Election Contextual Analysis Researchers at UNDP Nigeria

UNDP Nigeria Recruits ELECTION CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS RESEARCHERS

Location : Home-based & different cities of Nigeria, NIGERIA
Application Deadline : 19-Jun-14
Additional Category Management
Type of Contract : Individual Contract
Post Level : International Consultant
Languages Required :English
Starting Date :(date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 26-Jun-2014
Duration of Initial Contract : 10 Months
Expected Duration of Assignment : 10 Months

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Background

The Democratic Governance for Development (DGD) project is a joint donor funded project managed by UNDP to support deepening democracy and fostering credible elections in Nigeria. Contributors to the fund include the European Commission, the UK Department for International Development, CIDA, KOICA and UNDP. DGD Project II is aimed at consolidating and advancing democratic governance and accountability in Nigeria to achieve the country’s stated development priorities and outcomes as specified in the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and the Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP). These objectives of DGD II are pursued through the following components: 1. Promoting Credible, Transparent and Sustainable Electoral Processes. 2. Improving the Democratic Quality of Political Engagement. 3. Enhancing Participation by Women, Youth and other marginalized groups. 4. Strengthening Channels of Civic Engagement.

Against the background that democratic governance is a significant thematic area of all donors, DGD II is initiating a country-wide election contextual analysis towards the 2015 general election in Nigeria. Noting that the 2011 elections was held in consonance with internationally stipulated statutory conditions for fair and credible elections and was largely successful, the elections of 2015 will likely attract a heightened level of donors and other stakeholders engagement, interest and indeed proposals for intervention and funding. In this context, it is essential to have an arrangement in place whereby the political context can be continuously monitored by specialized experts with a deep and comprehensive knowledge about Nigeria’s history, specific thematic issues, as well as national and state level lines of conflict and their manifestations, allowing for well-substantiated assessments and expertise in the impact analysis

At a thematic level, the issue of contextual analysis is recognized by all donors and in the extensive supporting literature as a critical element of programme management particularly in the dynamic and changing electoral environment, as a means of risk identification and mitigation, and to support policy making and programme design and flexibility. The DGD has a responsibility to be alert to the context in which programming is being implemented and of the potential impact a changing context may have on the democratic progress and success. This higher level, regular analysis is widely endorsed as a fundamental to effective programming.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultants are expected to perform the following functions at state level:
Comprehensively examine the forces and factors that have governed and shaped electoral processes in Nigeria since the return of democratic rule in 1999;
Analyze the extent to which the various recommendations for improving electoral processes and strengthening electoral procedures and related activities had been pursued, implemented and internalized;
Critically evaluate the role of the election management bodies and other institutions and agencies in the conduct, quality and credibility of elections;
Assess the level of intra and inter-ethnic struggles for political power and access to economic resources and the implication for the electoral process;
Identify and evaluate the various triggers and drivers of election violence and evolve early warning strategies for dealing with them;
Key tasks will include:
Staying up to date on recent developments;
Conducting short periods of fieldwork in Nigeria ahead of reports;
The timely drafting of reports of contextual and political economy analysis to a high quality;
Availability to provide further information and analysis to Management Team;
Deliverables : State level consultants will deliver:
Initial five-page political landscape report;
A first report of 10 pages;
A second report of 10 pages;
An update report of 2 pages;
A third and final report of 10 pages.
These reports will feed into the production of periodic reports at the national level as follows:
An initial first background report of 30 pages with a two-page executive summary and a 10 page summary of the political landscape in the 19 selected states;
A second report of 30 pages with a two page executive summary;
A report update (third report) of 10 pages with a two-page executive summary;
A final report of 30 pages with a two-page executive summary.

Competencies

Sound knowledge of contextual analysis/landscape mapping/ political economy analysis;
Proven track record of delivering high quality work in a timely manner;
Strong analytical, facilitation and communications and documentation skills;
Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation or of key areas of research such as political parties, civil society, electoral violence or of one of Nigeria’s six geo-political zones;
Ability to present information orally to a high level audience;
Strong skills in written and spoken communications in English;
Knowledge of the country and region;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
Master’s degree and above in any of social sciences fields.
Experience:
At least five (5) years’ relevant experience and proven track record in research work:.
Experience in monitoring or analyzing elections, democracy and governance programmes an advantage:
Experience of conducting fieldwork in Nigeria:
Language:
Fluency in written and spoken English.
Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

Technical Proposal:
Proposal Submission Form;
Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work;
Provide a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work (Max 900 words);
Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references;
Financial proposal:
Contracts based on daily fee;
The financial proposal will specify the daily fee, travel expenses and per diems quoted in separate line items, and payments are made to the Individual Consultant based on the number of days worked.

Travel:

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel. In general, UNDP should 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 case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Evaluation:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual 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 solicitation.
Technical Criteria weight; [70%];
Financial Criteria weight; [30%].
Only candidates obtaining a minimum technical score of 70 points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.
Technical Competence will constitute 70% Proposal:
understanding of TOR and methodology(60 points) CV :
past experience and knowledge of country or regions(30 points)
Presentation and writing skill(10 points);
Financial (Lower Offer/Offer*100) will constitute 30%.
Total Score Technical Score * 0.7 + Financial Score * 0.3

For more details on TOR and submission please see the following link

http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=16054

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.
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