Consultant (Development of Analytical Report) Jobs at the Centre for Democracy and Development

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) was established in the United Kingdom in 1997 and subsequently registered in Lagos – Nigeria in 1999 as an independent, not-for-profit, research, training, advocacy and capacity building organisation. The Centre was established to mobilise global opinion and resources for democratic development and provide an independent space to reflect critically on the challenges posed to the democratization and development processes in West Africa, and also to provide alternatives and best practices to the sustenance of democracy and development in the region.

We seek suitably qualified candidate to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: Development of Analytical Report On Corruption, Accountability and Good Governance in Nigeria
Location: Nationwide

Background
Corruption is one of the greatest obstacles preventing Nigeria from full utilization of its development potential. The effects of corruption have been felt in the country’s economy. Billions of dollars which could be properly harnessed for developmental purposes are siphoned and used for personal benefits. It has also weakened the social contract between the government and its people. Corruption is rife across the country’s economic sectors: petroleum, trade, industrial, agricultural, infrastructure, power sector, banking, and environmental.

Nigeria is plunging deeper into the mire of corruption with each passing year. Transparency International (TI), in its Corruption Perception Index, continues to rate Nigeria as one of the most corrupt in the world. The country’s corruption index averaged 20.17 Points from 1996 until 2016, reaching an all-time high of 28 Points in 2016 and a record low of 6.90 Points in 1996. Taking pragmatic measures to curb corruption is of vital importance for Nigeria’s future given its implication on security, political, social and economic prospects of the country. Poverty, insurgency, militancy, infrastructural decay and all forms of social vices which are peculiar to the country are results of culture of corruption that are deep-rooted into the social fabrics of the society.

An attempt to curb corruption in Nigeria led to the establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Successive governments have also made numerous attempts to reform institutions, develop applicable legal frameworks, formulate and implement policies to promote a corruption-free environment. Despite a multifaceted approach towards combating corruption, not much has been achieved in this direction. Evidence suggests that corruption in Nigeria predicates on the inability of successive governments to create an avenue for openness and transparency in its activities, promote accountability and possess the political will to deliver good governance.

Notwithstanding, especially as the country moves towards the 2019 general elections, it is imperative to revisit challenges confronting the fight against corruption and rigorously interrogate their persistence within the context of contemporary developments in the country. It is against this backdrop the Centre for Democracy and Development is calling for submission of Expression of Interest (EoI).

Description of Work

• In analysing the cost of corruption, the Consultant must provide and analyse credible data to demonstrate the negative impact of corruption on sector growth and development. For example, has there been any case of corruption in the education sector? How have corrupt cases affected the growth of the education sector in the country?
• The work will also take a historical look at governments’ interventions (including institutional and legal reforms, policies and programmes, etc) to combat corruption in Nigeria and analyse the outcomes (successes and challenges) of anti-graft campaigns as it concerns mitigating its negative implications on development prospects of the country.
• Specifically, the report will systematically respond to the following questions: How does corruption manifests itself in different sectors in Nigeria? What are the costs of corruption on growth and development of a sector? What are general, and sector-specific mechanisms and frameworks put in place by successive governments in Nigeria to promote sectorial accountability and prevent corrupt practices? What has worked and not worked in the governments’ anti-corruption interventions? What are the missing links? Put differently, why does corruption continue to permeate every facet of the country amidst the multiplicity of interventions by state and non-state actors to hold any corrupt government officials accountable? Are there gains that could be sustained? If yes, how?
• The report must reflect on the current political dynamics in the country. In developing this, the consultant will rely mostly on information/data gathered from primary and secondary sources to provide a more nuanced understanding of the anti-corruption campaigns and accountability in the country.
• The consultant will analyse the state and the costs of corruption in Nigeria by examining its multifaceted dimensions in different sectors and its implication on growth and development of a sector (eg. education, health, etc.).

Objectives
The report aims to:

• Examine the current state of corruption and its manifestations in different sectors of the Nigerian economy.
• Identify sectors that are most affected and vulnerable to corrupt practices and provide a convincing explanation to substantiate it.
• Provide concrete data on the costs of corruption on sector growth and development in Nigeria.
• Identify key actors in these sectors.
• Identify measures by the governments since 1999 to prevent corruption and hold accountable corrupt government officials.
• Rigorously analyses the pros and cons (missing links) of accountability mechanisms and frameworks (legal and policy) instituted by successive governments to prevent corruption.
• Make recommendations on how to strengthen anti-graft campaigns in the country taking cognizance of sectoral dynamics.

Deliverable
The Consultant will deliver on the following:

• Report on Corruption, Accountability and Good Governance in Nigeria.
• Policy brief.

Eligibility criteria for the Consultant
Applicants must possess the following:

• At least a Post-graduate degree (Master’s and/or PhD) in Social Science, Humanities, Law and other relevant fields from a recognized university or research institution.
• Evidence of previous work done around anti-corruption and accountability.
• Have a strong background in development work.

Completion and Delivery Date

• The consultant is expected to carry out this task and submit a draft and final report on the 9th and 16th of November 2018.

How To Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their Expression of Interest with a Cover Letter to: cddabv@cddwestafrica.org with the subject matter “Corruption, Accountability and Good Governance EoI”.

Application Deadline 14th of October 2018.