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Parliamentary Development Specialist

  • Contract
  • Suva
  • Posted 7 months ago

UNDP - United Nations Development Programme

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Background
 
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
 
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

The UNDP Pacific Office (PO) in Fiji, as part of its Inclusive Governance and Economic Growth programme delivered across the region, supports the institutional building of 14 national legislative assemblies and a number of sub-national legislatures to fulfil their constitutional mandate of law making, oversight and representation. The UNDP PO is currently implementing four parliamentary development projects in the Pacific:

  • The Pacific Parliamentary Effectiveness Initiatives Project – Phase 2, 2019 – 2024
  • The Nauru Accountable and Inclusive Governance Project, 2021 – 2024
  • Strengthening Legislatures’ Capacity in Pacific Island Countries Project – Phase 2, 2023-2026
  • Fiji Parliament Support Project – Phase 3, 2022-2025

Through these projects, UNDP provides direct support to the Legislatures of Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Parliamentary Development Specialist will execute the duties and responsibilities under the guidance and supervision of the Parliamentary Development Portfolio Manager. 

The Parliamentary Development Specialist will work under the supervision of the Parliamentary Development Portfolio Manager and act as chief technical specialist for the portfolio of projects providing parliamentary support in the region. This post requires substantive technical advisory knowledge to advise the national counterparts, recommend effective approaches and formulate new initiatives in the subject area. It will also require capacities relating to digitization of parliament, and adult learning and professional development. The staff member will be based in Suva, with frequent travel to other countries of the region, with some short-term (up to 1 month) embedded placements in national parliaments in the region expected from time to time.

The Specialist will also support an engagement with international development partners, building strategic partnerships, and identifying new opportunities for UNDP to maximize its impact and visibility in this area through development of new proposals and technical advice.

Provide strategic technical direction and leadership, and lead on provision of high-quality policy advice and support on Parliament matters in line with international best practice. 

  • Lead on drafting of policy recommendations on parliamentary development (that leverages UN expertise, resources, international best practice) aiming at improving the management of the parliamentary development process in the Pacific in close collaboration with the Parliament Speakers, administration and all relevant departments within the Parliaments. 
  • Deliver leading edge technical advice and thought leadership to national counterparts and lead analytical work to identify key policy issues/gaps to improve policies for the thematic area of the portfolio.
  • Support the design and implementation of programming initiatives in the area of women’s political representation and participation, including through collaboration with other parliamentary portfolio specialists and UNDP election support team.
  • Conduct thorough analysis of the political, social, and economic situation in the context of the portfolio and provide strategic advice to the UNDP CO management on issues related to the thematic area. 
  • Provide background papers, briefing notes and concept notes to inform decision- makers for a comprehensive, long-term approach to parliamentary development in the Pacific including strengthening of the legislatures law-making, representation, oversight and other roles of Parliaments.
  • Provide strategic advice to the Parliamentary Development Portfolio Manager leading to strategic positioning of UNDP with regards to sustainable capacity development of the Pacific Parliaments and advise the UNDP Pacific Office on possible key interventions with a longer-term perspective that will complement the process of deepening democracy and facilitate the development of new projects in this or adjacent areas.

Support the delivery of the Parliamentary development programme workplans and their outputs through consultants, contractors and NGOs, including developing terms of reference, participating in procurement, selection and hiring, and overseeing their delivery to ensure high quality outputs.   

  • Together with programme counterparts, identify new areas of support and facilitates implementation of new initiatives. 
  • Support monitoring and evaluation data for parliamentary development and women’s political participation / representation work. 
  • Support preparation for, and actively participate in Project Board meetings.
  • Guide substantive part of the quarterly, mid-year and annual reporting. 
  • Contribute to the identification of risks and issues and updating of risk logs. 

Provide expert oversight and quality assurance for portfolio and project implementation.

  • Provide technical expertise and strategic guidance to the Portfolio Manager (PM) in effectively planning and implementing portfolio activities to ensure achievement of targets and results. Oversight responsibilities include annual work planning and budgeting, monitoring, and reporting on progress and budgets, management of portfolio resources, procurement of goods and services, and contractual management. 
  • Advise on adaptation options envisaged in the portfolio project documents and identify needs for external technical support for effective implementation, including developing terms of references. Update and revise portfolio indicators, baselines, targets, and means of verification for portfolio outcomes, outputs, and activities as required for effective planning, implementation, M&E, and reporting. 
  • Carry out assessments of the technical, financial, political, operational and management situations on the ground that affect the portfolio implementation and keep the UNDP CO abreast of the situations and potential portfolio risks. Provide leadership in developing risk mitigation measures during all portfolio phases and identifying solutions to address existing gaps arising out of assessments. Prepare and consolidate information, data, and reports on the achievements of the portfolio according to the indicators and targets in the log frame and requirements of donors.
  • Lead the design and put in place quality control mechanisms, including coordination of contributions from relevant responsible parties to ensure highest quality of portfolio outputs, products, publications, and policy discussion papers and briefs before review and approval by UNDP and parliament partners (if needed).
  • Provide technical guidance, input, and support to the portfolio team. Ensure coordination between UNDP and all portfolio stakeholders to ensure that financial and operational procedures of the portfolio are in line with UNDP rules and regulations.
  • Lead programme of support to partner institutions to explore, experiment with and implement digitization initiatives across the full spectrum of parliamentary activity including internal systems, engagement with the public, and oversight of regulatory and policy initiatives in the digital space.
  • Ensure full integration and mainstreaming of initiatives designed to support in the area of women’s political representation and participation with broader programming areas, and ensure collection of relevant data enabling measurement on progress towards portfolio goals related to gender equality and women’s empowerment. 
  • Lead the design and development of regional portfolio initiatives to strengthen capacity building support to portfolio beneficiaries, to ensure the sustainability of portfolio interventions and support partner institutions to strengthen their own capacities for training, professional development and knowledge management.

Develop and contribute to the strengthening of partnerships and relationships with key stakeholders and partners.

  • Together with the Portfolio Manager lead in developing donor reports on implementation, the achievement of outputs as well as contributes to reporting on progress towards outcomes and impact.
  • Promote information sharing and coordination with UN agencies.
  • Develop partnerships with other agencies providing support to Pacific Parliaments.
  • Ensure that UNDP and international best practice and lesson learning is fed into programmatic and strategic development of the parliamentary development component of UNDP support to Pacific Parliaments.
  • Strengthen UNDP’s partnerships with the international community of parliamentary development practitioners.

Lead knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy on parliamentary development and UNDP. 

  • Provide substantive advice and technical support to the development and implementation of a capacity development/ learning plan on parliamentary development for relevant colleagues in the Country Office and participate in global/regional learning initiatives.
  • Lead the process of knowledge capture of national and international know-how in parliamentary development and women’s political representation/participation and document portfolio lessons, experiences, and best practices that may be useful in design and implementation of similar projects for organizational and external sharing and learning. Produce materials with lessons learned and best practices and other knowledge-based tools.
  • Keep abreast of the developments in parliamentary development and provide guidance on how to incorporate them into UNDP’s current and future programming. Provide technical guidance and quality assurance to content development for knowledge products.
  • Lead advocacy for and strengthening of national capacity for planning and coordination of parliamentary development programmes. 

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies

Core competencies:
  • Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
  • Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
  • Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
  • Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
  • Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
  • Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies: 
 
Business Direction & Strategy
  • System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgements to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Business Management

  • Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results
  • Partnerships Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
  • Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

2030 Agenda: Peace

  • Governance: Parliamentary Institutions

2030 Agenda: People

  • Gender: Gender Mainstreaming

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in political science and other social sciences, public policy or public administration, law, development studies or a related area is required; or 
  • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in one of the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
  • Minimum 7 years (with master’s degree) OR 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of professional experience in parliamentary affairs, 4 years of which is spent in parliamentary strengthening in an international development role
  • Proven skills providing advisory services to and advocating with senior public officials, and delivering clear and concise advice in written and spoken form.
  • Proven skills designing and delivering effective institutional strengthening programs in other cultural contexts particularly in parliaments.
  • Proven management skills, preferably developed within UNDP, another UN agency or an international organization, with sound knowledge and experience in aspects of project cycle (design, implementation, monitoring & evaluation).
  • Proven skills leading effective technical teams.
  • Proven skills delivering capacity-strengthening and professional development, including training and mentoring.
  • Proven skills supporting development partner coordination and resource mobilization.
  • Proven skills in integrating cross cutting issues such as gender analysis, human rights, Sustainable Development Goals and concepts into the work of parliament is required
  • Experience working directly in a parliament as senior staff member or MP is an asset.
  • Experience of parliamentary development in Asia Pacific is desirable.
  • Previous work experience with small Parliaments is an asset.
  • Experience in SIDS and/or Pacific Islands contexts is an asset.
  • Knowledge and experience from working in countries in transition is desirable. 

Required Languages: 

  • Fluency in English is required
Disclaimer
 

 
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

 
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

 
Applicant information about UNDP rosters

 
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

 
Non-discrimination

 
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.  

 
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status. 

 
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