Consultant in Parliamentary Diplomacy

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GE Home-based; Georgia

Application deadline 3 years ago: Sunday 7 Feb 2021 at 23:59 UTC

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Contract

This is a International Consultant contract. More about International Consultant contracts.

Background

Georgia’s move to parliamentary system of governance as a result of 2017 constitutional changes, has conferred stronger powers to the Parliament of Georgia to exercise its lawmaking and oversight functions. Parliament is also increasingly engaged in foreign policy activities and parliamentary diplomacy, which is a declared priority of the new parliamentary leadership.

Right after the summoning of the new Parliament, on 25 December 2020, the Parliament adopted Georgia’s Foreign Policy Resolution, which defines 16 strategic priorities, including: applying for EU membership in 2024 and continuing striving towards NATO membership; de-occupation and restoration of territorial integrity through peaceful ways; deepening of relations with the United States as well as the UK, France, Germany and other EU member states; maintaining peace, security and stability in the Black Sea region and strategic cooperation with Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia; maintaining pragmatic and principled policy with Russia and working to avert conventional and hybrid threats; promoting economic, trade and people-to-people relations with China, India, Japan as well as the countries in Central Asia and Middle East; focusing on cooperation in multi-lateral formats including the United Nations, OSCE, Council of Europe, and other; contributing to international security and stability through participation in peace operations, achieving strategic development goals and responding to global challenges, such as climate change and pandemic.

In its Foreign Policy Resolution, the Parliament of Georgia commits to actively engage in the formation and implementation of the country’s foreign policy priorities through developing fundamental policy directions and principles, exercising lawmaking and oversight functions and enhancing parliamentary democracy.

Through its permanent parliamentary delegations and friendship groups, the Parliament of Georgia is represented in a number of different international parliamentary forums, including multilateral parliamentary assemblies and associations and is engaged in bilateral relations. The Vice-Speaker of the Parliament and three parliamentary committees - Foreign Relations, European Integration, and Defense and Security – are the main drivers of internationally-focused work in the Georgian legislature.

The Parliament receives support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other respective line ministries but also relies on its own International Relations Department to implement foreign policy agenda.

Nevertheless, to contribute to and attain Georgia’s foreign policy agenda as set out in the Foreign Policy Resolution, the Parliament and its respective team need to define a vision and set a strategic framework for further developing and organizing its work in respect to international affairs and parliamentary diplomacy. This requires the review of the existing modus operandi, identification of existing gaps and challenges and development of a structured and consolidated system that would improve the work of the Parliament in the respective direction. The framework shall set clear goals and objectives as well as performance indicators, assign roles and define internal and external collaboration mechanisms and channels. It shall elaborate on the Parliament’s role in strategic communications of foreign policy agenda and developments – and propose tools how to exercise such a role.

It also requires the equipment of the Members of the Parliament and relevant staff with knowledge on their role in external policy making during their day-to-day work as well as in strategic communications on international affairs.

Over the past years, the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have provided significant assistance to the Parliament of Georgia in institutional reforms. Among other, through this support, in 2016, the above-mentioned International Relations Department was re-organized and a new – Inter-Parliamentary Unit – was created to support MPs in the implementation of their duties in the frames of different parliamentary forums, permanent delegations and other.

To continue supporting the Parliament further, the project plans to recruit a senior-level international consultant to advise on overall approach on institutionalization of the work of the Parliament in respect to international affairs, setting a strategic framework for parliamentary diplomacy, and increasing respective capacities of the engaged parliamentary stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities

The International Consultant works closely with the Parliament of Georgia in the process of development of the framework document on Institutionalization of the work of the Parliament in respect to international affairs and parliamentary diplomacy. More particularly, the International Consultant performs the following tasks and responsibilities:

Activity 1. Development of the Framework Document

  • Conducts desk research and prepares analysis of the best international standards and practices in handling international affairs by the legislative branches in different countries – with the focus on EU member states. The analysis shall cover the parliaments’ role in defining foreign policy priorities and relevant tools for policy formulation and oversight by legislatures. The analysis shall also include the parliaments’ engagement in strategic communications in the area.
  • Based on the analysis, prepares a Framework Document on institutionalization of the work of the Parliament of Georgia in respect to international affairs and parliamentary diplomacy. The document shall include specific directions where the work needs to be consolidated and advanced, including for strengthening collaboration with the executive branch and other stakeholders, including think tanks, civil society organizations, national and international experts and other.
  • Where required, participates in interviews/workshops with the parliamentary stakeholders and representatives of the government to collect their views and feedback during the elaboration of the Framework Document.

Activity 2. Development of the Training Plan and Delivery of a Training for the staff of the Parliament

  • Based on the Framework Document, develops a capacity development plan for parliamentary representatives to aid them in improving their work related to international affairs.
  • Delivers a one-day seminar for the respective MPs and parliamentary staff (around 30 participants) to present the key findings of the analytical paper (Act. 1.1. above) and facilitate discussion on topics reflected in the Framework Document envisaged under activity 1.2. above.

The International Consultant is accountable to and reports to the UNDP Project Manager.

Note: Considering the COVID-19 pandemic and its challenges, the consultancy does not foresee any in-country missions. the interviews/workshops/seminars will be conducted remotely facilitated by the parliament and/or UNDP project.

Deliverables and payment modality:

  1. Analysis of International standards and practices in handling international affairs by parliaments of different countries with a focus on EU member states: due by March 2021, 30% of the total fee
  2. Framework Document on institutionalization of the work of the Parliament of Georgia in respect to international affairs and parliamentary diplomacy: due by May 2021, 50% of the total fee
  3. Capacity building plan and a seminar for MPs and parliamentary staff (around 30 participants): due by June 2021, 20% of the total fee

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritism

Functional Competencies:

  • Excellent intercultural, moderation, facilitation and negotiation skills;
  • Builds strong relationships with stakeholders, focuses on impact and result and responds positively to feedback;
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
  • Ability to lead effectively, mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills
  • Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
  • Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure
  • Proven networking, team building, organizational and communication skills
  • Strong communication and writing skills in English

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • At least Master’s degree in international relations/law, history, political science or related field (minimum requirement: 5 points)

Experience:

  • Over 15 years of senior-level experience in the area of parliamentary affairs in the EU member states, with a focus on parliaments’ external policy-making dimension (minimum requirement: 15 years– 8 points, 15 to 20 years – additional 5 points; more than 20 yrs – additional 7 points)
  • Demonstrated experience of providing advisory services to the national parliaments in the area of external policy development (minimum requirement: 15 points)
  • Strong knowledge of the role of the Parliament in foreign policy and international affaires
  • Experience in developing strategic documents, framework papers and other similar materials

Language Requirements:

  • Excellent knowledge of the English language

Evaluation:

Offerors will be evaluated against a combination of technical and financial criteria provided in the below table. Technical criteria consist of a desk review and an interview. Maximum obtainable score is 100, out of which the total score for technical criteria equals to 70 points (70%) and for financial criteria 30 (30%). Technical criteria is comprised of desk review (40 points) and interview (30 points). Offerors not meeting any of the minimum technical qualification requirements will be automatically excluded from the list of candidates for further technical evaluation. Offerors obtaining minimum 28 points as a result of the desk review (criteria 1, 2 and 3) will be short listed and invited for an interview. Offerors obtaining minimum of 21 points as a result of the interview (i.e. minimum of 49 points in the technical criteria) will be considered qualified and requested to provide financial proposal for the assignment.

Financial proposal:

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount.

Added 3 years ago - Updated 3 years ago - Source: jobs.undp.org