Parliamentary Standards Researcher-Writer

ODIHR DEMOCRATIZATION DEPARTMENT ODIHR PUBLICATION: PRACTICES FOR DEVELOPING STANDARDS FOR PARLIAMENTARY CONDUCT IN THE OSCE AREA

Vacancy Notice: Parliamentary Standards Researcher-Writer

Background The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), through its Democratic Governance programme, delivers projects and activities that aim to strengthen awareness of the key role of democratic parliaments laid out in the commitments adopted by the participating States of the OSCE. The ODIHR works in partnership with the parliamentary strengthening and support programmes implemented by individual OSCE Field Operations. The regulation of standards of parliamentarians’ behaviour and ethics is essential to the maintenance of public trust in the efficacy, transparency, and equity of democratic systems, and for building up a culture of democratic public service that favours the public interest over private gains. A number of different regulatory models exist in parliamentary systems for the control of conduct, with a trend towards explicit “codification,” i.e. in “Codes of Conduct,” of acceptable standards of parliamentary behaviour and ethics.

The ODIHR would like to support the development of a publication that analyzes how parliaments go about drafting, updating, and reforming standards of conduct for members of parliament, including through codes of conduct. The publication would conceptualize and raise key issues and questions that parliaments should think about in addressing ethics and standards reform, and would draw on OSCE participating State practices and case studies. The publication’s primary target audience would be reform-minded parliamentarians and parliamentary staff, as well as civil society groups interested in parliamentary reform, and OSCE and ODIHR staff working with parliaments.

After an in-house research phase, ODIHR is moving to a second phase and will hire a Parliamentary Standards Researcher-Writer, from September to December 2011 for a total of fifteen (15) days. The Consultant will take the lead in designing, researching, and writing the publication, in collaboration with the ODIHR Democratic Governance and Participation in Public Affairs Unit and other stakeholders.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Objective: Develop a high quality, practical, and user-friendly publication that draws on academic research and practical experience in OSCE participating States, to outline the issues and questions to consider in reforming, developing, and designing parliamentary standards of conduct, including, but not limited to, codes of conduct.

Tasks and Deliverables Under the guidance of Democratic Governance Officers at OSCE ODIHR (the project team), the consultant will: 1) Participate in the conceptualization of the ODIHR publication by: a. Developing with the project team a detailed table of contents of the publication, and agreeing on any required data tables/graphs, figures, annexes or appendices; b. Developing and agreeing on a research and work plan with the project team 2) Researching and writing the publication on parliamentary codes of conduct a. Based on: i. existing research developed by ODIHR; ii. international and OSCE standards and commitments; existing good practice guides, research tools, and manuals; iii. academic research; and iv. phone interviews with OSCE staff and selected experts b. And delivering: i. Regular e-mail updates on the state of research and writing; ii. A first detailed outline, based on the agreed table of contents, two weeks after the table of contents is agreed; iii. A first draft of the report, four weeks after the table of contents; and iv. An updated final draft ten days after the regional event (see below), taking on board comments from the regional event discussions and feedback/comments from the project team

3) Participate in an OSCE regional event on parliamentary conduct standards, for parliamentary staffers and members of parliament from South East Europe, to take place in South East Europe in the fourth quarter of 2011, by: a. Preparing and delivering a presentation at the event on the subject of parliamentary standards of conduct, b. Preparing and participating in a discussion on the draft publication, for the purpose of “field-testing” the draft and gleaning suggestions for the final version from its potential users (parliamentarians, parliamentary staff, and OSCE parliamentary strengthening programme staff).

Deliverables (with estimated dates)

1) Regular email updates (as required) 2) Final table of contents of the publication (early September 2011) 3) Research and work plan (mid-September 2011) 4) Detailed outline of the publication (mid-September 2011) 5) First draft of publication (October 2011) 6) Presentation to regional seminar (early November 2011 – to be confirmed) 7) Final draft of publication (late November/early December 2011)

Location The Researcher-Writer will not be provided with workspace or any office equipment. The Researcher-Writer will be expected to conduct his/her work from home (except during the regional event outlined above), and to be reachable by email and telephone to discuss the project with OSCE ODIHR staff when required.

Necessary Qualifications - Advanced university degree in law, political science or a related field; - Seven (7) years of experience as a legal/political science researcher, academic, or equivalent practice in developing knowledge tools for democracy development; - Documented ability to research and analyze complex politico-legal matters as well as to present them in an audience-appropriate and user-friendly manner; - Knowledge of international and OSCE democratic governance standards and principles; - Fluency in English; knowledge of other OSCE official languages (in particular Russian) as well as Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian a plus; - Excellent writing and presentation skills; - Microsoft Office proficiency (including Word, Excel and Power point); and - Flexibility, ability to work under minimum supervision, and delivery against tight deadlines.

Remuneration Remuneration will be competitive and commensurate with the level of skills and experience of the candidate.

How to apply Please send the following to recruit@odihr.pl quoting ref. VNODIC00306: - a cover letter outlining how you feel you are qualified to develop the publication and how you would go about researching and drafting the text; and - a detailed curriculum vitae (including any significant relevant publications or past writing projects).