UNDP Jobs - 51857- Voter Registration Advisor

Voter Registration Advisor

Location :

Amman, JORDAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

15-Dec-2014

Application Deadline :

08-Dec-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

60 working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

60 working days (15th December, 2014 – 31st March, 2015)

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

The Global Programme for Electoral Cycle Support (GPECS), UNDP’s most important vehicle contributing to the formulation and implementation of electoral policy, consists of country, regional, global and gender components that sustainably support policy development, knowledge management and programme support and that use a process-driven approach rather than an event-driven one. GPECS has also innovated in new areas of demand, including on developing electoral indicators, media and elections, and youth participation. The overall goal to which GPECS contributes is towards deepening democracy and accelerating human development. In contributing to this larger and longer-term goal, GPECS focuses on the intermediate UNDP Strategic Plan outcome of electoral laws, processes and institutions strengthen inclusive participation and professional electoral administration.

In the Arab region, GPECS provides global and regional technical assistance to work closely with electoral authorities, civil society organizations, media groups, regional institutions, and international organizations supporting democracy initiatives. This support enhances regional cooperation on broader issues of electoral democracy, increase regional knowledge and know-how on electoral issues, enhance capacities of regional stakeholders around issues of civic engagement and political participation, and promote policies and strategies for a greater and more effective role by women and youth in the transformational process.

The GPECS Arab regional programme, supported through a US$7 million contribution agreement with SIDA, works towards building coherence in electoral support in the region through dialogue, partnership and initiatives that reinforce the participation of youth and women in political and civic life and national efforts to enhance capacity of electoral authorities to play their role in the professional, transparent, and credible administration of elections. The programme also provides technical support to countries across the Arab states on specific thematic issues such as voter registration, results management systems, electoral violence prevention.

Currently, the Arab regional programme is seeking a voter registration adviser to provide technical assistance to the regional team as well as to the UNDP electoral support project in Jordan on voter registration.

Objectives of the assignment:

To support the GPECS regional team in identifying the challenges and best practices in supporting voter registration systems in the Arab States;
To support the GPECS regional team in providing regional advice and know-how to the Jordan electoral team, on voter registration systems.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Voter Registration Adviser will provide specialized advice and support in the area of voter registration; specifically the Adviser will carry out the following tasks:

Provide technical advice in relation to the implementation and further development of voter registration support in the region;
Conduct a comparative analysis and identify best practices and lessons learnt on voter registration in the Arab States;

Deliverables

The Voter Registration Advisor will be responsible to deliver the following deliverables:

Develop a concept note including specifications for a new voter registry database for Jordan;
Review the voter registry systems in the region, as well as the UNDP support to voter registration reform, and identify challenges and best practices with recommendations on strengthening UNDP support in this area;
Design a new voter registry database for Jordan, based on specifications agreed upon with the IEC, and provide support in the design of one other database in consultation with the IEC;
Complete a final report on activities undertaken during the consultancy including relevant recommendations.

Expected outputs

A detailed report assessing IEC needs and recommending specifications for a new database;
A comprehensive report on challenges and lessons learnt in VR in the Arab States;
A report detailing the work done with respect to the IEC database(s);
Final report with recommendations.

Scchedule and method of payment

Lump sum payment in accordance with the following schedule and upon delivery of the following outputs:

1st Output (25%) – Target Date: December 20th, 2014;
2nd Output (25%) – Target Date: January 15th, 2015;
3rd Output (25%) – Target Date: February 20th, 2015;
4th Output (25%) - Target Date: March 25th, 2015.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Demonstrates commitment to the Electoral Project’s mission, vision and values;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race and age sensitivity;
Strong organizational and reporting skills;
Results oriented, strong team player with outstanding interpersonal and coordination skills;
Ability to work independently;
Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines with a positive attitude;
Time management and work prioritization skills;
Understanding of UNDP procedures, rules and regulations are an asset; and
Demonstrated sensitivity, discretion, tact and courtesy in relation to the Egyptian Electoral sensitivity, development principles and projects, implementing partners, and national and international personnel of varied nationalities and backgrounds.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge of legal and technical terms;
Organizational and prioritization skills;
Ability to work both independently and in a team;
Ability to adapt to a difficult working environment, under pressure and with limited timeframes.
The post requires considerable cultural and political sensitivity.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

A university degree in computer science or related field, plus a minimum of seven years functionally-related professional experience; or
A relevant combination of education (professional certification, IT qualifications) and a minimum of nine years of functionally-related professional experience.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven (7) years of functionally-related relevant professional experience (or nine (9) years), as above.
Comparative experience in election administration, with significant experience providing specialized advice in voter registration and database development for electoral purposes. Extensive knowledge of voter registration processes, information technology/ information management, particularly in systems analysis, database design and programming. Prior experience in Jordan or in the region will be an asset.
Knowledge of several high level programming languages and significant exposure to and demonstrated proficiency in all aspects of programming and analysis.

Language:

Fluency in English, both written and spoken;
Working knowledge of Arabic an asset.

Application Evaluation Process:

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

Being responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
Having received the highest score based on the following weight of technical and financial criteria for solicitation as per the schedule below:

* Technical criteria weight: 70%.

* Financial criteria weight: 30%.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70%) in the technical evaluation shall be considered for the financial evaluation. The technical evaluation will include an interview.

Of those offers considered in the financial evaluation, the lowest price offer will receive 30 points. The other offers will receive points in relation to the lowest offer, based on the following formula: (Pn / Pl)* 30 where Pn is the financial offer being evaluated and Pl is the lowest financial offer received.

Evaluation Criteria:

Comparative experience in election administration, with significant experience providing specialized advice in voter registration and database development for electoral purposes is required. Extensive knowledge of voter registration processes, information technology/ information management, particularly in systems analysis, database design and programming. Prior experience in Jordan or in the region will be an asset - maximum 20 points;
Knowledge of several high level programming languages and significant exposure to and demonstrated proficiency in all aspects of programming and analysis - maximum 15 points;
Assessment of technical proposal based on documentation provided (methodology for undertaking the assignment) - maximum 20 points;
Interview (to determine technical skills and proposed methodology) - maximum 15 points.

Documents to be submitted:

Interested persons are invited submit the following documents/information to be considered:

Personal History Form (P-11), including 3 references;
Technical proposal: a) Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work and b) Provide a brief methodology (not more than 3 pages) on how they would approach and conduct the work;
Financial proposal in accordance with the aabove mentioned schedule.

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner. Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org.

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.

Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.