Local Consultant, Parliamentary affairs

Background:

The OSCE Permanent Council Decision specifically mandates the OSCE Presence in Albania to work in the area of parliamentary capacity building. Based on previous support the Presence had provided to the Albanian Parliament, Switzerland has entrusted the Presence with an extra-budgetary contribution for a four-year long project “Support to Parliament and Civic Education in Albania”, from November 2018 to November 2022.  The Support to Parliament and Civic Education Project in Albania (“PACEP” or the “Project”) builds on the Presence’s long-term work with the Kuvendi, or Assembly of Albania (the “Parliament”). It focuses on improving the core functions of the Parliament through a series of mutually reinforcing activities each designed with three themes in mind: (1) strengthening human resources, (2) developing and supporting innovative technology solutions and (3) promoting transparency and civic education and engagement. The Project targets parliamentary staff, members of Parliament (MPs), civil society organizations (CSOs) and the public at large.

Activities under the Project’s third component, aim at increasing understanding and engagement of civil society with parliamentary affairs and the democratic process in Albania. Recent and ongoing changes in how Parliament functions, including the standardization of operating procedures for parliamentary committees and the introduction of technology the legislative process, will lead to a need for increased public skills and expertise to understand these developments and contribute in the process. Within this framework, the Presence has planned to develop a curriculum for advanced studies on parliamentary affairs, procedures law and legislative drafting in order to equip new generation of law practitioners and other professionals with the necessary skills to both understand and engage in parliamentary process and democratic decision-making. For taking a ground-based and well-informed decision and addressing real needs and potential modalities for introducing such curricula development, including content as well as complementarity (if any) with existing similar initiatives in the country, the Presence will engage two senior experts (a national and an international one) to undertake a feasibility study on accuracy and potential needs within the institutional and academic environment..

Objective of Assignment: 

The OSCE Presence in Albania is seeking a Local Expert to connduct a feasibility study  aimed at assessing the need for developing an advanced curricula on parliamentary affairs/procedures and legal drafting in Albania as well as identify potential modalities for introducing such course(s). The national expert will be working closely with an international Expert in implementing tasks and responsibilities of this assignment.

Duration of Assignment:

From July 2021 until November 2021, for a duration of 4 months.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

The Local Expert will work together with the International Expert, under the guidance of the National Legal Officer and the National Reporting and Outreach Officer. The Local Expert will have to complete the following tasks:

1. Provide input to the preparation of an inception report by the International Expert, through a summary of main findings from publications/reports in Albania on the subject as well as suggestions on potential stakeholders to be interviewed;
2.  Map existing/current similar initiatives /graduate programs in the country by conducting desk research of available secondary data, and independent additional online-meetings (tbc) with key educational specialists in the form of a report in English (at least 5 pages).
3. Collaborate and contribute to the main report prepared in collaboration with the International Expert by
   • Providing a summary of legal /quality standards that any graduate programmes have to comply with in virtue of the enacted domestic legislation and according to any legal framework in place such as existing MoUs of Assembly and OSCE with UT and/or other HEIs in Albania;
   • Organizing and facilitating (i.e. through translation into/from local language) meetings/communication/discussion with local stakeholders i.e. University rectors/management, academic staff, experts in civic rights, parliamentary affairs/studies, learning experts and training providers;
   • Summarizing findings and qualitative/secondary data collected as part of this communication in brief reports/notes to support preparation of the feasibility study;
4. Coordinate with and provide required data/evidence to the international expert to support preparation of the draft of feasibility study in compliance with terms of reference, making necessary remarks/revisions /translations and submit it to NLO and/or PM on behalf of the team for comments and approval.

Deliverables:

Necessary Qualifications:

• Have an advanced degree in social, political science, and/or law and  public administration;
• Documented 3 years experience in
  • conducting research studies on topics related to parliamentary affairs and legislative drafting
  • academic background and experience in teaching
  • development of curricula on topics related to political science and law;
• Good knowledge of the legislation governing the higher education in Albania
• Professional experience with capacity development projects and/or legislative drafting is an asset;
• Previous experience in working in an international environment is desirable;
• Fluency in English and Albanian language

Remuneration
The Remuneration for this consultancy will be in line with applicable OSCE rates.

Due to the current unpredictable situation, the start date may probably be revised according to the daily and rapidly evolving situation
 

f you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://jobs.osce.org/vacancies.

If you are not a national of a participating State, you must apply by submitting an offline application form which can be found under http://www.osce.org/employment/108714.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration. Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.
The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization. 

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.