Background

The reformed Governance institutions provide a unique opportunity for strengthened parliamentary oversight, representation, and accountability, so as to promote equitable socio-economic development in Tonga. The Parliament is responsible for ensuring supportive policies are formulated and appropriate actions are taken to help alleviate hardships and to improve the quality of life for those experiencing hardships in Tonga. Members of Parliament have the mandate and legislative authority to promote and endorse human rights-based and gender sensitive legislation to ensure commitment for action to address national priorities and obligations to international norms such as the MDGs.
 
The overall aim of this integrated programme strategy is to draw together three interrelated governance initiatives so as to avoid duplication and strengthen synergies amongst the components namely: the Parliament Strengthening Project designed by UNDP, the AEC led support provided to the Tonga Electoral Commission; and to support a strengthened role for civil society, including the private sector, in its relationship with the Parliament and Government of Tonga as well an increased role for civil society in providing civic education.
 
A key element of the integrated approach will be to ensure consistency in the development of civic education materials that will be used to create a better understanding in the community about the workings of the parliament, the role of the electoral commission and elections as well as the responsibility of civil society to help promote democracy in Tonga. An initial step in the programme’s implementation will be baseline research that will form the basis for the design of the civic education materials. The baseline research will also guide how civic education will be conducted both in schools and out of schools. In this regard civic education is seen as the linchpin for the success of the programme and while included under each of the three programmes as separate activities, it will be implemented in a coordinated manner and sequenced to ensure efficiency and cost effectiveness.
 
While the Legislative Assembly technically has a broad mandate to promote good governance and development in Tonga, in reality, the Assembly’s ability to effectively perform its constitutional roles hinges on:
  • (i) The effectiveness of its existing institutional and administrative structures and support systems; and
  • (ii) The level of fiscal and technical resources allocated to Parliamentary Offices.
There is limited support for Members of Parliament; Variable use of parliamentary committees for oversight; Parliamentary Offices need capacity development assistance; Limited outreach and public understanding of parliaments democratic responsibilities.
 
The Electoral Commission was established by the Electoral Commission Act 2010 to supervise all electoral related activities and to ensure that such activities are implemented in a free and fair environment. Its obligations as set out under the Act and range from long term planning for the proper conduct of elections, the establishment and maintenance of proper records and rolls, recommending changes to the law concerning elections, making and amending regulations, educating voters and candidates, regulating and monitoring electoral expenditure by candidates, and compiling and reporting on elections and related matters. The Act also proposes that the Electoral Commission will provide a similar function for the District and Town Officer elections.

The Electoral Commission held its first general elections in November 2010. Following the electoral reform a total of 17 Electoral Constituencies were established and the people of each such constituency elect one representative, while the nobles elect 9 representatives from among themselves. Since its establishment, the Electoral Commission has received support from AusAID, through the provision of technical support provided by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) to assist with the development of an election plan, regulations, policies and procedures in the lead up to the election, and technical support during the election event. Given the Electoral Commission is still in early stages of establishing itself, further support and assistance is required to support a broad range of activities across the entire electoral cycle to ensure it exercises all of its mandated activities successfully. 
 
Civil society and civil society organizations (CSOs) make a very real and key contribution to development and democratisation processes. Their roles include the provision of basic services such as primary education, health, water and sanitation; participating in local planning and budgeting; advocating for human rights and the needs and priorities of their constituency especially the marginalised groups; providing shelter, counselling and support services to disadvantaged groups and victims of violence; monitoring the performance of government and other stakeholders in the provision of services and realization of human rights; and more generally, progress towards the MDGs. It is widely recognised that an active and vibrant civil society is an important factor in the democratisation process. By mediating between the state and citizenry, and increasing government accountability, civil society provides the mechanism to enhance citizens’ voice and the engagement of citizens in various democratic processes that contributes to deepening democracy. 
 
Although the current legal and institutional framework provides opportunities for citizens including CSOs to participate in the law making and oversight process through the standing committees and public hearing process, there are opportunities to strengthen these mechanisms to ensure the engagement process and outcomes are inclusive, open, transparent and participatory. At present CSOs, churches, constituents and registered interest groups are not fully participating in the law making, oversight and national planning and budgeting process. At present there are no formal institutional arrangements for submission and follow-up, a key condition for participatory and responsive governance system. In addition, there is limited understanding of the reformed parliament and government structures.

There is limited understanding amongst constituents on the difference between government and parliament and limited mechanisms for ensuring the voices of those in the remote and outer islands are properly reflected during the legislative, oversight, planning and budgeting processes. Although the parliamentarians have an opportunity to visit their constituencies twice a year, it is often dominated by community based development project with minimal focus on the government policies, bills, planning and budgeting process. MPs visit their constituencies after the national budget is passed and as such there are no opportunities for the constituents to have any meaningful participation in the budget formulation process. Furthermore, there is no clear process for involving the constituents and CSO generally in the budgetary planning and implementation process.

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic direction and guidance to the Programme, undertake day-to-day management:
  • Ensure programme delivery as agreed in the AWP;
  • In consultation with stakeholders, draft the annual work plan, update the work plan on a regular basis so that the programme activities continue to remain relevant;
  • Effective management of the programme team;
  • Provide direct technical inputs, advise, training and support as and when required for the implementation of programme activities;
  • Manage programme budget as agreed in AWP;
  • Ensure all programme records and asset inventory are maintained;
  • Prepare programme reports, including the financial reports in a timely fashion;
  • Ensure provision of effective Secretariat duties to Programme Board;
  • Facilitate collaboration with other UN agencies;
  • Support other regional parliamentary support activities as appropriate; 
  • Monitor the follow up on issues, risks and recommendations for corrective actions identified in quarterly and annual reports;
  • Ensure mid-term and terminal evaluations of the programme.
Collect relevant national data and undertake the following:
  • Ensure conducting a baseline study (situation at project start);
  • Update the baselines, indicators, targets;
  • Ensure that sex disaggregated data are collected and reflected appropriately in the M&E framework and all progress reports.
Technical Advice:
  • Provide direct technical inputs, advice, training and support as and when required for the implementation of project activities;
  • Provide technical advice to the Speaker and Parliamentary Committees, and parliamentarians to support their law making, oversight and representational roles; 
  • Work with the Clerk and Speaker of Parliament to implement activities under the parliament support component of the programme;
  • Coordinate and support inter-parliamentary relationship.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:
  • Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modeling the UN/UNDP’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.
Functional Competencies:
  • Strong ability to identify opportunities to translate and intergrate development issues such as public accountability, climate change, conflict prevention etc into parliamentary development programmes and their linkages with poverty/MDGs;
  • Capacity to interact with senior officials and credibly influence senior decision makers in UNDP programme countries and other international development organizations;
  • Strong analytical, negotiation and communication skills, including ability to produce high quality practical advisory reports and knowledge products;
  • Demonstrated practical knowledge and experience in parliamentary development and working with members of parliaments, parliamentary secretariats, and committees in a developing country context;
  • Knowledge and working experience on advocacy and mainstreaming gender in parliamentary work and or development projects or initiatives at the national or local levels;
  • Knowledge of and experience in the application legislative needs assessment tools and related methodologies for parliamentary programming and capacity development.
Leadership:
  • Strong managerial/leadership experience and decision-making skills;
  • Ability to conceptualize and convey strategic vision from the spectrum of global development experience;
  • Knowledge and expertise in UNDP’s programming processes;
  • Proven ability to lead a practice area and drive for results with a strong knowledge of results-based management and budgeting.
Managing Relationships:
  • Demonstrated well developed people management and organizational skills;
  • Strong ability to manage teams; creating an enabling environment, mentoring and developing staff;
  • Excellent negotiating and networking skills;
  • Strong resource mobilization and partnering skills.
Managing Complexity:  
  • Ability to address global development issues;
  • Substantive knowledge and understanding of development cooperation with the ability to support the practice architecture of UNDP and inter-disciplinary issues;
  • Demonstrated substantive leadership and ability to integrate global knowledge with broader strategic, policy and operational objectives;
  • A sound global network of institutional and individual contacts.
Knowledge Management and Learning:
  • Ability to strongly promote and build knowledge products;
  • Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
  • Seeks and applies knowledge, information and best practices from within and outside of UNDP;
  • Provides constructive coaching and feedback.
Judgment/Decision-Making:
  • Mature judgment and initiative;
  • Proven ability to provide strategic direction in practice area;
  • Independent judgment and discretion in advising on handling major policy issues and challenges.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • A Master degree in management, public administration, development studies, governance, political science, economics, or other related social sciences.

Experience:

  • At least 7 years of experience in Programme Management with specific experience in governance, human rights, civic education, or parliament support in government, civil society organizations or international organizations;
  • Expert knowledge of Governance and human rights initiatives especially Parliament support, electoral support and civic education; 
  • Previous experience in managing and coordination of development projects;
  • Familiarity with UNDP processes and systems an advantage.
Language:
  • Excellent command of English, including drafting and presentation skills; and
  • Working knowledge in one of the primary UN official language of the region an asset.