Background
The National Assembly (ANP) conducted a national consultative process from January 2010 to December 2011 aimed at holding a national conference under the aegis of the President of the Republic in January 2012. The conference was the first nationwide dialogue process organized by the state since the 1998-99 armed conflict and followed exceptional political violence in 2009, during which the President was assassinated. The Speaker of the National Assembly, in January 2010, requested the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to support the initiative. UN support took the form of technical assistance by UNDP and UNIOGBIS to the National Conference Organizing Commission (OC) tasked with preparing the national conference and assistance in resource mobilization in keeping with UN SCR 1876 (2009) and UN SCR 1949 (2010).
The preparatory phase for the national conference, consisting of a total of 22 conferences: 8 with defense and security personnel; 2 with the Guinea-Bissau diaspora in Dakar and Lisbon; 8 in the regions and 4 in the Autonomous Sector of Bissau (total 22), was completed on 23 October 2011. The ANP with one vote against endorsed the results of the preparatory phase and plans to hold the national conference slated for mid-January 2012 were suspended because of President Malam Bacai Sanha’s ill health and subsequent demise. Attempts to re-launch the initiative after the April 2012 were unsuccessful due to polarisation and perceptions of political manipulation.
Following the April 2014 general elections that restored constitutional order, the President of the Republic, the Speaker and Prime Minister separately expressed their interest in completing the process. In his report of January****(S/2015/37), the Secretary- General stated that****“At the root of the cycle of instability in Guinea-Bissau lies the fact that there has not been serious and genuine dialogue aimed at national reconciliation among the various stakeholders in the country. In this regard, [he urged] national stakeholders to embark on a path that moves the country firmly away from unconstitutional seizures of power towards sustained democratic governance.”As a result, Security Council Resolution 2203 provides for UNIOGBIS to support Guinea-Bissau in conducting an inclusive National Dialogue.
At an extraordinary session in September 2014, the members of the ANP passed a resolution to re-activate the Organizing Commission. On 18 May 2015, in a ceremony chaired by the Speaker of the ANP, a 32-member of the ANP Organizing Commission of the National Conference on Peace Consolidation and Development took their oath. And finally on 0 June, the Organizing Commission held its first meeting to decide for a strategic retreat to be held from 10 to 12 July 2015.
The Scope of the Consultancy
UNIOGBIS is seeking to engage a consultant to assist the National Conference Organizing Commission in preparing its strategic retreat at which it will review the Terms of Reference of the National Conference, the ToRs and structure of the Organizing Commission as well as develop the process that will lead to the National Conference.
The specific objectives of the consultancy will be as follow:
· Participate in a one-day preparatory meeting of the Organizing Commission to prepare the agenda of the retreat
· Participate in a three-day strategic retreat of the Organizing Commission to provide input into the discussions
· Provide technical assistance in the development of the National Conference process including its actual drafting as required;
· On the basis of the conclusions of the retreat, prepare a concept note on how UNIGBIS could support the Organizing Commission in delivering the National Conference;
Outputs
The main output of the consultancy will be two-fold:
· Draft National Conference Process as per the guidance of the Organizing Commission
· Concept Note on UNIOGBIS support to the National Organizing Commission
Other
The international consultant will team up with a UN expert deployed from Mediation Support Unit.
Qualifications
University degree in political science, development science, or combination of professional training, certification and experience in advisory skills.
Work experience
A minimum of 15 years of field experience in conflict analysis, national dialogue process design, mediation and facilitation at senior level.
Experience of, and profound knowledge on Guinea-Bissau historical and political intricacies and current political situation;
The candidate must have good communication skills;
Languages
Fluency in oral and written English and Portuguese. Spoken crioulo a distinct advantage.
Other skills
Good oral and written communication skills; knowledge of Power Point; team work.
HOW TO APPLY:
