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Consultancy

Global Parliamentary Report: Members of a student network to provide research assistance to the report

Organizational setting and reporting relationships

The Global Parliamentary Report (GPR) is a flagship IPU-UNDP publication that contributes to realizing the vision of better parliaments and stronger democracies. The report offers findings and recommendations based on parliamentary experiences and good practice. More than 150 parliaments have contributed to the report to date, giving it a unique global perspective and considerable authority.

The target audience of the GPR is first and foremost the parliamentary community. This includes the members and staff of parliaments as well as people and organizations working to enhance the effective functioning of parliaments, such as parliamentary strengthening practitioners, researchers and civil society organizations. The secondary audiences are the broader set of policy-makers with an interest in parliament and the media. 

The themes of the report are chosen through consultative processes that take into account the priorities of parliaments and other stakeholders. The first edition, published in 2012, focused on "The changing nature of parliamentary representation". The second edition in 2017, entitled "Parliamentary oversight: Parliament's power to hold government to account", shone the spotlight on another of parliament’s critical functions.

The third Global Parliamentary Report will address the theme of public engagement in the work of parliament. It is scheduled for publication in October 2021.

The IPU wishes to establish a network of students to provide assistance to research activities. It is expected that the network will contain up to 5 students from different countries, with a range of language skills, working under the supervision of the Lead Researcher and in cooperation with colleagues from IPU and UNDP.

Activities

Participants in the student network will support the project’s research activities, which include:

  • Literature review

  • Questionnaires for parliaments and other stakeholders

  • Interviews with parliamentarians, parliamentary staff and other stakeholders

  • National and thematic case studies

  • Online focus groups

Deliverables

Participants in the student network will be assigned specific deliverables, based on the project activities, their profile, experience, availability and language skills. Deliverables will be assigned and updated for each member of the student network on a regular basis. Specific deliverables may include, for example:

  1. Literature review on public engagement

  2. Questionnaire results data entry/ data analysis

  3. Support to the organization of thematic focus groups

  4. Preparing, conducting, transcribing or analyzing interviews

  5. Support to the preparation of country and thematic case studies, including background research, analysis or drafting

  6. Other research tasks as necessary

In addition, members of the student network will be expected to take part in regular online meetings of the network and ongoing exchange of information.

Requirements

Candidates should be able to demonstrate:

  • University degree in a relevant field

  • Interest in current issues about parliaments and public engagement

  • Good research skills (some experience in quantitative analysis preferred)

  • Strong writing skills

  • Curiosity and willingness to learn

  • Ability to communicate effectively in English. Other languages, including but not limited to French, Spanish, and Arabic, are highly desirable

Location

The position will be remote. All work will be done online.

Duration and Remuneration

The contract is for the period September – December 2020.

Work will be paid at an hourly rate of CHF 20/hour, up to a maximum of 250 hours of work.

Specific deliverables will be assigned by the Lead Researcher with an estimate of the number of hours of work required. Members of the student network will track their hours of work and report on a weekly basis.

into his/her tasks.

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, consultants and interns to agree to our Code of conduct for personnel  and our Fraud and corruption prevention policy.

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

How to apply

Candidates should provide the following:

  • Curriculum vitae

  • A brief description (maximum 200 words) of why they are the right person for this position, including details of their personal contribution to at least two relevant projects

  • Information about their availability to begin work and during the period September-December 2020

Please send applications to [email protected] with the subject line “GPR student network”. There is no deadline for applications. Applications can be received until all positions in the student network are filled.

For further details, please contact Dr. Maya Kornberg at [email protected].

Deadline: