A. Problem to be Addressed

Pakistan has an established parliamentary system that provides a core to the democratic structure of the constitution. The system is based on the Westminster model common throughout the Commonwealth and similar in most details to the neighboring South Asian countries and to the United Kingdom. While the parliamentary structure is in place and democratic elections are held to determine the party in government, the everyday working of parliament has potential to be developed to further assist the democratic process between elections.

Issues to be addressed during the project have been identified through a consulatative process preceding the design of the project. Some members have expressed the need for a further understanding of the parliamentary procedures, drafting of motions and amendments, access to Private Member’s Bill drafting and advice on the most effective use of Question Hour and committee work. Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) could also benefit from sharing their experiences in strengthening constituency management and in helping to define the legitimate scope of MNA activities. The relationship between the federal parliament and the provincial assemblies may also be an area for further consideration. Members’ needs will continue to develop. Members do not currently have their own office space, staff or access to individual information technology (IT). Thought needs to be given to these issues as expectations rise.

Committees of the National Assembly have been established to correspond with Government departments. Committees provide a valuable means to aid accountability. However, not all committees are well attended or sit regularly. Regular meetings, with specific issue-related agendas and public evidence, along with the publication of reports followed by Assembly debates, would give backbencher and opposition MNAs greater scope for making the Government more effective. Committee staffing by part-time expert special advisors would aid this process.

There is considerable scope for assistance in developing the parliament’s research and automation service for the benefit of MNAs. Information technology provision is also identified by parliamentary officials and Members as an area for assistance. Access to data bases and to the Internet would make possible the preparation of research reports, briefing papers and responses to individual MNA information needs. There is also an internal need within the parliamentary administration for a more comprehensive use of IT. For example financial details are not held on computers, but must be retrieved manually from paper files, reducing the efficiency of the decision making process. It would also be useful to provide assistance to the Parliamentary Secretariat in: methods for note taking and streamlining the transcription process; completing and publishing transcripts of parliamentary proceedings; and collating and publishing the Speaker’s rulings.

Members of parliament are also interested in assistance regarding relations between the Parliament and the media and in making television coverage of Parliament more effective. Pakistan Television (PTV) will be initiating a program to address this issue.

Other donors may also be interested in providing various types of aid to the Pakistan Parliament. As members of parliament and parliamentary staff do not always know the specific interests and expertise of different donors, they have requested assistance in liaising with donors.

The problems outlined above are similar to those experienced by provincial assemblies. While activities in this Preparatory Assistance will focus mainly on the National Assembly, issues pertaining to the provincial assemblies and local bodies will be investigated and documented in Project Document and the PC-1.

2. Background and Justification

In February 1997, national elections were held in Pakistan. The elections brought many new members into the National and Provincial Assemblies. The majority of these new members lack experience with parliamentary practices and procedures. Similarly, the Secretariat of the National Assembly, while led by a core group of qualified senior civil servants, is staffed by many other civil servants who lack the skills necessary to provide the necessary support to parliamentarians.

Following the elections, the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), with funding from the UNDP, sponsored a two-day roundtable for Pakistan's political, government and civic leaders to allow an open and frank exchange on issues important to Pakistan's democratic development, including the accountability process and parliamentary reform. The 32 participants included top elected officials from the major political parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League (PML), Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Muhajir Qaumi Movement (MQM), Awami National Party (ANP), Jamaat-E-Islami (JI), Pakistan Tehrik-I-Insaaf (PTI) and Independents. Also participating were the former Speaker and the current Acting Speaker of the National Assembly, Additional Secretary of the National Assembly, Chief Commissioner of the Ehtesab Commission, Secretary of the National Election Commission, Joint Secretary of the Law Commission, Deputy Speaker of the NWFP Provincial Assembly, chairman of the Pakistan branch of Transparency International, the former accountability advisor to the President, the former Minister of Law and a former judge. The roundtable was moderated by the senior advisor to the President of Portugal (a former member of the parliament) and representatives from NDI and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. During the roundtable, participants developed an extensive list of recommendations addressing specific targets for reform and reached general consensus on several fundamental principles, including continuation of the accountability process and the need to strengthen the institution of parliament and the capacity of its members.

Following the roundtable, NDI, funded by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), organized a 10-day study mission to South Africa to investigate issues of ethics, accountability and transparency in government. The multi-party delegation, which included representatives from all three major political parties, traveled to South Africa to meet with government, parliamentary, judicial and NGO representatives involved in the accountability process.

Previous work has been undertaken with the National Assembly Secretariat by the Asia Foundation and with both the National Assembly and Senate Secretariats by the Han Siedel Foundation. The Asia Foundation, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), conducted a program to modernize and expand the parliamentary library, and to establish an effective research service for MNAs. The four-year program was initiated in 1985. Under the Asia Foundation project, achievements included: the reorganization of the parliamentary library; production of software for the library’s cataloguing system, addition of approximately 28,000 books and reference materials to the library, installation of micro-graphic equipment; transfer of 20 years accumulation of National Assembly debate proceedings to microfiche storage; reorganization of office space; study tours for four Research Officers and the librarian; and day to day training for Library and Research staff by a consultant.

The Han Siedel Foundation is currently providing assistance to secretariats of both the National Assembly and the Senate. This Foundation has provided technical equipment to the Senate Secretariat, organized a number of delegations to Germany to look at the parliamentary secretariat, and granted scholarships for two students to study computer science in the Netherlands and at Oxford University in the U.K. In addition, the Han Siedel Foundation has helped the Organization of Women Parliamentarians From Muslim Countries to establish a secretariat within the National Secretariat of Parliament.

The UNDP has agreed to offer its assistance to the Government of Pakistan (GOP) on developing a long-term plan for addressing the concerns raised at the parliamentary roundtable, and to assist with the implementation of this plan where possible. As an initial step, the UNDP contracted with NDI under the existing Management Development Programme Project, to draft this Preparatory Assistance Document in consultation with Members of the National Assembly from opposition and government parties and with the Parliamentary Secretariat. The activities outlined in this document have been identified by parliamentarians and members of the Secretariat as those that they would like addressed during the eight-month period that it will take to draft a long-term plan.

In an effort to facilitate the timely completion of the Preparatory Assistance Document and to ensure that the members’ needs were accurately defined, the Speaker of the National Assembly formed a Parliamentary Steering Committee (PSC) of MNAs including government, opposition, independent and minority members to advise the NDI team. A list of these members can be found in Annex 2 of this document. The Speaker also appointed Mr. Syed Fakhar Imam, Member of the National Assembly, Chairperson of the Commission on Administrative Restructuring and former Speaker of the National Assembly (1985-86) to coordinate the project and liaise with the NDI team and the UNDP on the formulation and presentation of the Preparatory Assistance Document.

In addition to meeting with the PSC, the NDI team also met with Government Ministers, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, the Secretary and Additional Secretary of the National Assembly, the Director General of Research, the Deputy Director of the Automation Department and other staff members from the Secretariat. From these meetings a number of specific areas of interest were identified. These areas were each reflected in discussions with various officials and Members and form the basis of the objectives and outputs listed in section C of this document.

NDI found that there is widespread interest in seminars for the orientation of new MNAs. Members and staff also identified the need for more comprehensive research and information systems and data. The Secretariat understands that while the UNDP may not be able to finance the purchase of certain equipment such as that necessary to upgrade the close-circuit television system that is currently in place, there are donors that may be interested in funding these types of projects. Several members of the Secretariat have requested that a consultant work with them to identify possible donors for these types of projects.

A major obstacle faced by the MNAs and the Secretariat is the lack of qualified staff. The idea of initiating a program with the local universities to provide interns to the National Assembly was raised by MNAs as well as members from the Secretariat and the Research and Automation branches. Interns could be sought from university departments including Business Administration, Computer Science, Economics, International Relations, Journalism, Political Science, and Public Administration. The introduction of interns into the Secretariat would be beneficial to both students and parliamentarians. In addition, the provision of and training on the use of scheduling and spreadsheet software would be helpful.

MNAs have a strong relationship with constituents on local issues. It would, however, be useful for them to share experiences and practices with their colleagues in the National Assembly and with those from other countries where there are both National and Provincial Assemblies. This would allow the MNAs to enhance their constituency management.

Several issues were raised that may be addressed more extensively during the long-term program. The MNAs’ relationship with the media was discussed and identified as an area where assistance would be beneficial. For example, the members expressed the need to increase the media’s understanding of parliamentary issues, thereby improving media coverage of parliament. This is an issue that will be investigated more extensively in the long-term program. Interest was also expressed in supporting political think tanks or establishing a non-governmental organization that could serve as a resource to parliamentarians. This will also be explored during the long-term program.

These areas of interest reflect the problems identified in Section A and form the basis of the Objectives and Outputs below.

Governance is one of the three focus areas under the Country Cooperation Framework for the 1998-2003. The Objective of the Governance Programme is to "create an enabling environment within which the people of Pakistan can influence the direction and conduct of their governing institutions". The programme has three major components: policy development, governing institutions and decentralization. The Parliament is indeed one of the key institutions of democratic governance. The need for strengthening legislative capacities has been well documented in the consultative process leading to the formulation of this project. In view of its perceived neutrality and its experience in having developed similar programmes in other comparable countries, UNDP is well placed to provide preparatory assistance to the parliamentarians and the National Assembly secretariat and to prepare a basis for long term multi-donor assistance to the parliamentary and democratic process in Pakistan. This project also has synergic links with other projects of UNDP, such as PAK/96/011-Supporting Democratic Electoral Processes in Pakistan, support to Good Governance Group under the Management Development Programme and the political empowerment component of the Gender programme. These links will be formalized during the implementation of the PA and will be reflected in the formulation of the full-scale project.

The purpose of the Preparatory Assistance is to:

(1) Formulate a Project Document and PC-1 for long-term assistance to enhance the professional capacity of the parliamentarians and National Assembly Secretariat and to support other democratic processes;

and to initiate a process that will:

(2) Strengthen the capacity of parliamentarians to legislate and make meaningful contributions to national policy making; manage their constituency work; and strengthen parliamentary committees (including their capacity to monitor ministries and attached departments and subordinate offices);

(3) Increase the capacity of the Parliamentary Secretariat to provide technical and substantive support to parliamentarians.

 

 

 

 

Output 1.1

Approved draft UNDP Project Document and PC-1.

Success Criteria: The Project Document has been endorsed by UNDP LPAC and the PC-1 has been approved for GOP approval. The Prodoc/PC-1 will reflect a long-term program to build institutional capacity at the national, provincial and local levels to support democratic processes in Pakistan.

Activities

• Identify and provide a subcontract to a Sub-contracting Agency.

• Identify, procure and set up an office, complete with local staff and equipment, for the Subcontracting Agency. The office will also serve as the secretariat for the Preparatory Assistance.

• Submit a detailed work plan of planned activities to the UNDP.

• Hold consultations with the Parliamentary Steering Committee convened by the Speaker to advise the Subcontracting Agency and with various groups as described in the activities supporting objectives two and three.

• Consult with Provincial Speakers, Members of the Provincial Assemblies (MPAs) and local representatives to identify possible assistance that would build institutional capacity at the provincial level and strengthen the relationship between the local, provincial and national tiers of government.

• Identify potential stakeholders including interested donors, the PSC, MPAs, members of the Secretariat and UNDP representatives.

• Organize a stakeholder meeting to design the follow-up program and incorporate their views in the revised draft Project Document.

• Draft a Project Document on the basis of activities carried out under objectives two and three.

• Submit the draft Prodoc for review by the UNDP LPAC.

• Translate the summary of the Prodoc into Urdu.

• Submit the PC-1 for GOP approval.

A skills building seminar for interested members of the National Assembly on parliamentary practices and procedures is designed and held.

Success Criteria: A skills building seminar will be conducted for interested members of the National Assembly. Following the seminar, the members of parliament who participated will have a more accurate understanding of the function of the National Assembly and the Parliamentary Secretariat, as well as a comparative context in which to view the legislative, representative and oversight functions of a democratic parliament. From this seminar, an orientation for new members will be designed for future use.

Activities

• Consult with parliamentarians to identify subjects to be covered in the Skills Building Seminar for MNAs.

• Identify local, experienced parliamentarians to advise on the development of the Skills Building Seminar.

• Consult with international parliamentary experts on the design of a Skills Building Seminar for Pakistan.

• Draft an agenda for the Skills Building Seminar. Depending on the findings of the consultations with the Pakistani parliamentarians and the international parliamentary experts, the agenda might include: the role of the Speaker, the role of Whips, floor procedures, the legislative process (how a bill becomes a law, etc.), the role of committees, legislative-executive relations, the function of the Parliamentary Secretariat (including support services available to parliamentarians), and the relationship with the media.

• Identify current or former parliamentarians (or, in particular circumstances, current or former senior parliamentary staff members) from relevant countries and resource persons from local universities and research departments to serve as resource persons for this seminar.

• Conduct a seminar to which all interested members of the National Assembly will be invited.

• Conduct a follow-up meeting with a group of those MNAs who participated in the Seminar to develop a New Member Orientation for future use. A staff member of the Sub-contracting agency will meet with the MNAs to discuss the impact of the seminar and to help identify any gaps in the knowledge of the members with respect to the role of the parliament and the parliament secretariat, as well as the role and responsibilities of the members themselves.

• Work closely with the Parliamentary Secretariat to institutionalize an orientation program for future new members.

A workshop on enhancing constituency management.

Success Criteria: A workshop will be conducted that provides MNAs with ideas on constituency management techniques through discussions with their peers in Pakistan as well as from other countries. The workshop might cover such issues as the balance between National Assembly demands and constituency demands; the division of responsibilities between MNAs and local government representatives for responding to constituents’ concerns; the constituent’s understanding of the role and limitations of their member of parliament; the member’s capacity to communicate with constituents regarding the work of the parliament with respect to national issues; and the development of a constituency management strategy.

Activities

• Identify current or former parliamentarians from relevant countries to serve as resource persons for this workshop.

• Identify Pakistani MNAs who are successfully executing their legislative and constituency management duties.

• Draft an agenda for the constituency management workshop.

• Organize a workshop for members to share ideas on constituency management.

• Provide members with resource materials on the conduct of constituency management in other countries.

• Conduct a follow-up meeting with a group of those MNAs who participated in the constituency management workshop. A staff member of the Subcontracting Agency will meet with the members to discuss the impact of the workshop and to help identify further areas of interest with respect to constituency management issues.

• Write a workshop report.

Output 2.3

A report analyzing the current role and function of committees.

Success Criteria: A report will be drafted that collects information about the current role and function of the parliamentary committees in Pakistan and analyzes their strengths and weaknesses. Recommendations for assistance to strengthen the committees will flow from this analysis and will be included in the report.

Activities

• Identify a parliamentary expert to draft a report on the role and function of committees in Pakistan.

• Draft an outline for the report on committees.

• Interview committee chairmen, members of parliament, parliamentary staff, ministers and senior civil servants to discuss the role and function of committees.

• Meet with representatives of civil society and the press on their access to and experience with committee meetings and reports.

• Draft a report on the current role and functioning of committees in Pakistan. The report will seek to answer, in part, the following questions: What is the current role of the committees in the legislative and oversight process? What is the current relationship between parliamentary committees and ministries, attached departments and subordinate offices? Do the parliamentary committees currently have the necessary powers and resources in order for them to fulfill their role in the legislative and oversight process? Do the committees amend legislation and issue reports on legislation? The oversight functions of committees pertaining to their particular ministry, including administration, expenditures and response to public grievances will also be examined. Based on these findings, the report would make recommendations for assistance to strengthen the parliamentary committees.

Output 3.1

A report on the feasibility of establishing an internship program with parliament.

Success Criteria: A report will be prepared on the feasibility of establishing an internship program with parliament. The report would allow the Pakistani Parliament and universities to make a determination as to whether an internship program would be beneficial, feasible, and cost-efficient.

Activities

• Collect information on similar internship programs that are conducted in other countries.

• Hold consultations with university department chairs, professors and students. These consultations will seek to identify universities that are interested in providing interns from such departments as: Business Administration, Computer Science, Economics, International Relations, Journalism, Political Science, and Public Administration.

• Meet with the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, officials of the Secretariat, MNAs, members of Provincial Assemblies (MPAs) and other staff members from the Assemblies to identify areas that could use interns.

• Prepare a report on the feasibility of setting up an internship program at the various levels. The report will investigate possible internship programs for both the National and Provincial Assemblies and look at institutional mechanisms necessary to bring interns into the parliament.

Output 3.2

A skills-building seminar for Parliamentary Secretariat staff.

Success Criteria: A seminar aimed at improving the skills of Parliamentary Secretariat staff to provide technical and substantive support to parliamentarians will be held. The agenda for the seminar will be developed in consultation with members of the Secretariat in order to meet the specific needs of the staff members.

 

Activities

• Conduct a needs assessment on the skills of the Secretariat staff that need to be strengthened.

• Identify resource persons to conduct a skills-building seminar for members of the Secretariat.

• Prepare an agenda for the seminar in consultation with the Secretariat.

• Conduct a seminar on skills-building for Secretariat staff.

• Write a workshop report.

Output 3.3

Improve the resource and research access of parliamentarians by increasing the networking capacity of the Research and Automation wings of the secretariat.

Success Criteria: The Research and Automation staff will be provided with individual e-mail accounts and Internet access from their desks. These terminals will used by the Research and Automation staff to conduct research on parliamentary issues, network with Research and Automation departments in other countries and research specific bills for parliamentarians. For this purpose , five computers, one printer, internet and other management software will be installed in a specified area within the Research and Automation Departments.

Activities

• Confirmation by the GOP to ensure continued funding of the Internet service by the GOP upon completion of the UNDP project.

• Procure LAN Server, five computer terminals and accessories.

• Identify the most appropriate Internet service (e.g. Cybernet, Compunet, etc.).

• Recruit a local Information Specialist to install and provide instruction on the functioning of a corporate Internet service.

• Conduct an orientation on the use of the Internet for the Research and Automation staff.

D. Outputs and Schedule of Activities

The bar chart depicting the indicative schedule of activities is presented in Annex 7. A more detailed version of planned activities will be produced in the form of a work plan and calendar of activities by the Subcontracting Agency in consultation with the Executing Agency during the first month of the Preparatory Assistance implementation period.

E. Management & Implementation Arrangements

The Secretariat of the National Assembly will be the Executing Agency for the Preparatory Assistance and will be responsible to the UNDP for the achievement of the project’s immediate objectives. The Speaker of the National Assembly will regularize the Parliamentary Steering Committee (PSC) to advise the Subcontracting Agency on project implementation issues. The Steering Committee will provide overall directions and guidance to the project implementation and will review the work plans, progress made and resolve any issues impeding the progress of the Preparatory Assistance. The Chairperson, PSC, in consultation with PSC members, will provide substantive guidance on the implementation of the PA and in the design of the follow-up project. A National Project Director (NPD) will be designated by the Executing Agency to operationally manage and implement the PA under the guidance of the PSC Chairperson.

The National Project Director will be assisted by the Subcontracting Agency, which will be responsible for providing substantive project implementation and operational management support to the Executing Agency. The project will largely be implemented through a sub-contract to a reputed international agency on the basis of the Statement of Work enclosed in Annex 4 of this document. The Subcontracting Agency will be an organization, identified by the UNDP/UNOPS in consultation with the NPD, that has substantial expertise in parliamentary support programs and has demonstrated experience in designing and implementing similar programmes in comparable countries. The preferred organization will have previous experience working in Pakistan, insight into the current functioning of the Pakistan Parliament and the ability to identify and secure the participation of parliamentarians from other countries. The UNOPS will be designated as the implementing agency for budget line 21.01 on the basis of an implementing agency Letter of Agreement to be signed between the executing agency and UNOPS.

The team leader of the Subcontracting Agency will be designated as the Project Manager. The Project Manager will be responsible to the Executing Agency for the efficient and timely management of the project inputs and meeting project objectives.

The Subcontracting Agency, guided by NPD/Project Manager, will prepare a work plan at the onset of the project for outputs and activities to be carried out during the Preparatory Assistance Phase. This workplan shall be reviewed and endorsed at the initial meeting of the PSC, which will be held within one month of the onset of the project. The NPD shall be responsible for ensuring that the agreed upon workplan and deliverables mentioned under Objectives 1-3 are accomplished with acceptable quality. The job descriptions and the scope of work for the above personnel are attached as Annex 5.

The project implementation will be guided by the principles and procedures for execution described in the Project Cycle Operations Manual.

The Government will provide office space within the Secretariat to the Subcontracting Agency to serve as the secretariat for the mobilization of the Preparatory Assistance. The government will also provide the staff time of the Secretariat, particularly the NPD and Research and Automation staff.

The Preparatory Assistance project will be funded by the United Nations Development Programme. UNDP funded inputs are listed below and included in the UNDP contribution. The national executing agency will utilize support services of the UNDP country office for the mobilization of project inputs that identify Government as the implementing agency and for the related accounting, disbursements and financial reporting.

The signed Preparatory Assistance Document will constitute the Resident Representative’s authority to expend project funds on behalf of the Executing Agency, provided that specific instructions (terms of reference, specifications, etc.) have been received from the Executing Agency and that these instructions are in accordance with the project document and any subsequent revisions.

The UNDP will directly access budget lines designating Government as implementing agency for (1) duty travel for monitoring missions by UNDP programme officers and concerned Government officials, (2) auditing, and (3) sundries and charge these lines as actual expenses incurred by the UNDP.

The estimated total cost of the Preparatory Assistance is US$ 500,000. The detailed budget is attached as Annex 1. UNDP inputs include:

Project Personnel: Provision for national computer specialist outside of sub-contract to install Internet hardware and software in National Assembly Research and Automation Department. Budget: $1,000

Local Duty Travel: Provision for RT travel for two UNDP or other project representatives to travel to each of the four provinces. Cost includes airfare and per diem. Budget: $5,000.

Sub-contract: To be granted as laid out in section E, to carry out all activities except those under output 3.3. This cost also includes an audit of the NEX. The subcontract will cover operating cost of the organization, the cost of executing the above mentioned activities. Budget:

Equipment: Computer equipment and Internet access for the Research and Automation Department. Equipment includes five PCs with accessories, internet and scheduling software, one LAN Server and a printer. Budget:

Miscellaneous: For expenses related to operations and maintenance, reporting and sundries. Budget: US$ 4,000.

 

The UNDP Governance Unit will conduct the regular monitoring of the Preparatory Assistance and liaise closely with the NPD and Subcontracting Agency to ensure timely implementation of the project and resolve operational bottlenecks, if any. A Tripartite Review Meeting will be held at the end of the PA to review project implementation. A participatory review of the Preparatory Assistance will be carried out at the end of the Preparatory Assistance phase. The TOR and timing will be decided in consultation with key partners of the Preparatory Assistance phase including the UNDP, PSC, Executing Agency, Subcontracting Agency and other interested donors.

The Project Manager, as the team leader of the Subcontracting Agency, will assist the NPD to ensure that the reporting system required by UNDP’s National Execution procedures is carried out as detailed in the PCOM.

H. Legal Context

This Project Document shall be the instrument (therein referred to as a Plan of Operation) envisaged in article 1, paragraph 2, of the agreement between the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the United Nations Development Programme concerning assistance under the Special Fund Sector of the United Nations Development Programme, signed by the parties on 25th February 1960.

The following types of revisions may be made to this project document with the signature of the UNDP resident representative only, provided he or she is assured that the other signatories of the project document have no objections to the proposed changes:

a) Revisions in, or in addition of, any of the annexes of the project document;

b) Revisions which do not involve significant changes in the immediate objectives, outputs or activities of a project, but are caused by the rearrangement of inputs already agreed to or by cost increases due to inflation; and

c) Mandatory annual revisions which rephrase the delivery of the agreed project inputs or increased expert or other costs due to inflation or take into account agency expenditure flexibility.

The document setting out the additional conditions governing UNDP assistance to the Project is incorporated in the Project Document as Annex 3.

I. Risks and Assumptions

It is assumed that a suitable Subcontracting Agency that has substantial expertise in parliamentary support programs as specified in section E of this report can be identified before the onset of this program and in a timely manner. In addition, it is assumed that a national specialist will be identified immediately, separately from the Subcontracting Agency, for the installation and training on the function of an Internet service for the Research and Automation Department. In this regard, the UNDP is arranging to advertise the position so that recruitment is done by the time processing of the sanctioning formalities are completed.

There are a number of risks that could affect the successful execution of the Preparatory Assistance. The project outlined in this document is based on the premise that commitment to multiparty democracy will continue in Pakistan. Because this project is related to the political process, conditions are likely to fluctuate. However, this document assumes that changes in Pakistan’s political environment will not be so great as to affect the ability of the Subcontracting Agency and Information Specialist to conduct the activities outlined therein.

Moreover, the National Assembly does not currently adhere to a strict schedule for meeting. Thus, Members are often not present in Islamabad. It is assumed that at least a core group of the members of the Steering Committee will be available during the eight-month period for consultation. In addition, it is assumed that MNAs representing all parties will be allowed to participate in all programs that are conducted as a part of this project. No members will be denied participation based on party affiliation.

It is essential to the success of this program that only those persons with qualifications, specified as per the UN elements of transparency, participate in activities conducted during this program. It is assumed that the Subcontracting Agency, in consultation with the Steering Committee, the Government and the various political parties will identify participants.

Finally, it is assumed that individuals identified to advise on or participate in the activities outlined in this project will not be abroad for long periods of time making them unavailable for consultation.

J. Annexes

1. Project budget

2. Parliamentary Steering Committee (PSC)

3. Legal Context Document

4. Statement of Work for the Subcontracting Agency

5. Job Descriptions

6. Terms of Reference for Parliamentary Experts

7. Implementation Schedule

 

1. Syed Fakhar Imam (PML-N) Convener

2. Nawabzada Salahuddin (PML-N) Member

3. Adnan Aurangzeb (PML-N) Member

4. Umar Faruque (PML-N) Member

5. Syed Munir Syed (FATA) Member

6. Ahsan Iqbal (PML-N) Member

7. Daniyal Aziz (Independent) Member

8. Tariq Aziz (PML-N) Member

9. Sh, Tahir Rashid (PML-N) Member

10. Syed Javed Ali Shah (PML-N) Member

11. Adnan Hayat Khan Noon (MQM) Member

12. Syed Naveed Qamar (PPP) Member

13. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui (MQM) Member

14. Dr. Fahmida Mirza (PPP) Member

15. Syed Shaukat Hussain Shah (PML-N) Member

16. Mian Ijaz Shafi (PML-N) Member

17. Dr. Nishat Malik (MQM) Member

18. Mr. Sanaullah Baloch (BNP) Member

19. Mr. Shakil Ahmed (BNP) Member

20. Mr. Yezdiar Kaikobad (Minority) Member

1. All phases and aspects of UNDP assistance to this project shall be governed by and carried out in accordance with the relevant and applicable resolutions and decisions of the competent UN organs and in accordance with UNDP's policies and procedures for such projects, and subject to the requirements of the UNDP Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting System.

2. The Government shall remain responsible for this UNDP-assisted development project and the realization of its objectives as described in this Project Document.

3. Assistance under this Project Document being provided for the benefit o the Government and the people of (the particular country or territory), the Government shall bear all risks of operations in respect of this project.

4. The Government shall provide to the project the national counterpart personnel, training facilities, land, buildings, equipment and other required services and facilities. It shall designate the Government Co-operating Agency named in the cover page of this document (hereinafter referred to as the "Co-operating Agency"), which shall be directly responsible for the implementation of the Government contribution to the project.

5. The UNDP undertakes to complement and supplement the Government participation and will provide through the Executing Agency the required expert services, training, equipment and other services within the funds available to the project.

6. Upon commencement of the project the Executing Agency shall assume primary responsibility for project execution and shall have the status of an independent contractor for this purpose. However, that primary responsibility shall be exercised in consultation with UNDP and in agreement with the Co-operating Agency. Arrangements to this effect shall be stipulated in the Project Document as well as for the transfer of this responsibility to the Government or to an entity designated by the Government during the execution of the project.

7. Part of the Government's participation may take the form of a cash contribution to UNDP. In such cases, the Executing Agency will provide the related services and facilities and will account annually to the UNDP and to the Government for the expenditure incurred.

Participation of the Government

8. The Government shall provide to the project the services, equipment and facilities in the quantities and at the time specified in the Project Document. Budgetary provision - either in kind or in case - for the Government's participation so specified shall be set forth in the Project Budgets.

9. The Co-operating Agency shall, as appropriate and in consultation with the Executing Agency, assign a director for the project on a full-time basis. He shall carry out such responsibilities in the project as are assigned to him by the Co-operating Agency.

10. The estimated cost of items included in the Government contribution, as detailed in the Project Budget, shall be based on the best information available at the time of drafting the project proposal. It is understood that price fluctuations during the period of execution of the project may necessitate an adjustment of said contribution in monetary terms; the latter shall at all times be determined by the value of the services, equipment and facilities required for the proper execution of the project.

11. Within the given number of work-months of personnel services described in the Project Document, minor adjustments of individual assignments of project personnel provided by the Government may be made by the Government in consultation with the Executing Agency, if this is found to be in the best interest of the project. UNDP shall be so informed in all instances where such minor adjustments involve financial implications.

12. The Government shall continue to pay the local salaries and appropriate allowances of national counterpart personnel during the period of their absence from the project while on UNDP fellowships.

13. The Government shall defray any customs duties and other charges related to the clearance of project equipment, its transportation, handling storage and installation and maintenance, insurance, and replacement if necessary, after delivery to the project site.

14. The Government shall make available to the project - subject to existing security provisions - any published and unpublished reports, maps, records and other data which are considered necessary to the implementation of the project.

15. Patent rights, copyright rights and other similar rights to any discoveries or work resulting from UNDP assistance in respect of this project shall belong to the UNDP. Unless otherwise agreed by the Parties in each case, however, the Government shall have the right to use any such discoveries or work within the country free of royalty and any change of similar nature.

16. The Government shall assist all project personnel in finding suitable housing accommodation at reasonable rents.

17. The services and facilities specified in the Project Document which are to be provided to the project by the Government by means of a contribution in cash shall be set forth in the Project Budget. Payment of this amount shall be made to the UNDP in accordance with the Schedule of Payments by the Government.

18. Payment of the above-mentioned contribution to the UNDP on or before the dates specified in the Schedule of Payments by the Government is a prerequisite to commencement or continuation of project operations.

 

Participation of the UNDP and the Executing Agency

19. The UNDP shall provide to the project through the Executing Agency the services, equipment and facilities described in the Project Document. Budgetary provision for the UNDP contribution as specified shall be set forth in the Project Budget.

20. The executing Agency shall consult with the Government and UNDP on the candidature of the Project Manager^/ who, under the direction of the Executing Agency, will responsible in the country for the Executing Agency's participation in the project. The Project Manager shall supervise the experts and other agency personnel assigned to the project, and the on-the-job- training of national counterpart personnel. He shall be responsible for the management and efficient utilization of all UNDP-financed inputs, including equipment provided to the project.

21. The Executing Agency, in consultation with the Government and UNDP, shall assign international staff and other personnel to the project as specified in the Project Document, select candidates for fellowships and determine standards for the training of national counterpart personnel.

22. Fellowships shall be administered in accordance with the fellowships regulations of the Executing Agency.

23. The Executing Agency may, in agreement with the Government and UNDP, execute part or all of the project by subcontract. The selection of subcontractors shall be made, after consultation with the Government and UNDP, in accordance with the Executing Agency's procedures.

24. All material, equipment and supplies which are purchased from UNDP resources will be used exclusively for the execution of the project, and will remain the property of the UNDP in whose name it will be held by the Executing Agency. Equipment supplied by the UNDP shall be marked with the insignia of the UNDP and of the Executing Agency.

25. Arrangements may be made, if necessary, for a temporary transfer of custody of equipment to local authorities during the life of the project, without prejudice to the final transfer.

26. Prior to completion of UNDP assistance to the project, the Government, the UNDP and the Executing Agency shall consult as to the disposition of all project equipment provided by the UNDP. Title to such equipment shall normally be transferred to the Government, or to an entity nominated by the Government, when it is required for continued operation of the project or for activities following directly therefrom. The UNDP may, however, at its discretion, retain title to part or all of such equipment.

27. At an agreed time after the completion of UNDP assistance to the project, the Government and the UNDP, and if necessary the Executing Agency, shall review the activities continuing from or consequent upon the project with a view to evaluating its results.

28. UNDP may release information relating to any investment oriented project to potential investors, unless and until the Government has requested the UNDP in writing to restrict the release of information relating to such project.

 

Rights, facilities, privileges and immunities

29. In accordance with the Agreement concluded by the United Nations (UNDP) and the Government concerning the provision of assistance by UNDP, the personnel of UNDP and other United Nations organizations associated with the project shall be accorded rights, facilities, privileges and immunities specified in said Agreement.

30. The Government shall grant UN Volunteers, if such services are requested by the Government, the same rights, facilities, privileges and immunities as are granted to the personnel of UNDP.

31. The Executing Agency's contractors and their personnel (except nationals of the host country employed locally) shall:

(a) Be immune from legal process in respect of all acts performed by them in their official capacity in the execution of the project;

(b) Be immune from national service obligations;

(c) Be immune together with their spouses and relatives dependent on them from immigration restrictions;

(d) Be accorded the privileges of bringing into the country reasonable amounts of foreign currency for the purposes of the project or for personal use of such personnel, and of withdrawing any such amounts brought into the country, or in accordance with the relevant foreign exchange regulations, such amounts as may be earned therein by such personnel in the execution of the project;

(e) Be accorded together with their spouses and relatives dependent on them the same repatriation facilities in the event of international crises as diplomatic envoys.

32. All personnel of the Executing Agency's contractors shall enjoy inviolability for all papers and documents relating to the project.

33. The Government shall either exempt from or bear the cost of any taxes, duties, fees or levies which it may impose on any firm or organization which may be retained by the Executing Agency and on the personnel of any such firm or organization, except for nationals of the host country employed locally, in respect of:

(a) The salaries or wages earned by such personnel in the execution of the project;

(b) Any equipment, materials and supplies brought into the country for the purposes of the project or which, after having been brought into the country, may be subsequently withdrawn therefrom;

(c) Any substantial quantities of equipment, materials and supplies obtained locally for the execution of the project, such as, for example, petrol and spare parts for the operation and maintenance of equipment mentioned under (b) above, with the provision that the types and approximate quantities to be exempted and relevant procedures to be followed shall be agreed upon with the Government and, as appropriate, recorded in the Project Document; and

(d) As in the case of concessions currently granted to UNDP and Executing Agency's personnel, any property brought, including one privately owned automobile per employee, by the firm or organization or its personnel for their personal use or consumption or which after having been brought into the country, may subsequently be withdrawn therefrom upon departure of such personnel.

34. The Government shall ensure: (a) prompt clearance of experts and other persons performing services in respect of this project and (b) the prompt release from customs of: (i) equipment, materials and supplies required in connection with this project and (ii) property belonging to and intended for the personal use or consumption of the personnel of the UNDP, its Executing Agencies, or other persons performing services on their behalf in respect of this project, except for locally recruited personnel.

35. The privileges and immunities referred to in the paragraphs above, to which such firm or organization and its personnel may be entitled, may be waived by the Executing Agency where, in its opinion or in the opinion of the UNDP, the immunity would impede the course of justice and can be waived without prejudice to the successful completion of the project or to the interest of the UNDP or the Executing Agency.

36. The Executing Agency shall provide the Government through the Resident Representative with the list of personnel to whom the privileges and immunities enumerated above shall apply.

37. Nothing in this Project Document or Annex shall be constructed to limit the rights, facilities, privileges or immunities conferred in any other instrument upon any person, natural or juridical, referred to hereunder.

 

SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF ASSISTANCE

38. (a) The UNDP may, by written notice to the Government and to the Executing Agency concerned, suspend its assistance to any project if in the judgement of the UNDP any circumstance arises which interferes with or threatens to interfere with the successful completion of the project or the accomplishment of its purposes. The UNDP may, in the same or a subsequent written notice, indicate the conditions under which it is prepared to resume its assistance to the project. Any such suspension shall continue until such time as such conditions are accepted by the Government and as the UNDP shall give written notice to the Government and the Executing Agency that it is prepared to resume its assistance.

(b) If any situation referred to in subparagraph (a) above shall continue for a period of fourteen days after notice thereof and of suspension shall have been given by the UNDP to the Government and the Executing Agency, then at any time thereafter during the continuance thereof, the UNDP may by written notice to the Government and the Executing Agency terminate the project.

(c) The provisions of this paragraph shall be without prejudice to any other rights or remedies the UNDP may have in the circumstances, whether under general principles of law or otherwise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I. Background

The Government of Pakistan, in association with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has embarked on a program to enhance the professional capacity of parliamentarians, the National Assembly Secretariat and other democratic processes. As an initial step, the UNDP contracted with the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) under the existing Management Development Programme Project to draft a Preparatory Assistance Document in consultation with: (1) a Parliamentary Steering Committee (PSC), composed of Members from various parties within the National Assembly appointed by the Speaker of the National Assembly; and (2) the Parliamentary Secretariat.

The PSC has requested that the UNDP implement the program described in the Preparatory Assistance Document. The purpose of this program is to formulate a Project Document and PC-1 for long-term assistance to enhance the professional capacity of the parliamentarians and National Assembly Secretariat and to support other governance issues.

II. Overall Objective of the Sub-Contract

The Subcontracting Agency will provide technical/substantive and project implementation support to the Executing Agency to meet the following objectives of the PA

Objective 1: Formulate a Project Document (Prodoc) and PC-1 for long-term assistance to enhance the professional capacity of parliamentarians and the National Assembly Secretariat and to support other democratic processes.

Objective 2: Strengthen the capacity of parliamentarians to legislate and make meaningful contributions to national policy making; manage their constituency work; and strengthen parliamentary committees (including their capacity to monitor ministries and attached departments and subordinate offices);

Objective 3: Increase the capacity of the Parliamentary Secretariat to provide technical and substantive support to parliamentarians;

 

 

Approved draft UNDP Project Document and PC-1.

A skills building seminar for interested members of the National Assembly.

A skills building seminar will be conducted for interested members of the National Assembly. Following the seminar, the members of parliament who participated will have a more accurate understanding of the function of the National Assembly and the Parliamentary Secretariat, as well as a comparative context in which to view the legislative, representative and oversight functions of a democratic parliament. The agenda might include: the role of the Speaker, the role of Whips, floor procedures, the legislative process (how a bill becomes a law, etc.), the role of committees, legislative-executive relations, the function of the Parliamentary Secretariat (including support services available to parliamentarians).

A workshop on enhancing constituency management.

A workshop will be conducted that provides MNAs with ideas on constituency management techniques through discussions with their peers in Pakistan as well as from other countries. The workshop might cover such issues as the balance between National Assembly demands and constituency demands; the division of responsibilities between MNAs and local government representatives for responding to constituents’ concerns; the constituent’s understanding of the role and limitations of their member of parliament; the member’s capacity to communicate with constituents regarding the work of the parliament with respect to national issues; and the development of a constituency management strategy.

A report analyzing the current role and function of committees.

The report will seek to answer, in part, the following questions: What is the current role of the committees in the legislative and oversight process? What is the current relationship between parliamentary committees with ministries and attached departments and subordinate offices? Do the parliamentary committees currently have the necessary powers and resources in order for them to fulfill their role in the legislative and oversight process? Do the committees amend legislation and issue reports on legislation? The oversight functions of committees pertaining to their particular ministry, including administration, expenditures and response to public grievances will also be examined. Based on these findings, the report would make recommendations for assistance to strengthen the parliamentary committees.

A report on the feasibility of establishing an internship program with parliament.

The report will investigate possible internship programs for both the National and Provincial Assemblies and look at institutional mechanisms to bring interns into the parliament. The report would allow the Pakistani Parliament and universities to make a determination as to whether an internship program would be beneficial, feasible, and cost-efficient.

A skills-building seminar for Parliamentary Secretariat staff.

The agenda for the seminar will be developed in consultation with members of the Secretariat in order to meet the specific needs of the staff members.

 

IV. Terms of Reference

The Subcontracting Agency shall:

1. Prepare and submit to the NPD and UNDP a work plan, within one month of arrival in Pakistan. The work plan will be a detailed plan for execution of activities to include timing, brief justification, plan of action and completion dates.

2. Successfully deliver outputs and execute the activities specified in Section C 1.1-3.3 of the PA document, including identification of international consultants to serve as resource persons as necessary.

3. Prepare and submit to the UNDP fiscal reports.

4. Prepare and submit a draft of the project document for GOP and UNDP approval one month prior to the end date of the eight-month Preparatory Assistance Phase. The document will be formulated in consultation with the NPD and Steering Committee.

5. Finalize the project document in consultation with the NPD, GOP and UNDP.

6. Submit the complete PC-1 to the GOP and UNDP for approval.

 

• Report analyzing the current role and function of committees.
• Report on the feasibility of setting up an internship program.
• Reports on three workshops.
• Draft Report/UNDP Project Document and PC-1 for discussion with the PSC, Subcontracting Agency and UNDP officials.
• Approved draft UNDP Project Document and PC-1.

All reports shall be submitted in hard copy and in electronic format on MS Word 6.0. The summary of the draft Project Document will be translated into Urdu.

The methodology to be employed during this subcontract is of prime importance to the success in achieving its objectives and outputs. The outputs to be achieved this subcontract will result from a process using Participatory Approaches to designing, planning, managing and implementing the PA activities with the PSC, NPD, National and Provincial parliamentarians as well as District and local representatives. Collaborative Strategies will be used with the PSC to build consensus among both Government and Opposition parties when planning activities and in developing the UNDP Project Document and PC-1. The Subcontracting Agency will also bring an International Perspective to each of the activities by identifying current or former parliamentarians from relevant countries to serve as resource persons.

The Subcontracting Agency will be a reputable organization that has substantial expertise in parliamentary support programs and has demonstrated experience in designing and implementing similar programmes in comparable countries. Preference will be given to those consulting firms or organizations having high quality professionals on their team who are intimately familiar with parliamentary systems and have previous experience working in Pakistan, insight into the current functioning of the Pakistan Parliament and the ability to identify and secure the participation of parliamentarians from other countries.

The Subcontracting Agency should be able to demonstrate a clear understanding and use of the Participatory, Collaborative and International approaches to obtaining results and outputs. The technical knowledge required in this consultancy involves designing and organizing workshops and seminars for parliamentarians using Participatory, Collaborative and International approaches, expertise in developing parliamentary assessments, and preparing technical documents, i.e. UNDP Project Document and PC-1 using an objectives oriented logical framework approach.

The Input Mobilization Phase of the project will begin immediately following GOP/UNDP approval of the Preparatory Assistance Document. During this phase an international Subcontracting Agency will be identified. A tentative start date for the implementation of activities will be 1 May, 1998. All activities are expected to be carried out in a time frame of 8 months.

The Parliamentary Steering Committee will be a multiparty committee comprised of MNAs representing both the Government and Opposition as well as independent and minority representatives. The purpose of the Parliamentary Steering Committee (PSC) is to guide and advise the Subcontracting Agency. Thus, the PSC will be an advisory body that will meet in addition to the MNAs’ regular work. The Chairperson of the PSC will be the focal point of the project and will have a leadership role in the implementation.

1. Ensuring that all Government inputs committed to the project are available to the project.

2. Guide the NPD/Project Manager in coordinating the project.

3. Ensuring that the Project Manager, as team leader of the Subcontracting Agency, is empowered to implement the project.

4. Assisting the NPD/Project Manager, as necessary, to resolve implementation problems, if any.

5. Representing the project at meetings of the parties to the project agreement (responsibility of the Chairperson), where necessary.

6. Providing assistance to the NPD/Project manager in the coordination of project activities that involve other agencies of Government.

 

The National Project Director (NPD) is the focal point for responsibility and accountability in a national executing agency for a UNDP-funded project. The NPD will be guided by the PSC. The primary function of the NPD is to liaise with the PSC Chairperson and the Project Manager. While the NPD has many duties and responsibilities his/her primary function is to facilitate the work of the Project Manager. Thus, the NPD position will usually be a part-time job in addition to the NPD’s regular work.

1. Acting, in consultation with the PSC Chairperson, as the focal point and responsible party for the project on behalf of the Government executing agency.

2. Coordinating with the UNDP and Implementing Agency on the selection and recruitment of the Subcontracting Agency.

3. Ensuring that all Government inputs committed to the project are available to the project.

4. Ensuring that the Project Manager, as team leader of the Subcontracting Agency, is empowered to implement the project.

5. Assisting the Project Manager, as necessary, to resolve implementation problems.

6. Coordinating the work between the Subcontracting Agency and the PSC.

7. Approving certain payments of project funds according to procedures in the Project Cycle Operations Manual.

8. In the absence of the PSC Chairperson, represent the project at meetings of the parties to the project agreement.

9. Providing assistance in the coordination of project activities that involve other agencies of Government.

1. Authority and seniority that is appropriate to the project.

2. English language reading, writing and speaking skills.

3. Technical knowledge and experience related to project.

4. Leadership and supervisory experience.

The Project Manager, as team leader of the Subcontracting Agency, has the responsibility for the technical operation and management support of the project. The Project Manager will plan, initiate and manage project activities and is responsible for the day-to-day business of the project.

1. General operational management of the production of outputs according to the project document and the procedures in the Project Cycle Operations Manual (PCOM).

2. Full operational management of the Subcontracting Agency country office.

3. Coordination of project technical experts and consultants, including both national and international personnel.

4. Preparation and revision of the project work plans, budgets and financial plans in consultation with the Steering Committee.

5. Organization and management of project activities according to the work plan in order to produce the outputs.

6. Timely preparation of reports and assurance that reports prepared by project personnel or participants are prepared as required.

7. Liaising with PSC on a regular basis.

8. Identification and resolution of implementation problems with the assistance of the PSC/NPD if necessary.

1. Technical qualifications and experience appropriate to the needs of the project.

2. Relevant international experience, parliamentary experience and cross-cultural communication skills.

3. Leadership and administrative experience.

5. Identified and recruited by the Subcontracting Agency.

Skills Building Seminar for Members of the National Assembly

The Parliamentary Experts for the Skills Building Seminar will be either current or former Members of Parliament, or in some cases, current or former members of the Parliamentary Secretariat from countries other than Pakistan. The Parliamentary Experts will have substantial experience with parliamentary procedures and will likely be drawn from countries with well established parliamentary practices or well designed orientation programs for new Members of Parliament. The primary task of the Parliamentary Experts will be to act as the principal trainers and facilitators for a seminar in Islamabad designed to enhance the skills of members of Pakistan’s National Assembly. The Parliamentary Experts will be required to spend a total of __ working days in Pakistan in order to carry out their responsibilities for this project.

The Parliamentary Experts will be responsible to:

1. Collect relevant information pertaining to skills building programs for members of parliament in their own countries.

2. Draft written outlines for one or more subject areas. These subject areas will be assigned to them in advance of their arrival in Pakistan and may include: the role of the Speaker, the role of Whips, floor procedures, the legislative process (how a bill becomes a law, etc.), the role of committees, legislative-executive relations, the function of the parliamentary secretariat (including support services available to parliamentarians), and the relationship with the media.

3. Act as trainers and facilitators for a one-to-three day seminar designed to enhance the skills of members of the Pakistani National Assembly. The Parliamentary Experts will be required to give short presentations on those topics that are assigned to them. Additionally, they may be asked to comment on other areas relevant to the seminar’s focus. The parliamentary Experts will also be required to facilitate, or help facilitate, small group discussions that may be included in the seminar’s format.

4. Draft a two-to-three page report on the overall conduct of the seminar and recommended areas for future assistance for the new members of the Pakistani National Assembly.

A detailed TOR will be finalized by the project management during the PA implementation.

The Parliamentary Experts for the Constituency Management Workshop will be either current or former Members of Parliament from countries other than Pakistan. The Parliamentary Experts will have substantial personal experience with issues pertaining to the successful dual management of constituency and legislative responsibilities. The primary task of the Parliamentary Experts will be to act as the principle trainers and facilitators for a workshop in Islamabad designed to share with members of Pakistan’s National Assembly techniques for successful constituency management. The Parliamentary Experts will be required to spend a total of __ working days in Pakistan in order to carry out their responsibilities for this project.

The Parliamentary Experts will be responsible for the following tasks:

1. Collect relevant information about successful constituency management techniques in their own countries.

2. Draft written outlines for one or more subject areas. These subject areas will be assigned to them in advance of their arrival in Pakistan and may include: the balance between parliamentary demands and constituency demands; the division of responsibilities between Members of Parliament and local government representatives for servicing constituents; the constituents’ understanding of the role and limitations of their member of parliament; and the development of a constituency management strategy.

3. Act as trainers and facilitators for a one-to-three day workshop designed to share constituency management techniques with members of the Pakistani National Assembly. The Parliamentary Experts will be required to give short presentations on those topics that are assigned to them. Additionally, they may be asked to comment on other areas relevant to the workshop’s focus. The parliamentary Experts will also be required to facilitate, or help facilitate, small group discussions that may be included in the workshop’s format.

4. Draft a two-to-three page report on the overall conduct of the workshop and recommended areas for future assistance to the members of the Pakistani National Assembly.

A detailed TOR will be finalized by the project management during the PA implementation.

The Parliamentary Experts for the Parliamentary Staff Skills-Building Seminar will be either current or former senior members of the Parliamentary Secretariat from countries other than Pakistan. The Parliamentary Experts will have substantial experience with parliamentary procedures and will likely be drawn from countries with well established parliamentary practices. The primary task of the Parliamentary Experts will be to act as the principle trainers and facilitators for a seminar in Islamabad designed to build the capacity of Pakistan’s Parliamentary Secretariat staff. The Parliamentary Experts will be required to spend a total of __ working days in Pakistan in order to carry out their responsibilities for this project.

The Parliamentary Experts will be responsible to:

1. Collect relevant information pertaining to the Parliamentary Secretariat in their own countries.

2. Draft written outlines for one or more subject areas that will be designed to build the skills of Pakistan’s Parliamentary Secretariat staff. These subject areas will be assigned to the Parliamentary Experts in advance of their arrival in Pakistan.

3. Act as trainers and facilitators for a one-to-three day seminar designed to build the skills of the staff of Pakistan’s Parliamentary Secretariat. The Parliamentary Experts will be required to give short presentations on those topics that are assigned to them. Additionally, they may be asked to comment on other areas relevant to the seminar’s focus. The parliamentary Experts will also be required to facilitate, or help facilitate, small group discussions that may be included in the seminar’s format.

4. Draft a two-to-three page report on the overall conduct of the seminar and recommended areas for future assistance to the Pakistani Parliament Secretariat.

A detailed TOR will be finalized by the project management during the PA implementation.

The Parliamentary Committee Expert will have substantial experience with parliamentary committees and procedures. The primary task of the Parliamentary Expert will be to draft a report that will: analyze the role and function of parliamentary committees in Pakistan; and provide recommendations for assistance to strengthen the parliamentary committees in Pakistan. The Parliamentary Expert will be required to spend a total of __ working days in Pakistan in order to carry out their responsibilities for this project.

The Parliamentary Expert will be responsible to:

1. Draft an outline for the report on committees.

2. Interview committee chairmen, members of parliament, parliamentary staff, ministers and senior civil servants to discuss the role of committees.

3. Meet with representatives of civil society and on their access to, and experience with, committee meetings and reports.

4. Draft report on the current role and functioning of committees in Pakistan. The report would seek to answer, in part, the following questions: What is the current role of the committees in the legislative and oversight process? Do the committees amend legislation and issue reports on legislation? What is the current relationship between parliamentary committees with Ministries and attached departments and subordinate offices? Do the parliamentary committees currently have the necessary powers and resources in order for them to fulfill their role in the legislative and oversight process? The oversight functions of committees pertaining to their particular ministry including administration, expenditures and response to public grievances will also be examined. Based on these findings, the report would make recommendations for assistance to strengthen the parliamentary committees.

A detailed TOR will be finalized by the project management during the PA implementation.

A two-month Input Mobilization Phase will begin immediately following GOP/UNDP approval of the Preparatory Assistance Document. During this phase an international Subcontracting Agency will be identified. All activities are expected to be carried out in a time frame of eight months as outlined in the table below.

Note: Preference would be given to holding workshops and seminars when parliament is session. As such, the timing of these activities could shift.

I. OVERHEAD 280,610

A. Salaries & Benefits 131,075

B. Office Space & Housing 36,000

C. Communications 32,000

D. Contractual Services 39,050

E. Miscellaneous 12,600

F. Indirect Costs 28,885

G. Supplies 1,000

150 days @ $300

15 RT Air tickets: USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, UK, Asia

@ aprx. $2,730

V. PER DIEM 54,640

A. Islamabad 38,640

230 days @ $168

B. Other 16,000

120 days @ $135

A. Ground Transport 19,000

B. Air Travel 4,800

16 RT Air Tickets @ aprx. $300

C. Other Travel Costs 6,000

Visas, vaccinations, medical exams etc.