Background

On 1 April 2019, pursuant to the new Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of Georgia, a Legal Entity of Public Law (LEPL) – Parliamentary Research Centre (hereinafter “the Centre”) – was established. The Centre’s mission is to provide timely, independent, impartial and authoritative analysis to the Parliament about the events and developments relevant to Georgia in order to improve the legislative processes and overall activity of the legislative branch.

The Centre’s key objectives are to support the Members of Parliament (MPs) and parliamentary committees with high-quality legislative analysis contributing to evidence-based decision-making processes in the country and facilitating effective lawmaking and oversight activities, resulting in the Parliament’s strengthened role and improved public image. One of the Centre’s ambitious goals is to contribute to political discourse in Georgia by arranging policy-relevant and policy-oriented research and discussions. The Centre’s main research directions include social, economic, foreign policy, legal, defense and security areas.

As a newly-established institution, the Centre has its short- and long-term goals to transform into an authoritative analytical and research hub in the Parliament and beyond. In the immediate period, the Centre plans to elaborate its detailed multi-year development strategy and action plan, develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to facilitate efficient management processes, and create an extensive partnership network encompassing different research institutions in the country and abroad.

In order to implement the above objectives and a set of complex goals, the Centre requires overall guidance and support of an international senior level consultant.

UNDP through the European Union funding has been supporting the reform of the Parliament’s research services since 2017. In the framework of the joint EU-UNDP project “Consolidating Parliamentary Democracy in Georgia”, a comprehensive institutional and capacity building support to the newly-established Centre is envisaged. In view of this and considering the above-mentioned issues, the project is seeking to recruit an International Consultant in Research Services to provide respective support to the Centre and its management.

Duties and Responsibilities

On 1 April 2019, pursuant to the new Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of Georgia, a Legal Entity of Public Law (LEPL) – Parliamentary Research Centre (hereinafter “the Centre”) – was established. The Centre’s mission is to provide timely, independent, impartial and authoritative analysis to the Parliament about the events and developments relevant to Georgia in order to improve the legislative processes and overall activity of the legislative branch.

The Centre’s key objectives are to support the Members of Parliament (MPs) and parliamentary committees with high-quality legislative analysis contributing to evidence-based decision-making processes in the country and facilitating effective lawmaking and oversight activities, resulting in the Parliament’s strengthened role and improved public image. One of the Centre’s ambitious goals is to contribute to political discourse in Georgia by arranging policy-relevant and policy-oriented research and discussions. The Centre’s main research directions include social, economic, foreign policy, legal, defense and security areas.

As a newly-established institution, the Centre has its short- and long-term goals to transform into an authoritative analytical and research hub in the Parliament and beyond. In the immediate period, the Centre plans to elaborate its detailed multi-year development strategy and action plan, develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to facilitate efficient management processes, and create an extensive partnership network encompassing different research institutions in the country and abroad.

In order to implement the above objectives and a set of complex goals, the Centre requires overall guidance and support of an international senior level consultant.

UNDP through the European Union funding has been supporting the reform of the Parliament’s research services since 2017. In the framework of the joint EU-UNDP project “Consolidating Parliamentary Democracy in Georgia”, a comprehensive institutional and capacity building support to the newly-established Centre is envisaged. In view of this and considering the above-mentioned issues, the project is seeking to recruit an International Consultant in Research Services to provide respective support to the Centre and its management.

Deliverables:

The International Consultant shall produce the following deliverables:

  • On-the-job-consultancy (up to 20 days, cleared through timesheets)
  • Five concept papers and recommendations:
    • Guidelines/procedures on submitting questions to the Centre by MPs and parliamentary committees.
    • Concept paper on distribution of roles and functions between the staff of the Centre and parliamentary committees, including recommendations on staff capacity building and professional development.
    • Concept paper on partnership frameworks with different stakeholders, including academia, research institutions, think tanks, foreign and international research institutions, including recommendations on facilitating policy discussions and managing policy-oriented support activities. 
    • Recommendation on the types, format and structure of research outputs and respective feedback
    • Recommendations for the Centre’s visibility and communications activities.
  • Methodology on managing in-depth research projects in the Parliament
  • Commentary on the Centre’s strategic development paper
  • Three missions to Georgia (5 consultancy days per each mission)
  • Three trainings for the Centre’s staff (around 12 persons)
    • Two-day introductory training for the Centre’s staff
    • Two to three-day day thematic training for the Centre’s staff
    • One-day training for the Centre’s staff on drafting project proposals
  • Final Report on performed activities and further recommendations

Payment Modality:

The Consultant will be paid a lump sum in three installments upon successful completion of the above-mentioned deliverables according to the below schedule:

  1. Due by December 2019; 20% of the consultancy fee: On-the-job-consultancy; Two-day introductory training for the Centre’s staff; Guidelines/procedures on submitting questions to the Centre by MPs and parliamentary committees
  2. Due by February 2020; 40% of the consultancy fee: On-the-job-consultancy; Two to three-day day thematic training for the Centre’s staff; Concept papers and recommendations:
    • Concept paper on distribution of roles and functions between the staff of the Centre and parliamentary committees
    • Concept paper on partnership frameworks with different stakeholders, including academia, research institutions, think tanks, foreign and international research institutions
    • Recommendation on the types, format and structure of research outputs and respective feedback
    • Recommendations for the Centre’s visibility and communications activities.         
  3. Due by July 2020; 40% of the consultancy fee: On-the-job-consultancy; Methodology on managing in-depth research projects in the Parliament; Commentary on the Centre’s strategic development paper; One-day training for the Centre’s staff on drafting project proposals; Final report on the performed activities.

Competencies

Core Competencies

  • Demonstrated commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
  • Sensitivity and adaptability to cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age;
  • Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

Functional Competencies

  • Excellent intercultural, moderation, facilitation and negotiation skills;
  • Builds strong relationships with stakeholders, focuses on impact and result and responds positively to feedback;
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
  • Demonstrates strong oral communication skills;
  • Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure;
  • Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills;
  • Ability to advocate and provide policy advice;
  • Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Development and operational effectiveness

  • Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
  • Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Master’s degree in public policy/administration, economics or related field (minimum qualification requirement: 5 points)

Experience:

  • At least 15 years of working experience in the public sector and/or academia as a researcher/analyst (minimum qualification requirement: 15 years - 5 points; more than 15 years - additional 4 points);
  • At least 10 years of experience in the area of parliamentary development with a particular focus on legislative research services, including experience of working at senior level positions (minimum qualification requirement: 10 years - 10 points; more than 10 years - additional 4 points);
  • Experience of at least 3 international consultancies undertaken in the field of legislative research services and institutional development (minimum qualification requirement: 3 similar consultancies - 8 points; more than 3 similar consultancies - additional 4 points);
  • Demonstrated track record of publications related to parliamentary development, including parliamentary research services (minimum qualification; publications to be listed in the application form and/or resume);
  • Strong knowledge of parliamentary procedures, including best international practices, is an asset.

Language Requirements:

  • Excellent English skills (both written and verbal).

Evaluation:

Offerors will be evaluated against a combination of technical and financial criteria provided in the below table. Technical criteria consist of a desk review and an interview. Maximum obtainable score is 100, out of which the total score for technical criteria equals to 70 points (70%) and for financial criteria 30 (30%). Technical criteria compose of desk review (40 points) and interview (30 points). Offerors not meeting any of minimum technical qualification requirements will be automatically excluded from the list of candidates for further technical evaluation. Offerors obtaining minimum 28 points as a result of the desk review will be short listed and invited for an interview. Offerors obtaining minimum of 21 points as a result of the interview (i.e. minimum of 49 points in the technical criteria) will be considered qualified and requested to provide financial proposal for the assignment.

Financial Proposal:

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.