Job title: National Consultant: Conduct gap analysis in the current legal framework regulating local self-governance bodies

Department: Turkmenistan - GSP

Location: Ashgabat City

Overview

The Governance Support Program (GSP) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is implemented by the QED Group, LLC doing business as Q2Impact (Q2). GSP is aimed at strengthening accountability, effectiveness, and transparency of governance in Turkmenistan. GSP activities focus on strengthening public administration and strengthening policy development and lawmaking processes.

Overall Objective and Purpose

One of USAID GSP’s main components is strengthening policy development and lawmaking processes of Turkmenistan. In this area, GSP has been successfully cooperating with the Parliament (Mejlis) of Turkmenistan since 2021.

The system of local self-government bodies in Turkmenistan consists of Gengeshes and territorial public self-government bodies. Gengeshes are representative bodies, and Gengesh members are elected by the population residing in respective territorial units. Gengeshes have authorities that include determining the main directions of economic, social, and cultural development of the respective territorial units, developing and approving the local budget, determining and collecting local taxes, fees, as well as such functions such as environmental protection, change of local borders, and interaction with local executive and law enforcement bodies.

Gengeshes’ activities are regulated by the Law “On local self-government” adopted on November 20, 2022. However, the legal framework under which local governments operate is still not complete.

At the first session of the new convocation, the President of Turkmenistan highlighted the need to improve the current legislation regulating representative and local self-government bodies.

Considering the priorities of the GoTM, as well as successful cooperation between USAID GSP and Mejlis, GSP will conduct a gap analysis of the current legal framework regulating the activities of local self-governance bodies. In this regard, the Project plans to hire a national consultant to complete this assignment.

Responsibilities:

In accordance with the above-mentioned objective of the assignment and under the supervision of the the Governance Specialist, the National Consultant will carry out the following tasks:

1. Analyze the Law of Turkmenistan “On Local Self-Government” and legislative acts regulating the activities of local government bodies, including the Constitution of Turkmenistan, codes, laws, and other regulations. The analysis should contain the following parts:

• introductory background;
• analysis of the current legislative framework;
• identifying gaps;
• proposals for improving current legislation;
• recommendations for developing a mechanism for implementing legislation;
• proposals for possible areas of cooperation;

2. Submit the final Report to GSP.

The National consultant will work with the USAID GSP team and Mejlis of Turkmenistan. The National consultant will report directly to USAID GSP to Governance Specialist.

Requirements:

Education: University Diploma in law, public administration or related fields and/or minimum of 10 years of proven experience working in the field of lawmaking or in the local self-governance system.

Work Experience:

• At least 10 years of working experience in the field of lawmaking, public administration or related fields;
• Good knowledge of lawmaking process and the system of representative bodies in Turkmenistan;
• Knowledge and minimum of 5 years of working with parliamentarians and representative bodies;
• Strong analytical skills, ability to work with an adult audience;
• Ability to receive/integrate feedback
• Results driven, ability to work under pressure and meet required deadlines;
• Written and spoken proficiency in Turkmen and Russian is required.

Expected period of implementation - April 2023 (The total number of days: 30 working days)

Place of Implementation - Ashgabat (desk work and online)

To get additional information and apply for the position, please follow the link.