Junior Consultancy- Disarmament and Conflict prevention

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is the global organization of national parliaments. It has a membership of 180 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 was founded with the aim of encouraging countries to meet and mediate rather than to resolve their differences through conflict and war. Since then, the IPU has continued to provide a forum for parliamentary diplomacy and dialogue between nations. In today’s context of ever-increasing tensions, where challenges are global, many governments worldwide seem intent on solving problems with outdated methods. In contrast, at the parliamentary level, the IPU promotes an innovative approach to peace and security policymaking grounded in absolute compassion for the human condition and based on the guiding principle that one nation’s security cannot be achieved at the expense of another nation.

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationships

The consultant will work directly with the Senior Programme Officer on Peace and Security, Secretary of the IPU Standing Committee on Peace and International Security.

Tasks

The consultant will assist the Senior Programme Officer on Peace and Security with the following duties:

• Conduct research, attend meetings, organize events, and draft reports for IPU activities in the areas of disarmament and conflict prevention.
• Assist in designing and publishing material to support the role of MPs in conflict prevention with particular emphasis on human security, common security and the Principles for Peace.
• Prepare and attend meetings and draft meeting reports and notes for the file.
• Follow and report on relevant debates.
• Provide, as requested, other assistance in the area of peace and security.

Deliverables

The consultant will contribute to:

• The drafting of project proposals, tools and campaigns related to disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation, military spending, emerging technologies, and conflict prevention.
• The organisation of events, webinars and workshops in this regard.
• The compilation of good practice examples that will serve to draft reports and practical guidance notes for parliaments on issues related to disarmament and conflict prevention including from a common security and human security perspective.
• The collection of data and information on common security, human security, emerging technologies, military spending and disarmament actions in Parliament in the framework of research projects and publications.
• The collection of quantitative and qualitative data, conduct of qualitative surveys, and analysis of results, that will help monitor and evaluate change and impact brought by the projects.
• The development of communication tools and documents, including news stories and regular updates for the IPU website.
• In the context of the 2024 priority focus on peace and security, drafting of relevant documentation - including in preparation for the two statutory Assemblies.
• The preparation of projects-related correspondence, speeches and briefing notes, as required.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following:

• Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff;
• Officials from the United Nations and other partner organizations;
• Staff of the IPU Secretariat.

Competencies