Parliamentary Capacity Development Specialist, Learning Centre

1. Background

The Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (the Constitution) came into force in 2008. Chapter 4 of the Constitution establishes the Union Legislature or the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw comprising two Hluttaws, Pyithu Hluttaw (House of Representatives) and Amyotha Hluttaw (House of Nationalities), that are generally equal in status. The term of the Union Hluttaw is 5 years from the day of the first session of the Pyithu Hluttaw. Following the Myanmar election held on 8 November 2015, newly elected MPs were sworn in as MPs of the Pyithu Hluttaw on Monday 1 February 2016, and of the Amyotha Hluttaw on Wednesday 3 February 2016. The Constitution has also established sub-national parliaments comprising one parliament for each of the fourteen states/regions.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and UNDP have supported the Hluttaw-led institutional change agenda focused on building the Union Parliament into a strong and effective democratic institution since 2013. The Union Hluttaw Strategic Plan 2015-2018 identifies key short and medium term priorities for institutional strengthening and to meet Strategic Plan objectives the UNDP/IPU parliamentary strengthening program (PSP) delivers a long-term, multi-faceted approach to capacity building, covering capacity building for MPs, the Parliamentary Administration as well as for the Region and State Hluttaw. IPU supports overall PSP results at the Union level, integrating the areas of ICT development and information management and support to the Hluttaw Learning Centre in helping address the Hluttaw’s institutional development priorities.

The Hluttaw Learning Centre was opened in 2015, providing a high quality facility for in-house training and learning. The Learning Centre enables the Parliament to strengthen capacity and skills of MPs and staff on a sustainable basis, and provides coherence behind development partner support to training and learning. The aims of the Learning Centre are:

  • To create a world class Parliamentary Learning Centre that enhances the capacity of MPs and Staff resulting in improved performance of the Hluttaw and increased public trust in the Institution. 
  • To be a fully self-sustained and managed Centre of excellence by 2018

Meeting the aims for a self-driven centre of parliamentary capacity development and knowledge exchange helps to build robust, people-centered parliamentary institutions at national and sub-national levels that have the capacity and durability to engage in key national priorities including the peace process, federalism and constitutional reform.

In 2016, the Learning Centre supported the Hluttaw to lead an induction for new Union Hluttaw MPs and a leadership and professional development programme for Union and Region and State Hluttaw Committee Chairs and Secretaries.

In 2017, UNDP/IPU increased the effectiveness and skills of MPs and committees to undertake their lawmaking, representation and oversight duties through procedural reform, the introduction of committee inquiries and the Learning Centre MP Professional Development programme. Seminars for Committee Chairs have supported the development of legislative, budget and policy committee inquiries that include broad public and stakeholder engagement and evidence-based reports to the plenary, strengthening committees to perform their legislative, oversight and representational duties in ways that contribute effectively to the work of the Hluttaw. Drop in services for MPs during the Hluttaw session provide on-demand personalized professional development support to MPs. They incorporate trained Hluttaw staff and are fully administered by Hluttaw Offices to help ensure sustainable delivery.

A key objective in capacity development programmes for staff was support to Executive and Middle Managers of Union and Region and State Hluttaws. A long-term programme of support from mid-2017 aimed to strengthen institutional development and change management through more effective Executive-level decision-making and coordination, and empowered mid-level managers delegated with authority to deliver Strategic Objectives which improve services to Parliamentary leadership, Committee Chairs and MPs. Middle Managers have been supported to develop projects in their departments that implement the Hluttaw’s Strategic Plan, and to monitor and report on results achieved.

The Learning Centre has supported sustainability of capacity development support to the Hluttaws through development of a cadre of Hluttaw staff trainers who are capable of delivering support to MPs and staff, and who can act as training focal points for technical expertise in different Hluttaw department.  An accredited TTT programme delivered by Melbourne Polytechnic has prepared to specialize staff to act as dedicated Hluttaw trainers. Development of this capacity and increased Hluttaw leadership of the Learning Centre ensures sustainability of professional development services to MPs and staff and supports implementation of the institutional development and reform agendas of the Union Hluttaw and the Regions and State Hluttaws.

Through 2017-2018, the Learning Centre will progress towards the goal of recognized status as Myanmar’s dedicated parliamentary training body. The Strategic Objectives for the Learning Centre in 2017-2018 are:

  1. Deliver high quality and responsive support to MPs and staff
  2. Provide expertise in public education services and parliamentary self-study
  3. Develop partnerships and networks to support stakeholder engagement with the Hluttaw
  4. Support more effective Hluttaw capacity development through monitoring, evaluation and reporting
  5. Ensure the Learning Centre has the resources and capacity to meet its aims

The Joint Coordination Committee on Hluttaw Development are considering a permanent governance structure that will ensure that the Hluttaw Learning Centre meets its sustainability aims and is fully Hluttaw-led, managed and staffed. Under this structure, a proposed Learning Centre Office will perform duties in Curriculum and Teaching, Administration and Monitoring and Evaluation and would be staffed from the Hluttaw Offices with technical support and on-the-job training from UNDP/IPU.

Meeting the aims for a self-driven centre of parliamentary capacity development and knowledge exchange helps to build robust, people-centered parliamentary institutions at national and sub-national levels that have the capacity and durability to engage in key national priorities including the peace process, federalism and constitutional reform.

2. Purpose and Scope of work

The Parliamentary Capacity Development Specialist will support the consolidation and scaling up of gains made in MP Professional Development and staff capacity development, while progressing towards meeting sustainability goals for the Learning Centre. The Parliamentary Capacity Development Specialist will work together with the Chief Technical Adviser Parliament, the Learning Centre Adviser, the Learning Centre Trainer – Parliamentary ICT Skills, UNDP/IPU staff assigned to Learning Centre activities and Hluttaw Learning Centre staff and trainers in designing and delivering activities which sustain and scale up MP professional development and staff capacity development programmes. The Parliamentary Capacity Development Specialist will work closely with the Learning Centre Adviser in delivering support to Hluttaw Executive and Middle Managers and staff from three Hluttaws assigned to a Learning Centre office to strengthen the Hluttaw’s ability to lead the development and management of the Learning Centre and provide all necessary administrative services.

The Parliamentary Capacity Development Specialist will support the following strategic objectives for the Learning Centre:

OBJECTIVE 1: Deliver high quality and responsive support to MPs and staff

Outcome 1.1: Key developmental priorities for the Hluttaw are successfully supported by Learning Centre programmes

The Learning Centre will support Executive and Middle Managers as they continue to design and deliver projects that address the Hluttaw’s Strategic Plan objectives and report on results achieved. The Parliamentary Capacity Development Specialist will lead workshops with middle managers to assess progress made and lessons learnt in delivery of projects to meet Strategic Plan objectives and strengthen the effective utilization of the group of trained trainers by supporting Middle Managers to conduct training needs assessments and develop training standards for Hluttaw Office staff.

The MP Professional Development programme will continue in the Hluttaw session. Priorities will be to progress towards sustainability of drop in services for MPs in ICT and Parliamentary English, and to develop a programme of seminars and master classes on issues identified by MPs, utilizing the strong networks within and outside Myanmar to support stakeholder engagement on priority issues for the Hluttaw. The Parliamentary Capacity Development Specialist will design and deliver of MP Professional Development activities, working with Hluttaw staff trainers to ensure sustainability.

The Parliamentary Capacity Development Specialist will assist on request support to conduct an MP survey to assess needs of MPs and will work with the Learning Centre Adviser to align staff capacity development programme with Human Resources development in the Hluttaws.

Outcome 1.2: Sustainable enhancement of MP and staff capacity through Training of Trainers

UNDP/IPU contracted Melbourne Polytechnic to deliver a Specialized Train the Trainer programme between January and March 2018. This programme helps to ensure that the Hluttaw has the capacity to meet its own training needs, assisting Hluttaw Executive and Middle Managers to design and roll out staff training to meet the development objectives of Hluttaw departments. The Parliamentary Capacity Development Specialist will provide ongoing support to the 22 Hluttaw staff trainers completing the programme to ensure that they are successfully utilized in helping departments meet their aims. UNDP/IPU will further integrate trained staff in all work under the AWP to ensure sustainability, including in future professional development for MPs. The development of specialized trainers will also position the Learning Centre as a resource to support training focal points and future development of training offices in Region and State Hluttaws.

OBJECTIVE 2: Ensure the Learning Centre has the resources and capacity to address strategic objectives

Outcome 2.1: Sustainability goals met through a Learning Centre that is Hluttaw-led, managed and staffed

The proposed next stage of the development of the Learning Centre as a self-driven centre for parliamentary capacity development is for staff to be assigned to a Learning Centre office from three Hluttaws. Training and mentoring will be provided to Hluttaw staff to develop tailored administration and monitoring and evaluation and reporting systems in order to:

  • Help ensure consistent, responsive and high-quality support to Hluttaw MPs and staff;
  • Strengthen the development of processes and procedures to manage and administer training;
  • Strengthen monitoring, evaluation and reporting on how capacity development activities for MPs and staff are contributing to meeting the Hluttaw’s Strategic Objectives.

The Parliamentary Capacity Development Specialist will ensure continuity in all the ongoing work to strengthen sustainability of the Learning Centre including supporting training for staff assigned to a Learning Centre Office. This will help ensure sustainability and consistency of high-quality support to Hluttaw MPs and staff; and strengthen information to the JCC on how capacity development activities for MPs and staff are contributing to meeting the Hluttaw’s Strategic Objectives. The Lead Trainer will assist in documenting lessons learnt in progress made in developing a self-driven model of parliamentary capacity development and to help ensure consistency and quality of programmes developed for MPs and staff.

3. Objectives and Duties

In order to meet the goals of the Learning Centre and support the delivery of the Hluttaw’s Strategic Plan, the primary objectives of the assignment are in the following areas:

  1. Support Hluttaw Middle Management capacity development and the effective utilization of Hluttaw staff trainers.

In meeting this duty, the Learning Centre Lead Trainer will:

  • Support activities with Executive and Middle Managers to assess progress made and lessons learnt in delivery of projects to meet Strategic Plan objectives
  • Deliver training for Middle Managers to support their effective use of Hluttaw staff trainers, including in conducting training needs assessments and setting training standards
  • Ensure integration of projects delegated by Hluttaw Office managers and delivered by Hluttaw staff trainers across other Hluttaw Office departments where appropriate
  • Engage with Middle Managers to identify and report on improvements in outcomes in service delivery by Hluttaw Office departments resulting from TTT
  1. Ensure sustainable results from the Specialised TTT Programme.

In meeting this duty, the Parliamentary Capacity Development Specialist will:

  • Support Hluttaw staff trainers to develop professional development plans to implement their training in line with needs of Hluttaw Office departments;
  • Oversee and assess staff as they deliver of training courses relevant to Hluttaw Office department as delegated by Executive and Middle Managers;
  • Communicate regularly with all staff completing the programme to establish a team environment and consistency in delivery strategies;
  • Provide ongoing quality assurance workshops and mentoring sessions for Hluttaw staff trainers as they apply Training and Assessment practices from the TTT Specialised programme;
  • Assist in developing, maintaining and evaluating staff learning programs and associated teaching materials;
  • Implement strategies to support staff who are experiencing difficulties in applying the course content;
  • Contribute to the administration of the training delivered by supporting Hluttaw staff to maintain accurate training records;
  • Conduct performance review of Hluttaw staff trainers.
  1. Strengthen MP Professional Development programme

In meeting this duty, the Parliamentary Capacity Development Specialist will:

  • Deliver drop in services in parliamentary English during the Hluttaw session, integrating Hluttaw staff trainers tr where appropriate to help ensure sustainability;
  • Support the delivery of a programme of seminars and master classes arranged through the Hluttaw Learning Centre as part of the MP Professional Development programme;
  • Support UNDP/IPU surveying of MPs and report on professional development needs

Other duties are to:

  • Support the design and delivery of training and mentoring for Hluttaw staff assigned to a Learning Centre Office;
  • Support the Hluttaw to design programmes and activities to strengthen flow of information, ideas and expertise between Union and Region and State Hluttaw, utilizing trained trainers and capacity built at Union level to support the reform agenda of the Regions and State Hluttaws and address their Strategic Plan objectives;
    • Report on results achieved and lessons learnt to strengthen consistent and sustainable Learning Centre support to parliamentary capacity development;
  • Prepare mission programmes and reports and provide advice on current and future programming;
  • Knowledge and Commitment to the Common Principles for Support to Parliaments
  • Perform any other work related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned.

4. Qualifications and experience

  • Masters Degree  in Education or Linguistics  or other relevant field
  • Recognized Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) qualification; or other training certification that demonstrates that the individual has expertise in participatory and learner-centered training methodology;
  • Minimum eight (8) years of experience and a proven record in curriculum design and delivering flexible and innovative training to adults in Myanmar;
  • Activity experience delivering training programs operated by the international aid, civil society or NGO sector, or other activities implemented with public servants. Experience delivering tailored training to MPs and parliamentary staff is desired;
  • Detailed understanding of Train the Trainers methodology;
  • Experience delivering accredited Train the Trainer programmes;
  • Well-developed organization capacities and ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines;
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills;
  • Understanding of the role of Parliament and the system of government in the Union of Myanmar;
  • Adherence to high standards of political neutrality, impartiality, confidentiality and discretion;
  • Demonstrated willingness to work as part of a team in a multicultural environment;
  • Good information management skills including ability to use and manage a range of computing software;
  • Experience reporting on and evaluating training activities.
  • Fluency in written and spoken English and Myanmar

5. Deliverables

DELIVERABLE

DUE DATE

1st mission report outlining how objectives of the position were met with summary of key activities. Attachments to the report will include:

  • Details of timing, attendance and analysis of evaluation forms from all training undertaken;
  • Evaluation report assessing results achieved in capacity building of MPs and staff.

25 June 2018

2nd mission report outlining how objectives of the position were met with summary of key activities. Attachments to the report will include:

  • Details of timing, attendance and analysis of evaluation forms from all training undertaken;
  • Evaluation report assessing results achieved in capacity building of MPs and staff.

31 December 2018

Payment will be made upon verification of quality of all deliverables by line manager.

6. Management

The Parliamentary Capacity Development Specialist will work under the operational supervision of the UNDP Chief Technical Adviser (CTA) who is based in Naypyitaw and provides strategic and technical support to the PSP in coordanation with the IPU Manager, Technical Cooperation Programme, who is based in Geneva.

The Parliamentary Capacity Development Specialist will report to the IPU Manager, Technical Cooperation Programme and will provide regular progress updates by email and Skype.

7. Location

The UNDP/IPU Parliamentary Support Program-Project Office, the Office of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, Zabuthiri Building, Naypyitaw, Myanmar.

Duties will be conducted in Naypyitaw.

8. Period of Work

1 June – 31 December 2018. Initial contracts will be issued from 1 to 30 June 2018 followed by an extension to 31 December pending confirmation of funding.  

9. Working Hours

9:00am-5:00pm with one-hour lunch break; or as agreed with line manager (eight hour working day).