Background

The UNDP STEPS project funded by USAID supports the National Assembly (NA) and Provincial People’s Assemblies (PPA) in Lao PDR in developing their capacities to perform their constitutional functions of law-making, oversight, and representation. One important element of the project’s support is to assist the NA in parliamentary diplomacy, in particular to address the NA’s capacity needs for participating in key regional and global inter-parliamentary fora. In 2024, Lao PDR will assume the chairmanship of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the NA will host the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).

The NA committees will lead the preparations for hosting AIPA. The Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) is in charge of overall coordination and works with the International Cooperation and Project Management Secretariat (ICPMS) to plan and deliver the necessary knowledge and capacity-building for NA Members and staff participating in AIPA in 2024.

For the AIPA General Assembly, the NA’s delegation will consist of up to 15 MPs, including the NA President and Vice President and the Chairs and members of the FAC, Planning and Financial Affairs Committee (PFAC), Social and Cultural Affairs Committee (SCAC), and the Economy, Technology, and Environment Committee (ETEC) who will chair and participate in the respective AIPA standing committees. The NA’s AIPA Secretariat will be supported by the respective NA committee staff to assist in the operation of the AIPA committees, and the staff of the Secretariat Committee and the NA Institute of Legislative Studies (ILS) who will provide administrative and technical support to the AIPA meetings and the General Assembly.

The Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU), of which the NA is a member parliament, is a long-term partner with UNDP on parliamentary strengthening projects worldwide. The high-level involvement of the IPU under the STEPS Project helps to ensure a high quality of international technical expertise, including through South-South exchanges and engagement with IPU-member parliaments in the ASEAN Region. Engagement with the IPU also ensures that the project complies with the Common Principles for Support to Parliaments, which were developed with contributions from USAID and UNDP.

Through the FAC, the NA has requested support of STEPS in preparing NA committees, Members and staff for their duties in hosting AIPA workshops, committee meetings and the General Assembly. This represents an opportunity to enhance the knowledge and skills of Members of the National Assembly to engage in parliamentary diplomacy in different bi-lateral and multi-lateral settings, leaving behind a legacy from the hosting of the AIPA GA in 2024. STEPS will partner with the IPU in meeting this request.

Objectives of the Assignment

Against the above background, UNDP/IPU is seeking to engage a Senior Parliamentary Advisor: Parliamentary Diplomacy with extensive experience of engaging in bi-lateral and multi-lateral parliamentary settings and of advancing national priorities through inter-parliamentary engagements. The individual will provide professional development and mentoring guidance to Members of the National Assembly – the NA President and Vice President and the Chairs and Members of the FAC, PFAC, SCAC and ETEC committees. Support will be delivered through one-to-one and group meetings in Lao PDR over two missions (tentatively July 2024 and August/September 2024); and through responsive support provided remotely in the period between. All guidance will be consolidated into a handbook for Members.

Overall objectives of the assignment are:

• Immediate outcome: Capacities developed to support the successful hosting of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly

• Long-term outcome: Increased capacity and confidence to engage in parliamentary diplomacy in different bi-lateral and multi-lateral settings.

The ideal candidate is a current or former Member of Parliament with at least 10 years of experience of engagement in multi-lateral parliamentary diplomacy initiatives, such as the AIPA Assembly and Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly and meetings. The individual has excellent communications skills and demonstrated capacity for astute political analysis and judgment. Knowledge of political dynamics and social, cultural, economic and gender considerations in the ASEAN region is a key advantage.

The Senior Parliamentary Advisor: Parliamentary Diplomacy reports to IPU’s Manager for Technical Cooperation with guidance from the UNDP STEPS Chief Technical Specialist. This position will involve travel to Lao LDR with home-based work.

The individual(s) will work together with other organisations and individuals supporting delivery of the AIPA Preparation roadmap, including in delivery of training activities and in the preparation of a handbook.

Scope of Work:

• Prepare in person briefings for Members of the National Assembly on issues including but not limited to:
• Parliamentary diplomacy: The benefits, main avenues of engagement, different types of event ‘do’s and don’ts’.
• Guidance on achieving impact through parliamentary diplomacy, with case studies.
• Integrating gender equality and women’s empowerment considerations into parliamentary diplomacy initiatives.
• Provide ad hoc and responsive support to NA Members on their personal priorities for the AIPA Assembly (in person and online), including on the topics above; and on topics of draft resolutions and committee meetings.
• Support skills development for NA Members to support them to engage effectively at the AIPA Assembly, including in:
• Chairing AIPA proceedings
• Public speaking and preparing speeches.
• Negotiation skills
• Acting as a rapporteur
• Provide advice as required to NA members to correspond to other areas of programming under the STEPS project, including committee development and gender and inclusion in parliamentary functions.
• Produce inputs for a handbook for NA Members, together with other development partners and experts supporting the full programme of work. The handbook will collate materials used for the tasks above and be presented in an attractive and accessible format.

Breakdown of working days

Support to the National Assembly will be flexible and responsive to needs as they arise. Timings are therefore indicative.

Timing

Duties

Location

Working days

June 2024

• Design of capacity development support
• Preparation of materials

Home-based

5

July 2024

First mission including:

• Face to face training sessions
• One to one and group meetings and skills development sessions

Lao PDR

10

July-August 2024

• Responsive on-the-job support and mentoring
• Preparation of materials for a handbook for Members

Home-based

Up to 18

August/September 2024

Second mission:

• Refresher support to NA Members in advance of the AIPA Assembly
• One to one and group meetings and skills development sessions

Lao PDR

5

October 2024

Evaluation and final report

Home-based

2

Deliverables

• A report including:
• Progress made towards the objectives of the assignment.
• Attachments including all written background papers, concept notes, briefings, and training material to support activities undertaken.
• A draft of all inputs to the Parliamentary Diplomacy Handbook for Members, the scope of which will be agreed on with the IPU Manager for Technical Cooperation and UNDP STEPS Chief Technical Specialist
• A timesheet of days worked, identifying duty stations.

Qualifications and experience

• Education: Master’s degree in public policy, law, development studies or a related area.
• Experience: Minimum 10 years of professional experience as a Member of Parliament
• Strong knowledge and experience of engaging in multi-lateral parliamentary diplomacy settings, including the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly and/or Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly
• Experience with strengthening parliamentary initiatives in a technical and advisory role is an advantage.
• Experience designing and delivering professional development for MPs.
• Excellent understanding of integrating gender equality and women’s empowerment considerations into the work of parliament.
• Strong knowledge of the political economy of Southeast Asia.
• Knowledge of the Common Principles for Support to Parliaments.
• Language Requirements: Excellent command of written and spoken English

Timeframe and Conditions

The consultant will undertake this work over a timeline commencing in July 2024 and concluding in October 2024. They shall be expected to work a maximum of 40 days.

The consultant will work home-based with visits to Vientiane, Laos. The IPU shall cover the expenses related to the missions that the consultant will need to carry out for the purposes of the above assignments.

Employment Conditions

The Consultant will be an independent contractor, will not be considered to be an official or employee of the IPU, and will not be subject to the IPU Staff Regulations and Staff Rules. The Consultant will be paid a daily fee of USD 400 for days worked. The Consultant will not be entitled to recover from the IPU any income tax payable in respect of the fee provided under this contract and shall be solely liable for the payment of any national income tax due in respect of the emoluments payable under this contract. The Consultant will not be included in the IPU pension scheme.