| Overview : Since independence in 1980, elections have been held in the Republic of Vanuatu periodically, with results that have been accepted as credible. Until 1991 the country experienced political stability, with a reasonably robust party system centered around a few pro-independence parties, which were originally linked to a francophone image. Since then, however, the governance system has been weakened by almost chronic political instability following political party splits. Vanuatu inherited a Westminster style system, which requires strong political parties; unfortunately, that is currently far from being the case. As a result, forming and retaining a coalition government has become a complex process of negotiation between fragmented political groups and independents. As part of a political reform process launched following the inauguration of the government issued from the 2015 “snap elections”, the Prime Minister of Vanuatu requested in May 2016 UN assistance in preparations for a potential referendum to approve the constitutional reforms, as well as medium- and longer-term assistance to develop the capacity of the Electoral Commission (EC) and the Vanuatu Electoral Office (VEO). In response, a first scoping mission was deployed to Vanuatu in June 2016. The Vanuatu Electoral Environment Project (VEEP) was approved and signed off by the UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji and the Vanuatu Electoral Office (VEO) in August 2017. VEEP was the first systematic effort to provide international electoral assistance in the country. The project eventually included four outputs – 1) strengthening of the electoral administration, 2) enhancing the integrity of the voter register, 3) supporting voter education and information and 4) supporting the political reform efforts through the development of the legal and operational framework regarding political parties’ registration. UNDP/VEEP thus provided technical and operational support to elections held during this period, supported a countrywide joint civil & voter registration process in the run-up to the General Elections 2020, as well as comprehensive voter information and public awareness campaigns – along with supporting adaptation to COVID-19 and TC Harold challenges. Looking at the voter turnout in Vanuatu from independence in 1980 to 2020 there has been a continuous increase in the total number of votes cast since 1983, and it is noteworthy that the total votes cast in 2020 was the highest ever in the Vanuatu electoral history despite COVID-19 and TC Harold challenges and restrictions. This project successfully ran from 2017-2020, and from 1 January 2021, VEEP phase II started up to continue the work that VEEP phase I had started. VEEP accordingly continues to aim at contributing to the democratic development in Vanuatu. It will do so through the continued strengthening of the institutional and operational capacities of the electoral authorities, both the Electoral Commission (EC), the policymaking, oversight body, and the Vanuatu Electoral Office (VEO), the corresponding executive, operational arm. The project will support the electoral authorities to fulfil its mandate to conduct all direct elections in the country, and improve its capacity to manage the political change process through credible and genuine electoral processes. VEEP II will further support the successful transition to the future voter registration model, where the electoral authorities will derive the voter register from the civil registry database, and use National ID for voting identification, with the aim of increasing the integrity and accuracy of the voter register, as well as increasing participation, reducing certain irregularities, and strengthening public confidence. The project will continue to support improvement of institutional capacities to maintain longer-term voter education efforts and to strengthen the capacity of the electoral authorities to plan, implement and evaluate voter information and awareness efforts. Finally, the project will support electoral reform initiatives, including the capacity of the electoral authorities in developing and presenting viable changes and providing technical advice on the possible options to manage reforms dealing with complex aspects of the electoral processes, including civil and voter registration. The specific outputs for VEEP Phase II are: Output 1: Institutional Capacities of the Electoral Authorities Strengthened Output 2: Integrity and Accuracy of the Voter Register Enhanced Output 3: Ability to Conduct Voter Education and Raise Public Awareness strengthened Output 4: Legal Electoral Framework Improved and Capacity Building on Electoral Reform to Key Stakeholders provided VEEP II culminates with the General Elections in 2024. This allows for the continuity of progress made under the UNDP/VEEP Phase I and a smooth transition of the initiatives to mainstream practices within the Vanuatu electoral authorities and the Civil Registry and Legal Identity department. Under Output 1 of the project, UNDP/VEEP would like to engage a short term ‘Logistics Advisor’ to analyse all electoral logistics processes, procedures, compliance and risks. The Logistics Advisor will consultatively develop with VEO Officers Standard Operating Procedures, continuously advising the Vanuatu Electoral Office on findings and provide resolutions on a Consultancy basis. The Logistics Advisor will work with the EC/VEO and UNDP/VEEP on planning, engaging and implementing Logistics Strategies for the 2022 Municipal, Presidential and By-Elections. Furthermore, the consultant will support embedding institutional sustainability by working with the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MoIA) and the Vanuatu Electoral Office (VEO), and VPF/VMF (as needed) which will result in stronger planning, budget, and staffing outcomes for VEEP’s core partner agencies post-Project completion in 2024. Mandatory Documentation required Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information (in one (1) single document as the application supports only one upload) to demonstrate their qualifications: - Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided in Annex II.
- Personal CV, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.
- Technical proposal, including a) a brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment
Financial proposal, as per template provided in Annex II. Note: National consultants must quote prices in United States Dollars (US Incomplete and joint proposals may not be considered. Consultants with whom there is further interest will be contacted. The successful consultant shall opt to sign an Individual Contract or a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA) through its company/employer with UNDP. Kindly follow the link to apply: https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=107164 | 
