Consultancy to support continued Modular Learning development

The IPU is being innovative in using technology to continue its capacity building work in support of national parliaments, and will continue to do so over the coming years as outlined in the new 2022-2026 IPU Strategic Plan. Over the last year, IPU has conducted extensive consultations and research to outline an approach to online learning for parliaments and in 2022 is ready for the launch of a series of initiatives to support work taking place across the IPU.

Following the research carried out in 2021 IPU’s approach to online capacity development is premised on collective learning ‘by parliaments, for parliaments’, putting parliaments in the lead to share effective practices and enabling peer-to-peer engagement. In this way, online learning will enable new ways for the IPU to communicate with its members, and for members to communicate and learn with each other through enhanced digital platforms.

For each initiative, IPU will support a ‘learning journey’-style approach. This prioritizes learning by doing, aims to bridge the gap between knowledge acquisition and performance, and provides support over time to fit around parliamentary duties. It is informed by research on adult learning in the workplace that has shown that 70 percent of learning is due to direct engagement in work activities, 20 percent to interaction with peers and stakeholders, and 10 percent to formal training. For any initiative, IPU aims to provide a combination of ‘in person’ learning – online or face-to-face – with ongoing assistance delivered through online platforms that provide learning resources in different formats and link to communication and collaboration tools. This will provide the support structure participants need to apply what was learnt over time and record results.

Over time, the development of online learning journeys on different topics will consolidate the IPU’s knowledge over forty years in parliamentary capacity development and support MPs, staff and stakeholders engaging with parliament to take effective action to address key global and national issues and agendas. IPU’s inter-parliamentary communication and collaboration allows a unique opportunity to tap into best practice experience and practical examples of how parliaments undertake their functions and repackage this in a format that enables peer-to-peer learning.

Online spaces for learning and collaboration can also support engagement between parliaments and a broader set of actors and dynamics that influence them such as government, political parties, academia, United Nations partners and the media. This helps to strengthen a ‘parliamentary ecosystems’ approach and build parliaments’ capacity for greater resilience over time and the ability to jointly identify and respond to challenges as they emerge.

The objectives of IPU are to:

• Increase access to principles and best practice in the functions of democratic parliaments for MPs, parliamentary staff, and all stakeholders engaging with parliament.
• Support parliaments to identify practical action to address key global and national agendas including peacebuilding, human rights, gender equality, youth empowerment and sustainable development, helping to meet international agreements and standards in these areas and to make more actionable IPU’s knowledge products and activities in these areas.
• Strengthen peer-to-peer learning, inter-parliamentary dialogue, and comparative understanding; increasing the IPU’s capacity to connect parliamentarians to each other
• Provide a comprehensive training resource for the community of practice in parliamentary strengthening, helping address the Common Principles on Support to Parliament.

The ultimate outcome is to strengthen and connect parliaments so that they can better deliver for the people and enhance parliamentary engagement and action on key global and national issues and agendas.

Scope of Work

Online learning initiatives will be designed to address core functions of parliament and application to issues including gender, human rights, development, and other relevant areas identified by IPU members and partners. They will also be designed for specific groups such as women and youth. They will encourage reflection and identification of actions for participants on relevant themes to promote organizational changes that support the improved functioning of parliament.

The IPU has engaged in an effort to assess needs and expectations of MPs and staff of IPU member parliaments and the community of practice in parliamentary strengthening, that has helped outline how online learning can best utilize IPU’s position and organizational strengths to provide enhanced support to its Members. Evidence has been drawn from surveying and focus groups of MPs, staff and other stakeholders including parliamentary capacity development experts, international parliamentary capacity development providers and parliamentary training providers at national and regional levels. Following from this, the IPU has prepared a series of learning journey outlines aligning with capacity development aims across IPU programmes, including preparation to support capacity development based on the findings and recommendations of the third Global Parliament Report on Public Engagement in the Work of Parliament (GPR III). The first initiative using the modular learning approach was launched with the Research Department of the National Assembly of Zambia in December 2021 and continues through 2022.

The IPU has prepared a guide and toolkit for online learning and has commissioned research on suitable Learning Management Systems (LMS) for the modular learning initiative. This has resulted in different options that are ready for testing on initiatives to be launched in 2022.

IPU is seeking a consultant to build on work already begun including supporting ongoing modular learning initiatives and preparing to launch new initiatives in line with outlines prepared, in coordination with IPU staff across its seven programmatic areas and in response to identified needs and priorities in the realm of each policy goal of the IPU’s new strategic plan.

The work will require consultation and interaction with each team within the IPU.

The following deliverables are expected:

1. Design, help facilitate and report on the delivery of up to four modular learning initiatives across IPU programmes in line with a learning journey approach.
2. Develop practical guides and toolkits for the IPU, partners, facilitators, and clients on the modular learning approach.
3. Report on testing of modular learning on the proposed LMS platforms, and other tools for online learning used.
4. Conduct a stakeholder analysis around the modular learning initiatives to be delivered in 2022.
5. Report on partnerships developed with international parliamentary capacity development providers and parliamentary training providers, both in support of individual learning journeys and the modular learning initiative.
6. Based on outcomes of deliverables 1 through 5, deliver a strategy paper for a long-term vision, objectives, and approach for the modular learning initiative, through a consultative process within the IPU and with partners and clients.
7. Develop evaluation criteria and monitor progress, results achieved and lessons learned
8. Quarterly reports on progress of the work.

Competencies

The modular learning will be delivered by a consultant who will bear the overall responsibility for the assignment and ensure its strategic focus, relevance, and coherence as well as the quality of the outputs. The consultant is expected to follow an agreed methodology and workplan and in close collaboration with the IPU focal point.

The consultant must comply with the following requirements:

Corporate competences:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the IPU’s values and ethical standards.
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the IPU.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional competences:

• Knowledge of the functioning of parliament and additional related categories.
• Knowledge of online communication, networking, and collaboration tools.
• Excellent analytical, communication and writing skills.
• Ability to produce high quality outputs and in a timely manner.
• Sound judgment, strategic thinking, and the ability to manage priorities.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work under pressure and in a team.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced degree in relevant fields, such as Political Science, Law Public Administration, related fields.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of relevant work experience in the above-mentioned fields.
• Experience in capacity building applying innovative techniques.
• Solid knowledge and understanding of parliaments and how they function.
• Experience using online tools and platforms for the delivery of training courses.
• Previous experience developing training materials on the work of parliaments.

Language:

Applicants must be fluent in English, the course materials must be designed in English, and will be translated into French.

Criteria for Evaluation of Proposal:

Only those applications which are responsive and compliant will be evaluated. Offers will be evaluated according to the Combined Scoring method – where the educational background, experience on similar assignments, letter of interest and brief methodology will be weighted at 100% and the price proposal will weigh as 30% of the total scoring. The applicant receiving the Highest Combined Score that has also accepted IPUs General Terms and Conditions will be awarded the contract.

Technical Criteria -– max. 100 points:

• Criteria A – Relevant work experience in the field of parliament – max points: 30.
• Criteria B –Knowledge and experience in the development of training materials on the functioning of parliament – max points: 25.
• Criteria C – Knowledge and experience working with bilateral development agencies and/or IPU- max points: 25.
• Criteria D – Methodological approach – max points: 20.