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Chief Technical Specialist - Palestinian Legislative Council

The United Nations Development Programme/Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (UNDP/PAPP), in cooperation with the Inter-Parliamentary Union, implements a European Union funded project with the objective of strengthening the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) Secretariat to support the PLC as the democratically elected legislative body within the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). The PLC is responsible for establishing the legislative framework as well as overseeing the PNA in order to ensure transparent, effective and accountable governance. Since 2007, the PLC Legislative Function has been frozen due to the political divide in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), while the PLC Secretariat has remained operational. The project will assist the PLC Secretariat in preparing for the resumption parliamentary work, in developing its internal administrative functions and processes as well as in conducting specifically designed activities to be implemented even in the current absence of a functioning PLC, such as outreach and visibility activities. Specifically, the project will address the following issues:

  • Support the institutional development of the PLC Secretariat to fulfil its role as a neutral and modern parliamentary Secretariat;
  • Review of parliamentary Administrative and Operational structures and procedures against international best practices;
  • Review the effectiveness of the legislative process and the legislative drafting capacities; including the development of proposals to process legislation passed by Presidential decree in absence of a functioning PLC, and to address the issue of the divergent legal framework in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip;
  • Embed policy analysis and executive oversight functions in the parliamentary process and strengthen the respective support capacities of the PLC Secretariat; and
  • Strengthen the outreach and public relations capacities of the PLC Secretariat both in quality and in substance by reviewing the PLC Secretariat's existing communication and outreach strategies, by reviewing the transparency and openness of parliamentary processes including the functioning of the complaints bureau and by introducing regular outreach activities, specifically targeting students as well as others.

To attain these objectives, the EU-funded project will provide organizational and individual capacity development.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall direction of the Project Board and the Democratic Governance and Social Development Team Leader as a primary supervisor and the Programme Analyst who is primarily responsible for quality oversight and first-line response to programmatic activities, (work plans and budgets) as a secondary supervisor, the key role of the Senior Technical Specialist / Team Leader is to bring substantial parliamentary experience to the project and to manage the project towards results in cooperation with the PLC Secretariat. The Senior Technical Specialist / Team Leader has the overall responsibility for staff and resource planning and management, maintaining good working relations with the beneficiary and the project partners and representing the project to outside parties. S/he will work closely with the Secretary General and key senior secretariat staff in the implementation of the project, providing oversight on project Specialists and staff. The Senior Technical Specialist/Team Leader) will be responsible and not limited to the following duties:
  • Be directly responsible for achieving the results of the ‘Support to the Palestinian Legislative Council Secretariat’ Project, in accordance with the approved action description and in particular those activities identified in the logical framework;
  • Strategically plan and coordinate project activities as agreed in the action description;
  • Oversee preparation of quarterly and annual work plans to ensure prioritized delivery of project outputs in line with the needs of the PLC Secretariat;
  • Oversee effective implementation of the project activities in collaboration with the Secretary General and other senior Secretariat staff;
  • Ensure timely preparation of monthly and quarterly and annual reports on the project activities to the project board;
  • Consult the project board on significant events, or policy measures undertaken by the Palestinian authorities, which may have impact on the project, and propose adjustment of the project as necessary;
  • Oversee the development of content for training, workshops and seminar activities, in line with the four main areas of intervention of the project;
  • Provide substantive guidance to the project team on parliamentary development;
  • Manage and oversee the project team and resources, ensure coordination and follow-up to consultant missions;
  • Provide guidance to the team's activities as regards the sensitive political environment based on the overall instructions by the project board
  • In consultation with relevant members of the project board coordinate the recruitment of all project Specialists and consultants and provide them with guidance and supervision to ensure outputs are achieved;
  • Plan, manage and monitor the project budget ensuring procurement and recruitment is undertaken in accordance with UNDP financial rules and regulations, policies and guidelines;
  • In cooperation with the Secretary General provide guidance to PLC secretariat staff seconded to the project;
  • Represent the project vis-à-vis third parties and liaise with the Palestinian Authority and other donor-funded projects to ensure coordination and complementarity;
  • Ensure visibility of the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme and the Inter-Parliamentary Union; and
  • Provide specialized services to the Secretary General of the PLC upon request.
Impact of Results:
The project will contribute to improving the practice of legislatures and locally elected bodies to represent the interest of citizens (Output 5 –outcome 2 ) of PAPP midterm strategy through improving the administrative capacity of the PLC Secretariat to deliver services in a timely, efficient and effective manner. In addition, the activity will help the PLC Secretariat to be thoroughly prepared for the critical first six months of resumption of parliamentary work, ranging from operational-administrative tasks and procedural requirements to specific capacity-development and communication needs that will have to be addressed. The support will ensure that the PLC Secretariat can provide non-partisan and effective services to the parliament and serve as a stabilizing factor in a potentially volatile environment upon resumption of parliamentary work. Therefore, the activity will also propose different scenarios for consideration that allow for a realistic and constitutionally consistent parliamentary review of legislation passed by Presidential decree during the absence of a functioning PLC as well as proposals on how to address the issue of the divergent legal frameworks in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip;
In a more general perspective, the activity will attain the following results:
  • The PLC Secretariat's institutional capacity is measurably improved both in its administrative functioning and its parliamentary service delivery through process review, capacity-development and the upgrade of IT equipment;
  • The parliamentary rules of procedure as well as other legal provisions affecting the parliament as institution and the rights and duties of PLC Members are reviewed and, insofar necessary, proposals for approximation with international best practices are developed for consideration upon resumption of parliamentary work;
  • The PLC's previous performance in the legislative process is analysed with a view on improving its transparency, effectiveness and efficiency, taking into account a professional interaction between government and parliament as well as possible consultations with civil society and general public in the process. The PLC Secretariat's capacities to provide effective procedural, substantive and legal advice in the legislative process will be improved;
  • The capacity of the PLC Secretariat to provide policy advice, regulatory and financial impact analyses, general research and comparative analyses is improved;
  • The executive oversight functions of the PLC are reviewed and, insofar necessary, proposals to increase their effectiveness through procedural amendments and a more effective support by the PLC Secretariat developed;
  • The PLC Secretariat has developed and implemented a sustainable communication and outreach strategy, including a modern, transparent and responsive web-site and other communication tools, launched visiting and parliamentary simulation programs mainly targeted at students and considered proposals to bring the parliament, its Members and the legislative process closer to the citizens;

The PLC's function to respond to citizens' petitions is reviewed and its efficiency and effectiveness improved insofar necessary;

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN values and ethical standards
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritism
  • Excellent analytical and organizational skills

Functional Competencies:
Knowledge Management and Learning

  • Promotes a knowledge-sharing and learning culture in the PAPP office
  • In-depth knowledge on development issues
  • Ability to advocate and provide policy advice
  • Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
  • Knowledge of UNDP / UN policies and programmes in crisis and post-crisis situations
  • Knowledge of UNDP / UN regulations, rules, policies, procedures and practices; operations

Development and Operational Effectiveness

  • Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
  • Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, mobilize resources
  • Strong IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office software and experience with web-based management systems
  • Ability to lead implementation of new systems (business side), and effect staff behavioral/ attitude change

Leadership and Self-Management

  • Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
  • Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
  • Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
  • Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors
  • Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure
  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities

Strong oral and written communication skills

  • Communicates effectively with staff at all levels of the organization.
  • Acts with tact and diplomacy.
  • Proves outgoing and comfortable in handling external relations at all levels.
  • Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors.
  • Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.
  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.
  • Demonstrates compelling communication skills and cross-cultural effectiveness.
  • Demonstrates excellent political / conflict analysis, experience in bilateral and/or multilateral negotiations, and negotiating and training / facilitation skills.

Possesses the ability to convey difficult issues and positions to senior officials, proven political judgment, sensitivity to local cultures.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • An advanced degree in political or social science/law, public administration or other relevant subject

Experience:

  • At least seven years work experience in or in support of a parliamentary institution or as an elected representative.
  • At least five years of practical experience in Specialisty capacity and management of projects and programs on good governance and/or parliamentary business.
  • Project management experience at a senior level with the EU, UNDP or UN agencies is considered an advantage.
  • Understanding of national government processes is essential; substantial work experience in a government context is highly desirable.
  • Familiarity with the occupied Palestinian territories and the Middle East region and its political conflict as background is considered an asset.
  • Ability to interact and establish and maintain good and effective working relations with all relevant parties.
  • Well organized, methodical, ability to set priorities and pay attention to detail.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a multicultural/multinational/multi-stakeholder setting and demonstrable ability to motivate people and work in a team setting is essential
  • Excellent abilities in leadership, staff management, empowerment and working with teams.
Language Requirements:
  • Excellent command of written and spoken English is essential. Knowledge of Arabic is considered an asset.

Applications and updated CV should be submitted to http://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?job_id=23112