UNDP Consultancy Assignment to Support the DGD Project Update its CSO Roster - 12 Consultants

UNDP helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively. In all our activities, we encourage the protection of human rights, capacity development and the empowerment of women.

We are recruiting to fill the below position:

Job Title: Consultancy Assignment to Support the DGD Project Update its CSO Roster - 12 Consultants

Location : Abuja, Nigeria
Starting Date : 1st March, 2013
Duration of Initial Contract : 6 months

Background
The revised Democratic Governance for Development (DGD) Project is a joint donor-funded project with the overall aim of: 1) strengthening the democratic character of Nigerian political processes; and 2) promoting outcomes that consolidate and advance democratic governance and accountability to achieve the country’s stated development priorities and goals specified in the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and the Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP).

DGD II consists of 4 programme components:  Promoting Credible, Transparent and Sustainable Electoral Processes;  Improving the Democratic Quality of Political Engagement; Enhancing Participation by Women, Youth and other Marginalized groups; and  Strengthening Channels of Civic Engagement.

Civil society organizations (CSOs) have critical roles to play in promoting democratic governance by providing spaces for civic engagement. In order to provide opportunity for a broad spectrum of CSOs to engage with the DGD project, the CSO Roster was developed in 2010 to contain a list of eligible CSOs that were prequalified and pre-assessed and found to have met the set criteria.  The paper-based Roster was migrated to an online Roster; the Vendor Database Management System (VDMS). In order to review and update the CSO Roster and in   preparation for 2015 General Elections, DGD intends to contract the services of CSO capacity assessment consultants to carry out a capacity assessment of CSO applicants for inclusion in the Roster. The exercise is intended to update the records of CSOs on the Roster and to give an opportunity to other CSOs and registered organisations to be reviewed.

DGD requires the services of 12 Consultants, 6 with programmatic skills and 6 with financial management skills to carry out the capacity assessment of CSOs. The consultants will be paired in teams of two (Programme and financial reviewers), with each team assigned to access organizations in one geo-political zone.

Duties and Responsibilities
The objectives of the consultancy include:

• To contribute to the review of the UNDP Capacity Assessment Tool to contextualise it for Nigeria
• To carry out programmatic and financial capacity assessment of CSOs

Key functions
Summary of key functions to be performed by the consultants:

• Contribute to the Review of the UNDP Capacity Assessment Tool
• Participate at a training session facilitated by DGD to familiarise with UNDP Capacity Assessment Tool
• Advise DGD on contextualising the Tool for Nigeria
• Advise DGD on data capture and key reporting issues
• Carry out programmatic and financial capacity assessment of CSOs
• Carry out programmatic capacity assessment visits to CSO applicants on-location
• Produce comprehensive reports of each CSO assessed in a manner as to enable DGD to make recommendations on the suitability of the CSOs to be included in the Vendor Database Management System

Deliverables / Outputs
The Consultant is expected to provide the following specific tangible deliverables:

• A comprehensive report of the capacity of each organisation based on agreed timelines
• A final report incorporating the feedback from DGD with recommendations on way forward

Expected Outcome

• Easy and efficient selection of potential CSO vendors/contractors/partners from an accurate, comprehensive Vendor Database Management System
• Improved communication with CSOs

Supervision
The Project Director of DGD will provide strategic guidance to the consultants in the discharge of the assignment while monitoring and supervision will be carried out by the Civil Society Expert and the Operations Coordinator.

Payment Modality
The daily rate will be applied for the duration of the consultancy; for all approved travel outside Abuja, transportation and accommodation costs will be covered in addition to the daily fee

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

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• First degree in Development Studies, Political Science, Social Sciences, Accounting, Finance, and other related fields

Experience

• Experience working in development organisations (specifically on programme and finance related issues)
• Knowledge of and experience of working with the civil society in Nigeria is an added advantage;
• Excellent report writing skills
• Knowledge of CSO organizational and institutional development is an added advantage
• Ability to work harmoniously with people from different cultural backgrounds.
• Excellent spoken and written English is also required.

Application Closing Date
26th February 2013

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online