Background

The elections of July 2009 resulted in a new political majority in the Parliament. A coalition of three parties, called Alliance for European Integration, was established. The new coalition started with the implementation of an agenda for further approximation of Moldova to the European Union. As the Parliament has an important role in the approximation process, the new Speaker requested UNDP’s support for strengthening the Parliament’s capacities for promoting the EU integration Agenda.

A Functional Review and Institutional Capacity Assessment was conducted by UNDP Parliamentary project in 2010. The report was the basis for the formulation of the first Strategic Development Plan (SDP) and new institutional structure of the Secretariat. The Strategic Development Plan helped the Parliament articulate its vision and strategic priorities.

Relevant restructuring and realignment of functions has been implemented. Additional human and financial resources were allocated to ICT, research, communications, legal approximation and human resources units, lack of which previously had negative impact on the implementation of the main functions of the Parliament. A new unit on strategic planning and internal audit was established. As a result, for the first time MPs were allowed to hire personal assistants, who provide them with secretarial and research support.

The formulation of the Strategic Development Plan took place with full involvement of the Parliament, through a working group chaired by the Secretary General, in which senior management of the Secretariat participated. Before the working group started its work, 43 Parliament staff members, including the Secretary General and heads of departments, were trained on strategic and financial planning.

From summer 2009 until March 2012 the Parliament was not able to elect the President of the country, which resulted in political uncertainty and possibility of early parliamentary elections. Finally, in March 2012 a new President was elected with the necessary majority of 61 votes in the Parliament. After this political deadlock was resolved, the Permanent Bureau approved the Strategic Development Plan of the Parliament Secretariat for 2012-2014.

During the last two years the Parliament of Moldova has been very active in developing its organizational setup in order to improve the legislative process and be able to react promptly to changing priorities. In this regard, important internal regulations and policies were approved, document flows optimized and capacities of Parliament secretariat staff increased. Updated job descriptions were developed and approved for all the parliamentary staff. A new system for performance evaluation of staff was developed and the implementation started from autumn 2013.

As 2014 is the last year of SDP’s implementation, a thorough assessment of achieved results and progress needs to be undertaken. The results and lessons learned need to be incorporated into the new SDP for 2015-2018. In this context, UNDP is seeking to hire an international adviser who will assist the Parliament of Moldova in the process of development of a new SDP for 2015-2018. The process should be based on international best practices and methodological tools and conducted in inclusive manner involving staff of the Parliament. The Adviser will also coach the parliamentary staff on strategic planning, before the SDP’s elaboration starts and during the process.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work, Responsibilities and Description of the Proposed Analytical Work

The expected output for the International Consultant's assignment is to provide support to the development of the Strategic Development Plan by building on the results achieved in the framework of the current SDP. He/She will transfer knowledge and share experience about the development of strategic development plans in other countries. The International Consultant will also meet, coach and provide trainings to senior parliamentary staff on strategic planning techniques and tools with a view to help create ownership of the process. The assignment shall be carried out in close cooperation with the Secretary General of the Parliament and with the Strategic planning and internal audit unit of the Parliament of Moldova.

To achieve the stated objectives, the International Consultant will be responsible to:

  • Conduct a desk review of the existing legal framework, policies and regulations related to the roles and responsibilities of the Parliament and national methodological requirements for strategic documents;
  • Get acquainted with previous functional reviews and the Strategic Development Plan of the Parliament Secretariat for 2012-2014;
  • Advise on specific methodological tools to be employed during the development process of SDP;
  • Provide two half-day trainings to senior parliamentary staff on strategic planning techniques and tools;
  • Assess the progress made by the Parliament in regards to implementation of the current SDP, evaluating the overall impact of the SDP on and its contribution to the development of the Parliament of Moldova;
  • Identify and analyse the challenges and constraints which confronted the Parliament during the SDP implementation and drawing lessons learnt;
  • Conduct interviews and consultative meetings with parliamentary stakeholders (MPs and parliamentary staff) to identify the results/benefits of the current SDP and the expectations for the new plan;
  • Assess the current and future capacity needs of Parliament in order to articulate long and short term goals and priorities;
  • Conduct strategic planning meetings and seminars with senior managers of the Parliament Secretariat to collect inputs for formulation of the new SDP for 2015-2018;
  • Support the Parliament in developing the SDP containing detailed analysis of Parliament and a SWOT matrix;
  • Mainstream gender equality principles throughout the process of SDP formulation and ensure that the new SDP represents a gender-sensitive policy document;
  • Establish a monitoring progress and measuring performance system, that ensure the SDP results and Parliament’s accountability;
  • Provide advice for linking and coordinating the development of the SDP with ongoing work within the parliamentary support programme;
  • Any other relevant tasks that may be assigned by the Speaker, Secretary General or Head of Strategic planning and internal audit unit;
  • Undertake 2 missions to Chisinau, Moldova, according to the schedule: 22 September – 3 October, 2014 and 20 - 31 October, 201.

Time frame and Institutional arrangements:

The timeframe for this assignment is planned tentatively through September – November, 2014. The consultancy should involve about 20 working days of work in Moldova. The remaining 5 working days are home-based. The Parliament will provide consultant with working space, access to Internet, a printer and a telephone line.

Management Arrangements:

The International Consultant will work under the guidance of UNDP and Parliament for substantive aspects of the assignment, and under the direct supervision of the Project Manager for administrative and financial aspects.

Financial arrangements

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).

Travel

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the International Consultant wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. 

Up to two travel missions are envisaged under this assignment, with a minimum 20 working days in Moldova.

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested International Consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

  • Proposal: explaining why they are the most suitable for the work including past experience in similar Projects (please provide brief information on each of the above qualifications, item by item);
  • Financial proposal (in USD, specifying a total requested amount per day, including all related costs, e.g. fees, per diems, travel costs, phone calls etc. );
  • Dully completed and signed P11 Form, personal CV and at least 3 references.

Competencies

  • Sound knowledge about results-based management (especially results-oriented planning, monitoring and evaluation);
  • Extensive research and analytical skills;
  • Excellent writing and oral communication;
  • Leadership skills and ability to work with teams;
  • Knowledge of UN system and UNDP;
  • Availability to work during the indicated /approved period;
  • Computer literacy and ability to effectively use office technology equipment, IT tools;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Hiighest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:
  • Master’s degree or equivalent in Political Sciences, Public Administration, International development or related fields;
  • Bachelor’s degree combined with 9 years of relevant professional experience in advising/implementing/developing strategic development plans would be considered as the equivalent to the Master’s Degree;
Experience:
  • A minimum of 7 years of relevant professional experience in advising/implementing/developing strategic development plans;
  • Working experience in the field of democratic governance, public administration, development, including participatory strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation;
  • Experience in developing Strategic Development Plans and/or other relevant strategic policy documents;
  • Experience of coaching and conducting participatory trainings, workshops, and presentations on strategic planning;
  • Experience in working with Parliament, Government and/or international organizations (successful experience in working with UN agencies is an asset);

Language:

  • Fluency in English;
  • Knowledge of Romanian and/or Russian will be an asset. 
Note:

For complete information about this vacancy, including detailed tasks and responsibilities, full and detailed description of the evaluation procedure which will be applied, as well as the UNDP General Conditions of Individual Contract, please refer to the Terms of Reference, the Individual Consultant Procurement Notice published at the UNDP Moldova website, Jobs Section: http://www.undp.md/jobs/current_jobs/.