 |
|
MALAWI
|
United Nations Development Programme
Support to electoral reforms and elections in Malawi
Background
In 2005, the MEC developed a Strategic Plan that drew on the lessons from the 2004 elections and identified areas that needed to be addressed for the MEC to be able to support future elections.
Based upon this Strategic Plan, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), in conjunction with several partners, developed a Programme Support Document (PSD) which was signed on the 12th of March 2007.The project focused on the following strategic areas:
- Institutional capacity building of MEC;
- Establishment of a new computerized voters’ register;
- An improved civic and voter education system; and
- Support to organization of the 2009 elections.
The United Nations Development Programme
The UNDP set up a Trust Fund in 2006 to support electoral reforms and elections in Malawi. On behalf of donors, UNDP manages this Fund with the Malawi Electoral Commission. Supporting donors are DFID, Norway, EU, Ireland, Germany, and USAID.
On 1 July 2008, UNDP, Government of Malawi and the MEC flagged off the second phase of support to the Electoral Reforms and Elections in Malawi.
Activities in the second phase of the project aims to strengthen the management and technical capacity in MEC and preparation and actual conducting of the May 19 2009 Parliamentary and Presidential elections and include:.
- Management of the Electoral Trust Fund to allow MEC implement the activities set out in the PSD;
- Coordination of technical support to the MEC, notably recruitment of advisors;
- Provision of technical advice to the MEC on best practice and policies on conduct of elections;
- Assistance in coordination and undertaking procurement on MEC’s behalf;
- Coordination among development partners.
Follow this link for more information on UNDP “Support to electoral reforms and elections in Malawi”
UNDP Elections Project Team
As part of UNDP’s support to MEC, the following are a team supported by UNDP within the “Support to electoral reforms and elections in Malawi” project.
The Elections Project Team MEC Offices Blantyre:
|
Trust Fund Manager/ Senior Elections Adviser to UNDP
|
Responsible for overall trust fund management issues and government/MEC/donor high level stakeholder advisory services; general oversight of Elections Project within UNDP. Responsible for reporting.
|
|
Senior Elections Advisor to the MEC
|
The Senior Elections Adviser advises the MEC on all electoral matters. The adviser gives policy/operational direction and advice to the MEC through the Chief Elections Officer on operational issues and the Commission’s Chairperson on policy matters.
|
|
Senior ICT Advisor
|
Responsible for recommending and overseeing the establishment of the voter registration system, as well as the preparation and implementation of the voter registration process.
|
|
ICT Network Administration Specialist
|
Responsible for implementing and securing the network infrastructure which the various election management systems will operate on and training MEC ITC personnel in network administration.
|
|
Database Administrator
|
The consultant is managing the business continuity plans and security for all data in the financial and elections management systems.
|
|
Web Application Developer
|
Responsible for the development of the elections management system; this involves integrating the existing components which the MEC procured from various suppliers and developing further modules to suit MEC’s specific requirements.
|
|
Website Developer
|
Responsible for developing the MEC’s internet, intranet and extranet. These would significantly improve communication to the public, key election stakeholders and MEC staff across the country.
|
|
Finance Management Specialist
|
The Financial Management Specialist is developing and implementing an integrated financial management system, internal control and policy framework. The consultant has also been training the MEC accounts staff in financial management.
|
|
Procurement Specialist
|
Responsible for developing and implementing internal procurement procedures for the MEC and provision of procurement advice to the MEC. He is also training the MEC procurement staff.
|
|
Logistics Advisor
|
Responsible for providing guidance in the preparation and development of logistics and support plans, timelines and budget requirements for electoral operations.
|
|
Human Resources Adviser
25 July -26 Sept 2008
|
The consultant is reviewing and overseeing the implementation of the MEC’s Human Resource policy. Among other things, the adviser will review and provide expert input on MEC’s conditions of service, staff establishment, salaries and benefits and performance appraisal system.
|
|
Civic and Voter Education consultancy firm
|
The consultant(s) or consultancy firm is to, among other things, coordinate, implement and monitor a comprehensive Civic and Voter Education Programme focused on NGOs that embraces training and capacity building to the NGO sector and MEC to enable them engage in effective and timely voter education.
|
|
Public Relations Advisor
|
Responsible for developing a comprehensive media and communications plan and following the policy set forward by the Chair of the Electoral Commission
|
|
Voter Registration Advisor
17-27 April 2009
|
Responsible for reviewing the condition of the existing voter registry and existing hardware/software used in the voter registration process; and advising on compilation of registration data into a consolidated and accurate register
|
The Elections Project Team UNDP Lilongwe:
|
Elections Project Coordinator
|
General coordination support, tracking and managing electoral preparedness issues; supporting the monitoring and evaluation function; communications, resource mobilisation and allocations for the Elections Project.
|
|
Election Support Consultant
|
General project management support and management of Technical Assistance.
|
|
Finance Specialist
|
Responsible for financial planning, budgeting reporting and audit support for the Trust Fund.
|
|
Finance Associate
|
Assisting with management of daily payments, reconciliations, accounting and administration of Project funds
|
|
Procurement Associate
|
Supporting the elections procurement function from within UNDP
|