Constitutional Experts (4 posts)

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Constitutional Experts – Research

Form of Employment: Short Term consultancy

Position Location: Home based

Reporting Lines: Country Representative Myanmar or their assigned representative

Number of Positions: 2 – 4 Experts

Contract Period: 10 working days per paper, up to four position papers

Contract Start Date: As soon as possible

Background

Democracy Reporting International (DRI) is a non-partisan, independent, not-for-profit organisation registered in Berlin. Democracy Reporting International promotes political participation of citizens, accountability of state bodies and the development of democratic institutions world-wide.

As part of the project “Communicating during difficult times”, DRI is currently hiring Constitutional Experts to deliver four position papers on an evolving agenda related to constitution and peace. The content of the draft research papers will be discussed during closed door online talks via a secure online platform and finalised afterwards.

Objective

Constitutional Experts – Research will develop four research papers based on evolving country context, deemed most relevant by intended stakeholders. For example, local government, the protection of ‘minorities within minorities and self-administered zones; and secularism and the status of Buddhism and other religions. An overarching position paper will be developed first, focusing on the nexus of peacebuilding in constitutional development, mapping of stakeholders and the current agenda, which will be followed by other thematic papers/discussions on selected topics. The papers will be developed by national and international experts to ensure that international expertise is contextualised carefully for the Myanmar context.

Tasks and Deliverables

By taking on a research activity, the experts will deliver 4 position papers, starting with an overarching research paper, which will include a mapping of key stakeholders working in the areas of peace and constitution in Myanmar, as well as related present discourse and dynamics in Myanmar.

Based on the outcome of the first research paper, expert(s) will propose topics and participants for the closed-door (online) talks. Expert(s) will further present the research papers and moderate the online talk(s). Two to four experts will be selected, subject to expertise in the topics. Final report/paper will be issued after the discussion event, edited as per discussion/feedback from the event participants.

Key Outputs

• 4 draft position/research papers.
• 4 online closed-door talks.
• 4 final reports.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social sciences, law, or relevant field.
• 3 – 5 years of experience in conducting research in constitutional law, peacebuilding, federalism or similar.
• Experience in writing and presenting research papers.
• Experience working in Myanmar.
• Understanding of Myanmar’s legal framework is an advantage.
• Demonstrated presentation and workshop facilitation skills.
• Ability to work in multi-cultural context and experience in conducting field research.
• Excellent oral and written English, Myanmar language is an advantage.

Price Proposal

The expert must send a financial proposal based on a daily rate. The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TOR (Terms of Reference), including professional fee, and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the expert in completing the assignment Payments will be done on completion of deliverables /key outputs.

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

Evaluation Method and Criteria

Cumulative Analysis:

The candidates will be evaluated through cumulative analysis method. When using the weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
• having received the highest score out of set of weighted combine technical evaluation (70%) and financial criteria (30%). Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by DRI for the assignment.

Technical criteria for evaluation (Maximum 70%)

• Criteria 1: Relevant education.
• Criteria 2: Demonstrated experience in conducting research in constitutional law, peacebuilding, federalism or similar.
• Criteria 3: Demonstrated Experience in writing and presenting research papers.
  • Criteria 4: Demonstrated experience working in Myanmar.
  • Criteria 5: Demonstrated understanding of Myanmar’s legal framework is an advantage.
  • Criteria 6: Demonstrated presentation and workshop facilitation skills.
  • Criteria 7: Ability to work in multi-cultural context and experience in conducting field research.
  • Criteria 8: Demonstrated excellent oral and written English.
  • Criteria 9: Myanmar language knowledge.