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International Consultant: Support for the elaboration of the electoral education and democratic processes curriculum in the selected universities and faculties from the Republic of Moldova..

Vacancy Number: Pr21/02346

Location:	Chisinau, Moldova
Application Deadline:	07 Dec 2021, 16:00 (GMT+2:00)
Type of Contract:	Individual Contract
Starting date:	05 Jan 2022
Reference to the project:	Enhancing Democracy in Moldova through Inclusive and Transparent Elections
Expected Duration of Assignment:	January - March 2022
Supporting Documents: International Consultant - Procurement Notice International Consultant - Terms of Reference OFFEROR’S LETTER TO UNDP CONFIRMING INTEREST AND AVAILABILITY FOR THE INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTOR (IC) ASSIGNMENT UNDP General Conditions of Individual Contract

Ms. Olga Crivoliubic.

Background

Electoral support and capacity development are part of UNDP’s democratic governance assistance worldwide, through which UNDP helps nations build democratic frameworks to improve representation, accountability, and transparency for the benefit of citizens.

UNDP Moldova has a long-standing partnership with the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), Ministry of Education and Research and the Center for Continuous Electoral Training (CCET) aiming at advancing the electoral education and democratic electoral processes in Moldova. This partnership, which spans over 10 years, resulted in the establishment of strong professional institutions, development of a modern State Automated Information System “Elections” (SAISE), the enhancement of the State Register of Voters’ accuracy and the design and implementation of effective long-term civic and voter and citizens education instruments.

Throughout the last electoral cycles, CEC and CCET demonstrated a high level of capacity in organizing the Presidential, Parliamentary Elections and General Local Elections. Despite the challenges and persistent financial limitations faced by the institutions, due to the continuous UNDP’s support, the CEC and the CCET delivered “well-administered elections” as attested by OSCE/ODIHR Observation Missions.

Since 2017, the Project "Enhancing democracy in Moldova through inclusive and transparent elections” supports the Central Electoral Commission to enhance the transparency and inclusiveness of the electoral process in Moldova by ensuring a more independent and credible electoral administration and better informed and pro-active citizens. Successively, on 1^st of August 2020, the second phase of the Project “Enhancing Democracy in Moldova through Inclusive and Transparent Elections – EDMITE” has started. The overall goal of the Project is to achieve an enhanced integrity, transparency, and inclusiveness of the electoral process in Moldova by ensuring a more independent and credible electoral administration and better informed and pro-active citizens. Hence, the project has an outward-oriented approach, focusing on the electoral process and all relevant actors (CEC, CCET, ministries and government agencies, educational institutions, civil society).

One of the Project’s objectives is to enhance the civic education on electoral subjects and participation of citizens in the electoral process. Youth forms more than 31% of the electorate in the country and the ones that are socially active are also University students, they have also the potential to bring the change and contribute to the broadening of the knowledge and raising awareness of the society.

In this sense, the UNDP Project aims to support 3 Universities across the country to conceptualize, design, and implement an electoral curriculum and course, aimed at promoting the electoral education and democratic processes among students. Based on existing collaboration agreements, the project will intend to cooperate with the following universities from the Republic of Moldova: Alecu Russo University from Balti, Comrat State University, Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu State University from Cahul and Moldova State University from Chisinau.  Assisted with the support of the Center for Continuous Electoral Training, the curriculum and course on electoral education and democratic processes will be administered by the universities in which it will be rolled out with guidance from the Center for Continuous Electoral Training and the project team.

Scope of work

The general objective of the assignment is to develop a university education curriculum aimed at promoting electoral education and democratic processes in the Republic of Moldova. 

Specific objectives will include:

-                  Support and substantive inputs provided to a team of national consultants in conducting a needs assessment for the current University educational programs in three Universities on the incorporation of Electoral Education curricula or mainstreaming of the elements of the Electoral module in existing University educational programs, considering the international aspects related to the best standards and practices from the region of Eastern European and/or CIS.

-                  Support and substantive inputs provided in designing of the education curriculum and course on electoral education and democratic processes for students and support throughout all the needed design and development phases.

For the purposes of this assignment, the International Consultant will collaborate with a team of other national and international Consultants contracted by the UNDP Project. The International Consultant will collaborate with the national Consultants contracted by the UNDP Project. Hence, the international consultant will contribute and corroborate the findings of the assignment with the team of national consultants for the final submission of all the main deliverables. The International Consultant will provide expertise and coordination support for the implementation of the assignment. For the realization of the assignment the consultant will undertake online discussions with the university teachers, students, and faculty staff members.

Note: for the purposes of the assignment, it is suggested that the consultant conducts on-site assessments and consultation meeting with the national consultants, relevant stakeholders, and the project team.

For detailed information, please refer to Annex 1 – Terms of Reference.

Requirements for experience

Academic Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in education or other relevant fields (Social Science, Law, Journalism, Political Science, Public Administration, other relevant).

Experience:

• At least 6 (six) years of professional experience in providing consultancy for the development of university curriculum and courses or academic experience in the related field in the region of Eastern Europe and/or CIS.
• Participation in the development and delivery of at least one education development plan or other relevant educational policy documents, assessments for universities (examples should be explicitly detailed in his/her CV)

Competencies:

• Previous demonstrated experience in the design and delivery of lectures, trainings, workshops, or education seminars, as well as moderating/facilitating public events.
• Previous assignments in electoral/democratic processes education (developing educational materials, teaching experience, etc.) is a strong advantage.
• Demonstrated knowledge of new curriculum development process and stages;
• Knowledge and understanding of the main objectives for electoral education at university level;
• Previous experience of work with UNDP, ISFED and/or other development partners is an advantage.
• Excellent communication skills, as well as the ability to communicate effectively with all stakeholders and to present ideas clearly and effectively.
• Strong knowledge in using IT tools (Microsoft package, Mac package) is required.
• Proficiency in English, knowledge of Russian or Romanian will be an advantage for the purpose of the assignment.

Personal qualities:

• Proven commitment to the core values of the United Nations, in particular respecting differences of culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, language, age, HIV status, disability, and sexual orientation, or other status.
• Excellent research, analytical and writing skills.
• Responsibility, creativity, flexibility and punctuality, ability to meet deadlines and prioritize multiple tasks.
• Demonstrated interpersonal and diplomatic skills, as well as the ability to communicate effectively with all stakeholders and to present ideas clearly and effectively.

Documents to be included

• Offeror’s letter confirming interest and availability for the Individual Contractor assignment.
• Technical proposal (including brief description of experience, approach, and methodology for the completion of the assignment).
• Financial proposal (in USD, specifying a total requested amount per working day and per deliverable, including all related costs, e.g. fees, phone calls, etc. The financial proposal will detail the daily fee, travel expenses and per diems quoted in separate line items).
• Personal updated CV.

Financial proposal

Lump sum contracts

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables. Payment will be made upon the successful completion of the tasks assigned and submission of the assessment report. Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. To assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals the financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including fee, taxes, communication costs, travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).

Travel

All envisaged local travel costs must be included in the financial proposal.

This includes all travel to join duty station.

No international travel is envisaged under this assignment.