Job Description

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is the global organization of national parliaments with a membership of 183 Member Parliaments and 15 Associate Members. The IPU promotes democratic governance, institutions and values, working with parliaments and parliamentarians to articulate and respond to the needs and aspirations of the people. It works to promote peace, democracy, human rights, gender equality, youth empowerment, climate action and sustainable development through political dialogue, cooperation and parliamentary action. The IPU has supported over half of its members to strengthen parliament capacity to perform their functions. IPU coordinates the Centre for Innovation in Parliament (CIP) which harnesses the potential for innovation across parliaments by bringing them together, supporting collaboration on solutions and sharing knowledge with the wider parliamentary community.


UNDP has been supporting more than 60 parliaments globally to strengthen parliament as an institution of good governance, inclusive development and public accountability.


In the Pacific, the UNDP Pacific Office (PO) has been supporting Pacific Parliaments to fulfil the core functions of parliaments of law-making, oversight and representation. The PO has supported Pacific Parliaments to reform the parliamentary professional service, provided trainings and activities to strengthen parliamentary library and research services, provided policy support with a focus on SDG advocacy, supported the production of Budget Briefs for members to assist with informed debates on the national budgets, increased opportunities for citizens and CSO engagement in the work of parliament, built capacities for members and staff on substantive and procedural issues as well as skills such as public speaking, dealing with the media, debating, and codes of conduct, supported the development for institutional frameworks to ensure that parliaments have sufficient power and independence to contribute to democratic development.


The IPU collaborates with the the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) both nationally and globally for over 40 years. In late 2025, the IPU and UNDP have entered into a cooperation agreement to support parliaments in Pacific countries. Within this project the IPU will support four Pacific parliaments to improve internal ICT governance systems.

Digital transformation

UNDP and IPU have both provided particular support to Pacific Parliaments that facilitates their digital transformation, making them more efficient, more resilient, and most importantly better able to engage with and involve citizens in public debate and decision making.


As part of this work, UNDP and IPU will provide support to four Pacific Parliaments in undertaking an IT assessment and development of a digital strategy to improve each parliaments internal ICT governance systems.

Duties and responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the Manager, Technical Cooperation Programme, IPU and working with four Pacific parliaments, the Consultant will perform the following functions:

Facilitate IT assessments in four parliaments where a stocktaking is made of the current state of IT, envisaged state, gap analysis. Assist the parliaments in using assessment methodologies and tools to support the IT governance process including the IMAT (IT maturity assessment tool, developed by the EP and promoted through the IT governance hub in the framework of CIP) and the Digital Maturity self-assessment tool (developed by CIP). Accompany each parliament in developing its Digital strategy development: including formulation of the vision for IT, strategic goals and objectives, including based on consultation with high level stakeholders like clerks, SG, members, senior IT management, heads of parliamentary departments. Support development of an IT implementation strategy/roadmap for each parliament: providing a multi-year set of actions at the technology, process, people and policies levels Help each parliament to establish and promote its IT governance policy: ensuring that the parliaments build internal capacities and establish formal processes for regular digital strategy planning, and IT work planning, all facilitated by a relevant internal IT coordination body or group.

Institutional Arrangements

The Consultant will report directly to the Manager, IPU Technical cooperation programme All reports and documents relating to the assignment will be submitted to the Manager, IPU Technical cooperation programme The Consultant will be responsible for all technical related equipment including Laptops, Printing, Internet, and Software subscriptions relevant to this assignment.

Duration of the Work

35 days between 15/01/2026 - 30/05/2026

Duty Station & Travel

Home based for preparatory work with travels to Pacific Island countries. For all travel undertaken through this consultancy, IPU will purchase air tickets for the consultant based on the most direct route and cost-effective route as per IPU Conditions of Travel. IPU will also provide Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) to the consultant for the duration of his/her stay at the respective duty station at UN approved DSA rates.

Educational Qualifications (Minimum):

University degree in Information Technology, Computer Engineering or related fields and/or relevant practical experience in parliamentary development projects or parliaments.

Experience:

At least 15 years of experience in Parliamentary IT with at least 5 years' experience in managing a parliamentary IT department. Experience of undertaking assessments of parliamentary institutions and helping ICT / e-parliament strategies is required. Experience of working directly with parliaments will be preferred. Knowledge and understanding of parliamentary development and democratic institution's development processes. Experience of work in the Pacific region and in a development, context is a strong asset. Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including politicians, parliamentarians and other government officials.

Competencies:

Good representational and liaison skills. Excellent interpersonal, intercultural, communication and networking with a demonstrated ability to build and maintain professional relationships. Ability to meet deadlines. Excellent English writing and communication skills.

Deliverables

Deliverable Due date

Inception report: a report including a workplan and outlining the methodology, timeline, engagement strategy for ICT governance and expected outcomes

Within 10 days of contract signatureAn interim progress note to include:

Findings and progress to date; challenges faced and how they were mitigated; opportunities availed of (if any); Recommendations


5 days following completion of support to 2 parliamentsFinal report which outlines:

Findings and progress; challenges faced and how they were mitigated; opportunities availed of (if any); recommendations going forward.



10 days following completion of support to all parliaments




How to apply
The deadline for applications is 19 December 2025 at 12.00 CET. Applications should be sent by e-mail to job@ipu.org with "Consultant: SLIP ICT Governance" in the subject line. For further details about the consultancy, please contact Norah Babic at the IPU Secretariat (nb@ipu.org)


Applicants will be contacted only if they are under serious consideration. Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.

Recruitment principles

Our guiding principle in selecting candidates is to secure the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity. We do not discriminate on any grounds and are committed to promoting diversity in our workforce.


Particular attention is paid to candidates from developing countries and to achieving gender balance. We strive to provide an environment where the contribution of each individual is valued.


We ask all our personnel to apply the Common Principles for Support to Parliaments in their work.


We ask all our personnel to agree to our Code of conduct for personnel and our Fraud and corruption prevention policy available at https://www.ipu.org/about-us/working-with-ipu, and our policy to prevent and address harassment including sexual harassment at IPU Assemblies and other events, available at: https://www.ipu.org/about-ipu/structure-and-governance/statutes-and-policies-ipu.



Deadline:
Friday, 19 December 2025