Common use of Situation Analysis Clause in Contracts

Situation Analysis. The situation analysis in this section is not comprehensive. It does not aim to provide a substantive political economy analysis of the electoral environment in Pakistan, or the relationships, incentives and power structures which have shaped the evolution of this environment. Rather the aperture for the analysis, for the purposes of brevity, is narrowed to the specific thematic areas that define the programme of work detailed in the pages that follow. The analysis provided focuses on the current operational context from a programming perspective. It identifies the political constraints, and the perceived political risks, in order to ensure that planned interventions are politically informed; assesses, where applicable, the institutional capacity, and appetite, for external assistance; and, in broad terms, highlights why and where specific programme interventions are required. The performance of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), as an institution, and the extent to which political parties and voters have confidence in its ability to ensure credible and legitimate elections, has a direct bearing on political stability in Pakistan. Notwithstanding the incremental progress it has made over the past five years, the ECP will continue to require international technical assistance throughout the current electoral cycle, and for at least the first quarter of the next electoral cycle. This is the estimated timeframe required for external assistance to support the ECP in addressing electoral administration and institutional development challenges, and ensuring longer term sustainability. The bullets below provide a summary of some of the core challenges that undermine the ECP’s ability to enhance the quality of elections in Pakistan.