May 2015

Working as part of the Governance and Peacebuilding Cluster, the Consultant will work with its specialists in thematic areas to formulate the Inclusive Governance aspects of the Report and the cluster’s initiatives, while also collaborating with other staff and consultants working on the other chapters of the RHDR

The chapter will focus on three main barriers of particular importance to inclusive governance in the Europe and CIS region. The first of these is corruption and its relationship with societal resilience in ECIS. Corruption’s impact on governance systems can reinforce the mechanisms which create and perpetuate income and other inequalities and pose a barrier to economic policies to address inequalities. The chapter will articulate the impact of petty corrupt practices on local governance and access to basic services and the effect of mechanisms of exclusion on participation, gender, equality, environmental protection and other factors, while exploring efforts to embed transparency and accountability in governance. The second focus is multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination against particular vulnerable groups, such as gender, minorities, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, and the impact of gender-sensitive and human rights-based policy measures on the reduction of inequalities. As a third focus, the chapter will elaborate on the ways in which identified mechanisms for perpetuating inequalities are exacerbated in zones of conflict or disputed sovereignty and how this may be addressed. The research will address gender dimensions as relevant.  

The main functions of the RHDR Inclusive Governance Consultant are as follows:

Plan, research, analyse and draft a comprehensive paper and other products on Inclusive Governance and inequalities as part of the Governance and Peacebuilding Cluster to be developed into a Chapter of the Regional Human Development Report for Europe and CIS 2015 on Inequalities; ensuring that:

• Relevant theories of linkages between governance and inequality are reflected;
• A representative sample of approaches taken to the issues in question is reflected, through research of UN/UNDP and non-UN work in the area in recent years;
• A breadth of experiences across the region is explored, in part with comparative approach;
• Sustainable Development Goal 16 is used as the framework for assessing governance institutions in the ECIS region;
• The research is guided by outcomes of UNDP’s Dialog on Inequalities, Strategic Plan, previous major reports and policy instruments.

Facilitate a broad consultative process with relevant actors in the region for a comprehensive research phase and gathering of extensive relevant data, including in support of SDG 16; consult also with the RHDR team, IRH GPB Team, and UNDP Country Offices on approaches and innovations on inclusive governance and inequalities and explore the use of innovative data collection measures to ensure a comprehensive, evidence-based reflection of the issues, responses, and solutions; ensuring that:

• Varied viewpoints and experiences on the approaches taken to governance and inequalities are reflected with reference to specific projects, research and innovations within and outside of the UN system;
• Key NGOs and other actors are consulted for sections on corruption, contested sovereignty, people living with disabilities and anti-discrimination, and public services delivery, so that the most specific and up-to-date expertise in those areas is included;
• The use of innovative approaches to data collection and evidence are explored and implemented where possible; data should be sought related in particular to the indicators of Sustainable Development Goal 16;
• Opinions and experiences are attributed to the persons or organisations of their origin to the extent possible, in order that further research can be undertaken easily by readers.

Undertake a participatory drafting process involving key IRH staff and review by other selected partners; produce a final draft of the chapter and, if necessary, attend the launch of the RHDR in 2016.  

• The IRH team leading the overall production of the RHDR has adequate oversight of the process of writing the Inclusive Governance Chapter and is able to coordinate its contents and focus in alignment with other chapters;
• At least two short articles/blogs are generated on findings to stimulate debate and dialogue;
• The consultant is actively engaged in the meetings and consultations of the RHDR task team;
• The Governance and Peacebuilding team in particular, and other IRH and UNDP experts, have time and opportunity to contribute comments and feedback on drafts and other products prior to finalisation;
• Political sensitivities around naming issues and denotation of historical events are discussed with the Governance and Peacebuilding Team Leader should they emerge as issues, and dealt with in a manner in alignment with UN guidance;
• Overviews of trends and research in the various specific areas of work identified are shared in full with the Governance and Peacebuilding Team so that all findings of the research undertaken are captured and not limited to the specific content of the written RHDR chapter.

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Consultant to Conduct Study on Governance, Transparency and Corruption Risks for REDD+ to Inform the Development of a National REDD+ Strategy in Malawi. 

Background: 

The Government of Malawi (GoM) joined the United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD) in March 2014. As a UN-REDD partner country, the GoM is receiving  Targeted Support (TS) from UN-REDD in the interest of contributing to and advancing its pursuit of REDD+ readiness. TS is a UN-REDD mechanism available to partner countries by which financial assistance and technical expertise are provided through a suite of thematic domains that reflect the major elements of a national REDD+ program.

Since its inception in August 2012, the Malawi REDD+ Readiness Program – a joint effort of the GoM, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the United States Forest Service (USFS) – has served as the primary means of support for the MRP. With the support of the MRRP, the MRP has made considerable strides, including the development and implementation of a national REDD+ governance framework, REDD+ study tours to Zambia and Tanzania and an in-country study tour of REDD+ initiatives, the drafting and implementation of a comprehensive REDD+ workplan for 2013 and 2014, and the attainment of partnership status with UN-REDD.

The MRP seeks TS under the Institutional, Governance, and Technical domains. The thematic content of these domains aligns with a number of workplan action items that are critical inputs into a strong and growing national REDD+ program.

A core principle of the MRP is “no regrets REDD+”. Under this approach, the potential for carbon financing is an ancillary end of the pursuit REDD+. In other words, the prospect of securing funds through forest carbon transactions is not the sole impetus for Malawi’s investment in REDD+. Rather, for Malawi, the primary benefits of the pursuit of REDD+ include a range of potential enhancements to institutional, governance, and technical capacities, including  scientifically  sound monitoring of forest and land use, clarified resource tenure, reform and streamlining of the natural resource policy arena, and improved forest governance. Good forest governance is fundamental to achieving positive and sustained development outcomes, including those gained from REDD+ readiness.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Guided by the MRP, the international consultant will conduct the participatory Malawi REDD+ corruption risk assessment (CRA) as a means to analyze the degree of transparency, accountability and inclusiveness of key forest governance processes and institutions and the extent to which corruption in the forestry sector acts as a driver of deforestation and forest degradation;
• Forecast and prepare for potential corruption under REDD+, and provide recommendations and tools to inform the design of constituent REDD+ elements that should address corruption and enhance and sustain good practices namely: policies within the forestry and natural resource management (NRM) sectors, safeguards, safeguards information system (SIS), and a national REDD+ strategy.

Competencies

• Display cultural, gender, race, and age sensitivity;
• Demonstrate integrity by modeling the United Nations values and ethical standards;
• Display comfort working in politically sensitive situations;
• Have strong oral and written skills;
• Demonstrate research, analysis and report-writing skills;
• Have a good grasp of ICA/political economy analyses;
• Excellent communication and inter-personal skills, particularly for facilitating discussions on sensitive topics;
• Ability to lead the formulation and implementation of projects.

Required Skills and Experience:

Education: 

• PhD or Masters in a relevant discipline, such as Political Science, Development Studies, or Sociology

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience on anti-corruption for REDD+ or in the forest sector;
• Knowledge of climate change issues and REDD+;
• Knowledge about governance and anti-corruption issues, preferably applied to the natural resources sector;
• Knowledge and experience researching and investigating issues of transparency, accountability and integrity in REDD+;
• Knowledge and experience of working in Malawi or the Africa region is preferred;
• Understanding of the work of the UN-REDD Programme and the UN-REDD CRA methodology.

The application deadline is 26-May-15

To apply, click here. 

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