Introduction

An organisation in development work seeks the services of a Research Consultant to lead a

research on national dialogue ahead of the upcoming 2023 harmonized elections. There are deep-

rooted and interconnected foundational national challenges that have presented a gridlock to

national development and dialogue were advocated as the possible solutions to such

challenges. Thus we seek to conduct research to have an appreciation of the extent to which citizens view

dialogue as a solution to national challenges in light of the upcoming 2023 harmonised elections.

The surveyor research has to answer many relevant questions being asked by citizens related

to the nature and process of the dialogue in Zimbabwe as well as the relation of dialogue to national

elections. The research will capture people’s views and understanding of the dialogue process,

values and principles and assess the relationship between national dialogue and elections.

Background

Since 2017, and on the eve of the political transition, many organizations engaged in various

processes that sought to understand the nature of our national problems and find solutions

towards resolving these challenges. These processes have resulted in a deeper understanding of our

problems as being grounded in social and political fragmentation; regressive and exclusive

economy; lack of constitutional democracy; and recurring humanitarian crisis. The processes have

also unpacked deep underlining causes of these problems as being unresolved past issues, political

power and access to economic resources among others. Attempts to resolve these issues do not

only require hardware approaches like the use of the law but also software approaches that

encompass the national dialogue process.

The importance of national dialogue has gained traction and is now on the national agenda. In the

year 2021, the organization has led pilot dialogue initiatives to prepare the nation for a

comprehensive and inclusive national dialogue. The country is now approaching 2023

elections and some people are asking questions on what the way is forward, dialogue or elections.

In fact, there are questions related to the relevance of dialogue given the trajectory towards national

elections. Thus, this research seeks to answer some of the questions related to the dialogue-

elections nexus.

The Research Objectives

 To map people’s views on the efficiency of national dialogue initiatives in general.

 To gauge the extent to which the nation supports the national dialogue process as a

the complementary or competing solution to electoral processes,

 To gather people’s views on the upcoming 2023 harmonized elections and how they view

dialogue as a component of the package to Zimbabwe’s problems,

 To assess people’s views on necessary conditions, principles and values for a comprehensive

and inclusive dialogue platform that will give a comprehensive solution to the problems of

the country.

The specific TORs for the Consultant are outlined below

i. To conduct the research process,

ii. To design the final research approach and methodology,

iii. To train the research team prior to data collection and lead the data collection process, as

well as to conduct data analysis,

iv. To draft the research report.

Desired Competencies and Qualifications of Consultant

 It is envisaged that the successful consultant would be a specialist in research with

demonstrable experience and strong working knowledge.

o Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences or Master's degree in a Social Sciences or

related fields. A PhD will be an added advantage,

o Strong background and work experience in community-based research,

o Strong analytical, quantitative, and qualitative research skills,

o Ability to consolidate information from multiple sources, write timely and succinct

information analysis and report writing,

o Ability to design and develop research strategies, methodologies and tools,

o Knowledge of statistical analysis packages like SPSS, STATA and Excel for data

manipulation and data analysis; as well as online survey systems,

o Excellent computer skills: excellent knowledge of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint

and email/internet software,

o Previous experience in nationwide research for similar or related topics is an

advantage.

Application

Submit a technical application to consist of:

i. A brief profile of the researcher (s),

ii. A detailed proposed research objectives, methodology and approach,

iii. A detailed outline of the financial requirement reflecting a breakdown of remuneration

for each set of activities.