutional Arrangements for National

Developing Institutional Arrangements for National Elders Forum

Location :

Kampala, UGANDA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

01-Sep-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

35 workdays spread over 50 days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

35 days

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

Uganda’s transition to multiparty political dispensation after the referenda of 2005 represents a new chapter of political governance in the country. Since 2005, two national elections were held on the plank of multiparty governance dispensation. Institutionalization of multiparty political dispensation as part of continuous nation and state building is a key foundation for long term peace and stability in the country. Essentially institutional mechanisms that can facilitate developing of common and shared positions on a continual basis are critical for fully realizing gains expected from multiparty political dispensation and building on the impressive gains made by the country since independence.

The 1995 Constitution provides critical entry points for nurturing such spaces of dialogue and consensus building. For instance, within the realm of political dialogue there is a constitutional body (National Consultative Forum) that brings together all the registered political parties onto a common platform for political dialogue and consensus building.

Similarly the political objectives section of the National Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy (Part III) states as follows:

(a) All organs of State and people of Uganda shall work towards the promotion of national unity, peace and stability;
(b) Every effort shall be made to integrate all the peoples of Uganda while at the same time recognizing the existence of their ethnic, religious, ideological, political and cultural diversity;
(c) Everything shall be done to promote a culture of cooperation, understanding, appreciation, tolerance and respect for each other’s custom, traditions and beliefs;
(d) There shall be established and nurtured institutions and procedures for the resolution of conflicts fairly and peacefully; and (e) The State shall provide a peaceful, secure and stable political environment which is necessary for economic development.

Key institutional reform processes led by the government also point towards need for nurturing of spaces that facilitate dialogue and consensus building. For instance, African Peer Review Mechanism which is one of the comprehensive governance assessments undertaken within the country in the recent times identified that peaceful and stable Uganda is a critical prerequisite for building on the gains already made and consolidating on the path of economic recovery. One of the messages emerging from the Country Review Report (2009) is on the need to establish institutions that can afford all members of the society a meaningful stake in the political system and resolve their differences under democratic rules.

On the basis of observations of Country Review Report, a national consultative workshop was convened bringing together key national stakeholders to discuss on the appropriate institutional systems that need to be explored for developing mechanisms of peace-building and conflict transformation. This consultation exercise identified need for nurturing of spaces of dialogue and consensus building with necessary convening capacities. Building on the outcomes of the national workshop, an impartial and neutral platform – National Elders Forum was conceived. Main rationale for launch of the forum was to act as an impartial and neutral space with necessary convening capacities that can contribute towards deepening of democratic systems and practices in the country. National Elders Forum was active in the immediate pre and post-election period of 2011 and facilitated discussions that were critical for peace and stability within this period. During this time, Forum concentrated its activities on dialogue amongst key political leadership of the country. Results of these engagements further underlined the need for an institutionalized space of the nature.

Taking into account the experiences of work of the elders around 2011, a significant portion of time was invested in last couple of years developing wider consensus on the possible role of the Forum as an active mechanism and exploring further opportunities for developing wider synergies with such similar spaces.

There are wider consensus points that emerged with regard to the future operations of the Forum that would need to be considered as part of the efforts to develop the full scale operations of the Forum:

Need to be a completely independent platform without any institutional affiliations – this was considered critical given the middleperson role that the Forum is expected to play;
Need to reconstitute with clear scope of operations of the forum;
Need to review the current composition of the Forum and develop clear criteria on consideration of members of the forum;
Explore the current opportunities of building synergies but protecting the impartiality of the forum;
Explore opportunities for engaging in issues beyond elections;
Engage in political level space for deepening of multiparty political dispensation.

Current developments that further impact the work of the National Elders Forum:

National Consultative Forum is currently in active stages of operations. This forum being the political parties forum is a key entry point that influences the work of the National Elders Forum;
Inter-Religious Council of Uganda has a forum of ‘IRCU Elders’ comprising mostly religious leadership;
Inter-Religious Council of Uganda has developed five year action plan to develop its strategies in the area of governance, peace and development. Given the supreme body bringing together the key religious leadership in the country and the critical role that IRCU has played in the past in the work of the Forum – this is a key niche that impacts the work of the Forum.

Within the context of further strengthening the impartial and neutral spaces of dialogue and the evolving spaces as discussed above – National Elders Forum need to be positioned to consolidate its operations and evolve into a credible space that can act as an institutional mechanism for strengthening peace and stability in the country. Importantly be able to position in a flexible manner support work of the existing spaces as discussed above and also undertake its own independent processes of dialogue and consensus building on key policy and governance reforms.

Within this context, consultancy services are solicited to undertake an institutional arrangements study that informs and guides the operations of the National Elders Forum. This study is expected to act as an input for the key leadership of the Forum in making appropriate decisions for reconstiting the same.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of assignment

Taking into account the role played by the Elders during the 2011 elections, institutional opportunities as noted above, consultancy is aimed to undertake an institutional arrangements study to inform the reconstitution of the National Elders Forum. Institutional arrangements study would entail three specific components:

Drafting of a Strategy Paper

Main focus of the paper is to provide a strategy for the reconstitution of the National Elders Forum and highlight the central institutional and operational issues that the leadership of the Forum ought to consider as part of the reconstitution efforts.

Broader critical elements, although not limited to, that could be considered as part of the strategy paper include:

Conceptual positioning of the National Elders Forum – what (mandate ), why (rationale) and how (membership, linkages and partnerships);
Critical value propositions to act as a space for impartial and neutral consensus and dialogue platform;
Strengths that would be needed to achieve the mandate of the forum – for instance legal frameworks that support the working of the Forum;
Identification of context for operations of the Forum and space within the different dialogue and consensus building efforts/platform/mechanisms;
Vision and goals/objectives of the forum in the immediate, short-term and long-term periods;
Nature and level of partnerships to pursue for forum’s efficient and effective operations;
Relationship with the state, non-state and other stakeholders including typology of association;
Way forward options for consideration by the leadership of the Forum in its reconstitution;
Critical success factors – indicators that need to be considered as benchmarks to show progress during course of reconstitution efforts;
Nature of consultative processes and with whom (actors) could reconstitution efforts need to consider.

One of the key questions that needs to be pursued as part of the strategy paper is the scope for operation of the NEF. In addition, handling perceptions of institutional affiliations is a key area in the immediate startup period for the forum. Consultant is expected to provide an in-depth analysis on the ways and means to manage these perceptions. Paper should also provide clear information on the current opportunities for the National Elders Forum interventions between 2014 and 2015 (issues of critical importance for peace and stability that Forum could pursue further). This paper is expected to provide critical insights into the direction that Forum could pursue to position itself as an impartial and neutral space for dialogue and consensus building.

On the basis of consensus emerging from the strategy paper from within the leadership of the Forum, develop an institutional and operational framework to guide the operations of the National Elders Forum. On the basis of the key steps that the National Elders Forum has to follow, develop a strategic model delineating – vision, mission, goals, strategic direction, functions of NEF, outcomes to be pursued and the positioning of the Forum within the current context. Institutional and operational framework should provide detailed note on organizational set up, roles and responsibilities, membership, scope of operations and also highlight critical capacity requirements of the forum. Most importantly it should address the broader principles of the business processes and steps to be adopted by the Elders Forum in undertaking its role as an impartial and neutral space for dialogue and mediation on issues. Framework is expected to develop critical partnerships that can provide support to the work of the Forum and position its work within the current spaces for dialogue. Especially of importance is the regional interfaces that forum needs to develop to inform its national level work.

Institutional and Operational Framework should provide a clear link between the external institutional environment and the proposed organizational operational framework:

On the basis of strategy paper and institutional framework, develop a three year Strategic Action Plan with phased priorities/outputs (matrix) and assigned activities addressing the priorities of the Forum (sample template provided as annex 1). Review of the Strategic Plans of the Rwanda Governance Board and Ghana’s National Peace Council (this is a desk based and secondary sources review) will be a key input for development of the three year action plan for the Forum.

All 3 components would comprise complete institutional arrangements study. These documents are expected to act as key constitutional documents for reconstitution of the Forum and its operations.

Key Phases of assignment

The consultant is expected to undertake his/her work in the following phases

Assessment Phase

This is the phase wherein consultant is expected to undertake consultations and bilateral engagements with senior leadership – religious, political and policy makers – to derive the context within which the Forum is expected to operate. Main output of this phase is to develop strategy paper covering some of the key elements as described above.

Institutional Framework Phase

This phase is expected to provide broader principles of the business processes and steps to be adopted by the Forum in undertaking its role as an impartial and neutral space for dialogue and mediation on issues. This phase is expected to delineate the operational structures for the National Elders Forum. Main output of the phase is to develop an operational framework for the Forum.

Priorities/outputs Phase

Main output of this phase is to derive a broader consensus on the priorities for the operations of the Forum and derive roadmap of key outputs and activities for the next three years. This also includes suggesting a practical way forward for the forum to pursue to position itself as an impartial and neutral space.

Note

The assignment is subject to satisfactory clearance of each phase output by the leadership of the National Elders Forum.

Deliverables

Following are the key deliverables:

Assessment Phase Deliverable – Inception report and Strategy Paper on the Forum;
Institutional Framework Phase Deliverable - Institutional and Operational Framework for the Forum;
Priorities/Outputs Phase - Three year Strategic Action Plan with prioritized outputs and activities matrix;
Consensus building bilateral and group based engagements (as part of Phases 1 through 3).

Management Arrangements

Given the nature of the assignment and the need to ensure that key national leadership is effectively involved in the process of reconstituting the National Elders Forum, the National Elders Forum will form a committee (to be chaired by the Chairman of the National Elders Forum) with its members to oversee the work of the consultant. This committee will be receiving the work of the consultant and provide inputs and guidance to the consultant. Three phases of the assignment are contingent upon each deliverable of each phase cleared by the committee. In addition, key leadership of NCF (Business Committee of NCF) and IRCU (Committees of IRCU) and will also have to be regularly consulted. Consultant is expected to adopt a strong participatory process and as part of the inception report a detailed methodology and approach of the consultant is expected to be provided.

In addition, consultant is expected to work under overall guidance of the Country Director and Resident Coordinator/ Resident Representative of UNDP and on a day-to-day basis with the Technical Specialist (Governance). Validation workshops involving Forum members will be organized at key stages of consultancy to receive work of the consultant.

Timeframe

Total number of workdays for which contract will be issued is 35 workdays, spread over total of 50 days, which will be the total number of days that the consultant is expected to be available under the contract. This is a fulltime assignment and UNDP procurement processes will be adopted. Following is the schedule of time-period and deliverables.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
Mature judgment and initiative.

Functional Competencies:

Ability to think out-of-the-box;
Ability to present complex issues in simple and clear manner;
Ability to work under pressure and deliver high quality results on time;
Initiative and independence;
Analytic capacity and demonstrated ability to process analyses and synthesize complex, technical information from different disciplines;
Ability to innovate, combining methodological approaches and data from various levels and disciplines.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Minimum of a Master’s Degree, preferably in Social Sciences and Humanities.

Experience:

At least 07 years of experience working on peacebuilding and conflict transformation efforts at policy level with proven experience of working with political institutions, religious institutions, non-state institutions;
Experience in conflict prevention and transformation expertise, political contextualization and acumen in understanding political scenarios and developments;
In-depth expertise in legal frameworks of the country; and expertise of developing institutional mechanisms within state and non-state domains;
Proven program expertise in drafting position papers/statements, policy documents, strategic action plans and undertaking strategic assessments;
In-depth understanding of the current political and development environment of the country;
Proven experience in undertaking stocktaking exercises;
Experience in undertaking political and conflict sensitive analysis;
Knowledge of Uganda’s political context is required;

Language:

Fluent in spoken and written English.

Additional Information:

This is a full time assignment and hence consultant is expected to provide full time for the number of days as mentioned in the ToR;
Consultant is expected to be flexible to adjust to the different schedules of the key interlocutors;
Consultant is expected to be impartial and neutral in the discussions with the different stakeholders.

Price Proposal and Schedule of payments:

Payment shall be by lump-sum modality in the following 4 installments. These shall be all-inclusive, and the contract price is fixed regardless of changes in the cost components:

Upon submission of an acceptable inception report: 10%;
Presentation of acceptable strategy paper: 30%;
Submission and acceptance of Institutional and Operational Framework: 30%;
Submission and acceptance of three year Strategic Action - Plan: 30%.

Evaluation Method and Criteria:

The award of contract shall be made to an individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable;
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation;
Technical criteria: 70 points and financial criteria: 30 points.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

Technical Criteria for award of 70 points

Relevant Education (Relevant Master’s Degree or higher) – 10 points;
Relevant Experience – 40 points;
Description of methodology and approach for assignment – 20 points.

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications in one single PDF document:
The Consultant is required to submit an online application by 1st September 2014, through the UNDP Jobs website - http://jobs.undp.org - and include the following documents/information in a single document (preferably in PDF format):

Letter of confirmation of interest and availability;
CV indicating all past experiences, from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the candidate and at least three (3) professional references.

Technical proposal:

Description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment;
Detailed methodology for assignment to address requirements as outlined above;
Timelines and deliverables matrix.

Financial proposal:

All-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided (Annex II).

For further details, Annexes and a complete set of terms of reference, please send an email to justine.naiga-bagonza@undp.org and copy diana.nabbanja@undp.org, requesting for further information to enable you complete and submit your online application.
Please note that you will be required to.

Read and understand Annex I: Individual Contractor General Terms and Conditions;
Complete and submit Annex II: Template to Confirmation of Interest and Availability and Submit the Financial Proposal.