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Term of Reference (TOR) for Investigative Report

Project title: Anti-corruption strengthening in public services provision in Nigeria(ASPSPN)

Type of contract: Short term consultancy for investigative reporter

SERAP’s vision:

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) is building on its anti-corruption strengthening in public service provision in Nigeria (ASPSPN) Project. The project aims to strengthen transparency and accountability as well as promote good governance and access to public goods and services including provision of water, education and health at the federal, state and grassroots in Nigeria. The project also aims to promote better service delivery by empowering Nigerian citizens and amplifying their voices to hold public officials to account in these sectors and related sectors.

SERAP plans to develop a framework for assessing corruption and leakages in the water, health, education and other sectors, as appropriate. The research will assess public access, institutional environment for allocating and managing resources, dispensing services, leakages and options for improvement. From the beginning of the research, a participatory research methodology will be deployed in order to build community ownership.

The research consists of review of laws and regulations related to development and implementation, monitoring and audit of public services delivery in the key sectors aforementioned. Interviews must be conducted with key relevant stakeholders such as those at the states and grassroots, in order to figure out the missing link between policies and public services delivery in Nigeria. The research will be connected with investigative reporting of stories that put to the fore, leakages and corruption in the allocation and management of resources vis a vis access and delivery of public services in Nigeria.

A key consolidating aspect of the project is to make stories out of corruption cases, reports and investigations in new ways that connect people (through emotions, empathy) and is able to spark public discussions, engagement, and action against corruption. The project seeks to humanize the impact of corruption through new forms of storytelling to engage and mobilize the citizens on anti-corruption issues, and to encourage institutions of government and public officials to act to address those corruption issues.

Objective(s) of the consultancy

SERAP seeks to carry out investigations and publish critical reports based on the assessed leakages and corruption uncovered by the policy research. The investigative report will serve as a tool for advocacy, public mobilization, government engagement, public litigation and other appropriate initiatives.

The specific objectives are:

1. Establish the reality and truthfulness on findings of the policy research in health, water and education sectors.
2. Develop investigative reports and stories linked to the outcome of the policy research projecting impact of corruption in these sectors on Nigerians
3. Highlight bright spots where citizens disrupt corruption, project integrity, ethics and scarce positive values.

Consultant responsibilities:

SERAP seeks to recruit an investigative reporter to carry out the following responsibilities

1. Understand SERAP’s policy research on public services delivery in water, health and education sectors.
2. Carry out investigation on the major issues highlighted by the policy research.
3. Look-out for outstanding citizens shunning corruption and exhibiting right values.
4. Develop investigative reports linked to the outcome of the policy research projecting impact of corruption on Nigerians in public services delivery in these sectors
5. Inform SERAP secretariat of any significant development related to the assignment throughout the planning, field work, and analysis phase
6. Provide the deliverables within 2 months from commencement.

 

Methodology

The consultant is encouraged and advised to consider the following

1. Review SERAP’s policy research on public services delivery in water, health and education sectors.
2. Develop investigation work plan detailing strategies and timeline
3. Meet with SERAP to discuss all the above.
4. Meet and discuss final report

Deliverables

The consultant shall be responsible for delivering the following to SERAP

1. Evidence of policy research analysis.
2. A detailed investigation work plan.
3. A detailed investigation methodology. In
4. Draft and final approved investigative reports

Secretariat support

The SERAP office in Lagos will be responsible for secretariat assistance to the

Consultant of all logistics, finance and any other secretariat assistance that may be necessary and binding by the contract.

Accountability

The consultant will report to the Deputy Director of SERAP or any SERAP nominee representatives after a written communication notifying the research team of appointment of the representatives.

Duration

The duration of the assignment is two months covering the commencement of the project to the submission and acceptance of the final deliverable by SERAP

Remuneration

The consultancy fee shall be paid in 2 installments 50% before commencement of the project and 50% upon completion.

Conflict of interest declaration

It is the responsibility of the Consultant to disclose and inform SERAP of any interest, relationship, association with individuals, organisations or any other party (which SERAP or the Consultant may engage during the project design, implementation and reporting) that may affect the discharge of the assignment, integrity and credibility of the process, procedure and plan and the deliverables. SERAP will circulate a background disclosure that is to be completed and returned by the Consultant and every team member.

Commitment to non-disclosure

The Consultant is required to complete and submit an undertaking of non-disclosure of any privileged information or facts about any person, organisation, group, transaction that may become accessible to them during the assignment. This undertaking excludes information or facts that may be publicly available.

Copyright

SERAP holds the full ownership of any product, tool, report that may result from the assignment and the Consultant and any member of her/his team may not communicate or distribute any product in whatever form without a written request and express permission by SERAP or appointed its representatives.

Deadline for submission: September 18, 2020,  11:59pm