UNDP Jobs - 63587- Feasibility Study on Establishing Parliament Satel

Feasibility Study on Establishing Parliament Satellite Offices in Fiji

Location :

Suva, FIJI

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

07-Mar-2016

Application Deadline :

17-Feb-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

07/03/2016 to 15/04/2016

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

21 days

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

Consultancy Proposal should be mailed to C/-UNDP Fiji MCO, Private Mail Bag, Suva, Fiji or sent via email to procurement.fj@undp.org no later than 17th February, 2016 (Fiji Time) clearly stating the title of consultancy applied for. Any proposals received after this date/time will not be accepted. Any request for clarification must be sent in writing, or by standard electronic communication to the address or e-mail indicated above. UNDP will respond in writing or by standard electronic mail and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all consultants. Incomplete, late and joint proposals will not be considered and only offers for which there is further interest will be contacted. Failure to submit your application as stated as per the application submission guide (Procurement Notice) on the above link will be considered incomplete and therefore application will not be considered.

Objective

Background

In 2013, upon the request of the Government of Fiji, UNDP facilitated the development of a preliminary Fiji Parliament Needs Assessment Report. Two senior international parliamentary specialists undertook the assessment in November 2013. In response to the recommendations of the Fiji Parliament Needs Assessment Report, the United Nations Development Programme within its framework of regional support to Pacific Parliaments, has developed a programme of support to the Fiji Parliament focusing on areas including infrastructure, capacity building of the secretariat, capacity building of newly elected MPs and assistance to the development of the legal framework for Parliament.

The first election for members of Parliament under the new Constitution of the Republic of Fiji was held on 17th September 2014. 50 members of Parliament were elected through a multi-member open list system of proportional representation, under which each voter has one vote in a single national electoral constituency. Therefore, Members of Parliament are not elected from small geographical constituencies but all 50 MPs represent the whole of the nation. Unlike previous Parliaments, citizens are not represented by 1 local MP for their own area but by all 50 MPs.

The Parliament is based in the capital Suva and currently there are no Parliament outreach or satellite offices that allow access for citizens outside the capital city to the Parliament. Members of Parliament are not provided sufficient funds to allow them to open their own constituency offices.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of work

The expected output for the international consultant’s assignment is to undertake a feasibility study on establishing Parliament satellite offices, assess the existing parliament-constituency relationship and suggest better mechanisms aimed at strengthening parliamentarians' accountability to citizens. These mechanisms should enable the electorate to effectively access their representatives, assess the effectiveness of MPs in representing their aspirations in the public decision-making processes, as well as their ability to explain the importance of decisions made and laws scrutinized and approved by Parliament.

In order to achieve the stated objective, the Consultant will have the following responsibilities:

Undertake a comprehensive desk review of the relevant national legal framework, relevant studies, research, reports, International best practice on the creation of Parliament satellite offices;
Analyse mechanisms utilised by Parliaments elected through similar electoral systems as Fiji;
Review the existing mechanisms for parliamentary-constituency relations and suggest better mechanism aimed at strengthening parliamentarians' accountability vis-à-vis their constituents;
Undertake and facilitate interviews with the key stakeholders, Members of the Parliament and with parliamentary staff;
Undertake research visits outside of Suva to identifying suitable location options for any future satellite offices;
Based on the above develop a report to identify options for consideration by the Fiji Parliament with regards to the possibility of establishing satellite offices, required office space, training for MPs and staff, links with the outreach programme of the Parliament, strengthening the quality of citizen education and participation, and public information and access;Present the findings of the report to key stakeholders in Fiji.

Competencies

Ability to interpret results and make recommendations;
Effective communication skills and proven leadership capacity;
Ability to work in multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary environments;
Demonstrated project management skills and ability to coordinate and manage cooperative research undertakings;
Strong knowledge of International best practice on the creation of Parliament satellite offices;
Understanding and knowledge of mechanisms aimed at strengthening parliamentarians' accountability to citizens.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master degree in Political Sciences, Law, Public Administration or related field.

Experience:

At least 7 years of relevant professional experience related to parliamentary development;
Experience of advisory work on parliamentary development in transitional or emerging democracies is a strong advantage;
Proven technical experience in parliamentary development and strengthening;
Experience in advising Parliaments on establishing outreach / information / satellite offices;
Previous experience working with Pacific Parliaments an advantage.

Language:

Fluent in English.

Offerors must send the following documents:

Cover letter setting out;
How the proposer meets the qualifications and experience required;
Completed template for confirmation of Interest and Submission of Financial Proposal.

Consultant must send a financial proposal based on a Lump Sum Amount. The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TOR, including professional fee, travel costs, living allowance (if any work is to be done outside the IC´s duty station) and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment. The contract price will be fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration. Payments will be done upon completion of the deliverables/outputs.

In general, UNDP shall not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources

In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Important Notice

All proposals must be sent via email to procurement.fj@undp.org no later than 17th February, 2016 (Fiji Time) clearly stating the title of consultancy applied for. Failure to submit your application as stated as per the application submission guide (Procurement Notice) on the above link will be considered incomplete and therefore application will not be considered.

The P11 form and Template for confirmation of interest and Submission of Financial Proposal is available under the procurement section of UNDP Fiji website (www.fj.undp.org)