UNDP Jobs - 59732- International Senior Consultant

International Senior Consultant – Developing a Strategic and Operational Multi-year Strategy for Romania’s Electoral Assistance Efforts

Location :

Home-based with Travel to Romania, Ukraine and Egypt

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

17-Sep-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Estimated October 2015 – January 2016

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Approximately 25 working 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

Romania’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) Programme has been officially launched in 2007, following the country’s accession to the European Union (EU). Since then, Romania has strived to position itself on the international development arena as an innovative donor, with the main comparative advantage of being able to share its direct experience and knowledge in the democratic transition and Euro-Atlantic integration processes. Romania’s strategic objective in development cooperation is to contribute to poverty reduction by promoting security and economic welfare, state of law, sustainable economic development, climate change mitigation and investments in education, complementing international efforts in the field.

Romania has identified the thematic and geographic priorities, and has developed a clear national Policy and institutional framework for its ODA. The geographical focus is now on twelve countries: in the Black Sea extended region - the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan; and in North Africa and the Middle East - Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Iraq, Palestine and Afghanistan.

The Romanian current ODA thematic priorities are:

1) Transition to democracy (reconstruction of the state, democratic governance, administrative reform, support for the civil society, the media, and conflict resolution);
2) Support for agriculture and sustainable economic growth in the climate change context– preferably in the phytosanitary and sanitary and veterinary fields;
3) Environment protection and support for activities to promote sustainable energy in the context of the climate changes. The secondary sectors are health and education.

In view of further consolidating national capacities in the field of ODA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are currently implementing The New ODA Cooperation Partnership with Romania project (2013-2015), with the overall objective to support Romania in becoming an effective, innovative and increasingly influential actor for development cooperation so it can achieve sustainable, scalable development impact in the countries that are a priority of Romanian ODA. The UNDP continues to provide the MFA with the necessary administrative and implementation mechanism and tools for ODA delivery (project/programme frameworks and management capacity) where needed.

Having gone through complex democratic transition processes, Romania has gathered plenty of experiences, good practices and lessons learned that can be shared with other countries that continue their efforts to build a strong and democratic state. In this context, Romania positions electoral assistance and democratic governance as important thematic priorities in its development cooperation policies. Thus, the Romanian Permanent Electoral Authority (PEA) has been for many years actively participating in different cooperation networks and technical assistance projects at international level, widely contributing to the consolidation and promotion of the democratic principles and institutions around the world within a framework of shared responsibility. In July 2015, the PEA and the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed a Memorandum of Understanding, acknowledging the importance that Romania attaches to supporting the partner countries in the implementation of free and fair elections through electoral assistance programmes and projects.

The PEA is an independent administrative public institution which ensures the effective organization and conduct of free and fair electoral processes that guarantee appropriate conditions for exercising the voting rights, equal opportunities in political competition and transparency in funding of political parties activity and electoral campaigns. During its 11 years of activity, the PEA has established solid bilateral relations with electoral management bodies (EMBs) around the world, as well as strong relations with regional and international bodies.

Since 2004, the PEA has provided electoral assistance and shared its experience with electoral management bodies worldwide in various modalities: organizing study visits for EMBs from countries such as Iraq (2004, 2005), Republic of Moldova (2006), Malaysia (2010), Indonesia (2011), Egypt (2011); sending PEA representatives to election observation missions in Azerbaijan (2005, 2010), Iraq (2005), Bulgaria (2007), Moldova (2007, 2009, 2011), US (2008), Hungary (2010), Tunisia (2011), Egypt (2012), Georgia (2012); organizing and substantively leading various international workshops (such as ACEEEO Conference on the security of elections Mamaia, 2008; Out of country voting workshop, Bucharest, 2010; Workshop on democratic transformations, Bucharest, 2011; BRIDGE workshops, Bucharest 2012 and 2013; Regional workshop on preventing and combating electoral fraud, Bucharest 2012; ACEEEO Conference, Bucharest, 2014 & ACEEEO Presidency).

In 2015, a senior international consultant was contracted to perform an in-depth thematic evaluation of Romania’s electoral assistance efforts, assessing the capabilities and the niche that the PEA and other Romanian stakeholders may occupy on the international scene. The evaluation report also included a number of recommendations that the PEA and other interested stakeholders could implement to consolidate Romania’s electoral assistance efforts. One of the main findings of the report was that there is a clear need for a strategic framework to guide Romania’s electoral assistance efforts, with clearly defined objectives and actions that respond to the real developmental needs of the partner countries.

Work input: approximately 25 working days with one - 3 day mission to Bucharest, Romania; one - 2 day mission to Kiev, Ukraine and one - 2 day mission to Cairo, Egypt

Duties and Responsibilities

This consultancy is designed to consolidate the capacity of the PEA to implement electoral assistance programmes and projects by providing the necessary strategic framework for a more coherent, and efficient development assistance offered to Romania’s partner countries. On the basis of a needs assessment and comprehensive consultations with various stakeholders both from Romania and the partner countries (mainly Egypt and Ukraine), the consultant is expected to elaborate a multi-year strategic framework for the implementation of Romania’s electoral assistance efforts, and an associated action plan with tangible activities that the PEA needs to implement in order to match the needs of the partner countries with its own technical niche areas in a manner that ensures sustainability of results. Also the consultant is expected to advise the PEA on the use of effective knowledge management tools that could support it codify its experience and good practices in the electoral management field.

The consultant is expected to deliver the following deliverables:

Deliverable 1 - A five-year electoral assistance strategy

Based on consultations with relevant stakeholders in Romania and on the needs assessment the consultant will conducts in Romania’s partner countries (mainly Egypt and Ukraine), the consultant is expected to elaborate a five-year strategy that provides the vision for Romania’s international electoral assistance and clearly articulates its ultimate purpose, ties the efforts programmatically into an integrated and coherent development effort, and ensures it is grounded in the best practices of international electoral assistance.

As part of this process, the consultant is expected to evaluate:

The medium-term needs of the two partner countries through in depth consultations with relevant stakeholders, including EMB and other official representatives;
The PEA’s capacities to respond to the needs identified in the two partner countries.

The strategy needs to take in consideration the efforts of other international donors in this field in Ukraine and Egypt and ensure that the assistance provided by Romania is fully coordinated with and integrated in the larger international efforts. This strategy should be the result of a consultative process, including other Romanian institutions and civil society, encompass a medium-term development perspective, and identify specific strategic objectives and focal areas for assistance.

Deliverable 2 - An action plan

The five-year electoral assistance strategy needs to be operationalized with a five-year action plan that includes tangible and realistic actions that the PEA needs to take in order to meet the strategic objectives and the identified challenges in Ukraine and Egypt). The action plan should include budgetary estimates for the proposed interventions, in line with a realistic evolution of the budgetary allocations dedicated to Romania’s electoral assistance efforts.

Deliverable 3 - Knowledge management tools to help PEA codify its good practices and experience

In order to facilitate the exchange of experience and expertise between the PEA and its counterparts/other interested stakeholders from developing partner countries, the PEA needs a set of knowledge management instruments to support it codify its good practices and experience.

Methodology

The expected deliverables will be elaborated on the basis of quantitative (as per available data) and qualitative data analysis through the following methods:

Desk study and review (including project documentation, evaluation reports wherever available, strategic ODA documentation, etc.);
In depth interviews to gather primary data from key stakeholders (including representatives of the PEA, UNDP and MFA, project beneficiaries, international partners, etc.) using a well-structured methodology.

The assignment will include field visits as follows:

One 3-day mission to Bucharest;
One 2-day mission to Kiev;
One 2-day mission to Cairo.

Duration of the assignment

The assignment is expected to start in October 2015 for an estimated duration of 25 working days. This will include desk study and review, interviews with stakeholders and writing.

Milestones:

Assignment kick off in October 2015;
Desk review of all relevant documentation - (approx.) 5 days;
In depth interviews with key stakeholders - (approx.) 10 days;
Draft deliverables - (approx.) 8 days;
Delivery to UNDP in December 2015;
Final deliverables - (approx.) 2 days;
Delivery to UNDP in January 2016.

Management Arrangement

The Consultant will report to the UNDP ODA Project Manager and will work in close coordination with the project team, the MFA project partners and the Permanent Electoral Authority. Upon UNDP’s request and if deemed necessary, the consultant will provide further details/ clarifications related to the findings of the report submitted.

Competencies

Core Competencies

Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Highest standards of integrity and objectivity, discretion and loyalty.
Excellent communication skills;
Excellent interpersonal skills within a range of professional contexts;
Result orientation and client focus.

Functional Competencies

Strong analytical skills;
Well-developed ability to synthesize information;
Good knowledge and understanding of development cooperation, aid effectiveness and related issues;
Good knowledge and understanding of the evolving trends and the main actors in the field of electoral management at the international level.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in Public Policy, International Development, Development Economics/Planning, Economics, International Relations/ Diplomacy or any other relevant advanced university degree;
Technical electoral management or related certifications (such as BRIDGE certifications) are considered to be asset.

Experience:

At least 5 years of experience in working on electoral assistance with relevant international organizations and donors ;
At least 5 years of experience working in electoral management;
Proven experience in the elaboration of electoral assistance strategies - at least 2 other similar assignments (including drafting the strategic frameworks/strategic planning in the field of electoral assistance).

Language:

Excellent written communication skills in English;

Evaluation of Applicants

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.

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

Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (P11 desk reviews) and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 70 points:

Criteria A - Master’s degree in Public Policy, International Development, Development, Economics/Planning, Economics, International Relations/ Diplomacy or any other relevant advanced university degree, max points - 7;
Criteria B - Technical electoral management or related certifications (such as BRIDGE certifications), max points - 1;
Criteria C - At least 5 years of experience in working on electoral assistance with relevant international organizations and donors, max points - 15;
Criteria D - At least 5 years of experience working in electoral management, max points - 15;
Criteria E - Proven experience in the elaboration of electoral assistance strategies - at least 2 other similar assignments (including drafting the strategic frameworks/strategic planning in the field of electoral assistance) - 15 points for min. 2 assignments, 2 extra points for each additional evaluation, up to maximum 25 points;
Criteria F- Excellent written communication skills in English, max points - 7.

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 30 points

Application procedures

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website.

The application should contain:

Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application;
Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc ); please upload the P11 instead of your CV.

Financial Proposal - specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this announcement. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount, including estimated number of working days needed to complete the requested tasks/ deliveralbles (e.g: 25 working days, out of which three working days mission in Bucharest, Romania, two working days mission in Kiev, Ukraine and two anticipated working days mission in Cairo, Egypt) travel and per diems for the forseen missions, as well as and any other possible costs;

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.

Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination, personal security needs and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...). All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal.

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
General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJs.

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.