Background

NOTE: Signed Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and availability - https://www.ba.undp.org/content/dam/bosnia_and_herzegovina/docs/Operations/Jobs/Offerors%20Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx - Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability.docx - to be sent to e-mail ba.shared.hr@undp.org with Subject: Job ID 102035.

Regional Programme on Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 2 (ReLOaD2) is a continuation of the EU-UNDP partnership and previously supported initiative – ReLOaD1 implemented from 2017-2020. The programme continues to strengthen participatory democracies and the EU integration process in the Western Balkans (WB) by empowering civil society and youth to actively take part in decision making and by stimulating an enabling legal and financial environment for civil society. It is implemented in the WB region: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), North Macedonia, Kosovo?, Montenegro, and Serbia. Working across the region, ReLOaD2 will enhance capacities of local governments and civil society organizations (CSO) to engage in productive partnerships and contribute to improved service delivery and realisation of local priorities in line with development strategies. The project in BiH selected 13 partner local governments (LGs)  and will focus on strengthening the partnership between LGs and CSOs. It will incite partner LG to improve public funding for CSO in a transparent and development-oriented manner, recognising local needs and embracing a project-based approach. Also, the project will promote youth engagement and support implementation of youth initiatives and will work on improvement of their economic perspectives in partner localities.

The total budget of the ReLOaD2 for BiH is EUR 3.69 million and project will be implemented from January 2021 until December 2024.

As a part of its activities at the local level, ReLOaD2 in BiH offers capacity development of Civil Society Organizations that are considering participating in public calls for submission of project proposals which will be jointly announced by the ReLOaD2 project and partner LGs. The Mentor for Civil Society Organizations (hereinafter the consultant) is engaged to provide mentoring and further strengthen capacities and skills of grassroots CSO to develop project proposals contribute to realisation of legitimate local priorities in line with local development strategies.
The objective of the Consultancy is to deliver mentoring and advising sessions that will further strengthen capacities and skills of CSOs and support them for preparation of project proposals in the following partner LGs: Centar Sarajevo, Rudo and Vitez.

Duties and Responsibilities

The main objective of the consultancy is to provide mentoring support to CSOs in partner LGs (Centar Sarajevo, Rudo and Vitez) for an estimated period of up to three expert days per each LG (nine expert days in total for three partner LGs), and in addition one expert day for final reporting. The Mentoring will be organised during the joint public call for funding CSO projects, will focus on two main tasks:

  1.Mentoring of CSOs to prepare project proposals;
  2.Reporting.

In close cooperation with each partner LG, the consultant will organise mentoring sessions in a form of group workshop in each locality.  Mentoring will encompass three expert days in each partner LG in a form of maximum four-hour sessions with a minimum of two participants from different CSOs per session. All sessions will be attended by a representative of ReLOaD2 team and/or LG coordinator. In case that minimum presence of two participants is not reached in a LG the mentoring session/s will be rescheduled or cancelled in agreement with the ReLOaD2 team.

More specifically, the consultant will be expected to perform the following tasks:

Task 1: Mentoring of CSOs in preparation of project proposals

Under this task, the consultant is required to:

• Deliver mentoring services in three partner LGs. Estimated duration of this service per LG is up to three expert days. Mentoring sessions are envisaged to ensure close interaction and knowledge sharing, thus providing insight into rules and regulations of the public call for CSOs. During the mentoring sessions, various mentoring and counselling modalities will be used, in accordance with adult learning principles, to ensure that the sessions are practical, interactive and relevant for the challenges faced in process of preparation of successful project proposal in a local community.
• Provide guidance to CSO representatives related to the benefits of target groups from the envisaged activities, with special attention on the role of CSO applicants, partner, institutions and/or consultants in foreseen project proposals. The special attention will be given to the methodology in project proposal writing with practical examples of activities that logically correspond with goals and expected results. Recognition and definition of potential risks and importance of mitigation measures will be also covered through the mentoring sessions as well as proper definition of objectively verifiable indicators. The consultant will provide advice to CSO on any challenges they might have regarding successful implementation of project during COVID 19. Ensure that his/her engagement will be performed without any preferences to CSO participants and without providing advises related to concrete project ideas. Sessions will be held in the presence of the ReLOaD2 team representative and/or LG representative;
• Ensure that all relevant concerns, raised by CSO representatives, are properly addressed given the specifics of the public call for CSOs. The consultant will keep written track of the most common issues and challenges during each session, so it can be communicated to other interested CSOs. The consultant will regularly communicate with ReLOaD Grant Officer in terms of planning mentoring sessions.
• Following each mentoring session, the consultant is obliged to submit report on the session. Report will cover al questions, concerns and advice provided. The report will be sent to the Grant Officer for further distribution and publishing on a municipal website in order to make the information from the mentoring sessions available to other CSOs. This task must be completed 24 hours after each session is held.  

Task 1 will be completed during each public call for CSOs in partner LGs. Estimated level of effort for this task is nine expert days in total per three partner LGs (three expert days per each LG) and should be completed until November 10, 2021.

In case that the epidemiological situation in the country prevents the delivery of mentoring physically, they will be held online or as a hybrid event.

Task 2: Reporting

Upon the completion of all mentoring sessions, the consultant will prepare an integrated report for all delivered sessions that will include, but will not be limited to session goals and results achieved, number of participants, number of CSOs, lessons learned and recommendations for each LG, record of asked questions, etc. All data presented within the report must be gender segregated.
The draft report should be submitted to ReLOaD2 team in English (MS Word electronic version). The final version of the report must take in consideration all comments provided by ReLOaD2 project.

It is envisaged that the level of effort will not exceed one expert day and should be completed until November 17, 2021.

Deliverables/outputs

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards.
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism.
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment

Functional competencies:

• Demonstrates professional competence to meet responsibilities and post requirements and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results.
• Results-Orientation: Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals, generates innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations.
• Communication: Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities, including the ability to convey complex concepts and recommendations, both orally and in writing, in a clear and persuasive style tailored to match target audiences.
• Teamwork: Ability to interact, establish and maintain effective working relations with a culturally diverse team;
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education

• University degree in public administration, economics, law, social-sciences or related field.
• Advanced degree will be considered as an asset.

Experience

• At least 5 years work experience in the field of local development planning and project management in Bosnia and Herzegovina;
• Previous experience in provision of technical assistance and development of project proposals to public institutions and organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina is required; 
• Previous experience in capacity development of civil society organizations in the area of local governance, local development, public participation and public scrutiny is required;
• Excellent communication and group-facilitation skills.

Languages Requirements

• Excellent writing and oral communication skills in official languages in BiH;
• Fluency in English.

Longlisting/Shortlisting Criteria

Qualifications as stated in the ToR

Technical Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation

Individual  will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the candidate whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

• * Technical Criteria weight-70%
• * Financial Criteria weight- 30%

Interested candidated must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

• Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work;include previous experience in similar projects and assignments related to mentoring, advising and delivering of technical assistances to public institutions and organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Personal CV/P11, including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references.

Please scan all above mentioned documents and upload as one attachment only online through this website.

Note:

• For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 65 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy.
• Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.