Form of Employment: Short-term Consultant (National Position)
Starting date: 1 February 2020
End date: 30 Oct 2020
Duration: 35 working days
Location: Desk work with travel to provincial Capitals
Background
Democracy Reporting International (DRI) is a non-partisan, independent, not-for-profit organization registered in Berlin. DRI promotes political participation of citizens, accountability of state bodies and the development of democratic institutions world-wide. DRI helps support local ways of promoting the universal right of citizens to participate in the political life of their country, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
With support from the German Federal Foreign Office, DRI Pakistan is currently implementing a project entitled “Consolidating Democratic Stability in Pakistan”. The overall objective of the project is to strengthen local constituencies, both on the governmental and non-governmental side, to consolidate the democratic transition process in Pakistan, specifically with a view to human rights protection and effective, decentralized governance.
As part of this project DRI requires the services of a Consultant on Local Governance engagement.
DRI’s Local Government component:
DRI’s work in reference to local government focuses on the following objectives:
- Improve the understanding of the sub national legal framework through local government act assessments,
- Facilitate policy exchanges of sub national parliament and government actors on decentralization and multi-tier systems
- Increase civic awareness of local government structures for efficient protection of efficient protection of citizens rights.
Your duties and responsibilities:
In order to deliver the component focusing on building the awareness levels of parliamentarians and government bodies on the issue of shrinking civil society space DRI requires the services of an experienced professional to deliver the following:
- Provide a strategic view of the direction of local government reforms in Punjab and KP and advise DRI programmes to make the most out of its planned activities in terms of impact, transition to effective local governance and problem solving in key issues in implementation of the law.
- Design and deliver consultations and briefings (one to one, small group and larger groups as agreed) for various stakeholders including parliamentarians and politicians in Provincial Capitals to increase their awareness of local government.
- Identification of key parliamentarians specially representing government, members of relevant parliamentary committees and government officials who have an interest in and will have an influence on addressing the issue of local governance and human rights in Pakistan.
- Work towards mainstreaming human rights structures at village and neighbourhood level, Tehsil level and provincial level by suggesting and pushing specific policy measures in law while holding one-on-one meetings and briefings and provide technical advice to the Government as well as Parliamentary bodies for sustained efforts to move local governance forward.
- Write a short briefing paper in collaboration with DRI’s country office team on local government law’s implementation issues preferably on a narrower topic with a view to help provincial governments incorporate that in their rules of business and policy and present the paper’s finding the provincial exchanges that will be held by DRI.
- Help DRI staff make policy in-roads in relevant provincial structures with a view to sustain this year’s work in local government.
Required qualifications:
- University degree in Development Studies/Public Policy /Law/ Political Science or equivalent.
- Have a good foothold in existing political and bureaucratic setting with demonstrated experience of working on 2019 Local Govt Act in KP and Punjab. Have a sound technical grasp of issues and demonstrated experience of leading a policy dialogue on recent most policy issues around 2019 local government system with key ministers and secretaries.
- Demonstrated experience in engaging/working with public institutions and senior politicians ideally in a campaign setting. Should bring to the table a vast contact based and engagement history with key stakeholders.
- Demonstrated understanding of how laws and policy works and what can be the role of various institutions, procedures, mechanisms to advance a policy agenda.
- Excellent communication skills and Team skills
Interested candidates are expected to ensure their availability for assigned tasks for a period of 9 months starting from February 2020 to October 2020. DRI values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. Women and people from diverse backgrounds are highly encouraged to apply!
If you are interested in this position, please send your application (cover letter and CV along with two references) to [email protected]. Please include “Pakistan: Local Government Engagement Expert” in the subject line and refer to the source you have found this opportunity. Applying for this position by post mail is possible, please find our address details below.
Closing date for applications: 5 February 2020. The position may be filled before the end of the deadline so early applications are encouraged