National consultant for design and delivery of a training for the trainers related to citizens and CSOs inclusion in decision making processes (m/f)

Location: Sarajevo, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Application Deadline: 29-Mar-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Time left: 8d 13h 38m

Type of Contract: Individual Contract

Post Level: National Consultant

Languages Required: English

Duration of Initial Contract: 09 April - 16 May 2018

Expected Duration of Assignment: Up to 16 working days

Background

Purpose

The purpose of the consultancy is to contribute to the further improvement of transparency in public decision-making through better involvement of citizens and civil society organisations (CSO) in decision making processes in 21 ReLOaD partner local governments (LG).

Objective

The main objective of the consultancy is to design and deliver a Training for the Trainers (ToT) programme on advantages and different mechanisms for including citizens and CSOs in decision making processes. The training programme will be delivered to municipal councillors from 21 partner LGs aiming to strengthen participants’ knowledge and understanding on benefits of greater civic engagement in decision-making processes.

Background Information

The EU-funded ReLOaD aims to strengthen partnerships between LGs and civil society by scaling-up a successful model of transparent and project-based funding of CSOs. The Western Balkan (WB) countries/territories are facing complex set of similar development challenges. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo[1], Montenegro, and Serbia, invest significant efforts to mainstream the EU accession agenda within their socio-political contexts. An integral part of the EU accession agenda is to promote inclusion of civil society and further development of participatory democracies in the Region. All WB countries/territories face these challenges, specifically related to the lack of collaboration between the government and civil society. This entails strengthening capacities of all relevant stakeholders to engage more productively in such partnerships through the CSO grant awarding scheme contributing to local development and service delivery in selected local communities.

More specifically, BiH has been experiencing challenges in developing participatory democracy when it comes to policy making and including citizens and CSOs in decision making processes.

The ReLOaD programme in BiH partners with 21 LGs, namely: Banja Luka, Bijeljina, Bratunac, Brod, Centar Sarajevo, Gradacac Jablanica, Kakanj, Maglaj, Modrica, Pale, Rudo, Stari Grad Sarajevo, Sokolac, Teslic, Tešanj, Travnik, Trebinje,Tuzla, Vitez and Vogošca.

[1] This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

Duties and Responsibilities

As part of its project activities, the entity Associations of Municipalities and Cities (AMC), in partnership with ReLOaD, will deliver trainings to municipal councillors on the benefits and advantages of including citizens and CSOs in decision making processes. For this purpose, the ToT Programme will be developed and used by the entity AMCs in training delivery.

The consultancy will consist of the following tasks:

• Task 1: Desk review of all relevant documents and development of detailed work plan;
• Task 2: Development of the training programme package;
• Task 3: Delivery of the ToT programme.

Task 1: Desk review of all relevant documents and development of detailed work plan

Under this task, the Consultant will get familiar with the ReLOaD project document and the training programme on Communication with citizens, developed by the UNDP’s Municipal Environmental and Economic Governance (MEG) project. These materials will be considered as a starting point for design of the training programme and as reference material. Following the review of the materials, the Consultant will prepare a work plan and a training design concept, highlighting the main training building blocks and elaborating key messages/focuses of each training building block. Work plan and a training concept will be submitted to the ReLOaD project team for review and approval.

The ReLOaD team will organise a meeting with the Consultant to discuss design in order to ensure desired outputs.

It is envisaged that this task will be delivered by April 13, 2018 and the level of effort of the Consultant will not exceed two (2) expert days.

Task 2: Development of the training programme package

Within this task the Consultant is expected to design a tailored training programme, based on the results produced under Task 1 and considering the aspects elaborated below.

Consultant is expected to develop a training programme package, with the main objective to enhance understanding and capacities among municipal councillors within the ReLOaD partner LGs. The programme will contain key themes and sub-themes to be addressed as well as training tools and methodologies that will be used at the training. Proposed methodologies should be in line with adult education principles, particularly interactive learning to ensure participation by the trainees.

More specifically, the training programme aims at raising awareness among municipal councillors on the importance of increasing communication with citizens and including them in decision making process as well as the benefits of this model in a community.

Training programme will, among others, reflect on the following key themes:

• Existing mechanism for greater civic engagement and better communication with citizens;
• Benefits of including citizens and CSOs in early stage of the policy development;
• Identifying the role of municipal councillors in including citizens and CSOs in decision making process;
• Best practices in the WB region and EU in citizens engagement, etc.

The training programme will be developed as a half day learning event for a group of up to 20 municipal councillors from the same LG.

A comprehensive training package will include (but not limited to):

• Training programme agenda;
• All supporting materials for the training programme (hand-outs for participants, power point presentations, check-lists and reference materials);
• Trainer manual for trainers providing instructions on how to deliver each segment of the training. Trainer manual will encompass reference tools and exercises to be used and questions to be raised in discussions by training providers in delivering their own training courses. Trainer manual will ensure equal understanding and minimum quality standards in the follow-up training delivery process. Trainer manual should not exceed 20 pages;
• Pocket-guide for municipal councillors on the topic of inclusive decision making, that could be used as practical tool/reminder during everyday work. The pocket guide will be concise, user friendly and as such should highlight the municipal councillor’s specific roles and responsibilities along the processes of citizens engagement in decision making processes. A pocket guide should not exceed 10 pages;
• Training evaluation form.

The training package will be submitted to the ReLOaD project team for review and approval. Following the ReLOaD project team feedback as well as recommendations of the training participants at the ToT event, the training package will be finalised.

It is envisaged that this task will be delivered by May 7, 2018 and the level of effort of the Consultant will not exceed 12 expert days.

Task 3: Delivery of the ToT programme.

Following the training programme approval by the ReLOaD project team, the Consultant will deliver one-day ToT event for a group of maximum 15 potential trainers that are expected to be delivering training to municipal councillors in partner LGs.

The ToT programme will include an interactive training course, and as a result of the training the participants will be equipped with the skills to effectively deliver training programme, learn how to best motivate their audience and ensure result-oriented training delivery.

Logistics in relation to organising ToT event will be organized by the ReLOaD and AMCs based on the agreed training schedule in Sarajevo or Teslic. Final decisions on the training location will be made depending on geographical distribution of ToT participants. Training materials for the training event will be printed by the ReLOaD project.

After training delivery, an evaluation will be carried out by the Consultant, covering training contents, trainer and methods applied, and short report on conducted training and evaluation summary will be presented to the ReLOaD project team.

The entire service will be delivered in the official languages of BiH.

It is envisaged that this task will be delivered by May 16, 2018 and the level of effort of the Consultant will not exceed 2 expert days.

Deliverables and timelines

The Consultant is responsible for the following deliverables:

Task 1: Desk review of all relevant documents and development of detailed work plan:

• Relevant documents reviewed, and work plan developed - April 13, 2018, (2 expert days);

Task 2: Development of training programme package:

• Comprehensive training programme package developed - May 07, 2018, (12 expert days);

Task 3: Delivery of the ToT programme:

• ToT programme delivered - May 16, 2018, (2 expert days).
  

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies

Knowledge Management and Learning:

• Shares knowledge and experience
  

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

• Strong analytical skills;
• Advanced writing skills;
• Proven skills in developing and conducting ToTs;
• Conceptual and practical knowledge of policy development, with specific focus on civic participation;
• Ability to review data, identify and adjust discrepancies;
• Ability to produce accurate and well documented records conforming to the required standard;
• Knowledge and skill to mainstream gender equality in documents;
• Ability to handle a large volume of work possibly under time constraints;
• Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals;
• Generates innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations;
• Conceptualizes and analyzes problems to identify key issues, underlying problems, and how they relate;
• Demonstrates substantive and technical knowledge to meet responsibilities and post requirements with excellence;
• Executes day-to-day tasks systematically and efficiently;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view;
• Strong IT skills.

Leadership and Self-Management:

• Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• University degree in public administration, economics, political or social sciences or a related field.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in local development and local governance, work with municipal/cantonal councils or higher-level parliaments specifically in BiH;
• At least 5 years of working experience in capacity development and provision of assistance in area of training development and training of trainers in particular;
• Proven expertise in thematic area of including citizens and CSOs in decision making processes;
• Proven ability to develop training curriculum, training materials and handouts;
• Excellent expertise in the area of adult learning, with specific experience in the public sector;

Language requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English and official languages of BiH.
  

EVALUATION

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

• * Technical Criteria weight-70%
• * Financial Criteria weight- 30%

Applicants are required to submit an application including:

• Completed and signed UNDP Personal History Form (downloadable from http://www.ba.undp.org/content/bosnia_and_herzegovina/en/home/operations/jobs.html);
• Financial proposal which will separately specify professional fee, indicating number of anticipated working days, travel costs (air-ticket or use of private vehicle), living allowance, and all other applicable costs.

Please scan all above mentioned documents and upload as one attachment only online through this website.

Note:

• For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 62 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy.
• Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence

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