Consultancy services for the “Training of Trainers for Election Observation” – Local consultant

1. Background

Palestinian Authority scheduled first round of elections for local councils on 11 December 2021. To support independent, non-partisan scrutiny of elections, the UNDP will be providing technical and material assistance to the Palestinian non-governmental organization to observe elections.

2. Context

Palestinian civil society organizations observed elections since 2005. The laws and the regulations of the Central Election Commission (CEC) allow organization to have access to the whole electoral process. The relationship between the election monitors and the CEC is built on mutual respect and trust. However, despite the mass deployment of observers in the previous elections, the effect of the observation efforts is limited. Only the most established organizations effectively utilize their findings in advocacy for electoral reform. This is partially because the Palestinian elections are irregular and because there is no proper legislative process. However, some of the organizations, especially those that focus on election day only, do not have technical capacity to collect, analyze and report observers’ findings.

3. Objectives

The purpose of the assignment is to design and deliver training of trainers for election observers and to draft a manual for election day observers. This consultancy would require a team of two consultants, an international election monitoring consultant and a local election monitoring consultant.

4. Scope of Work – Tasks

Under supervision of the UNDP Chief Technical Adviser, the local consultant would assist international election monitoring consultant to localize a two-day training for trainers and to develop a manual for election day observers. The design of the manual would allow customization by organizations that would use it. The international consultant would be leading drafting of the training materials and the manual, while the Palestinian consultant would be assisting in localization of the materials.

If possible, the international consultant would travel to Palestine to supervise the training, but in case of travel limitations due to the COVID19, international consultant would work off site, while the local consultant would deliver the training.

Timeline and Deliverables

The local consultant will assist the international consultant in the design of the training and preparation of training materials that covers the following topics:

1. Sources of Election Standards
2. Election Observation standards and Declaration of Principles
3. Comparative Experience in Election Observation
4. Phases of Electoral Process in Palestine
5. Structure and roles in Palestinian Election Administration
6. Deployment of observers
7. Election Day – polling station setup and roles
8. Election Day – voting process
9. Election Day – counting and tabulation process
10. Observer Reporting – methods, responsibilities, forms, communication
11. Simulation of the training of observers

The consultant team will design and write manual that covers the following topics and that allows customization by each organisation

1.  Instructions for deployment of observer
2.  Observe Pledge
3.  Polling station opening and setup
4.  Polling Process
5.  Closing and Counting
6.  Critical Incidents
7.  Observation Form
8.  Reporting

Coordination and Supervision

The consultant team will work under supervision of the UNDP Chief Technical Adviser

• Expertise in design and delivery of trainings
• Expertise in election monitoring

Education

·           University degree in Law, Political Science, International Relations, or any other discipline relevant to the assignment, or 5 years of equivalent professional experience in related areas.

Experience and Qualification requirements:

Local Consultant

·      At least 3 years of work experience in the field of electoral observation.

Language

Proficiency in Arabic required.

INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS

1. Introduction

UNDP/PAPP seeks technical & financial proposals from qualified individual consultants for the subject assignment as outlined under the Terms of Reference.

2. Documents comprising the Technical and Financial Proposals

Interested individual consultant must submit the following documents/information, which comprises the Technical & Financial Proposals:

1. Copy of the university degree / academic credentials
2. Provide Curriculum vitae including experience in similar projects and contact details of three referees.
3. Proposed methodology to achieve the tasks included in the TOR (not more than 5 pages) 
4. Completed financial proposal form, found under Annex III: the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall consider various expenses incurred by the consultant while fulfilling its mission (e.g. transportation cost…). 
5. Two recommendation letters

3. Evaluation

Preliminary examination

UNDP/PAPP will examine the Proposals to determine whether they are complete, and whether they are substantially responsive to the qualification and experience minimum requirements. A Proposal determined as not substantially responsive will be rejected by UNDP/PAPP and may not subsequently be made responsive by the Applicant by correction of the non-conformity.

Detailed examination

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on lowest price and technically compliant offer method.

The award of a contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) Responsive/compliant/acceptable to the terms of reference.

b) Offering the lowest price/cost.

c) Successfully passed the interview (if required).

4. Award of Individual Contract

The procuring UNDP entity reserves the right to accept or reject any Proposal, and to annul the solicitation process and reject all Proposals at any time prior to award of contract, without incurring any liability to the affected applicant or any obligation to inform the affected applicant or applicants of the ground for the UNDP’s action.

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL FORM

Subject: Consultancy services for the “Training of Trainers for Election Observation” – Local Consultant

Your financial offer in USD shall specify a total lump sum figure all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred during the contract period and shall form the amount of the resulted contract between the winning Consultant/Contractor and UNDP. No other entitlements will be considered after submission of financial proposals.

The financial proposal shall be inclusive of all envisaged travel (such as but not limited to all travel to join duty station/return travel), per diems/daily allowances). Daily Fee Breakdown should be attached under a separate sheet.

Payments will be paid-out in accordance with the payments terms as described in the TOR.

Submissions should be made via the online tendering system of UNDP.

Any submission of the financial proposal via any other mean will cause the whole application from the candidate to be rejected and disregarded.