Background
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is the global organization of national parliaments. Since 1889, it has worked to promote worldwide parliamentary dialogue, peace and cooperation among peoples, and the development of strong representative institutions. The IPU works with parliaments and parliamentarians to promote democratic governance, peace, human rights, gender equality, youth empowerment, climate action and sustainable development through political dialogue, cooperation and parliamentary action.
The IPU Strategy for 2027-2031 sets the overall goal of democratic parliaments working together for the people. It is based on three interconnected strategic objectives: building strong and inclusive parliaments; facilitating parliamentary diplomacy, dialogue and joint action; and strengthening the IPU as a responsive and accountable organization. The Strategy also confirms four policy priorities for parliamentary action: climate change; democracy, human rights, gender equality and youth participation; peace and security; and sustainable development for all.
The Strategy places particular emphasis on evidence-based work, Member Parliaments’ engagement, accountability, digital transformation, and stronger monitoring and evaluation (M&E) through expanded efforts to track performance and increase organizational impact and transparency.
Data collection and its management are at the heart of the IPU’s work and key to effective monitoring, evaluation and learning. Over the years, the IPU has placed emphasis on increasing its capacity to collect data and information related to its Member Parliaments, their engagement and participation within the IPU; information on Parliaments themselves and their parliamentary practices and follow up to IPU resolutions and decisions, as well as information on the impact of IPU’s work in support to parliaments and on the impact of IPU’s work more generally, among others. This effort has allowed for enhanced M&E but not in a systemic and coordinated way.
About the project
This consultancy is intended to help the IPU translate its commitment to enhanced M&E, and better understanding of its impact, into practical internal processes and systems.
The consultancy will map and assess existing data collection practices as they relate to Parliaments and engagement with the IPU, identify gaps and opportunities, and support the Organization in developing more comprehensive, coherent and inclusive processes, and more effective and user friendly systems, that respond to current and future needs, especially with regard to monitoring, evaluation, learning and reporting, taking into account objectives set in the new IPU Strategy.
The consultancy will examine what and how data is currently collected, for what purpose and how it is stored, analysed, shared and used across the IPU workstreams. It will look at both quantitative and qualitative data, including data generated through activities, surveys, evaluations, reports, beneficiary feedback, research, institutional partnerships, Member Parliaments’ reporting and donor reporting.
The work should be practical and implementation-oriented. It should help the IPU move towards a more coherent and a user-friendly organization-wide process and system, with common tools, clearer roles and responsibilities, improved data quality, stronger feedback loops, and better use of data for learning, decision-making, reporting and accountability.
The work should also support more inclusive approaches to data collection and management, responding to the growing need for more disaggregated approaches to fully capture the perspectives and needs of different stakeholders.
Tasks
Prepare an inception note setting out the proposed methodology, workplan, consultation plan, key questions and expected outputs for the consultancy:
Map, review and analyse existing data collection processes across IPU workstreams, including:
- Mapping of who collects what data, for what purpose, with what tools and frequency, where the data is stored, how it is quality-checked and how it is used,
- dentifying main categories of data currently collected by the IPU,
- Assessing the strengths, gaps, overlaps, risks and challenges in current data practices, including data quality, consistency, timeliness, accessibility, ownership, security, confidentiality, ethical safeguards and usefulness for monitoring, evaluation, learning and reporting,
- Assessing the extent to which existing processes allow the IPU to evidence of IPU impact,
- Assessing the extent to which existing processes allow the IPU to capture inclusion-related information and results, while respecting privacy, confidentiality and do-no-harm principles.
- Develop a practical proposal for improved IPU-wide data collection processes and management thereof, aligned with monitoring, evaluation, learning and reporting needs, as well as complementary tools. The proposal should:
- include clear roles and responsibilities, minimum data standards, quality-assurance steps, feedback loops, decision points and realistic implementation options,
- support the development or refinement of practical tools, such as indicator reference sheets, data collection templates, activity reporting templates, survey and feedback tools, guidance on disaggregation, data-flow maps, a reporting calendar and standard operating procedures.
- Provide recommendations on the possible use or improvement of digital systems, databases, dashboards or other tools to facilitate data storage, processing, analysis and reporting, taking into account the IPU’s size, resources, existing systems and data-protection requirements; consider, where relevant, the possible responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) or other emerging tools for data processing, analysis, synthesis and reporting, while identifying safeguards needed to protect accuracy, confidentiality and human oversight.
- Carry out consultations with the IPU Secretariat during the different phases of the process, to better understand current practices and needs, and facilitate internal discussions or workshops to validate findings, build ownership and support the adoption of improved processes.
- Prepare a final report and implementation road map, including priority actions, resource (human and financial) implications, risks and measures for sustaining the improved processes over time (including those related to strengthening an M&E culture across the organization).
The work will involve close cooperation with a range of stakeholders, including:
- the IPU staff and personnel, including senior management, IPU teams, (relations with members, programmes, communications and human resources).
- external evaluators, consultants or partners involved in IPU evaluations, donor reporting or results frameworks, where appropriate.
- selected donors, partners or parliamentary stakeholders, if required for validation or alignment purposes.
Deliverables
High-level deliverables are set out below. Specific deliverables and timelines will be confirmed through the inception and work-planning process. All deliverables should be concise, practical and geared towards strengthening the IPU’s ability to collect, manage, analyse and use data for monitoring, evaluation, learning, accountability and decision-making. The deliverables:
- Inception note and detailed workplan, including methodology, consultation plan, key questions and timeline,
- Map of current data collection processes, including data-flow maps and an inventory of main data sources, tools, repositories and reporting requirements,
- Diagnostic assessment of strengths, gaps, risks and opportunities in current processes, including data quality, inclusiveness, governance, accessibility, security and usefulness for monitoring, evaluation and reporting,
- Draft proposal for improved IPU data collection processes and management thereof, including recommended roles and responsibilities, minimum data standards, quality-assurance steps, feedback loops, governance arrangements as well as recommendations for digital tools/platforms for processing, storage and analysis,
- Draft or revised practical tools, such as templates, indicator reference sheets, guidance on disaggregation, survey or feedback tools, reporting calendar, data-flow templates and standard operating procedures,
- Internal presentation or workshop for IPU staff and management to discuss findings and proposed processes,
- Final report with recommendations and an implementation road map, including priority actions, sequencing, resource implications, risk mitigation and options for sustaining the system over time,
- Regular progress updates throughout the assignment.
Timing
The consultant shall be expected to complete up to a maximum of 50 days of work, based on a 7.5-hour day. The consultancy is expected to run from early September 2026 to mid/end of November 2026. Subject to satisfactory performance and the availability of funds, the consultancy may be extended to support implementation of the agreed recommendations.
The final timeline will be agreed during the inception phase.
Location
The consultant can work remotely. Presence in Geneva will however be required for selected meetings, workshops or consultations with the IPU Secretariat, subject to the needs of the assignment and available resources. Expected costs related to participation to events in Geneva should be part of the proposal submitted by the consultant.
Requirements
- Candidates for the consultancy need to be able to demonstrate:
Advanced university degree in a relevant field, such as monitoring and evaluation; international development, public administration, political or social sciences, knowledge and data management, organizational development or another related discipline, - Strong experience in designing, reviewing or strengthening monitoring, evaluation, learning and results-based management systems, preferably in an international organization, as well as in governance, democracy, parliamentary support or human rights context,
- Experience in mapping organizational processes, data flows, reporting systems and institutional responsibilities, and translating findings into practical and usable tools,
- Good knowledge of data collection, data quality assurance, data management, data governance and ethical data use, including confidentiality and data-protection considerations,
- Experience in designing inclusive and gender-sensitive data collection processes, including appropriate use of disaggregated data and participatory approaches,
- Ability to facilitate consultations and workshops with diverse stakeholders and build organizational ownership around process improvements,
- Good understanding of the work of parliaments, international organizations or democratic governance institutions is highly desirable,
- Experience with digital data-management tools, dashboards or databases is desirable; familiarity with the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence for data management and analysis would be an asset,
- Excellent analytical, drafting and communication skills in English; ability to read and/or speak French is highly desirable,
- Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team in a multicultural environment,
- Ability to demonstrate cultural sensitivity, discretion and sound judgement, including when dealing with politically sensitive information,
- Excellent time management and attention to detail.
