Background
Duties and Responsibilities
The main objectives of this consultancy assignment are to support the process of preparation of community security plans and their implementation in the targeted VDCs/communities of project districts, in close cooperation with AVRSCS Project Officers under oversight of Field Coordinator.
- Based on the knowledge of the local level dynamics, assist in the identification and targeting key community security actors (GoN, Nepal Police, community police center, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), CBO and an inclusive group of community members) at the local level to facilitate discussions on community security issues, prepare community security plans and assist in implementation;
- Assist Project staff in the coordination of target stakeholders, including local representatives of the District Administration Office, Nepal Police, Women and Children Office, CSOs, Local Peace Committees, the VDC Secretary, and an inclusive group of community members representing different castes, ethnicities, genders and age groups, and convene them to collectively identify and prioritize community security issues, and their plans to address them;
- Facilitate inclusive and participatory community security planning sessions at the district and VDC level, based on the Community Security Planning Manual (as prepared by project) and utilizing Collaborative Leadership and Dialogue as a tool;
- Assist in preparation and implementation of agreed community security plans. Liaise with the Project team to ensure coordination and linkages with project stakeholders at the district/VDC/community level.
- Extend necessary support to AVRSCS field-level project activities including awareness raising activities, including supporting in the roll-out of the GBV prevention peer education manual and youth violence prevention activities at the district, VDC and community levels;
- Assist in Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) activities at the field level, as needed;
- Perform other activities as per the need of the project in coordination with the Project Officers and the Project Field Coordinator.
Scope of work:
- While working in coordination with the AVRSCS project, the consultants will be guided by input from the GoN and Nepal Police at all stages. Community security planning processes and implementation will be supervised by designated AVRSCS project officer on a weekly basis to ensure open communication and quality assurance.
- Consultants are expected to attend a compulsory training session (Project will cover associated costs – transport, etc).
Deliverables:
- Under the guidance of the AVRSCS project personnel and in line with the AVRSCS Strategy, Communication Plan and relevant project documents, the consultant will be responsible for the following:
Work plan.
Develop methodology, in close coordination with AVRSCS Project Officers and Field Coordinator
Assist in the preparation of gender- and conflict-sensitive community security plans in their specified district, through inclusive and participatory dialogue processes. This entails the following:
- Identifying all relevant stakeholders (including government officials, Nepal Police and security actors, traditional leaders, media, CSO representatives, etc);
- Setting-up meetings with all relevant stakeholders for community security planning ;
- Assist in facilitation of meetings, dialogues, focus group discussions, etc. ;
- Assist in ensuring that community security plans incorporate the meaningful participation of all relevant stakeholders and are endorsed by participants;
- Maintaining notes/minutes and record-keeping of the meetings.
Assist in the implementation of the gender- and conflict-sensitive community security plans in their specified district and VDCs
- Liaising among responsible stakeholders, including follow-up and periodic reporting to relevant AVRSCS Project personnel
- Assist in identifying linkages between community security plans and district and/or village level development and police plans
Periodic progress and final reports detailing status and progress of community security planning and implementation process, including participant lists (with contact details), challenges, and suggestions for improvement and future action.
The consultant will work on an “as-needed” basis within the contract period, not exceeding a maximum of 150 days. Payment will be made upon submission of timesheet and status/progress reports as verified by the concerned project officer(s).
Inputs:
The consultant will be expected to work from their own premises and utilize their own physical facilities and transportation for all work conducted in their assigned district. Project will cover costs to participate in all mandatory trainings.
Purchases:
Competencies
- Strong knowledge of the local context, especially of local security and violence related issues;
- Ability to convene various and potentially diverging stakeholders and facilitate meaningful meetings/discussions at the community level;
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
- Respect to cultural/ethnic/social/language diversity;
- Political neutrality; ability to work across party lines;
- Ability to use local languages;
- Willingness to travel to rural communities.
Required Skills and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Humanities, Social Sciences and Education disciplines.
- At least 5 years field experience, particularly in social mobilization and community development. Experience in community leadership and dialogue-related activities is a distinct advantage;
- Knowledge of basic concepts of development or community security planning process would be an added advantage;
- Practical experience of organizing meetings, including preparation, facilitation and record-keeping activities.
- Experience of working with local governments, district level government agencies as well as civil society organizations;
- Proven experience working with youth/women/community clubs, networks or organizations;
- Experience in preparation of local development plans desirable;
- Knowledge of Collaborative Leadership and Dialogue (CLD) Techniques and/or tools will be of added value;
- Knowledge of applying context analysis tools desirable.
Language Requirements:
- Proficiency in spoken and written Nepali;
- Working knowledge of written and spoken English preferable but not mandatory;
- Proficiency in one of the local languages of above mentioned districts is highly desirable.
- Preference will be given to qualified applicants originating and residing in the concerned project districts.
- Criterion A: Minimum 5 years practical experience of organizing community meetings, dialogues, social mobilization and community and/or local development (including convening various stakeholders and facilitating their meaningful discussion at community level), including dialogue/meeting preparation, facilitation and record-keeping activities. (Weight: 25%, Max. Point: 25);
- Criterion B: Experience working with local governments, district level government agencies, and civil society organizations (youth clubs, women's groups, networks for marginalized people, etc). (Weight: 25%, Max. Point: 25)
- Criterion C : Strong knowledge of the local context, especially of local security and violence related issues (Weight: 20%, Max. Point: 20);
- Criterion D : Academic Qualification (Weight: 10%, Max. Point: 10);
- Criterion E : Language qualifications (Nepali mandatory, English preferable, local languages [Maithili, Bhojpuri, Awadi, and Tharu] desirable) (Weight: 10%, Max. Point: 10) ;
- Criterion F : Knowledge of Collaborative Leadership and Dialogue (CLD), context analysis tools, basic concepts of development plans or community security planning processes, etc. (Weight: 10%, Max. Point: 10).