United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through its project “Strengthening the System of Parliamentary Democracy in Georgia” is aimed at establishing the Georgian Parliament as a credible institution with an essentially greater role in national policy-making and European integration.
One of the strategic directions of the Project is enhancing the capacities of parliamentary committees to effectively exercise their policy- and law-making function, as well as the government oversight through developing the respective knowledge of Members and Staff of the committees. In the context of the new constitutional system, the Parliament assumes even greater role in the national policy processes. Therefore, it becomes absolutely essential that the Parliament through its committees is fully prepared to play a critical role within the framework of its mandate.
While the parliamentary committees have become more professional and active during the previous term of the Georgian Parliament, a number of substantial challenges remain. A comprehensive needs assessment commissioned by the EU Delegation and conducted by the Policy and Management Consulting Group (PMCG) in 2013, identified a series of shortcomings in Parliament's operations, including in the legislative and oversight areas. Some of the most critical findings are as follows: lack of institutional capacities to conduct policy planning and evaluation; excessive speed of the legislative process and associated risks; deficiencies with legislative initiatives on the part of the MPs; insufficient public engagement into the law-making process; etc. One of the main reasons for the above deficiencies is a lack of vision and strategic planning of the committees over the upcoming periods that result in a rarely agreed and planned schedule of work.
Considering above, UNDP Project aims to closely work with the committees to support them in developing their strategic action plans for 2014-2016 through outlining the major directions of their work for the foreseeable perspective, including the list of legislation to be dealt with and communication of this timetable to relevant stakeholders.
UNDP in consultation with the Parliament selected four sector committees to provide the above support. These are: Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee, Health Care and Social Issues Committee, Agrarian Issues Committee and Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee.
The support shall be provided in a manner which stresses national ownership. This would include building a greater understanding of strategic planning within the committee, facilitating members and staff to consider the vision, mission and performance targets and preparation of a strategic plan which reflects these discussions. This process and the resulting plans shall help to form a base for future strategic planning processes at the committee level.
To assist the committees with the above, UNDP Project is announcing a tender to contract national consultants in the relevant fields. The given Terms of Reference is specifically designed for the National Human Rights Consultant to provide support to the Parliament’s Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee.
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