Governance Advisor

  DISCLAIMER   It is mandatory to mention the job title in the subject of your application email   Applicants who do not mention the position they are applying for will be disregarded Background Mercy Corps (MC) exists to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. The agency pursues its mission through emergency relief services, sustainable community development, civil society and economic development initiatives. MC has been present in the Middle East since the 1980’s and currently has offices in Yemen, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and Egypt. Working in Lebanon since 1993, MC promotes economic and social development in marginalized communities and responds to emergency needs as they emerge. Since the outbreak of the conflict in Syria in 2011, MC in Lebanon has shifted its programs towards emergency based interventions while integrating long-term development programming by focusing on key sectors: Protection, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Governance and Social Stability, and Livelihoods. Under the scope of the Governance and Social Stability Program, MC initiated back in 2015 the “Governance and Community Action Program” (GCAP) in Tripoli mainly in Dannieh district, targeting in particular six vulnerable municipalities (Sir, Bakhoun, Assoun, Kfarhabou, Beqaasafrin and Izal). The overall objective of this program is to empower vulnerable municipalities and communities to mitigate conflict caused by resource based tensions exacerbated by the Syrian crisis. In this regard, Mercy Corps works closely with municipalities to mobilize and enrich community members with skills that can help them identify sources of common tensions and create action plans that will mitigate those tensions. Purpose / Project Description Since the start-up of GCAP, the program had successfully achieved the below main initiatives:  Establishment of local groups in the six targeted municipalities consisting of 25 members each (5 municipal representatives, 20 community representatives with equal division between Lebanese and Syrians and males and females). Each group was trained on principles of mediation, negotiation and communication, and other soft skills to help defuse local conflicts. Communities of Practice are then formed to prolong the learning and application process in terms of conflict management in the communities. Community projects are also implemented to mitigate resource-based tensions. Implementation of Community Engagement Events that focused on mutual inter-communal concerns during which the media was utilized to engage key stakeholders and create positive peace messaging, having as objectives to 1) Enhance the coordination between the Municipality, the local community, and civil society; 2) Mobilize and engage the Lebanese and Syrian communities and civil society; 3) Disseminate the true and realistic image of the Dannieh region through media mobilization; and 4) Create a positive and interactive context for the local community and the surroundings. Completion of a capacity building program targeting seventeen (17) municipalities falling within the Union of Municipalities of Dannieh in addition to the union. The program was customized to tackle the following seven main topics: 1) Transparency and Local Communication, 2) Management and Administration, 3) Human Resources, 4) Engagement with Local Community and Transparency, 5) Local Development Planning, 6) Governance and 7) Program Management. During the period of three months (February till May 2017), 22 training sessions were conducted targeting the municipal staff and other active community representatives affiliated to the municipalities. The participants’ engagement in terms of number and background varied from one training to another depending on the topic to ensure transmitting the knowledge and know-how that match each one’s field of work. It is important to mention that a questionnaire was distributed to the 23 municipalities within the Union, with the objective to identify common needs and priorities in relation to different sectors such as socio-cultural, Infrastructure, Tourism, Agriculture, Health, Education, Economic, Waste management as a preparatory step to creating the platforms. Under the scope of this consultancy, the advisor should support Mercy Corps GCAP team in creating platforms among clusters of municipalities for coordination in addition to providing coaching for municipalities to enhance their citizenship, relationship, coordination, and mutual interest for social engagement and service providing throughout the consultancy period. Consultant Objectives Building on GCAP’s aforementioned achievements, the consultant has to support the team in achieving the below objective “Improving the cooperation between municipalities and unions of municipalities and forming a platform to improve social service management”. To achieve this, a series of workshops are planned to be implemented (three at the local level and one at the national level) in addition to providing coaching to the targeted municipalities/clusters on identification of needs and proposal writing. Based on the above, the consultant has to design and facilitate fully the first three workshops and provide technical support for the fourth workshop: Workshop 1: Disseminate the Coordination Concept among Municipalities and Identify Potential Projects for Coordination. This workshop will be divided into sections. The first one is theoretical to explain the concept and importance of coordination among municipalities and union. Then, the practical session, which will divide the municipalities into clusters of villages to map the existing resources and identify and prioritize their common needs based on the questionnaire/assessment. Consequently each cluster of municipalities will then develop and write a well-defined project through a period of one month with the technical support and coaching of the consultant throughout the process. The estimated date for implementation is June 28, 2017. -          Workshop 2: Workshop for Representatives of Local Groups and Communities of Practice in the six Municipalities to disseminate programme lessons learned and identify new possibilities of interventions and coordination. This workshop will target representatives from the local groups (6 members per municipality) an average of 30 participants. The aim is to disseminate the successes of the program pertaining to reducing tensions specifically the creation of community-based conflict management mechanisms to address minor-to-moderate intra- and inter-community disputes, and the facilitation inter-communal interaction. In addition, it aims to identify the lessons learned along with alternative actions for more influential, efficient and sustainable actions. Moreover, to empower Local Groups to act as active actors in the society and disseminate key messages, enhancing the mobilization of the communities and the Media. The estimated date for implementation is July 11, 2017. -          Workshop 3: Workshop for Municipalities and the Union of Municipalities to disseminate programme lessons learned and identified best practices. This workshop will include all the municipalities falling within the Union of Dannieh and already participating in the program activities (on average 17 municipalities in addition to the union).  In addition to identifying and sharing the lessons learned, this workshop aims to strengthen the relationship between the Municipalities and between the Municipalities and the Union of Municipalities and to create a synergy/coordination platform between them in order to provide, as local authorities, a better response and quality services to the local communities. The estimated date for implementation is July 18, 2017. -          Workshop 4:  Workshop for national lessons learnt and synergies to improve local governance This workshop will occur on a national level and it will feature the following: 1-      The presentation of local development initiatives designed and formulated by the targeted municipalities in Dannieh region. 2-      Program’s accomplishments and lessons learned for national dissemination. 3-      Provide partnership opportunities with potential Stakeholders. It will be hosting ministries representatives, political stakeholders, and academics, national and international NGOs as potential donors, and Municipalities and Unions of Municipalities, engaging them in a constructive dialogue, providing funding opportunities for the proposed projects by the clusters. The estimated date for implementation is August 17, 2017. Consultant Deliverables: The Consultant will complete: Main deliverables Preparation activities Date of workshop Number of Working Days Desk review and design for the first three workshops. -          Discuss with team previous activities and review SWOP prepared at the end of Capacity Building Program for municipalities and union   -          Technical support and coaching for clusters of villages to map existing resources, identify and prioritize their common needs based on the questionnaire/assessment already shared with them during the training   3 days Design and Facilitate Workshop 1 - Conduct workshop 1     June 28, 2017 1 day Design and Facilitate Workshop 2 - Conduct workshop 2   July 11, 2017 1 day Design and Facilitate Workshop 3 Conduct workshop 3 July 18, 2017 1 day Provide technical coaching to municipalities Provide technical support and coaching for the municipalities in designing and writing projects proposals June 29, 2017 – August 14, 2017 8 days Attend Workshop 4 Support and attend workshop 4 August 17, 2017 1 day Submit final report Provide end report with recommendations   August 24, 2017 1 day Total 16 working days Qualifications: MA/S or equivalent in governance studies, development studies, social work, social sciences, human rights, or other relevant field required, MA preferred; At least 7 years of relevant experience with municipalities; Fluent Arabic speaking and writing skills. Additional strong English skills preferred The Consultant will work closely with: GCAP Team, Sector Manager, Senior Program Coordinator and M&E Coordinator. Total Contract Duration is from June 20 till August 20 2017; however the number of working days is 16.   Payment: In bank checks or wire transfer, after the successful delivery services based on monthly invoices and timesheets submitted (to include work days and hours. 8 hours = full day and 4 hours = half a day), with an approved consultant deliverable report. Incidentals, including transportation, per diems and communications costs, will not be covered separately by Mercy Corps, as they should be included in the consultant’s daily rate. Logistical Arrangements: Expenses related to the logistics needed for the workshops will be covered and provided by Mercy Corps, namely: venue, catering, computers, stationary, invitations and other related expenses. Submission guidelines: Applicants are requested to submit the following documents by email to lb-recruitment@mercycorps.org. Please mention the title “Governance Advisor” in the subject of the email.   1)      Consultant’s CV 2)      List of consultancies conducted in the last three years. Please include: Client name Brief description of services performed Client phone number and email Number of days worked Substantiated daily consulting rate A scan/copy of applicant’s registration at the Ministry of Finance. In case applicant cannot provide this document, and is selected for this consultancy, Mercy Corps will deduct the 7.5% services tax imposed by the Ministry from submitted invoices. N.B:  Interested firms are also encouraged to apply. Applicants firms are requested to submit the following documents by email to lb-recruitment@mercycorps.org. Please mention the title " Governance Advisor” in the subject of the email.  2 References A scan/copy of the firm’s registration at the Ministry of Finance. In case the firm cannot provide this document, and is selected for this consultancy, Mercy Corps will deduct the 7.5% services tax imposed by the Ministry from submitted invoices. Note: In case the consultant wants to seek support from other external experts must notify Mercy Corps upon submission of technical and financial offers; however no extra fees shall be charged on Mercy Corps.