UNDP Jobs - 64005- International Consultant to Conduct a Feasibility

International Consultant to Conduct a Feasibility Study on E-voting for CEC Moldova

Location :

Chisinau, MOLDOVA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

21-Mar-2016

Application Deadline :

02-Mar-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

55 Working days (with three missions to Moldova)

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

March – July 2016

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

UNDP Moldova Democracy Programme/Elections (further referred as Programme) is a multi-year institutional development programme that supports the strategic development of the Central Electoral Commission of Moldova (CEC) with the aim to strengthen the capacity of electoral administration to deliver professional, transparent and efficient electoral processes. Overarching goal of the Programme is to improve the democracy in Moldova through modernization of the electoral processes. This objective is to be reached through support in development of the national electoral strategic and legal framework conducive to organisation of the elections using official data and modern IT tools.

In May 2008 the Parliament of Moldova approved the Law No. 101 on the State Automated Informational System “Elections” (SAISE). Long term objective of the SAISE is to achieve full automatization of elections in Moldova. This includes development of the possibility for citizens to vote in any polling station, possibility to vote through electronic voting machines (e.g. using an electronic pen, scanner or other electronic reading device) and/or possibility to vote via Internet (using identification devices that can read electronic documents).

According to the Law No. 101, the electronic voting (further referred as E-voting) system is to be developed, tested and piloted by Moldovan authorities by 2018 Parliamentary elections. In this regard, CEC is currently planning to develop an action plan and a roadmap for E-voting system implementation in Moldova, including costs analysis.

Thus, the Programme has agreed to support CEC with conducting a feasibility study on E-voting system and its viability in Moldova.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Programme is looking to contract an experienced international consultant (hereinafter called “Consultant”) to develop a study on E-voting in order to assess the feasibility of developing and implementing such a system in the Republic of Moldova, using examples from other European countries with similar electoral systems.

The study will seek to identify the operational, legal, privacy and technical considerations associated with the development of an E-voting system and to recommend short and long term strategies for implementing the system.

In order to achieve the stated objective, the Consultant will have the following responsibilities:

Undertake a comprehensive desk review of the relevant national legal framework, relevant studies, researches, reports, EU/international best practices on E-voting;
Conduct meetings and interviews with all related stakeholders (CEC, central and local public authorities, E-Governance Center, political parties’ representatives, civil society, and other);
Analyse existing infrastructure, including but not limited to the E-Governance interoperability platform;
Familiarize with the State Register of Voters (SRV) and the State Automated Informational System “Elections” (SAISE);
Develop the roadmap for implementing the system, including concrete steps for piloting;
Perform the cost and benefits analysis of implementing the system;
Present the feasibility study and recommendations to CEC and other key stakeholders at roundtable-discussions and workshops, as well as during the conference on E-voting planned for September 2016;
Submit final deliverables for approval to CEC and the Programme;
Perform any other relevant tasks that may be assigned by the Programme and CEC.

Undertake three Missions to Moldova (the dates are set up tentatively):

28 March – 8 April (10 days);
23 – 27 May (5 days);
25 – 27 July (2 days).

Institutional arrangements

The timeframe for the work of the consultant is planned throughout March – July 2016. The exact schedule of missions in Moldova, as well the date of the Conference on e-voting shall be coordinated in advance.

The consultant will be provided with the necessary administrative and logistical support to enable the delivery of the expected outputs. The consultant will work under the overall guidance of the UNDP Senior Project Officer and in close collaboration with designated CEC staff

All deliverables must be submitted in English language to the UNDP Senior Project Officer in electronic form in accordance with the initially agreed schedule. Payments will be done in three instalments:

20% after approval of Deliverables #1 and #2;
50% after approval of the deliverables #3, #4 and #5;
30% after approval of the Deliverables #6 and #7.

The detailed Terms of Reference and Procurement Notice can be found http://www.undp.md/jobs/current_jobs/

Competencies

Demonstrates interpersonal and diplomatic skills, as well as the ability to communicate effectively with all stakeholders and to present ideas clearly and effectively;
Extensive research and analytical skills;
Demonstrates strong understanding of international electoral processes and principles;
Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of advanced elections related technologies.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Master degree in Public Administration, Law, ICT or other related field.

Experience:

At least 5 years of relevant working experience in elections management or advisory functions at senior level in the European and/or CIS regions;
At least 3 years of experience in analysis, advising and/or implementation of e-voting in proportional electoral systems;
Prior experience in conducting feasibility studies on introduction of E-voting in election management will be considered as an asset;
Experience in working with election management bodies, Parliament, Government and/or international organizations, including UN agencies will be an asset.

Language:

Fluency in English;
Knowledge of Romanian and/or Russian is an asset.

Documents to be included when submitting the proposal:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

Proposal - explaining why they are the most suitable for the work including past experience in similar Projects (please provide brief information on each of the above qualifications, item by item);
Financial proposal (LUMP SUM) in USD, specifying in the total requested amount per day, number of days needed to complete the assignment, including all related costs, travel, phone calls etc. );
Duly completed P 11 form, personal CV and at least 3 references.

Evaluation

Initially individual consultants will be short-listed based on the following minimum qualification criteria:

Master degree in Public Administration, Law, ICT or other related field;
At least 5 years of relevant working experience in elections management or advisory functions at senior level in the European and/or CIS regions;
At least 3 years of experience in analysis, advising and/or implementation of E-voting in proportional electoral systems;

The short-listed individual consultants will be further evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

The award of the contract shall be made to the 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 weight – 60% (300 pts);
Financial Criteria weight – 40% (200 pts).

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 210 points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical evaluation scoring:

Master degree in Public Administration, Law, ICT or other related field - maximum 10 points;
At least 5 years of relevant working experience in elections management or advisory functions at senior level in the European and/or CIS regions - maximum 50 points;
At least 3 years of experience in analysis, advising and/or implementation of E-voting in proportional electoral systems - maximum 40 points;
Prior experience in conducting feasibility studies on introduction of E-voting in election management will be considered as an asset - maximum 30 points;
Experience in working with election management bodies, Parliament, Government and/or international organizations, including UN agencies will be an asset - maximum 30 points;
Interview - maximum 140 points.

Proven commitment to the core values of the United Nations, in particular, respecting differences of culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, language, age, HIV status, disability, and sexual orientation, or other status.

UNDP Moldova is committed to workforce diversity. Women, persons with disabilities, Roma and other ethnic or religious minorities, persons living with HIV, as well as refugees and other non-citizens legally entitled to work in the Republic of Moldova, are particularly encouraged to apply.