CPA Programmes Team
In our work to promote parliamentary democracy and good governance, we undertake an extensive range of programmes, project and activities. The Programmes Team is the largest department within the CPA Headquarters Secretariat which delivers over 80 activities each year. Our aim is to be as impactful as possible demonstrating targeted use of our member’s financial contributions. We use a number of approaches which are specifically targeted at Parliamentarians and parliamentary officials. Our work focuses on the following:
- Professional Development – this is undertaken primarily through our CPA Parliamentary Academy of online and in-person training courses for Parliamentarians, officials and external stakeholders. This work also involves bespoke post-election training courses and ad hoc learning activities.
- Institutional Strengthening – we work to enhance parliamentary institutions through our CPA Benchmarks for Democratic Legislatures project, our Technical Assistance Programmes, Capital Investment Fund, Environmental Impact Fund and Gender Sensitising Parliaments Project.
- Networking and Convening – we lead and facilitate three networks which focus on gender and women’s equality, equity and empowerment, persons with disabilities and small states, territories and jurisdictions. We bring Parliamentarians and officials together to share knowledge and collaborate and develop programmes and projects to enhance their impact and capacity. We do this through webinars, workshops, conferences and attending international meetings.
- Thematic Advocacy and Awareness Raising – we seek to share the latest information and skills around human rights, sustainable development, climate change, technology and much more targeting the interests of our membership. This is achieved through the development of resources, research, convening and accessing expertise and organising thematic events in-person and online.
Across our work, our values are Commonwealth-centred and seek to uphold the highest values and principles that the Commonwealth promote and adhere to. The CPA seeks to nurture an open and wide-ranging understanding of parliamentary democracy that takes account of the national context and is in line with the Association’s non-partisan, non-prescriptive and non-intrusive approach, as well as the priorities set by jurisdictions and Parliaments themselves.
Through its programmes, the CPA seeks to capture the diverse experiences of parliamentary democracy from across the Commonwealth. Through the sharing of ideas and practices the CPA is able to expand its comparative knowledge on parliamentary strengthening recognising the diverse challenges that many jurisdictions across the Commonwealth can face.
The CPA’s programme activities for strengthening the functioning of Parliaments builds on the Association’s convening power and ability to facilitate dialogue at the national, regional and pan-Commonwealth levels.
Purpose of role:
The purpose of this role is to provide strategic leadership for the Programmes’ portfolio of the CPA Headquarters Secretariat and to oversee the delivery of all CPA parliamentary institutional strengthening and professional development programmes, projects and networks.
The post-holder will provide strategic oversight, coordination and management of Programme development and delivery, ensuring that all projects adhere to best practices for project management and achieve planned objectives, cost, quality and benefits realisation.
The Head of Programmes oversees a budget of approx. £800,000 per annum and a Programmes team of 7-10 people at various levels. The role holder reports to the CPA Executive Committee and is a member of the CPA Headquarters’ Senior Management Team and will be expected to contribute to wider organisational decision-making.
Primary Duties and Accountabilities
The main responsibilities of the Head of Programmes include:
- Strategic Leadership and Management: Develop the overall programme strategy, including budgetary oversight for the Programmes Team. Lead and manage the team to deliver high-quality outputs in line with CPA's overall strategy.
- Programme and Project Oversight: Provide oversight and coordination for bilateral and multilateral programmes, projects and networks. This includes leading on major initiatives such as the CPA Parliamentary Academy, the FCDO Good Governance Project and Technical Assistance Programmes (TAPs).
- Network Oversight: Provide strategic oversight for the CPA’s key networks, including the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) network, the CPA Small Branches network and the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) network, ensuring their work plans are developed and delivered effectively. Ensuring Funds are appropriately distributed to CPA member-Branches and regions.
- Content and Knowledge Development: Provide expertise around parliamentary strengthening and development. Lead the development and publication of CPA knowledge products, such as toolkits, handbooks and online resources. Oversee the updating of key documents where necessary.
- Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement: Initiate and build relationships with new and existing partners and stakeholders to deliver the objectives of the Programmes portfolio. Develop relationships with partners to expand the CPA’s funding streams to expand its potential. Represent the CPA at international and Regional Conferences and events to promote its work.
- Operational Management: Ensure robust and professional project management, risk management, financial management, and monitoring, evaluation and learning methodologies are utilised across the team. Experiment with new methodologies and technologies, such as MS Planner and paperless programmes, to improve efficiency.
Any other duties commensurate with the role.
