Background

NOTE: Signed Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability - http://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 87312.

Travel will be required: to 18 partner LGs of MEG project - North-East Cluster: Doboj, Gracanica, Gradacac, Kalesija, Kostajnica, Tešanj, Teslic, Tuzla, and Žepce; North-West Cluster: Bihac, Bosanska Krupa, Cazin, Gradiška, Kozarska Dubica, Prijedor, Prnjavor, Sanski Most, and Velika Kladuša;

Financed by the Government of Switzerland and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Municipal Environmental and Economic Governance (MEG) Project is a 12-year intervention in the domain of local governance in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Project’s overall goal is defined as follows: Local governments (LGs), assigned with appropriate competences and finances, have improved their democratic governance, apply sound public policy and performance management systems, and provide public services in an inclusive, effective and efficient manner, particularly those related to economic and environmental sectors. The expected concrete improvements the Project will contribute to are clustered in three outcomes, as follows:

• Outcome 1: Supported local governments apply effective development management systems characterized by stronger oversight of the legislative and greater accountability towards the citizens.
• Outcome 2: Citizens and businesses in target localities benefit from good quality services provided by LGs in the economic and environmental sectors.
• Outcome 3: Improved regulatory framework at higher and local government levels.

The Project’s territorial focus is on the North-West part of the country (including Una-Sana Canton and Prijedor region) and the North-East region (the wider Doboj-Tuzla area), covering 18 partner LGs: Bihac, Bosanska Krupa, Cazin, Doboj, Gracanica, Gradacac, Gradiška, Kalesija, Kostajnica, Kozarska Dubica, Prijedor, Prnjavor, Sanski Most, Tešanj, Teslic, Tuzla, Velika Kladuša and Žepce.

The Project is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Ministry of Development, Entrepreneurship and Crafts of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), the FBiH Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry, the Ministry for Administration and Local Self-Government of Republika Srpska (RS), the RS Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and both entity Associations of Municipalities and Cities (AMCs).

Within its Local Government component, MEG Project is supporting its partner LGs (municipal councils and administrations) to establish sound public policy and performance management systems through improved structures, regulatory frameworks, capacities and attitudes by municipal employees and elected officials. This entails reform-type efforts by municipal leaderships and employees, towards a more effective and citizen-centred municipal governance and public service delivery.

The overall objective of this consultancy is to improve coordination among organizational units, including local administration units and external stakeholders (e.g. public utilities), involved in the implementation of LGs’ annual environmental plans and hence to improve municipal overall performance when it comes to successful implementation of local development strategies.

To this end, a National Consultant for Technical Assistance to Local Governments for Improved Coordination among Organizational Units in the Environmental Sector (hereafter: the Consultant) will be contracted. The Consultant will be responsible for: i) desk review and definition of the coordination model(s), ii) advisory support to MEG partner LGs for improved coordination and iii) organization of intermunicipal exchange events.

Duties and Responsibilities

Improved coordination among the organizational units involved in implementation of environmental plans is considered as a key pre-requisite for higher efficiency of implementation of local environmental projects and overall environmental development plans. Majority of LGs do not pay adequate attention to strategic and institutional communication, both internally (among administrative units) and externally (among administrative units and out-of-administration stakeholders, such as public utilities, local development agencies, etc.). According to the data collected by the MEG project, coordination in the environmental sector is complex since many actors are involved. One third of MEG partner LGs recognize that inadequate internal and external communication and coordination represent significant obstacle for efficient project implementation. Currently, coordination is achieved only among project teams, that are usually structured temporarily, still leaving the local environmental sector inefficiently coordinated as a whole. Therefore, target groups for this assignment are all organizational units and stakeholders involved in the environmental sector at local level. This activity will take place within the Local Government component of the Project, which aims to achieve significant improvements in the overall performance of partner LGs.

The Consultant will conduct the situation analysis desk review in 18 MEG partner LGs and design several feasible coordination model(s). The Consultant is also expected to offer advisory support to MEG partner LGs to select the best coordination model and implement it. Finally, the Consultant will facilitate two intermunicipal exchange events (one meeting per Project cluster) regarding challenges and lessons learned in this process.

Methodological Considerations

Within this assignment, LGs will be advised to strengthen the coordination in the environmental sector by precisely defining specific coordination roles and responsibilities.

One possible model would be to establish a new multi-stakeholder structure (working group or team) and another to eventually strengthen the unit for management of local development for coordination of all stakeholders. The Consultant will consider these and possibly other feasible options and propose tailor-made solutions to each partner LG. After each LG decides on the acceptable coordination model, the Consultant will design a package of technical assistance for LGs that will consist of advisory support, guidelines for inducing institutional changes, instructions for establishment of new communication channels, coordination lines and responsibilities; coaching support (online and on-the-job); and facilitation of exchanges among partner LGs. The package of technical assistance should be flexible and adapted to the needs of LGs.

The Consultant is expected to be engaged until 31 January 2020.

More specifically, the Consultant will have the following tasks: 

Task 1: Desk review and definition of the coordination model(s)

As part of this task the Consultant will:

Perform desk review to get familiar with existing coordination structures and practices within target LGs and outline options for improvements (by analysing MoU’s on local development partnerships; LG decisions on internal administrative organization and systematization of working positions;  strategies/ decisions on internal communication; monthly schedules for internal (coordination) meetings, minutes of meetings, etc.).

• Define several models for coordination among organizational units and stakeholders involved in the environmental sector and prepare recommendations for implementation of these models. The two basic coordination models, which should be considered are: (i) establishment of an environmental multi-stakeholder working group; and (ii) strengthening of the unit for management of local development for multi-stakeholder coordination function with focus on environmental sector. The Consultant is encouraged to envisage other model(s) that are in line with specific LGs’ context.
• Describe each coordination model  in terms of the type of proposed coordination structure, level of its institutionalization (e.g. who should make a decision about its establishment, which document will define this, etc.), number and structure of members, and basic working rules and principles (definition of the tasks and responsibilities, lines of communication and coordination with relevant stakeholders/ bodies, reporting rules, etc.).
• Identify 2-3 successful processes to serve as good practices, i.e. functional aspects of coordination in the environmental sector in MEG partner LGs or other LGs. Such practices should be documented in a brief report and disseminated to the target LGs, upon its approval by the MEG team.
• After completing the desk review and designing coordination models, visit each LG, at least once, in order to check the acceptability of recommendations and political will of the LGs’ leadership to implement changes.
• Prepare summary report with description of coordination models and recommendations for application in each LG will be delivered to the MEG team for comments and endorsement. MEG team will distribute relevant report and the list of recommendations for implementation of a chosen coordination model to each LG.

It is envisaged that this task will be delivered by 15 November 2019 and the level of effort will not exceed 22 expert days.

Task 2: Organization of intermunicipal exchange events

The Consultant will moderate two intermunicipal exchange meetings (one in Doboj and one in Banja Luka), which will be logistically supported by the MEG project team. Objective of these meetings is to facilitate exchange of experiences about multi-stakeholder coordination and efficiency of implementation of environmental projects. Based on such exchanges, MEG team will identify functional coordination models, success factors for improved coordination and challenges faced by LGs.

The Consultant is expected to prepare the concept and agenda for these meetings, as well as to support LG representatives in preparing brief presentations about their successes and challenges, in relation to implementation of the selected coordination model. If successful practices are identified before such meeting, the Consultant will make sure that these are documented in detail and presented to other participants. After the meeting, the Consultant will prepare a brief report from each meeting and submit it to the MEG team.

It is envisaged that this task will be delivered by 31 December 2019 and the level of effort will not exceed 4 expert days. 

Task 3: Advisory support to LGs for improved coordination

The Consultant is expected to offer online advisory support to each target LG during the implementation of the chosen coordination model and address any dilemma faced by LGs. The Consultant will also monitor progress in implementation through regular communication by email and phone and will inform MEG team accordingly.

It is envisaged that this task will be delivered by 31 January 2020 and the level of effort will not exceed 9 expert days.

Deliverables/outputs

Competencies

Corporate Responsibility and Teamwork:

• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Plans, prioritizes and delivers tasks on time.
• Strives for and promotes excellence in performance continually;
• Participates effectively in a team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others;

People Skills:

• Recognizes and responds appropriately to the ideas, interests, and concerns of others;
• Ensures others’ understanding of, involvement in, and adaptation to a change process.

Results-Orientation:

• Plans and procedures quality results to meet established goals.

Communication:

• Formulates written information clearly and persuasively;
• Shares information openly with co-workers and partners while using discretion to protect confidences;
• Strong communication skills;
• Presents information in a clear and articulate manner.

Job Knowledge and Expertise:

• Sound knowledge of the M&E,
• Strong analytical skills;
• Strong presentation skills;
• Advanced writing skills,
• Strong facilitation and coordination skills;
• Executes day-to-day tasks systematically and efficiently;
• Initiative and sound judgment.
•  General understanding and familiarity with the local administration, environment and strategic development terminology will be considered an asset.  

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education:

• University degree in environmental studies, environmental law, public administration, development policy, or related field.
• Master’s degree of PhD in relevant field will be considered an advantage.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of public administration experience, preferably at LG level.
• At least 3 years of experience in local integrated strategic planning – application of MiPRO methodology (e.g. providing technical assistance to LGs for implementation of environmental sector plans, establishment of units for management of local development).
• At least 3 years of working experience in the environmental sector, preferably at LG level.
• At least 1-year experience in the assessment and analysis of LG institutional structures and legal regulations.
• Demonstrated understanding of relevant LG competences.

Languages Requirements:

• Fluency in English and official languages of people of BH.

Shortlisting/ Qualification Criteria

Technical Evaluation Criteria

EVALUATION

Individual consultants 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 individual consultant 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%

Applicants are required to submit an application including:

• Personal CV including relevant experience and contact details of at least 3 references
• Sample of previous assessment or analysis report related to applicable work in environmental sector.

   

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.