Antecedentes

The UN Joint Programme on Local Governance and Decentralized Services (JPLG) in Somalia is a long-term joint programme of ILO, UNCDF, UNDP, UN-HABITAT and UNICEF. The partners in the Joint Programme are the Federal Government of Somalia, the State Governments of Puntland and Somaliland, District Councils, International and Local NGOs/CSOs, and the private sector.

The Programme is currently in its 2nd phase, which intends to build on the successes achieved during the past five years, and to maintain the same focus of strengthening the local government as a means of enhancing the delivery of services to citizens, thus restoring the confidence and credibility of the state. It also aims to provide technical support on policies and laws related to the management of the local governments (see Output 1.1 of the joint Programme Document).

The State Government of Puntland and the Government of Somaliland, follow a process of defining its development objectives and priorities. The states have a vision of providing good services to its constituents in ways that would bring the government closer to the people. However, in order to realize this vision, the government needs to align and integrate interventions identified at the district, regional and the state-level by instituting a clear planning process. Currently, there is a disconnection between the prepared plans both at the sector, district, regional and the state-level. These plans need to be integrated in ways that the resulting state-level plan should consider development priorities that are responsive to the needs of the local communities and that local plans allow for the implementation of state and sector priorities and targets.

In Puntland, the effort of the state government to prepare another Five Year Development Plan (FYDP: 2013-2018) is believed to be the initiative that would integrate and harmonize the plans at various levels and sectors. However, its objective has been limited to only deliver the FYDP document, rather than installing a cyclical planning process that could be institutionalized at various levels.

In Somaliland, the Somaliland Vision 2030 and the National Development Plan (NDP) 2012-2016 spell out the country’s development objectives and priorities. As in Puntland, District Development Frameworks and Annual Work Plans are prepared at the district level (in JPLG-supported districts) but are not well integrated with the NDP or sufficiently aligned with sector plans where they exist. There is a need to improve cooperation between districts, regions, sectors and national level on planning and budgeting for development within a harmonized framework for development planning and budgeting.

In its Letter of Agreement (LOA) with the Ministry of Interior (MOI) in both Puntland and Somaliland, the joint Programme plans to engage an International Consultant to draft guidelines that will harmonize and institutionalize the district, regional and state-level planning processes in the two regions.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Objectives of the Assignment

The main objective of the engagement is to look for strategies that would best harmonize the two planning processes, and make sure that both level plans are linked and integrated. The harmonized planning guideline must spell out a planning process that is bottom-up (e.g., plans and priorities are responsive to the needs of the local communities) and is institutionalized –that, the initiative will not only be established but will also continue over time as a practice and procedure to be followed at various levels, and that, required mechanism in pushing this forward is set up. Furthermore, the engagement must also be able to suggest concrete steps leading to the implementation of the harmonized planning guideline in the context of Puntland and Somaliland.

The consultant is expected to develop an effective framework for harmonizing planning and budgeting processes, and suggest steps to implement the same in the context of Puntland and Somaliland. S/he will draft a harmonized national planning guideline that will clearly link the state-level agenda, the sector/ministry, regional, and district priorities. Particular focus shall be on the following:

• Reviewing existing legislations, guidelines, procedures, and policies of Puntland and Somaliland in relation to drafting a harmonized national guidelines that would best link the state, sector, and district level plans and priorities;
• Mapping out the existing planning processes being adopted, including mechanism/s used at various levels in developing the district, regional, sector and state-level plans and priorities;
• Coming up with an analysis of the existing planning processes adopted at various levels and its links to budgeting processes;
• Drafting the harmonized planning guidelines for Puntland and Somaliland that will clearly link the state-level, regional, sector and district development priorities;
• Designing and facilitating consultative-workshops in coordination with the districts, regions, line ministries (e.g., MOI, MOPIC, etc.), including other relevant actors in Puntland and Somaliland on the draft harmonized planning guidelines; and, 
• Refining and finalizing the draft harmonized planning guidelines, including the “next steps” for implementation and institutionalization.

The individual contractor is accountable to UNDP-JPLG and will work under supervision of the UNDP – JPLG Project Manager in close coordination with the JPLG team. Discussion of issues and challenges shall be done in a transparent manner, under the guidance of UNDP. A work plan for the consultancy will be developed and agreed to no later than three days after the start of the assignment. Evaluation of the contract will be made against the benchmarks and deliverables set for the assignment of the consultant at the end of the contract duration.

The following deliverables are to be achieved by the consultant:

• An inception report to be prepared and discussed with the UNDP-JPLG Project Manager which details activities on the methodology to proceed with the drafting of the planning guidelines for Puntland and Somaliland;
• A draft harmonized planning guideline for each region that links the state-level, regional and sector agenda into the development priorities of the districts;
• Conduct consultative-workshops to discuss the draft planning guidelines in coordination with the districts, regions, ministries and other relevant partners;
• Final draft of the harmonized planning guidelines; and,
• Final report not exceeding 30 pages plus bibliography and annexes, as needed. The report will comprise an analytical part and priority recommendations. Recommendations will be ranked by priority (e.g., high, medium, low) and by sequence (e.g., 6 months, 12 months, etc.). The final report is expected within eight (8) weeks from the start of the contract.

Deliverables: Reviewing existing legislations, guidelines, procedures, and policies of Puntland and Somaliland in relation to drafting the harmonized national planning guidelines that would best link the state, sector, regional, and district level plans and priorities. 
Expected no. of days : 4 days.  
Duty station: Home based.

Deliverables: Completion of Inception Report detailing activities on the methodology to proceed with the drafting of the harmonized planning guidelines for Puntland and Somaliland.
Expected no. of days: 4 days.
Duty station : Home Based.
Payment upon completion : 5%.

Deliverables; Production of the 1st draft of the Harmonized Planning Guidelines.
Expected no. of days : 5days.  
Duty station : Home based.
Payment upon completion : 10%.

Deliverables : Conduct consultative-workshops on the 1st draft of the Harmonized Planning Guidelines.
Expected no. of days : 15 Days.
Duty station : Garowe, Hargeisa.
Payment upon completion : 15%.

Deliverables : Production of the 2nd draft of the Harmonized Planning Guidelines.              
Expected no. of days : 5 days.  
Duty station : Home based.
Payment upon completion : 10%.

Deliverables : Conduct consultative-workshops on the 2nd draft of the Harmonized Planning  Guidelines.                                   
Expected no. of days : 15 days. 
Duty station : Garowe, Hargeisa.   
Payment upon completion :   15%.

Deliverables: Production of the final version of the Harmonized Planning Guidelines.        
Expected no. of days : 5 days.  
Duty station : Home based.   
Payment upon completion : 20%.

Deliverables : Writing and submission of the final report with analytical and priority recommendations (plus attachments)       
Expected no. of days : 7 days.
Duty station : Home based (plus meeting with UNDP-JPLG Project Manager).     
Payment upon completion:  25%.

The performance of the contractor will be reviewed on bi-weekly basis to approve outputs prior to authorization of payments.

Competencias

• Ability to work in a multi-cultural and multidisciplinary environment;
• Ability to work under tight deadlines;
• Demonstrate integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards; and
• Display cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

• At least 10 years of relevant experience;
• Sound understanding of the political and development context of Somalia;
• Good understanding and proven record of analytical work on public service reform and policy, government planning and budgeting processes (e.g., public expenditure management, government accounting system, among others), participatory local governance, community participation, and capacity building;
• Technical and professional expertise in designing, implementing and evaluating public sector reform programme, especially on government planning and budgeting, in post-conflict and fragile states;
• Experience in working with State Governments within the context of current Somalia would be an advantage; and,
• Demonstrated knowledge of gender, HIV/AIDS and human rights issues and their application in public administration reform in conflict/post conflict situations and fragile states.

Language requirements:

• Excellent command of written and spoken English.

Other Information

• The consultant will be required to have a personal lap top computer.