Background

The Solomon Islands National Parliamentary Strengthening Project (Phase 2) is a 4 year project directly implemented by the UNDP (DIM) under a cost sharing arrangement between UNDP and AusAID and implemented by the National Parliament Office, the Secretariat of the Parliament.
The project’s overarching objective is to assist the National Parliament to fulfill its constitutional role as a legislative, representative, and oversight body. Overall responsibility for the project lies with the National Project Director (the Speaker of Parliament) assisted by the international Project manager/Chief technical advisor and the Clerk to the Parliament who report to the Project Oversight Committee (POC) comprising Government, donor, and implementing partner stakeholders.
The UNDP Sub-Office in Honiara is responsible for representing the project to Government partners through the Deputy Resident Representative, and for the provision of recruitment, contracting, and procurement services and support for financial and budget management and VFM monitoring to ensure the efficient and effective use of resources.
The present phase of the project ends in March 2012. It is anticipated that further donor support will be required for a 3rd phase of the project within the context of, and fully consistent with, a 5 Year Parliament Strategy. The present intention is that the third phase of the project will be Nationally Implemented (NIM) representing a significant step forward in the strengthening of the corporate functions of the National Parliament Office during 2011/12.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of work/Expected Output
Throughout the assignment the consultants will work closely with the National Project Director, Project Manager/Chief Technical Advisor, Clerk to the Parliament, and the Governance Unit of the UNDP Solomon Islands Sub-Office, but shall take the lead in completing all consultation processes and documents required within the agreed timescale themselves.
The consultants will be required to provide:
• A fully detailed final NPSI 5 Year Parliamentary Strategy (2012 – 17) and an associated implementation road map.
• A detailed final NPSI annual work plan for the first year of the strategy (2012-13) covering all aspects of the National Parliament Office’s work.
• First draft NPSI departmental work plans based on the Strategy and NPSI AWP 2012-13.
• A 3rd phase UNDP project document (2012 – 15) and full, related Resources and Results framework for the length of the 3 rd phase based on National Implementation Modality (NIM), and including the development of supplementary documents such as a Risk Management Plan and Capacity Development Plan.
In addition, the consultants will:
• Make 2 formal presentations to the National Project Director, POC, and senior staff of the NPO and UNDP,  donors and potential donors – the first at the mid-point of the consultancy to set out emerging findings, the second to this group and Members of Parliament to present final findings before departure from Honiara.
• Support UNDP and Parliament in taking forward dialogue with donors to mobilize support for the implementation of a 3 Phase of the Project as required.
 
Duration of the Contract:
The duration of the assignment shall be a total of three (3) weeks. At least two weeks will be spent in-country after which final drafts of all documents will be produced. The final week will be spent preparing final versions of all documents required. The deadline for the submission of final documents will be the fifteenth day from the start of the mission. The starting date will be as soon as possible.
 
Proposed Methodology and timelines
In carrying out this assignment, and in producing the outputs listed in the previous paragraph, the contractors shall:
• Conduct an intensive consultation processes with the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Members of Parliament, members of the Solomon Islands Government (SIG), and international donors and stakeholders, and civil society stakeholders before drafting the required documents.
• In preparing their outputs as listed above, take full account of the current 2011/12 UNDP project Annual Work Plan to ensure smooth transition between second and third phase, and account of any existing corporate work of the NPO including the Corporate Goals drafted in 2008.
• In preparing the 3rd phase UNDP project document (2012 – 15) the consultant will specifically address the extent to which the 3rd phase can be designed on a NIM basis
 
Fee Proposal/Price Schedule
Submissions will be accepted from Individual Consultants only (International).  The successful Consultant will start his/her assignment as soon as possible following the completion of the selection process. 
The successful result of this process will be Individual Contract (IC) for each of the individual consultants.
Payment for this consultancy will be a daily lump sum based on the UNDP international consultancy fee rate and payable upon submission and acceptance by the UNDP of the final evaluation report.  This will be inclusive of the DSA, travel and other costs payable to the contractor. 

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:
 • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards (human rights, peace, understanding between peoples and nations, tolerance, integrity, respect, results orientation (UNDP core ethics) impartiality;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
 
Functional Competencies
• Management and Leadership
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Required Skills and Experience

Masters Degree in International Development, Public Administration, Political Science, Law or related field.
• A minimum of seven years experience working in parliamentary development with focus on capacity building and project development and strategy formulation.
• Experience previous similar assignments essential.
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to network and build strong working relations with development partners in government, donors and international organizations.