Project Officer Gender Partnership Programme

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is the global organization of national parliaments. It has a membership of 179 Member Parliaments. The IPU promotes democratic governance, institutions, and values, working with parliaments and parliamentarians to articulate and respond to the needs and aspirations of the people. It works to promote peace, democracy, human rights, gender equality, youth empowerment and sustainable development through political dialogue, cooperation and parliamentary action. These objectives are pursued through the Organization’s political and programmatic work, which includes research, standard-setting, knowledge dissemination, technical cooperation and capacity-building.

The IPU recognizes gender equality as a key component of democracy and works to achieve equal participation of men and women in politics. It provides support to parliaments in advancing gender equality, increasing women’s political participation and leadership and transforming into gender-sensitive institutions that deliver on women’s rights.

For the next three years, the IPU is receiving support from the Government of Canada to promote gender equality in politics. This support will allow the IPU to continue and extend its assistance to a minimum of 6 parliaments in their efforts towards greater political participation of women, more gender-sensitive and gender-responsive parliamentary operations and work and for the elimination of gender-based discrimination and violence. In this context, the IPU will support a group of parliaments in Africa, Asia and Latin America committed to these goals and willing to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in cooperation with our organization.

Tasks

Under the supervision of the Manager of the Gender Partnership Programme, the Project Officer will coordinate the project planning, implementation and delivery towards results. He/She will be responsible for coordination with the beneficiary parliaments of the project, for the project’s implementation and monitoring and evaluation, and for the communication on the project. The Project Officer will also carry out other tasks as required.

Deliverables

Key deliverables will include:

• Project management, including: Planning, budgeting, preparation, organization and execution of project’s activities, liaison with the parliaments benefiting from the project and implementation of the Common Principles for support to parliament in the management of the project.
• Monitoring and evaluation, including: establishment of baselines, collection of quantitative and qualitative data, preparation and conduct of qualitative surveys, analysis of results, change and impact, adaptation as required, reporting on advancements and lessons learned.
• Communications, including: internal, external, with parliaments and Global Affairs Canada and support to the development of communication tools and documents, including news stories and regular updates for the IPU website.
• Coordination with parliaments, including: correspondence, missions, support to advisory committees…
• Collection of data and information to contribute to research projects and publications, including on women in parliament, as required by the Gender Partnership Programme.
• Coordinate and facilitate the participation of the parliaments beneficiaries of the project in IPU global and regional events, including IPU Assemblies and other meetings.
• Prepare speeches and briefing notes as required.
• Liaise with representatives from the IPU Member Parliaments and partner organizations.
• Respond to queries and requests for information received by the IPU. 
• Co-operate with staff in other IPU programmes on joint projects and facilitate coordination, as necessary.

Required experience and qualifications

• University degree in political science or law; specialization in gender studies an asset.
• At least five years of experience in work related to gender equality and/or women’s rights required.
• At least five years of experience in project management required, including managing multiple projects simultaneously and indifferent cultural and political contexts.  
• Experience in a parliamentary setting as well as familiarity with the work of international organizations required.
• Experience of work on a project of support to a parliament required.
• Complete fluency in English and French required.
• Excellent drafting skills in English and French required.
• Personal attributes of initiative, self-motivation, and sound judgement. Aptitude for human contacts and resourcefulness. Team spirit. Adaptability to varying working environments and conditions.
• General computer skills (MS Office applications, internet).

Time frame and conditions

The Project Officer will undertake this work over a timeline commencing on 1 October 2022 and concluding on 31 March 2024. Over this period, he/she shall be expected to work a maximum of 330 days. In principle, the Project Officer shall be based in the IPU Headquarters in Geneva.

The IPU shall cover the expenses related to the missions that the Project Officer will need to carry out for purposes of the above assignments.

Employment conditions

The Project Officer 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 Project Officer 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.