| Overview : Zambia will hold the next general election on the 12th August 2021 to elect the President, Parliamentarians, Mayors, and Town and Village Councils as provided for in the Constitution. This election is expected to be a critical milestone to consolidate the country’s democratic governance and mainstream citizen’s role in public decision making. Based on the recommendations of the Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) conducted by the United Nations in 2018 including the need for increased voter education, overall institutional strengthening for the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and other national institutions with an electoral mandate, and promoting peace ahead of the 2021 elections, UNDP established the Democracy Strengthening in Zambia (DSZ) Project. The latter is a three-year multi-donor project which is aligned and supportive of Zambia’s Sustainable Development Partnership Framework, UNDP Strategic Plan and Country Programme and the 7th National Development Plan 2017-2021 (7th NDP). The Government of Zambia, through the 7NDP pledges to “promote transparency, accountability, citizen participation as well as strengthen governance institutions". The DSZ project consists of two interlinked result areas: 1) Electoral institutions and processes strengthened; and 2) Programming for peace in support of the Zambia 2021 electoral cycle. These two result areas are expected to achieve the following results: 1. Inclusive and participatory decision-making, 2. Responsive and accountable institutions, 3. Improved access to information, 4. Enhanced technical and organizational capacities of national electoral stakeholders, 5. Integrity in the work of credible and legitimate institutions, and 6. Improved conflict prevention and mitigation mechanisms. In line with the recommendations resulting from past evaluations of electoral assistance by UNDP and the 2018 NAM report, the DSZ project aims at providing, inter alia, support to long-term and sustainable institutional strengthening of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and other beneficiaries before, during and after the 2021 General Election. Past election reports, including those of both international and domestic observers, have pointed out the need for improved legal framework for elections to ensure elections are transparent, inclusive and peaceful and that their outcome enjoy public and stakeholder confidence and legitimacy. The DSZ plans to support the Judiciary of Zambia with detailed initiatives to strengthen the institution with a focus on the timely resolution of electoral complaints and petitions that has proved to be a source of concern in past election processes. The responsiveness of the electoral dispute resolution (EDR) system is a principal feature of elections that ensures the ongoing constructive engagement of stakeholders. Delays or inconsistent judgements in the resolution and remedy of complaints and petitions erodes confidence in the integrity of the electoral process and therefore necessitates key support. This support perceives strengthening the capacity of the judiciary to manage complaints and to enhance relevant knowledge through training as critical. Against this background, the DSZ project is seeking the services of a consultant to support the Judiciary of Zambia to assess and identify gaps in the Electoral Dispute Resolution (EDR) processes and mechanisms that may need to be addressed during and beyond the 2021 general election cycle. This assessment will be conducted taking into consideration the findings and recommendations of past observer missions (both domestic and international observers) seeking to improve the judicial electoral dispute resolution processes and procedures for elections. | 
