CAPACITY BUILDING CONSULTANTS (2)
Location :
Abuja, NIGERIA
Application Deadline :
08-Nov-10
Type of Contract :
SSA
Post Level :
National Consultant
Languages Required :
English
Starting Date :
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start)
10-Nov-2010
Duration of Initial Contract :
5 Weeks
Background
Support to Democratic Governance for Development Project aims to consolidate and advance democratic governance and accountability in Nigeria to achieve the country’s stated development priorities and outcomes specified in the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) viz.: improvements in accountable governance in accordance with the rule of law and in response to public demand, in the key areas of: elections, justice, and anti corruption. An integral, cross-cutting aspect will be the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment for sustainable democracy and development.
Democratic governance is an idea that emerged from the principles that are based on the understanding that an effective system of democratic governance is one which is based on representative, equitable (across gender and other categories), transparent, accountable and inclusive institutions; a vibrant, responsible and capable media; and a dynamic civil society which is engaged in the political process. Efforts of the DGD project on the electoral cycle reinforce national efforts to build the norms, practices, mechanisms and institutions that can foster active citizenship and stronger democratic accountability, in keeping with the stated objectives of Government policy. The project provides technical assistance to the Electoral Institute of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs). In addition, the project works with civil society and other democratic institutions like media, political parties and national and state parliaments to help them maximize public participation and confidence in the outcome of elections.
The National Assembly (NASS) was identified as one of the key governance structures in the country. It is the democratic structure for achieving popular participation through elected representatives. NASS combines legislative roles with oversight responsibilities on the executive arm of government. The importance of this oversight function on the executive need not be overemphasized. Notwithstanding the NASS’s constitutional mandate as a central institution in a functioning democracy, a range of historical and structural factors have kept the institution weak.
NASS’s institutional weaknesses have serious consequences such as inadequate representation of a needy and diverse populace; faulty laws; and poor policy implementation by the executive. While dominant executives have traditionally marginalized the legislature, the return to civilian rule has seen a period of greater legislative assertiveness. This legislative assertiveness has, however, not been supported by a corresponding increase in NASS’s capacity to function as a governing partner alongside the Executive arm of government.
Despite a number of shortcomings, the NASS remains the most representative of Nigeria’s national governing institutions in terms of the geographic diversity of its membership, the access that it provides to citizen groups, and in the range of opinions expressed within.
The programme of assistance envisaged from the DGD Project will build on these trends to support NASS to become more efficient and effective in fulfilling its constitutional mandate to represent, legislate and oversee the execution of laws. During this electoral period, the DGD Project seeks to strengthen NASS’s oversight functions on INEC, through its relevant committees. The assistance shall support the Senate Committee on INEC and the House Committee on Electoral Matters to effectively discharge parliamentary oversight functions. It shall support an interaction of national legislators and representatives of civil society groups on the amendment of the relevant sections of the 1999 constitutions that deals with the electoral process.
The DGD Project shall support the conduct of a stakeholders’ workshop to help the NASS obtain the public opinion on the country’s electoral preparedness and develop a focused approach on its oversight function of INEC’s implementation of the electoral process.
The Project is therefore seeking the services of well qualified and experienced national consultants to implement the NASS capacity building initiatives.
Duties and Responsibilities
To review the level of preparation of relevant NASS Committees on their oversight responsibilities of INEC on 2011 electoral process.
Mobilize CSOs to conduct advocacy and make presentation to NASS on current issues, including public concerns on the amendment of the relevant sections of the 1999 constitutions that deals with the electoral process.
To provide technical assistance to relevant NASS Committees on their oversight responsibilities of INEC
To design and deliver a stakeholders’ consultative workshop with the National Assembly on electoral matters.
To maximize legislators’ command of key electoral issues with respect to the new laws as amended by the National Assembly and promote INEC’s adherence of the same during the implementation of the electoral process.
To prepare a report on information and outputs from the review, discussions and workshop for input to the design of future support to the National Assembly.
The presentation to NASS by CSOs on preparation for the conduct of 2011 elections and the assistance to NASS committees on election matters shall provide the following outputs:
Strengthen NASS Committees on oversight functions to enable INEC perform more effectively and on the basis of democratic values and practices during 2011 general elections.
Enhance civil society engagements of NASS on constitutional amendments.
Provide detailed engagement plan for Senate Committee on INEC and House Committee on Electoral Matters with INEC during the process leading to the 2011 elections.
Provide detailed recommendations on future interventions by the DGD Project
Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
Treats all people fairly without favoritism.
Functional Competencies:
A lead facilitator who has knowledge of the National Assembly and an expert with experience in report writing of political analysis of meetings and workshops with a clear understanding of the role of CSOs intervention in the conduct of free, peaceful and credible elections.
Knowledge Management and Learning
Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
Management and Leadership
Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
Ability to share knowledge and experience, good interpersonal skill, a good team player, possess leadership and self-management.
Competent in leading project monitoring and evaluation control and ensuring all parties are well informed regarding project financial status and achievement.
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude, always in control even under pressure.
Builds strong relationship with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
Consistently approach work with energy and positive, constructive attitude
Demonstrate openness to change and ability to manage complexities
Leads teams effectively and shows mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills
Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
Demonstrate strong oral and written communication skills
Development and Operational Effectiveness
Strong knowledge and hands-on experience in project reporting, monitoring, evaluation and audit
Strong project management skill with experience in results-based management and results-oriented approach.
Excellent written communication and skills in English, with analytical capacity and ability to synthesize project issues and compile high quality financial and narrative documents.
Demonstrated knowledge and experience in project financial and narrative report reviews and provision of feed back as necessary to respective national project coordinators.
Ability to conceptualize issues and analyze data
Ability to coordinate the works of others
Ability to implement new systems ( business side), and affect staff behavioral / attitudinal change
Required Skills and Experience
A Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent (with a minimum of 15 years experience) / a Master’s Degree (with a minimum of 10 years experience) in Political Science, Public Administration or related Social Sciences.
Experience in providing technical support and assistance to legislative assemblies at the national or state level.
Experience in training and group facilitation.
Demonstrated knowledge and experience in development projects, reporting, monitoring and evaluation.
Demonstrated knowledge in right based issues and conflict management.
Experience in mobilizing civil society groups to advocate for change.
Familiarity of UN systems and/or the UNDP system, rules, procedures, reporting, monitoring and evaluation is not a requirement but will be an advantage
http://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?job_id=19857
