Background

The “Support to Parliamentary Development in Moldova” Project aims to enhance parliamentary capacity in carrying out its core functions, thus contributing to viable democracy and open society in Moldova. The project adopts a comprehensive, long-term approach to parliamentary development including strengthening of the legislatures law-making, representation and oversight roles.
 
While elections are the most common mechanism linking citizens and their government, they are occasional and citizen participation is generally limited to casting a vote. The representatives in single member district systems, where constituents vote directly for a single representative, must be responsive to constituents if they want to remain in office. In party-list systems, as existing in Moldova, elected representatives have a primary loyalty to their party leaders. There is limited motivation to provide constituent services because they are not as likely to directly affect election outcomes as in single member district systems. Hence, constituency relations in Moldova are rather weak and mainly based on receiving occasional feedback from citizens and civil society. This is, however, not only caused by the voting system, in which parliamentarians do not formally represent a certain area of the country, but there are also other explanations such as lack of infrastructure. Inadequate, inaccessible facilities for MPs to meet with constituents act as constraints on relations between MPs and their constituents.
 
Sporadic relations with constituencies weaken accountability of Parliament and Parliamentarians to the citizens. Information about the work of the Parliament and the MPs is limited and fails to reach many of the rural areas where a majority of Moldova’s most vulnerable population lives. This poor communication flow can only widen the existing perception of social, economic and other disparities between urban (in particular the capital city Chisinau) and rural areas. As a result, the Parliament runs the risk of being perceived as isolated from the realities of life in Moldova’s villages and small towns, since citizens are not always aware of Parliament’s work.
 
In order to bring MPs closer to the constituents establishing Constituency Offices where MPs or their staff can meet with citizens, handle constituent problems, meet with local citizen groups and learn about local concerns and issues to raise in the Parliament is considered. The solution proposed for the Moldovan Parliament is to establish initially 3 Constituency Offices in regions, which will be used by representatives from all political parties and also act as a 'hub' for information and education on parliamentary/democracy issues. Such offices would bring the Parliament closer to the citizens, for who it will become easier to establish direct contact with MPs.
 
In this context, the UNDP Parliament Project is seeking to hire an international consultant who will make a feasibility study on establishing constituency offices for Members of Parliament in Moldova, using examples from other European countries with similar electoral systems.

Duties and Responsibilities

The expected output for the international consultant’s assignment is to make a feasibility study on establishing constituency offices for Members of Parliament in Moldova, assess the existing parliament-constituency relationship and suggest better mechanism aimed at strengthening parliamentarians' accountability vis-à-vis their constituents. This mechanism should enable the electorate to assess the effectiveness of MPs in representing their aspirations in the public decision-making processes, as well as their ability to explain the importance of decisions made and laws adopted by Parliament.

In order to achieve the stated objective, the Consultant will have the following responsibilities:

• Undertake a comprehensive desk review of the relevant national legal framework, relevant studies, researches, reports, EU/international best practices on creating constituency offices;
• Analyze similar experiences of other national European Parliaments;
• Review the existing mechanisms for parliamentary-constituency relations and suggest better mechanism aimed at strengthening parliamentarians' accountability vis-à-vis their constituents;
• Assess the law-making procedures of Parliament and recommend ways in which this process might be improved;
• Undertake and facilitate interviews with the key stakeholders, Members of the Parliament and with parliamentary staff;
• Undertake research visits outside of Chisinau identifying suitable districts for offices;
• Based on the above develop a road map, which will identify the place in Moldova where the office shall be established, office space, training for MPs and staff, the outreach of the Parliament, strengthening the quality of citizen education and participation, and public information and access;
• Actively participate in the discussion of the delivered results (developed documents) with Parliament and advocate for them;
• Conduct a Roundtable discussion with MPs, parliamentary staff.

Competencies

• Strong analytical and drafting skills;
• Ability to analyze, plan, communicate effectively orally and in writing, draft report, organize and meet expected results, adapt to different environments (cultural, economic, political and social);
• Availability to work with UNDP and Parliament during the indicated /approved period;
• Demonstrated interpersonal and diplomatic skills, as well as the ability to communicate effectively with all stakeholders and to present ideas clearly and effectively;
• Fluency in English. Knowledge of Romanian or Russian will be an asset;
• Computer literacy and ability to effectively use office technology equipment, IT tools.

Required Skills and Experience