Background

UNDP and the State of Kuwait, represented by the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Planning and Development (GSSCPD), strive to enhance institutional capacities at various government agencies by providing them with necessary technical support to strengthen their capacities and skills to perform their expected duties. Under the framework of a project, UNDP and GSSCPD engage experts to support national institutions to fulfil their strategic planning role and mandate. 

Within this context, the GSSCPD and UNDP strive to enhance the capacity of the Research and Studies Department (RSD), at the State Ministry for The National Assembly Affairs, to be able to provide better support and advice to the high level decision makers on various political, social and economic public issues.

To this end, RSD seeks to recruit an Expert in Political Research, to improve its research unit’s capacity to support the Evidence-based decision-making on political and Parliamentary issues through planning, collecting and analyising data and conducting medium and small research projects relevant to political and parliamentary topics and affairs, as well as supervising large size research.

Duties and Responsibilities

The expert is expected to assume the following:

• Develop a research strategy for RSD, in line with the State Ministry for The National Assembly Affairs strategy;
• Review the available literature and scientific research on the the local politics and parliemantary affairs produced by the RSD and other significant instituits, to recommend the research priorities;
• Develop a research policy for RSD with clearly defined objectives;
• Support the RSD by providing clear briefing , evidence-based analysis, sound guidance and support on political research priorities, needs, methodologies and production;
• Conduct small and medium size research and develop reports, position papers, white papers, statues notes, and any type of reports or research relevant to the consultancy, as needed;
• Build the department’s staff capacity in research methodologies, data gathering, data analyses, and reporting on political and parliamentary issues.

• Assessment report on the technical and human capacity development needs of RSD, with recommendations to address them submitted.
• Research policy document submitted.
• Number of quality research papers and reports submitted.
• RSD staff capacity building plan developed and implementation initiated

Competencies

• In depth knowledge of political, parliamentary affairs and public opinion trends;
• Knowledge of democratic processes and the local political context;
• Expertise in policy and strategy development;
• The ability to work within strict timeframes in a high-pressure environment and with minimal supervision;
• Excellent networking, communication and relationship building skills;
•  Demonstrates good oral and written communication and presentation skills;
• Displays cultural and gender sensitivity and adaptability;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and objectivity;
• Knowledge sharing and capacity development;
• Confidentiality, discretion and good judgment

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• PHD in Political Science.

Experience:

Minimum of 10 years of experience in the following areas:

• Public opinion trends and studies;
• Political and parliamentary Studies.
• Traceable record of published research in both Arabic and English.
• Experience in training.
• A strong analytical and research background
• Demonstrates good computer skills.

Language:

• Arabic and English.

Time Frame:

• 4 months.