Експерти/асистенти зі стратегічного планування для Програми DOBRE

Global Communities, formerly CHF International, is seeking qualified short-term consultants for USAID-funded Decentralization Offering Better Results and Efficiency Program (DOBRE):

POSITION: Participatory Strategic Planning Expert/Assistant

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Starting March 8, 2017 through July 31 2017 (Cohort #1).

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Ukraine: selected consolidated territorial unit/units participating in DOBRE program (including field work and desk job on respective documents and strategy text preparation).

LOE (Level of Effort) DAYS: 13-14 LOE days per unit/CC, including: 5-6 LOE days in unit (five to six 1-day meetings) and 8 LOE days for documents preparation.

Number of units per expert/assistant: 2-3.

OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of this task assignment is providing technical expertise in strategic planning and implementation of participatory strategic planning in the selected amalgamated communities taking part in DOBRE project.

The Participatory Strategic Planning Expert/Assistant will assist and support preparation of a local government strategy in accordance with Foundation in Support of Local Democracy (FSLD) Participatory Strategic Planning Model. FSLD is one of the partners of the DOBRE implementing consortium responsible for facilitating strategic planning processes in DOBRE. Working closely with the FSLD on the strategic planning the local consultants will absorb the FSLD methodology and will be able to apply in other amalgamated communities.

FSLD model assumes, among others:

• Close collaboration between the social and institutional stakeholders: engaging a broad representation of the local community (representatives of major institutions, NGOs, local leaders), representatives of local government and local institutions (both public and private) in the work on the strategy document.
• Adopting the sustainable development perspective – studies performed and decisions adopted when developing strategic solutions cover three areas: economic, social and environmental. This means that each area and its considerations are incorporated in the decision-making process (which does not always mean that they are given the same importance).
• Preparing a status quo report on the municipality, based on desk research (analysis of financial data, condition of the infrastructure, demographic data, labour market and economic data and environmental considerations) and on an in-depth social diagnosis (which includes social research on a representative sample of residents).
• Verification of proposed strategic goals, operational goals and activities during actual and effective public consultations.

In each municipality the representatives of the following groups will participate in the strategic planning process: local council members and staff of LG offices, local leaders and representatives of the non-governmental sector.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES / SPECIFIC TASKS:

The main purpose of this contract is to provide practical experience to the Ukrainian consultants in participating in the strategic planning, so that they will be able to adopt the FSLD methodology to Ukrainian context and use it with other amalgamated communities. In case of successful completion of this task, DOBRE program may use the services from the same consultants for providing strategic planning to other participating communities.

• Coordinate and provide technical assistance in strategic process including following elements:

• Preliminary meeting in municipality (planning of the strategic process)
• First meeting of strategic team
• Social survey (collection of data)
• Series of 3 working meetings of Strategic Team
• Public consultation
• Final meeting (adoption of the Development Strategy)

• Close cooperation with FSLD’s Polish-Ukrainian team of experts, including assistance in data collection, respective documents preparation, assistance in communication with local government units as well as logistic arrangements.
• Cooperation with Regional Coordinator of Global Communities in respective oblasts.

DELIVERABLES:

• Technical assistance to the local government units during the process of participatory strategic planning.
• Final strategic document including the following elements:

• status quo report for the local government unit
• social research on life conditions and public service quality in the local community
• identification of the most important local problems and development perspectives
• long term development vision for the local government unit
• presentation of key long-term strategic goals
• identification of indicators of deliverables and outcomes
• short-term implementation schedule and responsibilities associated with the implementation
• strategy management procedures (implementation monitoring and updating strategy process).

COORDINATION AND SUPERVISION:

The Participatory Strategic Planning Expert/Assistant will be contracted and supervised by Global Communities. The work on the strategy document will be coordinated and supervised by FSLD’s Polish-Ukrainian team of experts (during the strategic planning process in Cohort #1).

THE SELECTION PROCESS:

Global Communities will select consultants based on meeting the following criteria:

• Proven knowledge of decentralization processes;

• Demonstrated knowledge of strategic planning;

• Previous experience working with the amalgamated communities, facilitating public meetings in community;

• Previous experience working with local self-government associations is an advantage;

• Advanced level of English and/or Polish language is desirable.

To apply please send your CV as well as cover letter with summary of your experience; to [email protected] indicating “Participatory Strategic Planning Expert/Assistant” in the subject line by March 3, 2017.

Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. No telephone inquiries will be accepted.