Background

UNDP provides support to countries to develop electoral laws, processes and institutions that strengthen inclusive participation and professional electoral administration. Elections are about much more than what happens on election day. Support includes the conceptual and programming guidance to the UN and national stakeholders alike in using an electoral cycle approach that grounds electoral administration and assistance in democratic governance. Global planning is led by BDP/DGG in close coordination with the Department of Political Affairs’ Electoral Assistance Division (EAD).
 
In July 2009, UNDP launched the Global Programme for Electoral Cycle Support (GPECS). The overall goal to which the GPECS contributes is that of deepening democracy and accelerating human development. In contributing to this larger and longer-term goal, the GPECS will focus on the intermediate UNDP Strategic Plan outcome of “electoral laws, processes and institutions strengthen inclusive participation and professional electoral administration.” The GPECS seeks to achieve the outcome by:
  • Providing leadership, advocacy and capacity development in the field of electoral cycle support at the global level;
  • Supporting South-South cooperation and promoting regional knowledge development, exchanges and capacity;
  • Supporting electoral cycle development and lessons learned in key countries at the national level; and
  • Fostering inclusive participation and women’s empowerment.

The GPECS Regional Component for Latin America and the Caribbean focuses on entirely enhancing the political and electoral participation of indigenous peoples, particularly women and youth. In particular, through the regional component, UNDP is conducting a series of network strengthening and capacity building activities and finalizing a series of knowledge products focused on indigenous political participation. For this reason, UNDP requires an expert on indigenous participation to support the finalization of regional knowledge products and maintenance of regional networks.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Electoral Policy Specialist DGG/BDP, the incumbent will engage with the following tasks:
  • Coordinate the translation of advocacy materials to indigenous languages
  • Final revision of the and GPECS Regional Study on the Political and Electoral Participation of Indigenous Peoples and support GPECS Policy Specialist with the production process and dissemination as required;
  • Presentation GPECS regional study and videos in the 2013 Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples side events (New York, May 2013).
  • Follow up on the Network of Indigenous Electoral Communicators (RECOMEI -Red de Comunicadoras/es Electorales Indígenas) network, including the organization of a possible seminar to be held in Guatemala
  • Attend the annual reunion of the Regional Inter-Agency Group of Indigenous Peoples (GIRPI - Grupo Inter-Agencial Regional de Pueblos Indígenas)
  • Follow-up on two workshops planned to be held with the Association of Women in Municipal Government of Ecuador (AMUME – Asociación de Mujeres Municipalistas en Ecuador)

Competencies

Functional Competencies:
  • Good knowledge of intercultural dialogue and indigenous peoples’ topics.
  • Wide experience in working with UNDP or UN on indigenous peoples and with electoral stakeholders is an advantage.
  • Excellent communication skills.
  • Ability to interact and relate with people at all levels, and of different backgrounds both inside and outside the organization.
Corporate Competencies:
  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
  • Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Post graduate degree (or equivalent) in Sociology, Anthropology, Social Science, Development, or related field. 
Experience:
  • 5-10 years of experience in the area of human rights, indigenous issues, intercultural dialogue, and democratic governance.
  • Experience in coordinating UNDP projects in Latin America and the Caribbean.
  • Academic publications on indigenous peoples, intercultural dialogue, and democratic governance.
Language Requirements:
  • Fluency in Spanish and in English required Knowledge of any other of the official UN languages an asset.
Application Evaluation Process:
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the Cumulative Analysis methodology [weighted scoring method], where the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
  • a) Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
  • b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.
Technical Criteria weight; (70%)
 
The following criteria will be used in Technical Evaluation.
  • Minimum 5 years of experience in the area of indigenous peoples, intercultural dialogue, democratic dialogue and elections (40 points).
  • Verifiable experience in supporting UNDP projects and activities in Latin America and the Caribbean (30 points).
  • Academic publications and experience on indigenous peoples, intercultural dialogue, and democratic governance (30 points)    

Financial Criteria weight; (30%)

  • All-encompassing financial proposal. The financial proposal may include [daily Fee + Travel ( round economy air fare from location to NY in May 2013 and daily substance allowance) + any other expense)
Only Individual Consultants obtaining a minimum of 70% of the obtainable points of 100 points in technical evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

FC: 20012