E-PARTICIPATION CONSULTANT Terms of Reference. Duration: 33 working days during the period of 01 June August 2014.

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1 E-PARTICIPATION CONSULTANT Terms of Reference Activity type Advisory services for the development of a methodology for Measurement and Evaluation Tool for e-participation Readiness METEP. Duration: 33 working days during the period of 01 June August Duty Station/Travel Logistics There is no specific duty station for this post. The selected consultant will be working from home and delivering outputs electronically. However, travel is required to attend one interregional seminar in July 2013 (Geneva, Switzerland) and three national capacity building workshops on e-participation tentatively in October 2013 (Bali, Indonesia), February 2014 (Nairobi, Kenya) and May 2014 (Astana, Kazakhstan). Background Since 2004, the Division for Public Administration and Development Management (DPADM) of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) has been raising awareness of governments worldwide about the transformational role of Information Communication technologies (ICTs) by conducting the UN e-government Survey and publicizing widely its results. An interactive e-government Development Database is now available to view information for 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010 and With time, the surveys have become increasingly concerned with the use of e-government solutions for citizen empowerment and participatory policies. The 2012 Survey is subtitled e-government for the People to underscore the growing role of e-government as an engine of development for the people. The Report further noted that the role of government requires a shift from that of a controller of information and services to that of a proactive facilitator with citizens seen as active partners to address their needs more adequately and with their direct inputs. For this purpose, the Survey has piloted a new methodology to compile an e-participation index that measures the progress on the field of (i) e-information, (ii) e-consultation, and (iii) e-decision-making. The Survey has found that, generally, e-government best performers are more likely to use ICTs for engaging citizens in participatory policy making. Moreover, the correlation between e-participation levels and the Human Development Index (HDI) has been positive; that is, the availability of pro-active participatory policies goes hand in hand with sustained growth in human capital. However, it is also noted that those countries with low e-participation development levels are vulnerable in human development terms and cannot maintain the achieved moderate HDI levels in a sustainable manner. In the same vein, scoring low on e- participation means the lack of progress on the human development side. The stagnation or decrease in HDI would typically mean substantial decreases in the already low e-participation rates. 1

2 Participatory policy making is thus recognised a fundamental prerequisite for the achievement of sustainable development 1 to address the increased complexity in development challenges 2. Lack of people s participation in decisions that affect their lives distances such countries even further from building human capital and thus achieving the IADGs/MDGs. The advancement of a developing country, Kazakhstan, to the top of the best performing in e-participation countries is an evidence of the high leapfrogging potential of ICTs that can expand the scope and scale of public participation and lead to better governance practices. Problem statement The number of countries with successful e-participation strategies is limited despite the growing demands for greater citizen participation. Viable e-participation initiatives geared towards social progress have not become a norm even among the best performers. As the 2012 UN E-Government Survey demonstrates, not only many e-participation solutions are not adopted by most of UN Member States, more than one-third of all States do not offer any e-participation service. Lack of progress in the introduction of successful electronic services in support of participatory governance is especially evident when compared to the overall good advancement in the ICT-driven reengineering of government internal business processes at both back- and front-office ends. Some administrative services that have been created through e-government modernisation provide new electronic channels for direct communication between decision makers and citizens, for example, to provide feedback on public sector performance. Yet, e-participation is lagging behind e-administration in terms of the scope and breadth of electronic services. Strategy and Objectives To motivate countries to use e-participation and address its current underperformances, DPADM/UNDESA will support a project aimed at capacity development of participating government institutions and key officials at three levels of e-participation: e-information, e- Consultation, and e-decision-making. Each of the above levels will be broken into four additional sub-themes to reflect on various aspects of participatory activity; for example, demonstration of commitment, clarity of the vision, articulation of relevant policies, passed and enforced laws, changed institutional arrangements and public administration practices at different levels, and friendliness of used technologies. The project will result in the development of an online (self) assessment tool to be called Measurement and Evaluation Tool for E-Participation Readiness (METEP). The tool will be complemented by verifiable performance indicators in order to stimulate e-participation uptake; for example, the self-assessment process will be automatically benchmarked against the recognised best practices as an early warning system to prevent common mistakes. As an online instrument, METEP will assist national policy-makers to integrate participatory processes into their processes for the benefit of both businesses and citizens. METEP will also review the existing e-participation models and draw lessons from their implementation both in developing and developed countries. Further, METEP will offer the most effective institutional frameworks, policy options, administrative procedures, skill and capacity 1 The Future We Want, outcome Document of Rio+20, United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. See 2 UN System Task Team on the Post-2015 UN Development Agenda, Realizing the Future We Want for All: Report to the Secretary General. June See 2

3 building measures (requirements for training public servants and undertaking public awareness-raising initiatives). Scope and Tasks of the Consultant s Services The Consultant will support the development and testing of the METEP methodology by providing advisory, training and research services, including undertaking missions as needed. It is expected that the Consultant will perform the following activities: Activity 1: Drafting a Conceptual framework and structure for METEP that will be based on the foundations of DESA s e-participation Strategy. The Framework will result from the research into the prevailing approaches towards e-participation, including real-life practices, both successful and failed. It will describe, analyse and compare the available e-participation models at three levels e-information, e-consultation and e-decision-making and within five pillars (Commitment, Legal, Vision and Policy, Organization, and Technology). The models will be assessed to test their responsiveness in meeting the level-specific requirements. First, it will be determined to which extent they address the need to create an enabling regulatory framework in the field of e-information, including the sub-level of national policies that govern the availability of and access to public information in general and government-held data in particular; for example, that will cover constitutional provisions guaranteeing the right and access to (public) information, freedom of information laws, open government data regulations/policies/procedures, etc. In addition, legal provisions that protect citizens privacy and other privileged personal information will be looked at too. Second, the models under review will be evaluated in terms of their adequacy to account for the institutionalization and capacity building potential to enable public engagement at the level of e-consultation; that shall include various public consultation mechanisms realized on different technology platforms (e.g. web-based, social media and mobile technology applications) to facilitate the dialogue among key stakeholders, help articulate citizens opinion on public policy issues, as well as to communicate their feedback on government performance (e.g. deliberations days, consultations on particular law bills, performance scorecards, citizens juries/councils, etc). Third, each model will be evaluated to determine its potential at the e-decision-making level so that citizens be able to directly influence public policies via as such tools as e-voting, e- petitions, e-campaigning, problem-solving e-reporting (e.g. the availability and efficacy of the applications based on Fix My Street, Ushahidi, TID+, etc.), especially at the local level. At each level of analysis, models will be checked out for their ability to account for the requirements listed under each of the five pillars of Commitment, Legal, Vision and Policy, Organization, and Technology. As a result, the Consultant will propose and justify the most suitable model or a combination of models to be put at the core of the METEP methodology. The framework in a clear and concise language shall contain Excusive Summary of the main text, acronyms, list of references. The text shall not exceed pages of the single-spaced Arial or Times New Roman font 12. First draft of the conceptual framework shall be submitted to UNDESA by 01 July 2013; 3

4 Second and the final draft shall be ready by the workshop in October 2013 following the feedback from UNDESA and the international seminar in July Activity 2: Designing a discussion strategy for an interactive consensus-building session at the interregional seminar in July 2013 to discuss the draft concept and agree on the underlying core model for METEP. The text shall not exceed 10 pages of the single-spaced Arial or Times New Roman font 12 Strategy and materials for a consensus-building session including PowerPoint Presentation and other hand-outs shall be ready by 01 July Activity 3: Facilitating/moderating a consensus-building session and collecting recommendations of participants of the interregional seminar July 2013 for analysis and strengthening the content of METEP. The seminar days in July 2013, followed by the discussion session report/notes. Activity 4: Designing a draft strategy to create an information/knowledge exchange e- Participation network for remote interaction among the meeting participants/national focal points; the concept shall also include the building of a global competency platform for e- participation practitioners as METEP Champions. The text shall not exceed 10 pages of the single-spaced Arial or Times New Roman font 12 First draft of the strategy shall be submitted to UNDESA by 30 September 2013; Second and the final draft shall be ready by 1 February 2014 following the feedback from UNDESA. Activity 5: Maintaining the information/knowledge exchange network operational by initiating and facilitating the first discussion. January-August Activity 6: Preparing a draft of the METEP methodology together with the related questionnaires. The text shall not exceed 40 pages of the single-spaced Arial or Times New Roman font 12 First draft of the METEP methodology (excluding questionnaires) shall be submitted to UNDESA by 1 September 2013; Second draft with the METEP methodology questionnaires shall be ready by 01 October Final draft of METEP based on outputs of one international seminar and three national workshops shall be ready by 01 August Activity 7: Facilitating the remote discussion of the final draft METEP among the network members, as well as collecting and organizing the members feedback. 4

5 Launching the remote discussion before 01 June 2013, together with the electronic dispatch of the METEP questionnaires (there could be a possibility to fill in the questionnaires online); Facilitating the discussion facilitation for two weeks during 15 June 30 June 2013; Collection and organization of the feedback and filled in questionnaires shall be finalized by 01 October 2013; Finalization of the METEP methodology shall be submitted to UNDESA by 1 October Activity 8: Designing a strategy for interactive training sessions at the three capacity building workshops October 2013, February/March 2014 and May 2014 to discuss and collect comments and recommendations of participants on METEP to improve and strengthen its content.. The text of each report shall not exceed 25 pages of the single-spaced Arial or Times New Roman font 12. Strategy and materials for a consensus-building session including PowerPoint Presentation and other hand-outs shall be ready for the seminar date in May Activity 9: Facilitating/moderating a consensus-building session during the 2 st high-level seminar in May The seminar days in May 2013, followed up by the discussion session report/notes to be submitted to UNDESA by 1 June All deliverables will be submitted for approval by to Mr. Vyacheslav Cherkasov, DMB/DPADM/DESA (cherkasov@un.org, tel ). The performance of each task and the quality of each deliverable shall be approved by DPADM/UNDESA officials. Qualifications The consultant must meet the following criteria: Education: Advanced University Degree in the social sciences/humanities, political communications, new media coupled with extensive research into participatory governance and digital media. Experience: Progressive international experience in: o researching democratic theory and participatory practice (supported by a track record of published papers/articles); o formulating, implementing and reviewing e-governance participatory e- strategies, projects and programmes; o establishing e-governance institutions and digital networks, as well as moderating/maintaining them; o preparing best practice and knowledge exchange products and guidelines (supported by a track record of published/edited books); o dealing and communicating with high-level government officials; o report drafting. Excellent training, presentation and communications skills. 5

6 Knowledge of UN international cooperation. Language: Fluency in oral and written English; knowledge of other languages will be an asset. Performance Indicators The performance of the consultant will be measured by: Timeliness of submission; Quality of services rendered in relation to their costs: The consultant should deliver high- quality products for the fee. Payment Schedule: The consultants will be entitled to a professional Honorarium in US dollars paid in installments upon completion the tasks: Supervisor/Project Manager Vyacheslav Cherkasov Senior Governance and Public Administration Officer DMB/DPADM, UNDESA New York, NY (Tel) (Fax) cherkasov@un.org 6