Research Assistant – Parliamentary Support Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)
Background
The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), through its programme on Increased Participation of Women in Politics, delivers projects and activities that aim to promote women’s participation in political and public life in the OSCE region. The ODIHR works in partnership with OSCE Field Operations on implementing gender equality programming.
ODIHR is interested in learning more about parliamentary structures specifically established to advance women’s interests more effectively and efficiently. Existing research indicates that such “parliamentary structures for women MPs” – often referred to as women’s caucuses - vary widely in design, structure, activities and degrees of formality. Some structures, such as cross-party women’s caucuses, are recognized as important forums for representing women’s interests across political party lines and, often, for influencing policy and legislative agendas. Other structures perform a social function for women legislators or serve as a forum for mentoring and capacity development. In some models, men are welcome as members, while other models are actually a coalition mechanism bringing together representatives of civil society and other bodies. While some research has been undertaken with regard to parliamentary structures for women MPs, there has been no systematic assessment of the existence of such structures in the OSCE region, or of OSCE support to such structures.
To this end, in 2012, ODIHR is implementing a project on “Strengthening parliamentary structures for women MPs in the OSCE region”. The project aims at surveying the wide variety of parliamentary structures for women MPs in existence in the OSCE region, collecting good practices in establishing and running such structures, and compiling OSCE support to such structures through its network of field operations. The project forms part of, and directly feeds into, ODIHR’s broader programming on women’s political participation and parliamentary support.
ODIHR seeks a Research Assistant to support the implementation of the project “Strengthening parliamentary structures for women MPs in the OSCE region”. The Research Assistant will provide both substantive and research support to the implementation of this extra-budgetary project.
Objective:
Provide substantive and research support to the implementation of the ODIHR extra-budgetary project “Strengthening Parliamentary Structures for Women MPs”.
Tasks and Responsibilities
- Under the guidance of the OSCE ODIHR Chief of Democratic Governance and the Gender Advisor, the Research Assistant will:
- Support the development of an ODIHR study on parliamentary structures for women MPs in the OSCE region;
- Support the dissemination, collection and follow-up of questionnaires to parliaments in the OSCE region;
- Develop a database to collect and compile data emerging from OSCE participating States on parliamentary structures for women MPs;
- Support the collection, aggregation and analysis of questionnaire responses;
- Support the organization of a Study Tour for parliamentary structures for women MP representatives from different OSCE participating States, to be held in autumn 2012;
- Assist in preparing project progress and donor reports as necessary, and participate in project progress review meetings as appropriate;
- Liaise with external consultants hired within the framework of this project;
- Liaise with parliamentary representatives as required to complete the research component of this project;
- Support the integration of this project into broader ODIHR gender equality, women’s political participation and parliamentary support activities;
- Other tasks as assigned
Deliverables:
- Data entry Excel file, to upload responses from questionnaires sent to national parliaments and OSCE Field Operations;
- Reviewed, edited and formatted comparative study on parliamentary structures for women MPs in the OSCE region;
- Database template for compiling good practices from OSCE Field Operations on support to parliamentary structures for women MPs;
- Substantive support to the organization of the study visit;
- Regular project progress review reports and minutes for ODIHR and donors;
- Powerpoint presentations and project information materials, for project promotion in the OSCE and among external interlocutors;
- Research support to all project activities identified above.
Location:
The Research Assistant will be based in Warsaw, Poland. The research assistant will be provided with appropriate office equipment and work space in the OSCE/ODIHR premises.
Duration:
The duration of consultancy is envisaged for 120 working days during the period from 1 July – 31 December 2012. The position is subject to receipt of appropriate extra-budgetary funding.
Necessary Qualifications
- University degree in law, international affairs, public administration, political or social sciences, or other related field preferred;
- At least two (2) years’ experience in research and/or project implementation, some of which should have been gained at the international level;
- Excellent analytical, research and drafting skills;
- Excellent computer skills, with ability to create graphs, tables and figures of professional quality for ODIHR publications;
- Ability to work under minimal supervision;
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people and teams of different national and cultural backgrounds is required;
- Fluency in English. Proficiency in other OSCE working languages an asset; knowledge of languages of Southeastern Europe desirable.
Remuneration Package
Remuneration will be competitive and commensurate with the level of skills and experience of the candidate.
How To Apply
In order to apply for Consultancy please use OSCE's online application link found under
Shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
The OSCE is committed to achieving a better balance of women and men within the Organization.
Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.
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