Ongoing Recruitment at Local Government Association of Zambia

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO LEAD THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY STRATEGY ON DECENTRALIZATION

Enhancing Local Government Capacity for Development Project

Development of a Stakeholders Engagement and Advocacy Strategy on Decentralization

The project is implemented by the Local Government Association of Zambia (LGAZ) in partnership with
the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) and the Ministry of Local Government (MLG)

Qualified individuals and/or organizations experienced in strategy development and local government are invited to submit proposals responding to this request for proposals (RFP).

Description of the assignment

Professional Services to lead the development of a Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy Strategy on Decentralization

Project Name: Enhancing Local Government Capacity for Development

Contracting Party: Local Government Association of Zambia

Client: European Union (EU) and the UK Department for International Development (DFID)

Proposals Submission Deadline: Due date: 31 August 2018 at 17:00Hrs

Proposals to be addressed to: The Project Manager

Enhancing Local Government Capacity for Development

Proposals are to be submitted by email to [email protected] (all documents in PDF format).

1.0 Introduction

Under the project “Enhancing Local Government Capacity for Development”, the Local Government Association of Zambia (LGAZ), in partnership with the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) and the Ministry of Local Government (MLG), requires the services of an experienced Service Provider to lead the development of a Stakeholders Engagement and Advocacy Strategy on Decentralization.

1.1 Background

The Government of Zambia relaunched the Decentralisation Policy (DP) (2002) and Decentralisation Implementation Plan (DIP) in 2013 with the objective of promoting effective and efficient service delivery and citizen participation in local governance and development. According to the Implementation Plan to the Seventh National Development Plan (7thNDP), the government is planning to decentralise 15 mandates to local authorities by 2018. The successful implementation of the DP therefore is critical in the achievement of the Zambia 7th NDP, as it is one of the key strategies the government has adopted to create an enabling policy framework. To be able to effectively deliver on their expanded mandate, which requires them to plan and deliver services and development in a participatory and inclusive manner, local authorities will need capacity strengthening in several strategic areas. Similarly, citizens, as rights holders will need to be empowered to be able to claim their rights and to effectively participate in local governance and development.

In light of the above, the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF), in partnership with Local Government Association of Zambia (LGAZ) and Ministry of Local Government (MLG) with financial support from the European Union (EU) and UK Department for International Development (DFID), is implementing a project titled, ‘Enhancing Local Government Capacity for Development’ which aims to contribute to enhanced local governance for effective, efficient and inclusive service delivery in Zambia through three Outcome areas:

1. Improved leadership, institutional and operational capacities of local authorities for enhanced local governance.
2. Enhanced capacity of local authorities to plan and implement inclusive service delivery and promote local economic development.
3. Increased capacity for LGAZ to represent and support the local government sector in the decentralisation process in Zambia.

Under the third Outcome area, the project will support the development and implementation of a Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy Strategy on Decentralization for LGAZ. The Strategy is expected to define LGAZ’s engagement with various stakeholders including government departments, civil society, private sector and development partners and consolidate multi-stakeholder support for the local governance sector in Zambia. The Strategy is also expected to help strengthen the legitimacy and authority of LGAZ.

Since its founding in 1947, the LGAZ has remained consistent in carrying out its principal objective of representing and lobbying for the interests and autonomy of local government authorities in Zambia. The Association has continued to act as an intermediary between central government and individual local authorities by reflecting the real concerns, experiences, capacity and potential of member councils. This advocacy role is not restricted to individual interests of cities, municipalities or towns but extends to the entire system of local government. This central position makes it imperative for central government and LGAZ to build a mutually beneficial relationship.

Regarding decentralization, LGAZ played a significant role in advocating policy development during the 1990s and in the adoption of the National Decentralisation Policy by government in 2002 as well as the entrenchment of devolution in the Republican Constitution in 2016, with the belief that these milestones would not only ensure effective devolution but also strengthen the institutional capacity of local government. Following the government’s decision to pursue decentralization through devolution, the main challenge has been to ensure that local authorities and the decentralization process, work effectively and efficiently. Accordingly, the role of LGAZ has been to ensure that policies which are giving new responsibilities to local government are cohesive and sustainable. Resources are central to this. Devolved functions must be supported by the means to raise local revenue as well as guaranteed central government transfers. For this reason, LGAZ has continued to play its key negotiating role with Parliament and central government to ensure equity in resource distribution between central and local government.

Apart from the local authorities, there are other stakeholders such as the private sector, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and the public that have expectations of local government thereby placing the Association in a unique position. The Association is at the center of a network of overlapping inter-relationships of organizations and government and therefore becomes a crucial intermediary in communication between local authorities on the one hand, central government and other sectors of society on the other, on matters relating to local government.

As an umbrella organization, the Association brings together individual local authorities with their diverse situations, trying to combine their common experiences, potentials, shared interests, concerns and needs. Through this method, the Association can gather and collate information from individual members to formulate well-documented opinions on the overall state of local government. In this way, the Association acts as a unifying voice of local government by developing appropriate policies and programmes. Appreciating that individually, local authorities have own and sometimes competing interests, they also have a shared interest in creating the right conditions to execute their mandate. The Local Government Association of Zambia speaks more powerfully as the “voice” of local authorities in the country by expressing their common concerns and needs and by showing their collective potential.

Although the Association has made appreciable achievements in its stakeholder engagement role in the past there is need to strengthen its capacity to be able to represent and support the local government sector, particularly in the on-going decentralization sector. To effectively play this role in a coherent and systematic manner there is a need for a well document Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy Strategy on which action plans shall be based.

2. Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Project Manager, the Consultant will work closely with the LGAZ Executive Secretary to contribute to the objective below:

LGAZ Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy Strategy Developed and Implemented

3. Key Deliverables

1. Inception report including the methodology for the development of the Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy Strategy, workshop materials and facilitate a Stakeholders Workshop, including tools for data collection
2. Presentation of the Inception Report at the inception meeting with LGAZ and the ELGCD Project Implementation Team
3. Final Inception Report with input from the inception meeting incorporated
4. Undertake a consultative process for developing the Stakeholders Engagement and Advocacy Strategy on Decentralization
5. A comprehensive Stakeholders Engagement and Advocacy Strategy on Decentralization for LGAZ including but not limited to the following:
   • Contextual Analysis
   • Analysis of national, regional and global experiences/practices on Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy on Decentralization
   • Scope and methodology to be used for the implementation of the Strategy
   • Criteria to identify, propose Decentralization Champions and ensure their engagement
   • The advocacy approach, issues to be addressed, clear objectives, roles and responsibilities of champions
   • Monitoring and evaluation framework
   • Strategic Framework (objectives/ goals/ indicators)
6. Submit draft documents (Stakeholders Engagement and Advocacy Strategy and Implementation Plan) for review and final documents after incorporating comments
7. Report of the validation workshop to present the Stakeholders Engagement and Advocacy Strategy on Decentralization and implementation Plan to LGAZ and the Project Implementation Team
8. Report of Stakeholders Workshop on the Stakeholders Engagement and Advocacy Strategy

4. Implementation timeframe

The consultancy shall be undertaken over a period of eight (8) days that will start running from the date of signing the consultancy agreement.

5. Competencies Required

A. Academic Qualifications:

• Minimum of a master’s degree in communications, Public Relations, Public Administration or any other Social Science

B. Experience:

• At least 7 years of relevant professional experience in any of the following fields public administration, local government, advocacy, communications and media;
• Demonstrable experience in stakeholder mobilization and advocacy campaign development and implementation;
• Good analytical and communication skills, including presentation and facilitation skills with a high level of proficiency in both written and oral English

C. Functional Competencies

• Excellent interpersonal and networking skills with a demonstrated ability to build and maintain professional relationships
• Demonstrates professional competence and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results
• Excellent communication and advocacy skills as well as the ability to communicate effectively with all stakeholders and to present ideas clearly and effectively
• Strong analytical and drafting skills
• Computer literacy

6. Payment Schedule

All payment in relation to this assignment shall be in Zambian Kwacha (ZMW). Payment for the expected deliverables will be made upon the endorsement of work by a reference group comprising LGAZ and CLGF. The Service Provider shall be paid in accordance with the following indicative schedule, depending on the proposed methodology:

a) 25% of fees upon approval of the Inception Report on the content and methodology of the strategy development process
b) 25% of fees upon completion of Stakeholders Workshop
c) 50% of fees upon submission of final documents to the satisfaction of the reference group

7. Documents to be included when submitting Proposal

Service Providers interested in the assignment should submit the following documents to LGAZ:

7.1. A short Technical Proposal, no more than 7 pages (excluding annexes), demonstrating the
candidate’s suitability for the assignment. The proposal should, amongst others, include the following:

• Profile of the Service Provider, including a summary of recent experience on assignments of a similar nature.
• The Service Provider’s interpretation/understanding of the assignment as specified in the TOR
• A clear and succinct description of the methodology and work plan the consultants will use to execute the assignment

7.2 A Financial Proposal indicating the consulting rate per day and the number of days anticipated to complete the assignment. Financial proposal must be in Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) and inclusive of taxes

7.3. Detailed personal CV/s and at least three (3) client references.

8. Evaluation Criteria

Offers shall be evaluated based on the “Lowest price and technically compliant offer” approach as follows:

a) An offer is responsive/compliant/acceptable if it scores a minimum of 70% on the criteria outlined below and fully meets the qualifications and language requirements.

b) Proposals scoring below 70% on the technical criteria will not qualify to be evaluated for the next stage of the assessment.

Relevant qualifications Yes
English language competency Yes

1. Understanding of the Assignment (Methodology) 30%
2. Experience with Advocacy and Strategy Development 40%
3. Training and facilitation experience 20%
4. Experience in local governance 10%

Total 100%

Note

This RFP is only an invitation for proposals and no contractual obligation on behalf of LGAZ whatsoever shall arise from the RFP process unless and until a formal contract is signed.

LGAZ reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals received, to revise the RFP, to request clarifications or to cancel the process in part or whole.