Location : Gaborone, BOTSWANA
Application Deadline : 09-Mar-12
Type of Contract : Individual Contract
Post Level : International Consultant
Languages Required : English
Starting Date :(date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 01-Apr-2012
Background
The European Commission (EC)-UNDP Partnership on Electoral Assistance has mobilised more than 550 million EURO since 2004 for financial and technical support to transitional democracies and post conflict countries in order to promote and contribute to the organisation of genuine and sustainable electoral processes. An EC-UNDP Joint Task Force (JTF) on Electoral Assistance, composed of the EC, UNDP BDP and PSO, was established to further strengthen and facilitate the already existing EC-UNDP
partnership in the field of electoral assistance and improve the overall efficiency and adherence of the projects to the common EC-UNDP strategic approach.
The JTF monitors and supports the partnership at global level, from the early formulation missions to the end of the contractual obligations; influences policy development in electoral assistance, including advocating adherence to UN and multilateral norms and standards; better positions UNDP with the EC in the domain of electoral assistance and related areas; encourages the professional development of EC and UNDP staff and improves knowledge of the institutional aspects of electoral assistance projects. Particular focus is placed on the training and dissemination of knowledge activities throughout the African region.
Against this background, UNDP Brussels, in its capacity of coordination of the EC-UNDP Task Force, was requested by the EC to prepare a project to be funded, with the Instrument of Stability, in the field of electoral assistance and in the broader area of democratic governance for the SADC. With initial funding of 500,000 euros for a 12 months budget, the Project in Support of Electoral Commission Forum of the SADC countries has a regional scope and is financed by the EC as sole donor.
Project implementation will be delivered by UNDP Botswana through the direct execution modality (DEX), with the back-stopping support from the UNDP Regional Centre in Johannesburg and advisory support from the EC-UNDP Joint Task Force in Brussels. Building on past and ongoing support in the electoral domain to the SADC, the project is a good example of coordination and harmonisation and is in line with the principles of the Paris and Accra Declarations on Aid Effectiveness in the sense that:
• it is clearly demand-driven and is being designed as a result of extensive consultation among the relevant actors;
• it involves a strong coordination among its stakeholders and resources for the implementation of the project will be applied to finance regional harmonised activities, in line with the project’s multi-country strategy;
• aims to support the capacity building of national institutions and to provide support based on partner countries’ national strategies, institutions and procedures;
• should complement and strengthen existing efforts in the different sectors and avoid duplication of efforts and rationalise activities.
The project will target the promotion of a deeper consolidation of the democratic culture and institutions by providing electoral assistance as an ongoing and cyclical activity rather than being event driven at designated points in time. The activities to be implemented will focus on:
• Support to the Forum of the SADC EMBs
• Strategic and operational plans
• Cost assessment and budgeting exercises
• Civil registry/voter registration issues
• Procurement Plans
• Long Term Civic and Voter Education
• Support to Elected Parliamentarians and Parliaments
• Support to Media
Support for the improvement of transmission and verification of results
Support for electoral dispute resolutions.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall guidance of the Country Director of UNDP in Botswana, the incumbent will support the UNDP CO in Botswana to further strengthen and facilitate cooperation between the project’s stakeholders. The Project Manager will coordinate with UNDP CO in Botswana and the UNDP Regional Centre in Johannesburg all project support activities.
The incumbent will be responsible for project implementation and achievement of project results. The Project Manager, supported by project support staff, will have the following specific responsibilities:
• Exercise overall responsibility for planning, implementation, management, monitoring and coordination aspects of the project operations and personnel.
• Ensure the establishment and equipment of the project office at the outset of the project operations.
• Manage the recruitment of project team, local consultants and support staff, as well as in identifying short-term international experts.
• Coordination and supervision of the activities of the project staff, experts and consultants working as part of the technical assistance team.
• Be responsible for the timely preparation and quality control of all substantive technical reports, briefs and required documents.
• Ensure timely production and submission of all partial and/or progress reports by all members of the project team, contractors and project partners.
• Liaise with the UNDP Country Office in Botswana (host country for the project), the Joint EC UNDP Task Force on Electoral Assistance ; project beneficiaries (electoral management bodies and National Authorization Officers representatives in the SADC); the project’s senior supplier/donor (EC) and all other partners on all matters concerning the implementation of the project.
• Support coordination of all electoral support activities through regular contacts and briefings with the donor, project support and assurance structures (UNDP country offices, UNDP Regional Centre in Johannesburg, and the Joint EC UNDP Task Force – “JTF”).
• Act as adviser, on electoral issues related to the project components for the Project Steering Committee (PSC) and its members.
• Organize PSC, project review and/or evaluation meetings. Prepare background document, briefs, issues papers, progress reports for the PSC meetings and for donor reporting. Follow-up on the implementation of PSC decisions and recommendations.
• In collaboration with project support, initiate procurement of goods and services including preparation of equipment specifications, ToRs and RFPs, managing process for the selection of suppliers, contractors and partners.
• Conduct field visits to supervise, coordinate and monitor field level activities of the project.
• Supervise outsourced electoral research and dissemination of research findings.
• Prepare project work plans, progress reports and terminal report.
• Proactively seek to ensure further funds for a potential extension of the project.
Competencies
• Professional – Background and experience in electoral processes, especially training of electoral officials and voter education.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of approaches, tools and methodologies related to planning, executing and monitoring the implementation of technical electoral assistance projects.
• Planning and organization – Excellent analytical and organizational skills required; ability to plan own work, manage conflicting priorities, report on work progress and deliver outputs in a punctual manner.
• Coordination – Ability to effectively interact and coordinate with donors and senior officials.
• Technological awareness – Fully proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications, e.g. word processing, PowerPoint or equivalent, internal databases, Internet, etc.
• Knowledge of information technology systems and applications in electoral management would be an asset.
• Communication – Strong communication (spoken and written) skills and ability to articulate ideas in a
clear, concise style.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
• Advanced University Degree in relevant social / political science s, law or related discipline
Experience:
• Minimum seven years specialized experience in international context in development, with a preferred emphasis in democratic governance and specialized expertise in managing and implementing electoral assistance projects, preferably within UNDP.
• Familiarity with UNDP Atlas system, an asset.
• Extensive practical experience in designing, managing, and monitoring projects in developing
countries, preferably with UNDP.
• Technical knowledge of the field of electoral assistance in ACP is an asset, as well as a general knowledge of cross-cutting democratic governance issues that are often addressed through electoral cycle or deepening democracy programmes.
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.
Closing Date: Friday, 09 March 2012
