Background

Under the Joint Supervisory Body (JSB) established between the PNG Government and the ABG under the Bougainville Peace Agreement, a Joint Referendum Committee was established.  In 2014, the Joint Referendum Committee developed work streams to progress the discussions on the referendum.  Three years later, the implementation of those work streams remains in the early stages of implementation and requires support, momentum, and commitment by both governments to move the work streams forward so that the referendum can be held within the constitutionally mandated period ending June 2020.  

The Joint Supervisory Body in December 2017, when a number of key agreements were made, the most important one being a target date (June 2019) to hold the referendum in Bougainville.  That target date has been widely disseminated and has generated widespread expectations, but the lack of progress on referendum planning and preparation during the national elections has raised serious questions regarding the feasibility of the June 2019 target date, and any further delay could jeopardize any possibility of meeting the June 2020 deadline.

UNDP, in consultation with the national government and the ABG, developed a Peace Building Priority Plan in 2015 to support the implementation of the BPA.  Peacebuilding Fund support under that plan has been instrumental in the two governments’ progress on the referendum discussions, but they are not expected to finalize all of the key decisions related to the referendum and the completion of the BPA process by the time the current PBF funding is exhausted. 

A project document setting out a flexible UNDP project to support the referendum process was developed earlier in 2017, but the two governments have been reluctant for UNDP to move ahead with resource mobilization and project activities until further progress on parallel issues (such as weapons disposal and good governance) has been made.  That draft also incorporated funding to provide support to the ongoing contacts between the two governments on referendum issues and to civil society’s public awareness activities, but the Peacebuilding Support Office has indicated that further funding is likely to be available from the Peacebuilding Fund for those elements, so they have been removed.

Following further consultation with the Department of Political Affairs (Asia Pacific Division and Electoral Assistance Division) and with UNDP HQ, and in line with the recommendations of the 2015 Electoral Needs Assessment Mission[1], which were subsequently endorsed by the USG/Political Affairs (the UN Focal Point for Electoral Assistance), UNDP PNG intends to engage a Senior Electoral Expert (Referendum) (hereafter referred to as “the Expert”) to work with the Resident Coordinator and Assistant Resident Representative in providing advisory and other critical support to the Bougainville Referendum Commission and to the two governments and in mobilizing resources to support a UNDP project to continue supporting the two governments, the electoral commissioners, and the Bougainville Referendum Commission. 

[1] Paragraph 131 of the NAM Report reads:  “An experienced UN elections advisor needs to be deployed as soon as possible so that s/he can: (i) when needed, provide advice, through the RC, to the PNG and ABG governments once the option papers are submitted; (ii) ensure key political decisions affecting the referendum process are being made in a timely manner, by facilitating dialogue towards referendum-related decisions that need to be made, in conjunction with the RC; (iii) advise the RC, UN PDA and Political ‘Liaison” Officer on all electoral/referendum-related matters; (iv) substantively oversee Outcome 2 of the Peacebuilding Priority Plan/PPP (civic education on the referendum); and (v) assist in keeping relevant national and international stakeholders informed of electoral/referendum developments to prevent misunderstandings or misinformation, and provide early-warning when situations that warrant it arises.” [emphasis added]

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the general direction of the Resident Coordinator and the direct supervision of the Assistant Resident Representative (Governance), and in coordination with the Peacebuilding Fund Coordinator, the Peace and Development Adviser, the UN Liaison Officer, and the Electoral Assistance Division, the Expert will work with officials from the two governments, the two electoral commissioners, and other key stakeholders to deliver support as described below.

The Expert will liaise with the Bougainville Referendum Commission, the Office of the Prime Minister and National Executive Council, the National Coordination Office for Bougainville Affairs (NCOBA), the PNG Electoral Commissioner, the Office of the President and Bougainville Executive Council, the ABG Department of Peace Agreement Implementation, the Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner, relevant legislative committees in Port Moresby and Buka, other UN agencies, development partners, and other electoral stakeholders, to understand the dynamics on the ground and present findings, recommendations, and reports as appropriate to both governments, to the Referendum Commission, to UNDP, and to other stakeholders on the basis of the existing legal framework, international best practice, and his/her previous experience.  

Deliverables

1. Support the PNG Country Office to conduct consultations, meetings, and other actions with key donors and stakeholders of both governments to motivate donors and mobilize resources for the implementation of the Bougainville Referendum Support Project;

2. P technical and advisory support to PNG Government and ABG officials (such as NCOBA and the Department Peace Agreement Implementation) to assist in the establishment of the Bougainville Referendum Commission;

3. Work with the Bougainville Referendum Commission’s Transitional Committee and its appointed committees on preliminary operational and awareness planning for the referendum, which may in turn necessitate changes in the Bougainville Referendum Support Project’s budget and staffing plans; In anticipation of filling project staff positions, develop terms of reference for those positions in consultation with BRC personnel to ensure that the Commission receives the necessary support;

4. Brief government officials, legislators, and civil society groups (including women’s groups, youth, and Disabled Persons’ Groups) about referendum experiences internationally and the preparations involved in referendum planning, including modalities for ensuring the inclusion of women and other frequently marginalized communities;

5. Work with personnel of the new PBF-funded GYPI and of the extended PBF-funded UNDP awareness activities to ensure that messages developed and disseminated by project personnel are appropriate, consistent with the legal framework, and compatible with the general awareness activities planned by the BRC;

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN values and ethical standards;

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability; and

• Treats all people fairly without fear or favour.

   

Functional Competencies

• Excellent speaking and writing skills in English are necessary;

• High level planning, organizational and time management skills, including flexibility, attention to detail and the ability to work under pressure to meet challenging deadlines;

• Analytical and problem solving skills of a high order, including the ability to formulate recommendations and advice senior management on tackling difficult scenarios;

• Leadership qualities, including the ability to make sound judgment, meet challenges constructively and creatively;

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including ability to establish strong cooperative relationships with senior government officials, civil society and donors;

• Ability to quickly adapt to change, and to remain calm under pressure; and

• Proven cross-cultural communication and the ability to function effectively in an international, multicultural environment.

Required Skills and Experience

• Master’s Degree in politics, law, public administration, peace and development studies or other related social sciences;

• At least 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in working on elections administration and referendum;

• Progressively responsible professional 2 year’s pf experience working in the field of peacebuilding, elections and referendum administration or related experience in democratic governance, particularly in crisis and post conflict countries;

• 2 years experience of working with donor and development partners in the conception, design and delivery of elections including referenda;

• Ability to design and facilitate multi-stakeholder workshops;

• A good understanding and knowledge of elections issues in the Pacific region and in particular Papua New Guinea will be an asset;

• A proven track record of high level consultancy and advisory work for the UN, UNDP, and/or reputable international organizations; and

• Sound knowledge of the UN’s and especially UNDP’s mandate and role in electoral assistance.

NOTE:

Submission Instructions

This process is managed through the UNDP online eTendering system. Proposals may be submitted on or before the deadline indicated by UNDP in the e-tendering system. Proposals must be submitted in the online e-tendering system in the following link: https://etendering.partneragencies.org  using your username and password. If you have not registered in the system before, you can register now by logging in using:

Username: event.guest

Password: why2change

Failure to comply with submission instruction on the TOR will lead to disqualification or proposals will not be considered any further.