Support to prepare the IPU 2027-2031 Strategy

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is the global organization of national parliaments. It was founded in 1889 as the first multilateral political organization in the world, encouraging cooperation and dialogue between all nations. Today, the IPU comprises 181 national Member Parliaments and 15 regional parliamentary bodies. It promotes peace, democracy and sustainable development. It helps parliaments become stronger, younger, greener, more innovative and gender-balanced. It also defends the human rights of parliamentarians through a dedicated committee made up of members of parliament (MPs) from around the world.

The IPU’s work is guided by its five-year strategy. The current strategy (2022-2026) provides a road map for the Organization’s overall objectives, workplans, fundraising and reporting.

In view of developing its 2027-2031 Strategy, the IPU intends to carry out a two-phase approach:

• An assessment phase in which the implementation and relevance of the current IPU Strategy will be discussed further to a mid-term review of the Strategy.
• A development phase in which the next IPU Strategy will be developed, based on the findings of the mid-term review and consultations with stakeholders, projecting a vision of where the Organization should be in five years’ time.

The 2027-2031 Strategy is due to be adopted by the IPU membership at its Governing Council meeting scheduled for March–April 2026 and will serve as the basis for the Organization’s 2027 budget and workplan to be adopted in October 2026.

The Executive Committee of the IPU, composed of members of parliaments, representing the IPU geopolitical groups and presided by the IPU President, will drive the process of developing the 2027-2031 Strategy, with the support of the IPU Secretariat.

Objectives of the support and scope of work

• Assessment

As part of good institutional practice and to inform the design of the next Strategy, the IPU seeks to undertake a mid-term review of its current strategic framework. This review will assess the relevance, effectiveness, coherence, efficiency and early indications of impact in the Strategy implementation.

The mid-term review of the current Strategy will therefore consider all aspects of the IPU’s work (political, programmatic, communications, and institutional strengthening and effectiveness).

• Assess progress made toward achieving the goals and objectives of the IPU Strategy 2022–2026, including implementation of the communications strategy.
• Assess the contribution of political and programmatic work to the IPU’s strategic objectives and progress towards the IPU’s policy goals.
• Assess progress made in implementing the communications strategy and identify possible future priorities.
• Identify overall achievements, challenges and lessons learned in the implementation of the current Strategy.
• Review the relevance and coherence of strategic priorities in a changing global context.
• Provide forward-looking recommendations to inform the development of the next IPU Strategy.

• All five strategic objectives of the current IPU Strategy as well as the IPU’s four policy goals (climate change; democracy, human rights, gender equality, youth participation; peace and security; and sustainable development for all).
• The political and programmatic interventions and their alignment with strategic priorities, including how these have contributed to institutional or systemic change in Member Parliaments or at the global level.
• Communications work and initiatives in line with the IPU’s 2022-2026 Communications Strategy.
• Institutional and operational effectiveness, including the Secretariat’s support functions and coordination mechanisms.

• Discussions around the findings of the mid-term review.
• Consultations with IPU Member Parliaments, governing bodies, partners and the Secretariat on the key elements of the 2027-2031 Strategy.
• Drafting of the strategy and consultations with the Executive Committee.
• Fleshing out of the final text.

Methodology (for both phases)

• Desk review of key documents (strategic plan, annual workplans, programme reports, evaluations, performance indicators, etc.).
• Online consultations with Member Parliaments, partners, donors.
• In-person and online consultations with IPU statutory bodies
• In-person and online consultations, and focus groups to work with the IPU Secretariat.
• Analysis of results, including their contribution to the strategic objectives.
• Drafting of reports and development of visual tools to present findings and ultimate results.

The consultant/review team will pay particular attention to ensuring the widest representation and diversity of views are taken into account in the process. In carrying out its assessment it will also build its questions, where relevant, around the DAC/OECD criteria for evaluation.

• Be inclusive: engage a diverse range of stakeholders in meaningful dialogue. Special attention will be placed on securing balance with regard to regional contributions, partners, as well as diversity in participating members of parliaments (gender, age, minority, vulnerable groups, etc.).
• Be consultative: promote ownership of findings by involving stakeholders throughout.
• Use a mixed method of analysis: use both qualitative and quantitative tools, including surveys, focus groups and key informant interviews.
• Apply a results-based evaluation approach, with a focus on outcomes and impact of work.
• Use theory of change or logical framework models where applicable.
• Mainstream gender-sensitive, culturally sensitive and human-rights based approaches.

Key deliverables and tentative timeline

• Inception report (including methodology, evaluation matrix, tools, and workplan) – by mid–July 2025
• Organization of online or in-person (as feasible) consultations and focus group discussions, as required (July–August 2025)
• Interim progress note – mid–August 2025
• Pursuit of organization of online/in-person consultations and focus group discussions, as required (August–September 2025)
• Draft review report (end of September 2025)
• Presentation of main findings to the IPU Member Parliaments (October 2025) and discussions on main recommendations related to the new Strategy
• Finalization of the mid-term review report
• For donor purposes, production of a separate report on programmatic work,
• Consultations on the 2027–2031 strategy and development of draft for consideration by the Executive Committee (December 2025–January 2026)
• Consolidation of the draft Strategy and presentation to Member Parliaments (February 2026)
• Finalization of Strategy for adoption (March–April 2026)
• Development of visual accompanying tools around 2027–2031 Strategy

Management and reporting

The IPU Secretariat will assist the consultant by providing documentation, support in the organization of exchanges with the IPU staff and leadership, and advice and support in establishing contact with relevant stakeholders.

The consultancy will be managed by the IPU Secretariat. Feedback and reporting will be provided to the IPU Executive Committee throughout the process.

The consultant will report directly to the Secretary General or his designated representative within the IPU.

• Proven experience in strategic and programmatic evaluations for international or parliamentary organizations.
• Demonstrated expertise in evaluating results-based programming and organizational impact.
• Familiarity with governance, democratic institutions, and parliamentary strengthening.
• Strong facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills in English and capacity to work in French an asset.
• Experience in gender-responsive evaluations will also be an asset.
• Application of “digestible” visualization of complex content (i.e. through infographics or videos) is an asset.