TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR CONSULTANCY: THE ROLE AND FUNCTIONING OF POLITICAL PARTY CAUCUSES IN STRENGTHENING THE LEGISLATIVE, OVERSIGHT AND REPRESENTATIVE ROLES OF PARLIAMENT IN MALAWI
Basic Job Information
Job Title: Short Term Expert
Location: Lilongwe, Malawi
Position Type: Consultant
Job Stage: Currently Open
Number of positions available: 1
Close Date: 2/25/2023
Background and Scope of Work
Democracy Works Foundation (DWF), in partnership with Democracy International (DI) and with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is implementing the Parliamentary Support Program that seeks to contribute to Malawi’s democratic governance by supporting the Parliament of Malawi to better fulfill its legislative, oversight, and representative functions. It provides technical support to selected Committees and Caucuses, besides providing cross-institutional coordination between Parliament and Statutory oversight institutions. It also facilitates collaboration and coordination between the Parliament, Civil Society Organizations (CSO), and the media, around public integrity issues and legislative and oversight matters; and integrates Social and Behavioral Science (SBS) research and insights to identify key behaviors and psychological, social, and situational barriers that prevent stakeholders from leading reform.
The Parliamentary Support Program recognizes that the leadership and caucuses of political parties have a significant role in influencing oversight and legislative agendas of Parliament, as well as the overall functioning of the Parliamentary committees. Political party caucuses are instrumental in strengthening or weakening the political party-Parliamentary nexus. However, in Malawi, very little is known of how political party caucuses function, and how they can best be supported technically for them to play the constructive role of strengthening legislative, oversight and representative roles of Parliament. It is against this background that, as part of the Parliamentary Support Program, DWF seeks to commission a study to understand the opportunities that these political party caucuses have, to positively influence the legislative and oversight agendas of Parliament. The study is to be informed by international and regional best practices. The study will also serve as a capacity needs assessment that will, later, inform development of a training module to be used in a cross-party capacity building initiative on the role of party caucuses in strengthening the functioning of Parliament.
Accordingly, DWF now seeks to hire a short-term technical expert (Consultant) to undertake the study and -thereafter- develop the envisaged training module to be used for the cross-party capacity building on the role of party caucuses in strengthening the functioning of Parliament. This short-term consultancy will take place in person in Lilongwe, Malawi, with a start date in/or around February 2023. The level of effort is expected to be approximately 15 consultancy days.
Specific Tasks and Responsibilities
The specific tasks and responsibilities expected of the Consultancy will include the following:
- Assess and analyze how political party caucuses function in practice.
- Review the informal and formal rules of engagement as well as opportunities for political party caucuses to positively influence legislative and oversight agendas of Parliament.
- Identify, analyze, and document the capacity and knowledge gaps that exist within political parties, as well as in Parliament, for the party caucuses to effectively support/strengthen the role of Parliament.
- Based on international, regional, and local comparative experiences, identify best practices that can inspire and inform the better functioning of political party caucuses versus the role they can play in supporting legislative oversight.
- Present findings of the study.
Deliverables
- Inception report spelling out the Consultant’s understanding of the scope of the assignment as well as the methodology to be used.
- Draft Study narrative report that documents findings, analyses, and recommendations.
- Draft PowerPoint presentation on the findings, analysis and recommendations to be presented.
- Final report as well as final power point presentation that incorporate comments and observations.
Required Qualifications, Skills, & Experience
- Advanced Degree (or equivalent) in Political Sciences, Economics, and/or Development Management.
- A minimum of 5 years’ relevant work experience.
- Demonstrated understanding of the Political Parties in Malawi, Parliament Secretariat structures and the Committee system of Parliament.
- Proven track record of effective interactions with all levels of political parties, Parliament and staff, policy makers, senior political and civic leaders, and Government.
- Fluency in written and spoken English.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and ability to establish effective working relationships.
- Exceptional analytical skills and ability to apply analysis to programmatic activities.
Preferred Qualifications, Skills, & Experience
Demonstrated knowledge and experience of the Political Society of Governance, Parliament and the Malawi Government’s interface between the Political Society, the Legislature and the Bureaucracy or Executive’s policy system.
Reporting
The Consultant will report to the DWF Regional Director or his/her designated representative.
Application Method
To apply, all interested candidates meeting the criteria should send: an expression of interest with a CV and a Technical Proposal, that contains a work plan, methodology and links to the past works that relate to this assignment; a financial offer, including a proposed daily rate, and a writing sample in English to: recruitment@democracyworksfoundation.org by 25th February 2023.