International consultant for development of a project document for a four-year parliamentary support project.
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Vacancy
Background: The OSCE Permanent Council Decision No. 588 from 2003 specifically mandates the OSCE Presence in Albania (hereinafter “the Presence”) to work in the area of parliamentary capacity-building. A Parliament that effectively and efficiently fulfils its core functions of law-making, oversight and representation plays a key role in consolidating democracy and good governance in the country. Based on previous support the Presence has provided to the Albanian Parliament, Switzerland is committed to entrust the Presence with extra-budgetary contribution for a four-year long project “Support to Parliament and Civic Education in Albania”. The inception phase will comprise a number of specific assessments, know-how exchanges among stakeholders to assess good models and practices, as well as a few workshops with international experts in Tirana. An international lead expert, supported by a national consultant, will be recruited during the inception phase to be in charge of consolidating a comprehensive four-year project plan in close cooperation with the beneficiaries, using previous assessments and incorporating the results from the newly commissioned assessment studies, exchanges and workshops conducted during the inception phase. The general areas of intervention for the four-year project are:
• Outcome 1: Parliament administration fulfils its functions in an efficient and effective way. • Outcome 2: Parliament improves its legislative, oversight and representation functions by better representing their constituents and holding the executive branch accountable. • Outcome 3: Citizens claim their space in democratic developments of the country, are prepared in holding MPs accountable, and are active in influencing reforms.
The Presence is recruiting one senior international expert (lead expert) to work on the development of a full-fledged project proposal for the four-year parliamentary support project, in line with the planned intervention areas. The lead international expert will have support from a national consultant, hired by the Presence for the inception phase for 30 days to under the guidance of the lead expert will assist the lead expert with advice and gathering and processing of necessary information and data. The work will include desk research, interviews and meetings with beneficiaries and stakeholders, as well as donors in the context of parliamentary support. The work will be a combination of two in-country visits (a total of 10 days in Albania) that need to be coordinated with the project staff. In total, three assessment visits will take place during the inception phase and will provide additional information for the production of the 4-year project document. Therefore, the lead exert will be requested to participate in two of these assessment visits and will receive a report about the third assessment visit (to the Swiss Parliament). The two assessment visits the lead expert is requested to participate in (to the parliament in Lisbon and to the parliament in Vienna/Warsaw) will take place in April.
The project proposal of the lead expert will be based on desk research, existing assessments and data from publicly available sources, the lead expert’s own professional experience, information obtained by the lead expert during the assessment visits (Lisbon and Vienna), the report from the assessment visit to Switzerland, as well as input from three assessment reports conducted by other international experts during the inception phase in April, which will be made available to the lead expert. In addition, the recommendations from assessment visits (two of them attended by the lead expert) as well as the recommendations from three assessment studies and the recommendations from three workshops in Tirana, all taking place during the inception phase, will be provided to the lead expert by the Presence.
The work will be a combination of two in-country visits (a total of 10 days in Albania) that need to be coordinated with the project staff.
In total, three assessment visits will take place during the inception phase and will provide additional information for the production of the 4-year project document. Therefore, the lead exert will be requested to participate in two of these assessment visits and will receive a report about the third assessment visit (to the Swiss Parliament). The two assessment visits the lead expert is requested to participate in (to the parliament in Lisbon and to the parliament in Vienna/Warsaw) will take place in April.
The project proposal of the lead expert will be based on desk research, existing assessments and data from publicly available sources, the lead expert’s own professional experience, information obtained by the lead expert during the assessment visits (Lisbon and Vienna), the report from the assessment visit to Switzerland, as well as input from three assessment reports conducted by other international experts during the inception phase in April, which will be made available to the lead expert. In addition, the recommendations from assessment visits (two of them attended by the lead expert) as well as the recommendations from three assessment studies and the recommendations from three workshops in Tirana, all taking place during the inception phase, will be provided to the lead expert by the Presence.
Tasks and responsibilities:
The international lead expert is expected to:
• Outline of the project proposal for the four year period in form of an inception report by 15 April, with the outline of the work to be done, including methodology, list of literature to be reviewed, list of interviews planned.
• Produce the project proposal for the four-year project by 30 May, making use of a own desk research, studies provided to the expert by the project manager as well as own interviews of the expert with key stakeholders. In addition, three assessment studies on specific topics by other experts will be provided to the lead expert by 7 May by the project manager and will be taken into account by the lead expert. The topics of the three assessments are as follows: 1) Integrated E-Law concept and evaluation of Rules of Procedures and Committee work; 2) Assessment for the Digitalisation of Archives; 3) Parliamentary TV channel .
• A draft of the final product is to be delivered by the lead expert to the project manager by 15 May. Feedback from key stakeholders, beneficiaries, the donor and the Presence will be submitted back to the lead expert by 22 May.
• The lead expert will incorporate into the final product (the full fledged plan for the 4-year project), the comprehensive gender analysis and gender mainstreaming recommendations for the project produced by another expert during the inception phase. The lead expert will get the gender input from the project manager on 7 May;
• The lead expert will incorporate into the final product (the full-fledged plan for the 4-year project), the assessment findings regarding the civic education components produced by two other experts during the inception phase. These assessment findings will be shared with the lead expert by 7 May by the project manager.
• Participate in two Assessment visits with key stakeholders and OSCE staff on integrated e-law and legal reviews to Vienna/Warsaw and on financial autonomy of parliament to the Portuguese Assembleia da Republica. These visits will take place during April and last 3 and 2 overnights in Vienna/Warsaw and Lisbon respectively. The lead expert will be provided DSA, flight and terminal allowance for these two assessment visits.
• A thorough stakeholder and risk analysis is expected from the lead expert.
• The lead expert will use the OSCE project proposal format to develop the 4-year project proposal as provided by the project manager.
• Be in close cooperation on a daily basis with the project manager and the Presence staff in charge of the parliamentary support programme during the time of work in Tirana and conduct weekly Skype/phone conferences with the project team during home based work. Constant contact for information sharing and questions will be conducted via e-mail.
• Guide the national expert in what kind of support is needed for the accomplishment of the tasks.
• The international expert is expected to conduct work in person in Tirana twice for up to a total of 10 overnights for in person meetings and interviews with key stakeholders, beneficiaries, the donor and the Presence.
Expected Output/Deliverable:
1. Outline of the project proposal for the four year period in form of an inception report by 15 April (maximum of 15 pages).
2. Draft of the 4-year project proposal by 15 May 2018
3. Final project proposal in the OSCE format by 30 May 2018 (Maximum of 100 pages).
Necessary Qualifications:
• Have a PhD or advanced degree in social science, law, project management or related field;
• Minimum 10 years of professional experience with parliamentary support projects;
• Extensive and proven project design and project writing experience of comprehensive and complex multi-year and multi-angle support projects;
• Providing concrete documentation of previous work in the area, upon the request.
• Computer literate.
• Fluency in English.
The fee will be paid after delivery of each document in the following manner:
1. After the inception report due by 15 April 3000 Euros.
2. After the draft final product due by 15 May 3000 Euros .
3. After receipt of the fully-fledged project proposal in the OSCE format by 30 May 2018. 10.000 Euros
All applications are due by 10 March 2018. If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's on line application link found under link https://jobs.osce.org/.
The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, to offer a contract with modified Terms of Reference or for a different duration. The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the organization.