UNDP Jobs - 59140- Technical Specialist (Parliament ):UNDP Moldova

Technical Specialist (Parliament ):UNDP Moldova

Location :

Chisinau, MOLDOVA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Nov-2015

Application Deadline :

03-Sep-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 (one) year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

2 (two) years

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. 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.

Background

UNDP started a programme of support for the Parliament of Moldova in 2010. In July 2012, this intervention merged with the programme to support the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) to become one integrated Programme for Improving the Quality of Moldovan Democracy (“The Democracy Programme”) which is funded by Sweden, Denmark, Norway and UNDP. From 2014, additional activities aiming at promoting women in politics (part of a joint UNDP/UN Women programme “Women in Politics” funded by the Government of Sweden) are added to the Democracy Programme in both the Parliament and Elections components. From 2016 a new three-year phase of the Parliament Component will start funded by the Government of Sweden with a significantly expanded scope of intervention.

The Democracy Programme focuses on strengthening the institutional capacity of the Parliament and CEC, improving their main functions and entrenching gender and human rights considerations in formal political process. In particular, the Programme seeks to improve the legislative, oversight and representational functions of the Parliament and provide a solid basis for the improvement of the electoral process. In the new phase a particular attention will be given to strengthening capacities of the Parliament in the execution of its oversight and legislative functions with a view at progressive meeting of the Republic of Moldova commitments under the Association Agreement with the EU, establishing and maintaining the constructive collaboration with the Gagauz People’s Assembly and developing the Parliament’s Information management System leading to the paperless, open and transparent Parliament.

The overarching goal of the Programme is to improve the quality of the Moldovan democratic processes and systems in line with European standards. The following objectives are set within the four-year Programme period:

Improved institutional capacity of the Parliament and CEC to meet European standards of gender and human rights and strengthened legislative and oversight functions of the Parliament;
Fostering the quality of the representative role of the Parliament and promoting more interaction between Members of Parliament, citizens and civil society;
Modernisation of the Parliamentary services to meet demands of members and committees;
Enhancing cooperation between the Parliament of Moldova and the Gagauz People’s Assembly
Strengthening the role of Parliament in ensuring a steady progress in the implementation of the SDGs
An improved institutional environment for electoral management bodies that can deliver inclusive and modern electoral processes;
Improved public registration process for Moldovans and supporting the modernisation of Moldovan electoral processes; and
Enhanced women’s political representation at the central (Parliament) and local (local councils) levels.

In the Parliament Component the Democracy Programme aims to enhance parliamentary efficiency in carrying out its functions and responsibilities thus contributing to viable democracy and open society in Moldova. The project adopts a comprehensive, long-term approach to parliamentary development including strengthening of the legislatures law-making, representation and oversight roles. Moreover, it includes cross-cutting issues such as human rights, MDGs, conflict prevention, anti-corruption, women and minority political involvement etc. It relates closely with the ongoing projects carried out by UNDP Moldova and their partners – with specific reference to the support to the European integration-related reforms and decentralization – and thus capitalizes on the added value of synergies between the various projects.

The overall expected results from the Parliament Component are:

The quality of Moldova’s formal political processes improved;
Institutional capacity of Parliament strengthened;
Quality of legislative, representative and oversight role of the Parliament fostered;
Institutional access and transparency enhanced to increase Parliament’s visibility in media and to general public
Gender considerations are mainstreamed through the Parliament’s work;
Cooperation between the Parliament and the Gagauz People’s Assembly established and enhanced;
Parliament’s Information management System developed and operational.

The ratification of the Association Agreement (AA) and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga in November 2014 both parties committed to sign the above Agreements in June 2014. places a strong emphasis on the legislative work of the Parliament that will need to approve an increased volume of the legislation approximated to the EU acquis communautaire. With a view to this, the Parliament will need a strengthened support to the implementation of its legislative function, and also the oversight of the Government and relevant independent bodies (such as General Prosecutor’s office, Center for human Rights, Equality Council, national integrity Commission, etc.) with regards to the implementation of the republic of Moldova commitments under the AA and DCFTA.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Parliament Specialist will work under the supervision of the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative and the Portfolio Manager, in close cooperation with the leadership and the administration of the Parliament, of Gagauz People’s Assembly, as well as with the Parliament Component and joint UNDP/UN Women “Women in Politics” teams. The Specialist will provide a substantive strategic and technical support to the Moldovan Parliament, Gagauz People’s Assembly and UNDP CO to deliver project results with a special focus on consolidating institutional and technical capacity of the Parliament to better exercise its functions according to constitutional and legal requirements.

The Specialist will be the lead international expert in the parliamentary domain and the technical team leader of the Parliament component of the Democracy programme, including its short-term international and national consultants. The Advisor will ensure delivery of project results with a special focus on consolidating institutional and technical capacity of the members and staff of the Parliament to better fulfill the Parliament’s role and functions.

As this is a joint Programme, the Advisor will work in partnership with the staff of the Elections Component to deliver joint activities and to achieve programme aims and also in coordination with the Women in Politics programme.

Key responsibilities:

Leverage UN expertise, resources and networks for the benefit of the Parliament and provide international expertise and strategic advice on Parliament matters in line with international and European standards to the Parliament, Gagauz People’s Assembly, UNDP and other international partners;
Provide technical advice, engage and communicate with the key stakeholders, officials of the Moldovan Parliament, partner organizations, international and national advisors and experts in the areas of the Component intervention; Provide advice and know-how on AA/DCFTA and acquis communautaire implementation;
Provide strategic and technical lead to the Parliament and Women in Politics project teams in developing, implementing and reporting on project activities in accordance with the Programme Documents and UNDP policy and procedures;
Ensure knowledge management across the organisation, as well as synergies with other UN interventions in related areas of UNDP country programming;

Leverage UN expertise, resources and networks for the benefit of the Parliament. Provide international expertise and advice on Parliament matters in line with international and European standards to the Parliament, UNDP and other international partners:

Draft policy recommendations on parliamentary development in the country aiming at improving the management of the parliamentary development process in Moldova in close collaboration with the Speaker, administration and all relevant departments from the Parliament;
Provide background papers, briefing notes and concept notes to inform decision- makers for a comprehensive, long-term approach to parliamentary development in Moldova including strengthening of the legislatures law-making, representation, oversight and other roles of the Parliament;
Provide strategic advice to the UNDP Senior Management leading to strategic positioning of UNDP with a view of its efforts aiming at the sustainable capacity development of the Moldovan Parliament and advise the CO on possible key interventions with a longer term perspective that will complement the process of democratization and facilitate the development of new projects in this or adjacent areas;
Ensure the Parliament work is linking down to the UNDP interventions in the Human Rights area as well as at the local level and strengthens the partnerships with the CSOs.

Provide technical advice, liaise with the key stakeholders, officials of the Moldovan Parliament, partner organizations, international and national advisors and experts in the areas of the Component intervention; Provide advice and know-how on AA/DCFTA and acquis communautaire implementation:

Closely cooperate and coordinate with the stakeholders that are/will be active in the area of project intervention to better integrate UNDP’s and other’s interventions in the area of Parliament work and observe the avoidance of overlapping of assistance;
Liaise with key stakeholders of the project maintaining effective and positive communications with Parliament’s officials, i.e. Speaker, Permanent Bureau, Standing Committees, administration, other staff, Gagauz People’s Assembly leadership and staff, partners and stakeholders as necessary;
Support the Parliament in achieving the effective delivery of the oversight function with a particular focus on the Parliament’s commitment to mainstreaming gender, human rights and anti-corruption considerations into all areas of activity;
Provide strategic advice to the Parliement leading to an enhanced openness, transparency and interaction with the constituency, mass-media and the civil society;
Contribute to strengthening of the Parliament’s law-making function, with a specific focus on AA/DCFTA and the EU integration related legislative process;
Oversee hiring processes for all expertise required for project needs: drafting of Terms of Reference and other requested documentation related to the areas of the Project intervention, approve the progress against the experts’ working targets, monitor performance and report on results accordingly.

Provide technical lead to the Parliament and Women in Politics Components project teams in developing, implementing and reporting on project activities in accordance with the Programme Document and UNDP policy and procedures:

Coordinate inputs from Parliament and Women in Politics teams and counterparts in development and oversight of work plans, including implementation and monitoring according to the project results and resources framework;
Provide a substantive contribution to the design of the next phase of Women in Politics Programme;
Provide a strategic and technical advice to the Democracy Programme Manager in compiling reports to the UNDP and donors based on inputs from the Components teams;
Coordinate the Parliament component gender mainstreaming activities with the Elections component, as well as with UN Women and Women in Politics Programme also tapping into the UN Women technical expertise, as needed;
Make recommendations for the envisaged role of the UNDP in the implementation of the Parliament and Women in Politics Components, and provide a detailed analysis of the capacity needed within the UNDP to fulfil the obligations that would arise from it.

Ensure knowledge management across the organization, as well as synergies with other UN interventions in related areas of UNDP country programming.

Perform other relevant duties, as requested by the direct supervisor.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Considers and fully adheres to UNDP rules, procedures and best practices;
Advocates and promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of the UN system;
Displays cultural, gender, religious, ethnic and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats people fairly and without favouritism.

Functional Competencies:

Proven analytical capacity and strategic thinking;
Ability for planning and establishing priorities, coordinating and monitoring the work of others, and delegating responsibility where appropriate;
Excellent interpersonal and supervisory skills;
Resourcefulness, initiative, and maturity of judgment;
Excellent communications, organizational and management skills in a complex multi-stakeholder environment;
Ability to handle effectively multiple tasks without compromising quality, team spirit and positive working relationships;
Excellent computer/information systems skills.

Management and Leadership Competencies

Strong results orientation;
Effective problem-solver;
Demonstrated capacity-building and facilitation skills;
Consistently approaches work with energy and positive-constructive attitude;
Ability to establish effective working relations in a multicultural team environment;
Effectively manages teams and creates an enabling work environment;
Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree in Political Science, Law or related field, or an equivalent of working experience in the subject area.

Experience:

Minimum seven years of progressive professional experience in a similar transition context/regional experience in a newer EU MS/candidate countries’ Parliaments;
Of which minimum four years of experience in the Parliament legislative work related to EU approximation process;
Previous international experience in the field of technical expertise, advice and assistance in the parliamentary development field;
Strong knowledge and experience in mainstreaming gender and human rights in the parliamentary work;
Proven experience in strategic programming and in project proposal drafting;
Experience in work with electronic information systems for parliaments and other related IT systems is an advantage.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English (written and spoken);
Working knowledge of Russian and/or Romanian is a strong advantage.

All interested candidates must complete a Personal History Form (P-11). Failure to disclose prior employment or making false representations on this form will be grounds for withdrawal of further consideration of his/her application or termination, where the appointment or contract has been issued.

This is an international position and citizens of the Republic of Moldova are not eligible to apply.