UNDP Jobs - 66266- Value For Money Expert; Parliament Support Mid-Ter

Value For Money Expert; Parliament Support Mid-Term Evaluation

Location :

Mogadishu/Home Based, SOMALIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

06-Jun-2016

Application Deadline :

31-May-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

(3) Three Weeks

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

(3) Three Weeks

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Somalia is undergoing a historic process of change, moving towards peace from decades of violent conflict, which ravaged the country and resulted in widespread suffering of its people. On 20 August 2012, the Transitional Road Map ended and Somalia is undergoing a historic process of change, moving towards peace from decades of violent conflict, which ravaged the country and resulted in widespread suffering of its people. On 20 August 2012, the Transitional Road Map ended, and a new chapter in the history of the country began. The Provisional Constitution of the Somali Republic was agreed and endorsed on 1 August 2012. The provisional constitution establishes two Houses of the legislature - a House of the People (or lower house) and a House of the Regional States (or upper house). The 275 Members of the House of the People were selected by Somalia’s traditional elders, and then approved by a Technical Selection Committee which was responsible for vetting candidates. This process was undertaken during August and September 2012 and resulted in a parliament widely recognized as representative and credible. In the absence of the Upper House, the Provisional Constitution mandates the House of Peoples to constitute the National Federal Parliament by itself.

The Federal Government of Somalia, UN and Donor Community Launched New Joint Programmes through the Somalia Development and Reconstruction Facility (SDRF), within the framework of the Somali New Deal Compact. These joint programmes directly support the Peace-building and State-building Goals of the Somali Compact, and the key deliverables of the Government’s Vision 2016, with a specific focus on achieving results in the state formation process, constitutional review, electoral support, rule of law, youth employment, and institutional capacity development. The initiatives will in particular build a stronger civil service at Federal and State levels, support more effective delivery of justice services, and provide thousands of jobs for Somali youth. They will also support key deliverables in the Government’s Vision 2016, including the formation of new federal member states in the South and Central regions of Somalia, undertaking the review of the constitution, and building capacity of the country to deliver democratic electoral political processes. The launch of these programmes within the framework of the SDRF reflects the strong commitment of the international community and the Government of Somalia to work as one in order to improve the lives of Somali women, men and children, thus strengthen the government institutions and cooperation between Somalia and international partners.

Somaliland has a bi-cameral parliament composed of a lower house (the Golaha wakiilada) consisting of 82 elected members and an upper house (Golaha Guurtida) which consists of 82 clan chiefs. The Guurti is established to promote peace and security, to maintain customary law and to ensure Islam as the religion in Somaliland. The guurti has the power to revise all laws from the Gulaha Wakiilada.

Puntland’s Parliament was established in 1998 and was initially comprised of Members appointed by clan leaders. The Puntland Parliament consists of 66 legislators in the current Parliament who represent clans residing in PL. The election of the President and Vice President is then carried out by MPs, all of whom served a term of four years. Since its formation, Puntland has had three Parliaments and three Presidents. The current Parliament was selected in January 2014.

In 2015/6 new parliaments were formed at state level for Jubaland, Galmudug and South-West state. The project from the very beginning engaged with these parliaments and provided technical assistance and material support from the initial phase. Depending on the progress of state formation additional parliaments may emerge in the months ahead.

The UNDP Parliamentary Support Project provides technical and material assistance to National Federal Parliament, the parliaments in Puntland and Somaliland as well as the newly emerging parliaments in order to effectively discharge their functions in relation to law-making, oversight and representation. This support helps creating the foundations for longer-term development, both in terms of building up the parliaments of Somalia as representative, capable and trusted state institutions, as well as working directly with MPs to strengthen their capacities to contribute to nation-building efforts.

This Project has five offices namely UNCC and MIA in Mogadishu; Hargeisa, Somaliland; Garowe, Puntland; and Nairobi, Kenya.

The existing Parliamentary Support Project is intended for the period of March 2013-December 2016. The project has not been evaluated so far and it will come to an end by December 2016. UNDP Somalia would like to conduct a mid-term evaluation of the project engaging three experts to work as an independent evaluation team for this assignment.

The objective of the evaluation is to assess the impact of the project so far (results, achievements, constraints), to provide information on the effectiveness, relevance and value added of the support provided to parliaments in Somalia and Somaliland by UNDP since 2013, and to receive recommendations for the design of a follow up project for the period 2017-2020.

The following are the outcome and outputs of the UNDP Parliamentary Support Project:

OUTCOME 1: NFP and Parliaments of Somaliland and Puntland capacitated to operate as inclusive, transparent and effective law-making, oversight and representative bodies contributing to national peacebuilding and nation-building goals;

OUTPUT 1 (Strategic Plan Objectives): NFP and Parliaments of Somaliland and Puntland supported to enact quality legislation and to maintain effective oversight over the other branches of government according to the interests of all people and in support of peace-building and nation building;

OUTPUT 2 (Strategic Plan Objectives): NFP and Parliaments of Somaliland and Puntland established as an effective institution, with a functioning administration and infrastructure and leadership supported to discharge their constitutional mandates to fairly, inclusively and transparently manage the business of Parliament and lead the Parliamentary Administration;

OUTPUT 3 (Strategic Plan Objectives): MP’s throughout the country are empowered to represent and remain accountable to the people and to provide leadership in a way that promotes national unity for Somalis, including young people and women, participative & representative democracy and more effective contribution to political decision-making.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives of Assignment:

UNDP will conduct a mid-term evaluation exercise in collaboration with the key stakeholders (NFP, SL & PL and donors). This evaluation shall be conducted by three experts to work as an independent evaluation team for this assignment.

The evaluation / strategic project prioritization will look at the Parliament Support Project with regard to its support to the National Federal Parliament, Somaliland and Puntland Parliaments, as well as newly formed regional assemblies and – if needed - will make separate recommendations based on each parliament.

Purpose and Use of the evaluation / strategic project prioritization is:

Mid-term evaluation: To provide information on the impact, effectiveness, relevance and value added of the support provided to parliaments in Somalia and Somaliland by UNDP since 2013; and provide recommendations for corrective measures;
Strategic prioritization / Project Outline: Based on the findings of the evaluation provide information related to strategic prioritisation and project outline for a follow up project for the period 2017-2020, including support to established parliaments, the Upper Houses, and newly formed parliaments, as well as the overall funding strategy.

The Value for Money expert must be a specialist in fields of relevance to Value for Money concerning governance in conflict countries and should have an understanding of the Somali context. The main areas of expertise should be: value-for-money, public auditing, oversight, institution building, capacity building, international development, conflict/post-conflict countries; transparency and accountability, cost/benefit.

Functions/Scope of work:

The evaluation team shall consist of three International Consultants Team Leader (M&E Specialist), Governance Specialist and Value for Money Specialist. This ToR is for the recruitment of the Value for Money Specialist who is expected to support UNDP Parliament Support project in measuring its value-for-money performance and provide concrete evidence on value-for-money.

The expert who will work und the supervision of the Team Leader / M&E Specialist (primary supervisor) will focus primarily on providing a value-for-money (VfM) assessment for the Parliament Support Project.

Under the supervision of the Team Leader / M&E Specialist the Value for Money Expert shall contribute to production of the two overall deliverables of the evaluation team. The VfM expert shall deliver:

A detailed inception report (maximum five pages) within six days re the approach to value for money, questions, methodology of the proposed assignment and a proposed work plan with clear timelines. The inception report should also outline the proposed data collection instruments that may be required. The inception report shall be presented to UNDP for inputs;
A Value for Money Analysis Report;
Recommendations concerning how to ensure VfM in the follow up project 2017-2020.

Competencies

Promotes the principles outlined in the UNEG ‘Ethical Guidelines for Evaluation. Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards (human rights, peace, understanding between peoples and nations, tolerance, integrity, respect, results orientation (UNDP core ethics) impartiality;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Knowledge and experience with programming development, monitoring and evaluation;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates openness to change, flexibility, and ability to manage complexities;
Ability to work with multi-disciplinary and multicultural teams and possess excellent inter-personal skills;
Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills;
Ability to establish priorities for self and others, and to work independently.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in economics, finance, public policy.

Experience:

Minimum 5 years of working experience in undertaking cost-benefit/effective/utility analysis and/or value for money studies with international development projects;
Previous experience of cost-benefit/effective/utility analysis and/or value for money studies with international development projects;
Previous experience of providing management advisory services on value for money at international organizations or development agencies.
Good knowledge of UNDP’s mandate and the political, cultural and economic contexts of the region;
Previous experience in undertaking VfM evaluations of UNDP projects will be an added advantage;
Working experience in conflict or post-conflict countries required for the conduct of the exercise itself, and for understanding the particular context of the evaluation;
Experience in and knowledge of the UN (preferably UNDP) systems and approaches;
Broad knowledge and understanding of the major economic and social development issues and problems in Somalia will be an advantage.

English requirements:

Fluent in English-language (Both verbal and written)