Antecedentes

The UNDP Oslo Governance Centre [OGC] was established in 2002 as a centre of excellence designed to provide support to the practical and operational work of UNDP in assisting partner countries in developing more democratic and effective forms of governance for sustainable peace and development.  The OGC is a unit of the Democratic Governance Group [DGG] in the Bureau for Development Policy [BDP]. 

OGC consists of two units: Governance Assessment (GA) unit and Analysis and Learning unit (DGAL). The objective of DGAL is to codify, analyze and disseminate the results of UNDP’s work in democratic governance, with a view to informing democratic governance policy and programme. One of the focus areas of DGAL is related to strengthening civil society and social accountability.

UNDP’s Civil Society Division, housed in the Partnerships Bureau (PB) is responsible for strengthening UNDP policies and methods to engage and collaborate more effectively and systematically with civil society and its organizations at all levels.

 UNDP’s Social Accountability Work.

UNDP considers the concept of social accountability to be at the heart of its democratic governance work – as social accountability focuses on promoting citizens’ voice and engagement, and linking citizens’ engagement with efforts to build responsive institutions. Fostering inclusive participation and building responsive state institutions are the two priority areas identified by both the UNDP Strategic Plan [2008-2013] and the Global Strategy to Strengthen Civil Society and Civic Engagement [2009] as a means to strengthening democratic governance. In addition, the civil society strategy emphasizes support to a range of social accountability mechanisms through which citizens and CSOs can engage with state officials at various levels to bring about more transparent, accountable and responsive governance.

In an effort to further integrate social accountability principles into democratic governance programming, UNDP produced the ‘Guidance Note on Fostering Social Accountability’ in 2010. The note offers practical guidance to programme staff on how to incorporate the practices of social accountability into programming.  It also highlights the experiences of several UNDP countries offices, notably Albania, the Philippines, Kenya, and the Pacific Regional Centre among others, in promoting social accountability.

Further, many UNDP country offices are keen on integrating social accountability initiatives in their programmes and there is a growing demand for practical examples and lesson learnt in promoting social accountability. In response to this demand, OGC is currently establishing a database of social accountability and citizens’ monitoring initiatives implemented by UNDP and other actors on the Governance Assessment Portal (GAP). This database will be built with an explicit aim to systematize and share experiences and lessons learnt in the area of social accountability. 

Background to the comparative experiences publication, ‘Social Accountability for Improved Governance and Achievement of the MDGs’.

Many of the successes in achieving MDGs have been made possible through strengthening governance, promoting inclusive national ownership, civil society and community involvement, in addition to international and regional cooperation and support.  Social accountability mechanisms have provided a practical means to promote a critical aspect of localization of the MDGs i.e. local communities’ and CSOs’ involvement in setting targets and tracking the MDGs (particularly in education, health, and water and sanitation sectors). These mechanisms have also helped to improve institutional arrangements for service delivery and hold state institutions to account on service delivery. 

However, little attention has been paid to assessing the impact and effectiveness of such initiatives. Indeed, much is not yet known about whether and how the use of social accountability mechanisms has strengthened responsive governance, improved service delivery and contributed to the achievement of the MDGs.  Nor has there been a concerted effort to understand what needs to be done to strengthen people’s voice, stimulate civic engagement, and build responsive institutions that deliver on the MDGs – within the context of urbanization, social exclusion, rapid advancements in the information and communication technologies sector (ICT), environmental challenges and climate change, and rising crises and fragile-state situations.

Therefore, UNDP will produce a comparative experience publication that will explore emerging social, political, environment and ICT trends and illustrate how different actors, including CSOs, are responding to these trends and promoting people’s engagement in development processes, including the achievement of MDGs. Specifically, the publication will contain individual chapters on the relevance of social accountability mechanisms in the context of urbanization, access to information and ICT advancements, environmental challenges and climate change, and conflict and fragile state situations.

 It will examine how social accountability initiatives, when linked with governance processes, can help in developing people-centred approaches that could advance the achievement of the MDGs.  The purpose of this publication is to present and analyse strategies and approaches that have been successful in bringing about responsive governance and policy change, including innovative approaches of civil society actors, UNDP and other development partners.  In addition, the publication will also make recommendations towards enhancing social accountability programming within UNDP.

Deberes y responsabilidades

UNDP is seeking a consultant to coordinate and edit the development of the publication. Specifically: 
 
  • Liaise with the authors of the individual chapters and ensure delivery of the chapters on time.
  • Liaise with various UNDP managers and policy advisors for comments and input.
  • Provide substantive input to the authors to develop and revise chapters as needed.
  • Develop and write key findings from the chapters, as well as conclusions and recommendations.
  • Ensure that the existing introduction to the publication is appropriate, revising it as necessary.
  • Ensure that the publication meets UNDP’s knowledge products requirements and standards, including peer review process.
  • Edit and fact check the chapters. Ensure consistency of language and style throughout the publication, in accordance with the UNDP style manual.
  • Support relevant UNDP staff with design and printing of the publication.

Competencias

  • Strong understanding of development programming and the current development agenda, including the MDGs.
  • Track record of research in democratic governance and civic participation.
  • Knowledge of civil society networks and civic-driven initiatives in development.
  • Excellent analytical and research skills.
  • Proven record of publication and editing in English.
  • Proven ability to meet deadlines and work with and manage a team.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

  • Advanced degree in social sciences, political science, law, international relations, development studies.

Experience:

  • Strong record in editing and producing publications
  • Minimum of 7 years international experience in the field of democratic governance.
  • Experience or knowledge of UNDP: its mandate and work in democratic governance, civil society, social accountability and MDGs would be an asset.

Language:

  • Fluency in written and spoken English.
Time frame:
 
  • The publication should be produced before mid-October, 2011.
 
Payment:
  • A lump sum payment will be made following satisfactory delivery of the publication for printing.

Supervision:

  • The consultant will be supervised by the Democratic Governance Advisor, Oslo Governance Centre.