Context
During 2019, the Panama Office collaborated with the EU-funded global project INTER PARES | Parliaments in Partnership to strengthen the capacities of the National Parliament of the Republic of Panama. On that occasion, with the financial support of the European Union, efforts were made to enhance the National Parliament’s legislative, supervisory, representative, budgetary, and administrative functions. This included strategies to a) strengthen the capacity of legislative officials, b) enhance dialogue with citizens and civil society, c) promote women’s leadership, and d) develop action plans focused on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Due to the global emergency resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the alliance between the National Parliament of the Republic of Panama and International IDEA was indefinitely postponed.
Currently, International IDEA is interested in resuming collaboration with the European Union and its delegation in Panama to strengthen the legislative capacities of the National Parliament of the Republic of Panama. This also involves enhancing interaction with youth, women, minority groups, and civil society to reinforce the quality of democracy. The aim is to foster political participation in decision-making in the context of new country engagements and citizens’ demands, amidst significant distrust in institutions, particularly the National Parliament.
By encouraging cooperation between the National Parliament and civil society organizations as an interconnected ecosystem, International IDEA aims to inspire and support these actors in adopting behaviours, relationships, and practices conducive to political participation and representation. This project is based on two outcomes: a) strengthening the National Parliament’s capacity to exercise its legislative, oversight, and representation functions, and institutional systems to become more transparent, inclusive, responsive, and accountable to all citizens, and b) enabling civil society organizations with representative institutions to democratically and effectively improve public policy and practice and hold political decision-makers accountable. The Project Manager will be responsible for reporting progress and achieving the objectives.
The Project Manager will lead the implementation of International IDEA’s project aimed at enhancing Democratic Legislative Competencies in Panama. The role involves overseeing progress and ensuring the attainment of project objectives. The Project Manager should possess substantial experience conducting legislative, political, and/or constitutional analysis specific to Panama and understand the Panamanian political context and key stakeholders to involve them in the project’s activities.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Leads the implementation of International IDEA’s project of INTER PARES Panama: Strengthening of Democratic Legislative Competencies in Panama.
- Ensures oversight of project funds in accordance with donor and International IDEA’s regulations, and in collaboration with the Panama Office’s Project Manager.
- Identifies opportunities for innovative project design.
- Provides timely project-related progress reports to the Director, Latin America and the Caribbean Region.
- Liaises and works programmatically with relevant local, national and intergovernmental bodies.
- Represents International IDEA at meetings and events and develops and maintains positive and effective relations with governments, donors and other relevant interlocutors.
- Provides comparative research on best practices and promotes the exchange of experiences among the Parliament.
- Provides technical advice and support to strengthen the capacity of parliamentarians to promote institutional reform.
- Contributes to the development of communications material; produces reports and develops content for the International IDEA’s website and on social media in collaboration with the Panama Office’s Communication Assistant.
- Conceptualizes, plans, facilitates, participates in and makes presentations at relevant meetings, seminars, workshops and conferences.
- Leads the team of staff and consultants to ensure full delivery of agreed project outputs, in consultation with the Panama Office’s Project Manager.
- Manages the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) component of the Project, supporting their adherence with International IDEA’s M&E results framework and with the EU and International IDEA’s regulations and procedures.
- Conceptualizes, formulates and develops resource mobilization and funding proposals.
- Documents lessons learned, stories, case studies and evidence related to the delivery of the Project’s results, in line with the EU’s communication and visibility guidelines.
General Profile
- Combines in-depth knowledge, acquired through academic achievements, excellent skills including managerial skills and relevant experience in their field.
- Manages assigned projects throughout the project life cycle, i.e., from strategic planning and project design, funding, and budgeting to project assessment and accountability; leads meetings and discussions, supervises publications and input from external providers.
- Has contributed to publications on their relevant subject; is recognized as a knowledge resource in his/her broad professional community.
- Has the intellectual leadership in integrating innovation into his/her field of expertise.
- Directly manages a team of contributors to the project, including staff members and possibly consultants.
- Fosters team-based activities in his/her unit; collaborates with other entities of the Institute.
- Acts as a model and mentor for colleagues.
- Is expected to travel globally to any geographical area involved in his/her projects.
- Follows internal procedures to ensure high standards of performance and compliance with Institutional guidelines.
- Acts in accordance with International IDEA’s Core Values: Respect, Integrity and Professionalism.
- Integrates a gender and inclusion perspective in all activities.
Reporting line
- Director Latin America and the Caribbean Region
Education and Experience
- A postgraduate degree in public policy, political science, public administration, international relations, Latin American Studies, or related fields.
- Project management or administration degree will be considered an asset.
- A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience working on legislative, political, and/or constitutional analysis in Panama.
- Experience in monitoring and evaluation approaches and procedures is essential.
- A minimum of five (5) years of solid experience in successful project management and the management of teams.
- Experience in designing and organizing international seminars and conferences.
- Solid experience with resource mobilization, including experience in the conceptualization and formulation of successful funding proposals and management of donor-funded projects and donor reporting.
- Experience with EU-funded projects and requirements, as well as familiarity with their processes and systems, is considered an asset.
- Experience working in international organizations, civil society organizations, or think tanks.
- Fluency in both written and spoken English and Spanish is required. Proficiency in any other widely spoken language in an International IDEA priority region would be considered an asset.
Terms of Contract:
- Local Post.
- Fixed-term appointment for two (2) years.
Please note as this is a local post, International IDEA will bear no costs relating to the relocation of the selected candidate to the duty station. This position is open to those legally authorized to live and work in Panama for the duration of the contract. International IDEA is not able to support work permit applications.
Applying for this position:
- Applications should be submitted online no later than 23:59 (CET) on 16th February 2024.
- Please note that all applications must be made in English.
Selection Process:
- Evaluation of qualified candidates will include a written test assessment and up to two (2) interviews.
- Candidates selected to proceed to the next stage of the process will be contacted once all applications have been carefully reviewed.
- All candidates will be notified of the status of their application via email once the process has been finalized.
International IDEA is an equal-opportunity employer which seeks to further diversify its staff in terms of gender, culture and nationality.