UNDP Jobs - 85523- Local Trainer on Project Cycle Management for Civi

Local Trainer on Project Cycle Management for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) with ReLOaD Project

Location :

Prishtina and throughout selected municipalities (Istog/k, Kamenice/a, Lipjan/Lipljan, Viti/Vitina, and Zveqan/Zvecan), Kosovo, UNSCR 1244 (1999)

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

20-Jun-2019

Application Deadline :

10-Jun-19 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

20 June 2019 – 15 September 2019 (19 working days within this period)

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

20 June 2019 – 15 September 2019 (19 working days within this period)

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. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

An integral part of the European Union (EU) accession agenda is to promote the inclusion of civil society in decision-making processes and to further develop participatory democracies in the region. Western Balkans (WB) face challenges related to the lack of collaboration between the institutions and civil society. Also, lack of transparency of existing public mechanisms for support of civil society organizations (CSOs), mainly at the local level, is perceived as one of the main obstacles for development and functioning of credible civil society. Local governments in the WB are one of the key funding providers for CSOs, and absence of a conducive financial environment is one of the main challenges civil society is experiencing in the current period.

All the WB, and local governments consequently, use similar models for funding of CSOs from public budgets, where common challenges relate to insufficient transparency and/or clear criteria of the selection processes. To address these challenges, the EU-funded Regional Programme on Local Democracy in the WB (ReLOaD) aims to strengthen partnerships between local governments and civil society by scaling-up a successful model of transparent and project-based funding of CSOs. The ReLOaD programme is implemented in Kosovo , Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia.

Within the Kosovo Strategy for Cooperation with the Civil Society 2013 - 2017, the Strategic Objective 3 foresaw the building of a system and defines criteria to support financially the CSOs. Approved in July 2017, the Regulation MF – NR – 04/2017 on Criteria, Standards and Procedures on public Funding of NGOs that aims to regulate state support for CSOs is in place and provides the Manual for distribution of public funds to CSOs which shall reflect also the recommendations from the LOD methodology. Nevertheless, there is still lack of application and capacity from municipalities and CSOs to properly implement such mechanism.

The ReLOaD project in Kosovo partners with five municipalities selected in a competitive process: Istog/k, Kamenice/a, Lipjan/Lipljan, Viti/Vitina, and Zveqan/Zvecan. In 2018 and early 2019, the project in collaboration with these municipalities has awarded grants to CSOs through a competitive process in line with the Regulation MF 04/2017. In mid-2019, the project will open a new, second public call for project proposals from interested CSOs in the 5 partner municipalities. To ensure adequate project implementation, resource allocation, and effective project proposals from CSOs, the project will offer technical assistance to interested CSOs through provision of trainings on Project Cycle Management (PCM) and other relevant aspects of grant proposals in accordance with local needs. The engaged local expert is expected to deliver training to CSOs in PCM in order to strengthen capacities of CSOs to apply for such public funds and run projects effectively.

Objectives of Assignment
The purpose of the assignment is to enhance capacities of CSOs in five partner municipalities (Istog/k, Kamenice/a, Lipjan/Lipljan, Viti/Vitina, and Zveqan/Zvecan) through technical training to design and implement projects in line with the Regulation MF-NR-04/2017, its manual and LOD methodology, contributing to local communities and improved service delivery.

Assignment will be conducted in line with UN 8 Point Agenda and the UNDP Gender responsive mandate.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under direct supervision of the ReLOaD Project Officer, the Trainer will deliver the following:

1. Review and update where applicable the developed gender-responsive PCM training curricula for CSOs, built on the methodology for transparent distribution of funds for financing CSOs, concrete samples of projects, case studies, and conduct group exercises to illustrate the relevant topics, findings and lessons learned derived from previously delivered trainings and provide hands-on examples. The following topics are to be delivered:

Introduce PCM and the logical framework matrix as a key tool for project design
Deliver a presentation of the key elements related to defining problems and needs, goals and objectives, results, and activities, as well as the methodology
Elaborate the drafting of description of action/project document, and project budget, as well as other elements of project application set
Provide concrete exercises and apply in practice the logical framework matrix in project preparation
Provide guidance and technical assistance to support CSOs to go through each stage of the project development process towards a viable project proposal
Address key aspects of administrative and financial management; as well as visibility and elements of procurement
Present the most important lessons learned/recommendations derived from the first cycle of PCM training

Subsequently, in collaboration with the ReLOaD team, ensure that a training package is prepared for each participant, including relevant supporting materials (presentations, hands-out, pre-and-after trainings tests, group experiences, exercises for individual work, reference materials, evaluation forms, etc.); Training materials developed will be printed out by the UNDP.

2. Prepare work plan and deliver the trainings

Submit a work plan for the provision of trainings in accordance with the topics and respective curricula where the number of trainees for each training should not be below 15 or above 25
Submit the training packages and work plan to the ReLOaD project staff for approval
Conduct a pre-training and exit-tests with respective CSOs participants to evaluate the knowledge acquired by the training participants
Deliver in total five training sessions (three-day each, fifteen days in total) for participating CSOs, one training session per one of the partner municipality

3. Draft and submit a comprehensive report:

Prepare a comprehensive report that shall include, but not limited to: training goals and results achieved, number of trainees, analysis of pre- and after- training knowledge, lessons learned and recommendations, training performance evaluation, FAQs sheets, etc. All data presented should be gender disaggregated. The report should be prepared in English language and ought to integrate comments and suggestions of the UNDP prior final approval.

The Local Trainer will be required to organize his/her own travel and accommodation arrangements to training venues that will be determined by the project team in the five respective partner municipalities.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

PCM training curricula for CSOs including concrete samples of projects, case studies, and group exercises to illustrate the relevant topics and provide hands-on examples reviewed and updated where applicable and submitted (2 working days)
Trainings delivered to CSOs in partner municipalities: Istog/k, Kamenice/a, Lipjan/Lipljan, Viti/Vitina, and Zveqan/Zvecan (15 working days)

*Dates of the training delivery might be subject to slight modification, in agreement with ReLOaD project and partner municipalities.

Comprehensive report drafted and submitted and validated by UNDP (2 working days)

Remuneration - Lump Sum Amount

The Contract is based on lump sum remuneration and shall be processed subject to deliverables as per the schedule listed below.
Lump sum payment schedule:

First tranche (70%) to be transferred upon successful completion of the training curricula and training delivery;
Second tranche (30%) to be transferred once final report is submitted and validated.

Recommended Presentation of Offer
The following documents must be submitted:

Updated P11/CV, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references
Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability
Technical proposal, a max. 2-pages document explaining the approach and the methodology to be utilized for delivering the expected results within the indicated timeframe
Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive, lump-sum contract price. The Offeror must indicate and ensure at this point that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to the UNDP

Criteria for selection of the Best Offer
Offers will be evaluated utilizing a combined Scoring method – where the technical qualifications, the relevant work experience and the technical proposal will be weighted a max. of 70% and combined with the price offer which will be weighted a max of 30%.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of the UN/UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional competencies

Demonstrate modern approach to delivery of policy/technical advice, and experience of working with civil society, ministries and local self-governance structures;
Proven skills related to design and delivery of training/mentoring sessions;
Ability to identify beneficiaries’ needs, and to match them with appropriate solutions;
Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
Good analytical and report writing skills;
Ability to synthesize research and draw conclusions on the related subject;
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
Ability to pay attention to details.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in development, economics, public policy, public administration, or a related social science field

Experience:

A valid trainer certificate in the field of PCM and at least 5 years of relevant professional experience in delivering training on PCM is required
Thorough understanding/knowledge of the project application preparation, PCM and monitoring and evaluation of projects is required (previous experience with UNDP would be considered as an asset)
Relevant experience in training CSOs, as well as in training of local governments is required

Languages:

Fluency in spoken and written Albanian and English. Knowledge of Serbian language would be an asset

Application Instructions:

Click on the "Apply now" button
Input your information in the appropriate sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation; you can type in, or paste your short Resume into the last box
Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. On the next page, you will be asked to upload your Resume
System will only allow one attachment. All docs (CV; P11; financial offer; list of similar profiles should be included as one attachment)
Please make sure to submit all the requested documents/information; otherwise, your application will be considered incomplete