Result of Service

The consultancy is expected to deliver an evidence-based policy report of about 30- 40 pages to guide and support stakeholders on opportunities and challenges of performance contracts of public office holders, as efficacious tools, to directly catalyse greater public accountability, improve public service delivery and accelerate sustainable development especially of Agenda 2063 and Agenda 2030. The policy report will provide a comparison of key contextual features of all the country case studies and describe enablers and barriers related to the effectiveness of performance contracts in strengthening public accountability and service delivery, for evidence use. Findings should identify a set of key policy recommendations and best practices that Member States could pursue to construct to improve the practices on performance contracts structured on exact and quantifiable objectives, targets, and goals for increasing public accountability among public officials and improving service delivery to populations.

Work Location

Addis Ababa

Expected duration

Five months

Duties and Responsibilities

Background The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations mandated to promote inclusive and sustainable economic and social development of Africa. ECA’s vision is framed around generating ideas for Africa’s prosperity and is encapsulated in its motto: ideas for a prosperous Africa. Its overall objective is to promote inclusive and sustainable development in support of accelerating the economic diversifi¬cation and structural transformation of Africa, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. ECA’s contribution to the task of carrying forward the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 is centred on the Commission’s three core functions, namely, its convening, think tank and operational functions. ECA’s think-tank function is centred on conducting multi-sectoral research and analysis that nurture the integration of the three pillars of sustainable development, and promoting peer learning, innovative thinking and the advocacy of public policies while fostering inter-sectoral linkages and synergies. In line with its think tank function, ECA has been engaged in producing cutting-edge policy research and flagship publications on Africa’s development issues, which support policy formulation, decision making and the development agenda in Continent. ECA’s research on improving state and institutional capacity in Africa has generated a wealth of information on the importance of building effective, accountable, efficient, transparent and inclusive institutions to underpin sustainable development and good governance, unlock greater potential for domestic resource mobilization, foster private sector development and unleash much needed foreign capital and domestic investment. Over the years, performance contracting has gained popularity in several African nations as a strategic management method to boost public accountability, effectiveness and efficiency across different sectors. Performance contracts are playing an increasingly integral role in the efforts of African Governments to enhance public sector delivery and hold public officials accountable and responsible to meet the requirements and expectations of constituents and stakeholders and the general populace. Well-devised performance contracts with clear performance indicators and alignment with the service goals of Governments are perceived as efficacious tools to directly and positively impact the quality, accessibility, and responsiveness of public services. The relationship between performance contracts, public accountability and service delivery is critical in the public sector. Performance contracts aim to align individual goals with larger objectives of Governments and, consequently, hold public officials accountable to demonstrate more efficient and effective service delivery. Despite that performance contracting in developing countries has long led to improved performance in the private sector, only limited evidence about performance contracts that have effectively increased public accountability and public sector efficiency within African countries has been reported. In the interim, inconsistent use of evidence to inform policymaking remains a persistent challenge and concern. To this end, ECA is seeking to contract a suitably qualified and experienced consultant that will undertake a study across the contexts of in-country performance contracting mechanisms within Africa. In particular, the study aims to identify the effect of different types of in-country performance contracts especially for public office holders on the ability of African Governments to effectively and efficiently increase public accountability and improve public service delivery towards ensuring citizen satisfaction and welfare. Duties and responsibilities The consultant will undertake the following tasks aiming to achieve the objective of the consultancy and policy study, under the overall supervision of the Director of the Strategic Planning, Oversight and Results Division: • Produce an inception report for the study. The inception report will contain the conceptualization of the assignment that strongly demonstrates a clear understanding and interpretation of the tasks and as such provides a conceptual framework, the methodology, including for data and information collection and analysis, and a work plan. The inception report will also include an annotated outline of the report; a well-designed questionnaire for collecting primary data for the study. • Undertake desk review and in-depth interviews to identify, classify and quantify performance contracts conducive to greater public accountability and improved service delivery. • Assess the quality, reliability and usefulness of evidence-based research experience generated by the case countries to inform performance contracting mechanisms, development planning and programming in Africa. • Identify, assess and present in a succinct format good practices in the use of performance contracting as a strategic management mechanism. • Identify and describe the key barriers and enablers to the effectiveness of performance contracts in strengthening public accountability and service delivery in the different contexts- what works and what does not work. • Identify and present key elements of a national strategy and practical action-oriented recommendations that Member States could pursue to use performance contracts as tools to enhance accountability and public sector service delivery. • Draft a well-informed and robust report based on the above research. The report will be prepared using both quantitative data (charts, tables and graphs) and qualitative information. The report will contain an executive summary; a section outlining key messages; an introduction including the analytical/comparative framework for the report; and cover the issues identified in the tasks above. • Submit the draft report for review by ECA and revise it based on comments and inputs provided. • Provide necessary support to the organization and servicing of the meeting of experts to review the draft report. • Prepare and make a presentation of the report at the experts review meeting. • Produce a final draft report considering comments and inputs received from the experts meeting as guided by ECA.

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced university degree, preferably Ph.D. in Economics, Social Sciences including public administration and political science, Statistics, Development Studies or other related fields. • Minimum of ten (10) years of professional work experience in academia, research institutions, international organisation, public service or related institution. • An excellent track record in research and publishing on political and socio-economic development issues and related African development issues in peer reviewed journals, books and other scholarly publications. • Sound knowledge and publications on performance contracts and management and improving state capacity for development. • Familiarity and/or experience in working with the United Nations • Broad understanding of African development issues and challenges, with demonstrated ability to formulate programmes/ projects, provide advice and guidance on strategic matters.

Languages

• Fluency in English, very good writing and analytical skills. • Knowledge of French is an added advantage.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.