Centre for Innovation in Parliament Project Officer (f/m/d)

The consultant will play a central role in the effective functioning of the Centre for Innovation in Parliament. The Centre is a partnership between the IPU and parliaments to support parliamentary innovation through improved use of digital tools. It focuses on maximising the potential that parliaments can derive from the use of digital tools in their business processes, communication and citizen engagement. By mobilizing the skills and expertise available in the parliamentary community, it delivers direct and tangible value to parliaments by:

1. creating and sharing good practices on the innovative use of digital tools and services in parliaments;
2. producing practical guides for parliaments;
3. providing expert advice and access to networks of expertise.

The consultant will report to the Programme Manager, Parliamentary Standards and Knowledge Sharing in the IPU’s Division of Programmes. This works comes under the activities related to the strategic objective in the IPU Strategy 2022-2026 on “Resilient and innovative parliaments”, as well as targets 16.6 and 16.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Accountabilities

Within delegated authority, the consultant will be entrusted with the following:

• Organize and implement, in cooperation with parliaments, various activities in the 2022 workplan for the Centre for Innovation in Parliament. This will include, inter alia:
  • developing partnerships with parliaments about hosting hubs within the Centre; negotiating memoranda of understanding;
  • helping the Centre’s hubs to develop and implement their annual work plans,
  • ensuring coordination between the Centre’s hubs
  • contributing to the fundraising strategy for the Centre,
  • developing a web platform and collaborative tools for the Centre and participating parliaments,
  • ensuring quality control for the Centre’s outputs,
  • identifying experts/consultants, organizing seminars and expert meetings, conducting analyses and producing relevant reports,
  • participating in the Centre’s activities including through missions, research, capacity-building and networking,
  • helping to disseminate the Centre’s outputs among target audiences
  • monitoring and evaluating results achieved;
• Monitor project expenditures within approved funding and keep administrative records in respect of project activities;
• Draft reports on project activities for the Centre’s Steering Committee and IPU’s governing bodies;
• Prepare material for publication on the IPU website and in other media on project activities and results;
• Identify opportunities for co-operation with relevant entities and projects and propose relevant steps to implement such opportunities;
• Provide, as requested, assistance in other areas of the Centre’s work.

Deliverables

The consultant will contribute to the delivery of the Centre’s outputs in 2022:

1. Hub workplans are established, and hub activities are supported
2. Knowledge products are produced by the Centre and its hubs.
3. Quarterly Innovation Tracker bulletins are regularly produced.
4. Steering Committee meetings are organized.
5. Reporting, evaluation and planning for the next phase of the Centre is carried out

Work will involve regular interaction with:

• Parliaments, including parliamentarians, Secretaries General and parliamentary staff, particularly ICT managers and specialists
• Parliamentary experts, consultants, interns
• Researchers, academics and civil society organizations
• Partner organizations, including UNDP and the ASGP
• IPU’s Division of Programmes and other teams

Requirements

Candidates for the consultancy need to be able to demonstrate:

• Deep knowledge of current issues about parliaments and technology
• First-hand experience of working with parliaments to make use of technology to support core parliamentary functions in at least three countries
• Successful experience in building partnerships in an international environment
• Excellent technical skills, including experience in identifying requirements for web platforms and collaborative online platforms
• Fluency in English; ability to read other languages is highly desirable

Candidates for the consultancy should be able to demonstrate:

• Advanced university degree in a relevant field, and 5 years’ professional experience at increasing levels of responsibility
• Demonstrated ability to achieve expected results and outcomes. Experience with mainstreaming gender and human rights
• Good knowledge of politics and political systems. Personal commitment to the core values of parliament and democracy. Experience of working with parliaments is desirable.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills
• Proficiency in English or French, and working-level knowledge of the other. Other languages are highly desirable, particularly Spanish or Arabic

Duration

The External Collaborator shall be expected to complete up to 220 days of work per year (based on a 7.5 hour day).

The consultancy is initially for the period June 2022 to December 2022. During this period, the contract would be for up to 128 days of work.

Subject to performance and the availability of funds, the consultancy may be extended on an annual basis in 2023 and 2024.

Location

The consultancy will be home-based. The work may involve occasional travel, the costs of which will be covered by the IPU.

How to apply

Candidates should provide the following:

• Curriculum vitae
• A brief description of why they are the right person for this consultancy, including details of their personal contribution to at least two relevant projects
• The consultant’s proposed daily rate for this work
• Contact details for three references
• Information about their availability to begin work

The deadline for applications is 16 June 2022. Applications should be sent by e-mail to job@ipu.org with “CIP Project Officer” in the subject line.

For further details about the consultancy, please contact Andy Richardson at the IPU Secretariat (ar@ipu.org).

Applicants will be contacted only if they are under serious consideration. Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.

Employment conditions

The External Collaborator is an independent contractor, is not considered to be an official or employee of the IPU and is not subject to the IPU Staff Regulations and Staff Rules. The External Collaborator is not entitled to recover from the IPU any income tax payable in respect of the fee provided under this contract and shall be solely liable for the payment of any national income tax due in respect of the emoluments payable under this contract. The External Collaborator will not be included in the IPU pension scheme.

For further details about the consultancy, please contact Andy Richardson at the IPU Secretariat (ar@ipu.org).

Recruitment principles

Our guiding principle in selecting candidates is to secure the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity. We do not discriminate on any grounds and are committed to promoting diversity in our workforce.

Particular attention is paid to candidates from developing countries and to achieving gender balance. We strive to provide an environment where the contribution of each individual is valued.

All our employees are expected to possess the following qualities:

• Motivation and a strong commitment to our principles
• Ability to work well in a multicultural team
• High level of technical knowledge relevant to the post
• Work experience at national and/or international level
• Fluency in at least one of our official languages (English, French) and a working knowledge of a second language. Additional languages are an asset

We ask all our staff to agree to our Code of conduct for personnel  and our Fraud and corruption prevention policy available at https://www.ipu.org/about-us/working-with-ipu.

The work of the IPU is based on the Common Principles for Support to Parliaments that describes a series of fundamental principles for the planning and implementation of programmes aimed to strengthen the capacity of parliaments. The Consultant will be expected to factor the Common principles into his/her tasks.