Historique

Since independence in 1980, elections have been held in the Republic of Vanuatu periodically, with results that have been accepted as credible. Until 1991 the country experienced political stability, with a reasonably robust party system centered around a few pro-independence parties, which were originally linked to a francophone image. Since then, however, the governance system has been weakened by almost chronic political instability following political party splits. Vanuatu inherited a Westminster style system, which requires strong political parties; unfortunately, that is currently far from being the case. As a result, forming and retaining a coalition government has become a complex process of negotiation between fragmented political groups and independents.

 

As part of a political reform process launched following the inauguration of the government issued from the 2015 “snap elections”, the Prime Minister of Vanuatu requested in May 2016 UN assistance in preparations for a potential referendum to approve the constitutional reforms, as well as medium- and longer-term assistance to develop the capacity of the Electoral Commission (EC) and the Vanuatu Electoral Office (VEO). In response, and building on the recommendations of a scoping mission deployed to Vanuatu in June 2016, the UN approved the provision of the following: 1) technical assistance and capacity building to the electoral management body on voter registration and civic and voter education; 2) technical guidance to the reform process and support to broad consultation activities; and, 3) assistance to gender mainstreaming at all levels of the electoral process.

 

The Vanuatu Electoral Environment Project (VEEP) was approved and signed off by the UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji and the Vanuatu Electoral Office (VEO) in August 2017. VEEP was the first systematic effort to provide international electoral assistance in the country. The project eventually included four outputs – 1) strengthening of the electoral administration, 2) enhancing the integrity of the voter register, 3) supporting voter education and information and 4) supporting the political reform efforts through the development of the legal and operational framework regarding political parties’ registration. UNDP/VEEP thus provided technical and operational support to elections held during this period, supported a countrywide joint civil & voter registration process in the run-up to the General Elections 2020, as well as comprehensive voter information and public awareness campaigns – along with supporting adaptation to COVID-19 and TC Harold challenges. Looking at the voter turnout in Vanuatu from independence in 1980 to 2020 there has been a continuous increase in the total number of votes cast since 1983, and it is noteworthy that the total votes cast in 2020 was the highest ever in the Vanuatu electoral history despite COVID-19 and TC Harold challenges and restrictions.

 

This project successfully ran from 2017-2020, and from 1 January 2021, VEEP Phase II started up to continue the work that VEEP Phase I had started.

 

VEEP accordingly continues to aim at contributing to the democratic development in Vanuatu. It will do so through the continued strengthening of the institutional and operational capacities of the electoral authorities, both the Electoral Commission (EC), the policymaking, oversight body, and the Vanuatu Electoral Office (VEO), the corresponding executive, operational arm. The project will support the electoral authorities to fulfil its mandate to conduct all direct elections in the country, and improve its capacity to manage the political change process through credible and genuine electoral processes. VEEP II will further support the successful transition to the future voter registration model, where the electoral authorities will derive the voter register from the civil registry database, and use National ID for voting identification, with the aim of increasing the integrity and accuracy of the voter register, as well as increasing participation, reducing certain irregularities, and strengthening public confidence. The project will continue to support improvement of institutional capacities to maintain longer-term voter education efforts and to strengthen the capacity of the electoral authorities to plan, implement and evaluate voter information and awareness efforts. Finally, the project will support electoral reform initiatives, including the capacity of the electoral authorities in developing and presenting viable changes and providing technical advice on the possible options to manage reforms dealing with complex aspects of the electoral processes, including civil and voter registration.

 

The specific outputs for VEEP phase II are:

 

Output 1: Institutional Capacities of the Electoral Authorities Strengthened

Output 2: Integrity and Accuracy of the Voter Register Enhanced

Output 3: Ability to Conduct Voter Education and Raise Public Awareness strengthened

Output 4: Legal Electoral Framework Improved and Capacity Building on Electoral Reform to Key Stakeholders provided

 

VEEP II will run for a period of 3 ½ years, culminating with the General Elections in 2024. This allows for the continuity of progress made under the UNDP/VEEP Phase I and a smooth transition of the initiatives to mainstream practices within the Vanuatu electoral authorities and the Civil Registration and Identity Management department.

 

Under Outputs 1 & 2 of the project, UNDP/VEEP would like to engage a short term Data Analyst’’ Consultant to work with the Vanuatu Electoral Commission (VEC), the Vanuatu Electoral Office (VEO), the Civil Registration and Identity Management (CRIM) Department and the Vanuatu National Statistics Office (VNSO) to analyse the Census 2020-2021 data and reconcile village listings with coordinates and supported documentation.

 

Committed to improving access to information for the purpose of informed voting, transparency of electoral processes, and reaching all citizens of Vanuatu providing basic services to all through an updated accurate civil register, the VEEP project would furthermore task the consultant to make recommendations on the basis of the analysis to inform strategies for future impactful initiatives.

Devoirs et responsabilités

Scope of Work

Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, the Principal Electoral Officer, the CRIM Director and the VEEP Chief Technical Advisor, theData Analys” will work with the EC/VEO, CRIM and VNSO to:

 

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

Activity 1

Analyse the Census 2020-2021 data, UNITAR maps/village listings based on joint VEO/CRIM field work data collection to reconcile village listings and village names with coordinates and supported documentation to produce final accurate maps and village listings.

Activity 2:

  • Make recommendations on the design of the next awareness campaign for CRIM Department and EC/VEO.

Institutional Arrangements

  • The consultant will be recruited under the UNDP Individual contract modality and providing direct support to the Vanuatu Electoral office.
  • The consultant will have a matrix reporting arrangement - to the EC Chairman/PEO, CRVS Director, as well as to the UNDP/VEEP CTA.
  • The consultant will be guided by the EC Chairman, PEO, and CRVS Director with technical inputs when required from the UNDP CTA.
  • The consultant is expected to submit specific deliverables outlined in table below which will be linked to contract payments.

 

Duration of the Work

 

Duty Station

  • The consultancy is Vanuatu-based.

Compétences

  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
  • Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities skills;
  • Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
  • Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;
  • Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
  • Comprehensiveness knowledge of electoral processes and electoral management
  • Proficiency in the use of office IT applications and internet in conducting research;
  • Outstanding communication, project management and organizational skills;
  • Excellent presentation and facilitation skills.
  • Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
  • Positive, constructive attitude to work;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Educational Qualifications:

  • Advanced University Degree in political science, governance, international relations, communications, social science, humanities, public administration. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

 

Experience

  • At least seven years of experience from analytical and practical work in several of the following areas: electoral or political work preferably with an electoral management body or equivalent, civic and voter education, statistics, disability inclusion and mainstreaming in governmental, multilateral or civil society organizations, human rights and civil society empowerment.
  • Solid and proven experience in programme design, administration, monitoring and evaluation, preferably in a developing country, and/or small island development states (SIDS) context.
  • Previous experience working on electoral matters in Vanuatu would be an advantage.
  • Proficiency in the use of office IT applications and internet in conducting research.
  • Strong communication, project management and organizational skills.

 

Language requirements

  • Fluency of English language is required;
  • Command of Bislama and French would be a strong asset;
  • Knowledge of Vanuatu, and the Pacific would be a strong advantage.

 

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

The consultant must send a financial proposal based on a Daily Fee. The consultant shall quote an all-inclusive Daily Fee for the contract period. The term “all-inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, communications, consumables, etc.) that could be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment are already factored into the daily fee submitted in the proposal. If applicable, travel or daily allowance cost (if any work is to be done outside the IC’s duty station) should be identified separately. Payments shall be done based on contract deliverables.

In general, UNDP shall not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

 

In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

 

 

#

Deliverable

Target Date

Related Payments

1

Consolidated Village Listings and completed satellite maps

 

15 April 2022

50%

2

Recommendations on CRIM and VEO public awareness campaign 2022

30 April 2022

50%

 

Evaluation Method and Criteria

 

Individual consultants will be 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 a) responsive/compliant/acceptable; and b) having received the highest score out of set of weighted technical criteria (70%). and financial criteria (30%). Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNDP for the assignment.

 

Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 70 points)

 

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

 

Documentation required

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information in one proposal to demonstrate their qualifications 

  • Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided in Annex II.
  • Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.
  • Technical proposal, including a) a brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment; and b) a methodology, on how they will approach and complete the assignment.
  • Financial proposal, as per template provided in Annex II. Note: Consultants must quote prices in United States Dollars (USD).

 

Incomplete proposals may not be considered.

 

Annexes

 

For any clarification regarding this assignment please write to abhishek.prasad@undp.org