Pakistan: Parliamentary Expert

Position Title: Parliamentary Expert
Position Location: Islamabad/Pakistan, with frequent travel to the provinces
Contract Period: 9 months, 1 July 2016 – 31 March 2017

Starting Date: 22 July 2016

Background

Democracy Reporting International (DRI) is a nonpartisan, independent, not-for-profit international organization registered in Berlin, Germany, which promotes political participation of citizens, accountability of state bodies and the development of democratic institutions world-wide.

With funding from DFID, DRI is going to launch the short term project “Supporting Electoral and Parliamentary Reforms in Pakistan”, which aims at supporting Pakistan’s elected institutions at the national and provincial levels to become a source of democratic stability and effectively exert their oversight, legislative and representation functions with improved participation of women, youth, and minorities in electoral and democratic processes. DRI will engage with different stakeholders such as policy-makers, political parties, media and civil society on the need of electoral and parliamentary reforms in light of international electoral standards and good parliamentary practices.

DRI is looking for a Parliamentary Expert to support the implementation of project activities with the national parliament and provincial assemblies.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Parliamentary Expert works under the supervision of DRI’s Country Representative in Pakistan and supports the implementation of the project activities related to support to the provincial assemblies. Specifically, s/he will

• Establish and maintain contacts with parliamentary interlocutors such as Members of the National Assembly and the Senate, and Members of the Provincial Assembly as well as the standing committees and secretariat staff at the national and provincial levels;

• Facilitate inter-parliamentary exchange between provincial assemblies and the federal parliament;

• Provide technical analysis, advice and briefings to MPs and related committees of the federal and provincial assemblies on the status and implementation of civil and political rights in Pakistan with a particular focus on electoral reforms and the engagement of women, youth and minorities;

• Write and supervise the compilation of technical papers and briefings on civil and political rights of women, minorities and youth;

• Design and launch a support initiative for establishing formal opportunities to create dialogue between parliaments and civil society such as public hearings and briefings on bills and reform processes;

• Conceptualize and support the implementation of a Parliamentary Internship Programme aimed at providing parliamentarians and parliamentary committees in the provincial assemblies with required technical and administrative resources by utilizing the active potential of Pakistani youth;

• Provide technical expertise to the provincial assemblies in forming, strengthening and institutionalizing proper linkages with civil society organization through established platforms such as joint-working groups of parliamentarians and representatives of civil society;

• Deliver updates on relevant discussions and developments in the federal and provincial assemblies on civil and political rights with a particular focus on electoral reforms and the engagement of women, youth and minorities in political issues;

• Perform other duties as may be required for the implementation of the project.

Qualifications & Experience

• University degree in law, international relations, political science, social science, or related field;
• 10+ years of relevant professional experience;
• 5+ years of experience in technical assistance or advocacy projects related to parliamentary strengthening and legislative reforms;
• Proven knowledge on international human rights law with a particular focus on civil and political rights of women, youth and minorities and international election standards;
• Detailed understanding of Pakistani politics and the parliamentary set up;
• Familiarity with the legal framework for general and local government elections, the reform agenda for elections, women and minorities and relevant stakeholders in Pakistan;
• Demonstrated political judgment and analytical skills;
• Strong writing, presentation and group facilitation skills;
• English, business fluent oral and written;
• Urdu, fluency oral and written.

Deadline for applications: 12 July 2016

For interested applicants, please send your application (cover letter and CV) to asia@democracy-reporting.org with“**Parliamentary Expert (Pakistan)**” as the subject heading and supporting documents in the following format: SURNAME_FIRSTNAME_PARLIAMENTARYEXPERT.

Early applications are encouraged as candidates may be invited to interview before the deadline. Recruitment may close before the deadline if an applicant is found. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. The award of the contract is contingent on funding for this project .