Background

The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) is constitutionally mandated to develop mechanisms for early detection of areas of potential conflicts and disputes, and to take appropriate preventive measures. Considering this, the Commission has taken steps to set up a Conflict Early Warning and Early Response (CEWER) system which will help to inform coordinated national responses to conflicts. As the Commission takes strategic steps towards the development, operationalization and institutionalization of the system as a tool to support effective action where conflicts that affect our society are detected and require action, it seeks the services of an experienced Consultant to develop indicators for the CEWER system.

The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission is established in terms of section 251 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe has a mandate to promote national peace, reconciliation and conflict prevention. One of its functions in terms of section 252 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe is to develop mechanisms for early detection of areas of potential conflicts and disputes, and to take appropriate preventive measures.

The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) is constitutionally mandated to develop mechanisms for early detection of areas of potential conflicts and disputes, and to take appropriate preventive measures. Considering this, the Commission has taken steps to set up a Conflict Early Warning and Early Response (CEWER) system which will help to inform coordinated national responses to conflicts. As the Commission takes strategic steps towards the development, operationalization and institutionalization of the system as a tool to support effective action where conflicts that affect our society are detected and require action, it seeks the services of an experienced Consultant to develop indicators for the CEWER system.

Through the “Building trust and confidence in Zimbabwe’s Transition” Project support is provided to the NPRC with the overarching objectives to contribute to confidence building in Zimbabwe’s transition through a broad-based approach around three inter-linked output areas: 1) Promoting citizen engagement with emphasis on promoting the meaningful engagement of women and youth; (2) Improved dispute resolution services and social protection systems design in marginalized and at-risk communities; and (3) Support the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission to partner with State institutions, CSOs, FBOs, Women and Youth Organisations in line with its Strategic Plan.

A variety of state and non-state institutions, including government ministries, CSOs and international cooperation agencies, produce assessments and reports on the prevailing peace context in the country. The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission, however, offers a special perspective.  Due to its nature as an independent state body with a mandate for peacebuilding, national healing and reconciliation,  the commission provides a unique reading of country context; one that puts at the center of the analysis issues of conflict prevention, management and transformation as one of the key outputs.. NPRC has a clear role in achieving these goals.

Considering the above, UNDP seeks to support the NPRC in the development of the Conflict Early Warning and Early Response System for the country.

Go to this link to review full Terms of Refence: https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=68812    

Duties and Responsibilities

To strengthen the mandate of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission by developing a Conflict Early Warning and Early Response System, to be able to identify conflict before it escalates and mitigate harm.

The specific objectives are:o

  • To define the mandate of the NPRC in relation to conflict prevention, management and transformation;
  • To develop Conflict Early Warning Early Response Indicators based on evidence to be utilised by the NPRC in its system;
  • Determine and utilize areas of potential synergies and collaboration with other Chapter 12 institutions in conflict prevention, management and transformation.

 The consultancy will be carried out in seven stages: 

  • The consultant will draft an inception report, outlining – inter alia – the key research questions, methodology, work plan, relevant policies, relevant stakeholders to be consulted, and will present this at an inception meeting.
  • An in-depth desk review and analysis of the mandate of the NPRC in connection with conflict prevention, management and transformation that includes regional and international best practice.  The results of the exercise will be set out in an initial draft guide. The guide will be presented at a consultative workshop with relevant stakeholders for input into the guideline.
  • Review the indicators for other regional early warning systems and determine the areas of convergence with Zimbabwe’s conflict context;
  • Review reports of conflict situations generated from the Provinces in Zimbabwe and come up with draft indicators for the CEWER system;
  • Develop a mechanism to elicit the views of Zimbabweans across the country on the draft indicators and refine them in line with the commonly held positions;
  • Come up with indicators which will be used for the Commission’s CEWER system;
  • Prepare a report that consolidates the CEWER indicators and how they can be input into the system to ensure conflict issues are adequately captured.

NPRC and UNDP will oversee and guide the consultant. The consultancy will be directly managed by the NPRC focal person and UNDP Human Rights Specialist with support from the UN Peacebuilding inter-agency technical team.

The NPRC focal person will be responsible for convening, coordinating and supporting the assessment in close collaboration with UNDP and other relevant stakeholders.

UNDP will be responsible for convening, coordinating and supporting the capacitation and drafting processes in close collaboration with the Peacebuilding Technical Coordination Unit.

Consultant needs to comply with global and local PSEA (Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) guidelines and standards.

The time frame for the entire consultancy should not exceed 5 weeks and shall deliver the following:   

  • Inception Report/inception workshop;
  • Draft report/consultative meeting(s);
  • Inhouse training on the use of the tool;

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

High Level of Professionalism:

  • Strong analytical, quantitative and problem-solving skills;
  • Ability to provide clear messages on complex information;
  • Ability to seek and synthesize information from a variety of sources and draw solid conclusion based on in depth analysis;
  • Accuracy and attention to detail;
  • Good communication skills, including the ability to write high quality reports, conduct studies and to articulate ideas in a clear and concise style;
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, teamwork and adept at working with people of diverse cultural and social backgrounds;
  • An understanding of and ability to abide by the core values of the United Nations.

Strong Planning & Organizing Capacity:

  • Organizes and accurately completes multiple tasks by establishing priorities while taking into consideration special assignments, frequent interruptions, deadlines, available resources and multiple reporting relationships;
  • Plans, coordinates and organizes workload while remaining aware of changing priorities and competing deadlines;
  • Demonstrates ability to quickly shift from one task to another to meet multiple support needs;

Demonstratable Teamwork:

  • Works collaboratively with partners to achieve organizational goals;
  • Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise;
  • Facilitates the development of individual and multi-cultural/team competencies;
  • Ability to provide substantive training and mentoring, and manage teams.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: 

  • A minimum of an Advanced Degree in Political Science, Peace and Governance Studies, International Relations, Law, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Public Policy or related field;
  • Post-graduate qualification in relevant fields (Political Science, Demography, Conflict and Peace Studies, Law, Human Rights, Social Science, International Relations, Development Studies etc.).

Experience:

  • Minimum of 7 years of sustained action research, knowledge management and documentation on peace and governance issues;
  • Professional experience in areas of Law, Gender, SGBV, SRHR, HP and/or Human Rights research is an added value;
  • Experience in linking peace related research and policy engagement;
  • Experience in facilitating learning and training in social science research and documentation;
  • Knowledge of Zimbabwean peace architecture, history, legal context and experience of working in Zimbabwe on at least one similar assignment desirable;
  • Experience in using peace building and conflict related indicators to develop interactive systems;
  • ICT Skills.

Language Requirements:

  • Fluency in both written and spoken English
  • Knowledge of at least two local languages preferable

Application procedure:
Applicants are requested to upload copies of:

Please group all your documents (CV, P11, Technical Proposal and certificates) into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document. Incomplete applications will not be given consideration.
Applicants must reply to the mandatory questions asked by the system when submitting the application

Please note that only applicants who are short-listed will be contacted.

Evaluation criteria:

The Consultant will be evaluated based on qualifications and the years of experience, as outlined in the qualifications/requirements section of the ToR.  In addition, the Consultant will also be evaluated on the following methodology:
 
Technical Criteria weight: 70%;
Financial Criteria weight: 30%;


The award of the contract shall be made to the Consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the Terms of Reference.

“UNDP is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff, and equal opportunities for people with disabilities. Well qualified candidates, particularly women and people with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply”.