International Consultant - Democratic Governance Expert (SSA)

Background:

The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is the principal institution of the OSCE responsible for the human dimension. ODIHR is active throughout the OSCE area in the fields of election observation, democratic development, human rights, tolerance and non-discrimination, and the rule of law. 

The ODIHR Democratic Governance and Gender Unit (DGGU) is assisting participating States to improve laws, institutions and democratic processes, with a focus on strengthening parliamentary integrity and ensuring a pluralist political party system, including transparency of political finance and political parties, and combating political corruption. 

Public accountability and the political credibility of states are cornerstone principles to which all OSCE participating States have subscribed, dating back to the 1990 Paris Document, where states unanimously affirmed that “democracy, with its representative and pluralistic character, entails accountability to the electorate, the obligation of public authorities to comply with the law and justice administered impartially”. The DGGU of the ODIHR has long worked on these topics in OSCE participating States, supporting parliaments in their work to strengthen their public integrity mechanisms. In this regard, DGGU has published two key resources: Parliamentary Integrity: A Resource for Reformers (2022) and ODIHR Public Ethics and Integrity Toolkit: Guidelines for Parliaments (2023). This is alongside other regular programmatic activities, such as capacity-building workshops for parliamentarians and parliamentary staff on topics related to public integrity. 

DGGU is currently seeking to produce a comprehensive parliamentary integrity assessment methodology, including code of conduct implementation assessment that can be used in OSCE participating States, as one of the key facets of a robust political integrity framework. This will allow DGGU experts to render a complete, holistic assessment of parliamentary integrity framework and to provide targeted feedback to implementors, with the expectation that this will then be used to advance public accountability within participating States. Such a methodology will allow DGGU to strengthen its engagements with participating States on the topic of public integrity and the credibility of elected officials. In 2024, DGGU has conducted extensive research on codes of conducts and integrity frameworks in the OSCE region and, based on the conducted research, requires expert support to produce a draft comprehensive parliamentary assessment methodology as well as conduct verification and proofreading.

Objective of Assignment: 

The objective of this consultancy is to support ODIHR in designing a comprehensive, peer-reviewed, and tested parliamentary integrity assessment methodology in line with current international standards and best practices, which can then be utilized in OSCE participating States.

Duration of Assignment:

10 working days between 12 December 2024 and 14 February 2025

Tasks and Responsibilities:

The Consultant will perform the services outlined below and will be supervised by the Associate Democratic Governance Officer throughout the duration of the consultancy: 

1. Familiarization of the research and mapping conducted and development of a draft parliamentary integrity framework assessment methodology;
2. Verification and editing of the draft parliamentary integrity framework assessment methodology.

Deliverables:

Deliverable 1: Submit for review a preliminary draft of the parliamentary integrity framework assessment methodology, incorporating a gender lens, including in regards to reviewing policies and practices related to bullying, harassment, and sexual misconduct on the basis of the pre-existing mapping exercise and desk research conducted by DGGU. The draft should be up to 30 pages long and in the English language, using gender- and diversity- sensitive language. The draft methodology should cover all assessment areas suggested by DGGU and must contain an annex with a list of indicative questions.

Deliverable 2.1: Lead an expert meeting to review the draft parliamentary integrity assessment methodology. To accomplish this deliverable, ODIHR will provide access to the conducting research and mapping as well an outline of the points covered in the assessment methodology

Deliverable 2:2: Engage in up to three rounds of feedback with ODIHR staff on the draft parliamentary integrity framework assessment methodology, progressively incorporating each round of feedback.

Deliverable 2:3 Submit a final version of the draft parliamentary integrity framework assessment methodology in the English language, using gender- and diversity- sensitive language.

Necessary Qualifications:

•  Advanced university degree in political science, international relations, law, or other related field;

• PhD degree in the area of social science is an advantage;

• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge and professional experience of social science research methods in the area of democracy and human rights with at least ten to twelve years of relevant professional experience;

• Ability to design research and analyse complex matters related to policy, democracy and human rights, as well as to present such matters in an audience-appropriate and user-friendly manner;

• Experience in applying a gender mainstreamed and conflict sensitive approach to work on issues related to democracy and human rights;

• Knowledge of international and OSCE democratic governance standards and principles;

• Experience of working and communicating with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;

• Excellent communication, presentation, analytical and drafting skills;

• Excellent English language skills, including drafting skills;

• Flexibility, ability to work under minimal supervision and deliver against tight deadlines.

Remuneration Package:

Remuneration will be based on the selected consultant's/expert's qualifications, experience, the tasks and deliverables for this position and in accordance with the OSCE established rates.

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

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.