Technical Advisor at Spark Micro Grants :Deadline: 30-11-2022

TECHNICAL ADVISOR – LODA

Terms of Reference

Background

Project Objective is to improve livelihoods for 17,750 households/76,000 people and the capacity of national, and local government including villages, to enhance citizen engagement in 249 villages in Rwanda. This will be achieved through a set of activities combining sustainable livelihood grants for poor, rural villages and capacity building for district, sector, cell and village officials on inclusive, participatory planning. The project will be implemented in four districts, seven sectors and 249 villages, which constitutes 10-12 percent of the villages in the project districts. The total population in the target villages, according to official data, is 152,645. This entire number is expected to benefit from improved village planning and engagement with local government, including enhanced understanding of and access to government social protection programs. On average, approximately 70 households in each target village will attend meetings and benefit from a range of activities, including capacity-building for planning and savings groups. This equates to 17,750 HH, for a total of approximately 76,000 direct beneficiaries.

The project has two sets of beneficiaries. The first group is the rural poor at the village level in the targeted areas, who will benefit from: (a) technical support to engage in participatory village planning and prepare a Village Development Plan (VDP); and (b) a small grant to implement priority livelihood sub-projects identified in the VDP. Experience also suggests that the project approach enhances participation in Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs). By strengthening communication between government and village members, it also generates welfare benefits through increased uptake of government social protection programmes by the rural poor.

The second group of beneficiaries will be government officials and institutions at the national and sub-national levels who will benefit from technical support on: (a) citizen engagement and participatory planning and; (b) how to translate this practical experience into a national framework on participatory village planning. At the village level, the project will directly benefit approximately 85,000 people (50 percent gender split) across 249 villages. The direct beneficiaries are the members of the estimated 80 households in each village who will attend regular weekly meetings to be facilitated by the project. They are also expected to benefit from increased capacity for planning, improved uptake of government social protection programs and from the micro-grant under component two. There will be 152,645 indirect beneficiaries, which is the total population in the target villages, who are expected to benefit from improved village planning and engagement with local government.

Villages will benefit in two ways: (a) participation in village planning and attendance at weekly meetings, which will increase their capacity to engage with local government; and (b) livelihood improvements from increased uptake of government social protection programs, the Micro-grant project and savings groups. Those in the lowest income brackets (Ubudehe 3 and 4 categories) and families will be included through mobilization strategies, including having zone representatives who encourage all households in their village zone to attend meetings, having someone alert households to the village meeting beforehand, and asking villagers to encourage their immediate neighbors to come and walk with them to the meeting. Participation by all village members is encouraged by emphasizing that everyone’s voice is important, appreciating those who provide input and a common understanding that contributions from all households are critical to successful collective action.

The project will benefit national and sub-national government officials to connect the demand and supply-sides. Local Government officials are responsible for citizen engagement but do not always have enough skills to lead participatory processes. The project will support the district, sector, and cell-level officials to prepare participatory village plans. The project will also benefit national-level officials in the ministries in charge of finance and local government by providing technical assistance to prepare a national framework for participatory village planning.

The project is currently being implemented in 7 sectors in Gakenke, Gicumbi, Burera, and Huye districts in two of Rwanda’s four provinces (Northern and Southern province). Within these provinces, a list of target districts was prepared, based on official household profiling and livelihood data provided by LODA and MINALOC, and considering the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19. Sectors were selected based on an assessment of poverty levels, the numbers of people in Ubudehe categories 1 and 2 and malnutrition rates, using data submitted by the District. After shortlisting 4-5 sectors per district, the final decision on project sites was made based on readiness to implement the project (e.g., full complement of SEDOs in place) and limited presence of other NGO or development partner programs. This resulted in the final list of four districts and seven sectors, which has been approved by the respective District.

Table of target districts, sector, cells and villages

Within the target sectors, all villages will be covered (a ‘sector saturation’ model), in order to capitalize on the investments in capacity development of local government officials. All households/people in each village are eligible to participate in meetings and decisions, run for local leadership, and benefit from activities in the VDPs, including microgrant-funded through sub-projects. The project will pay particular attention to improving the voice and representation of women and people in low-income categories as well as youth and persons with disabilities. The participation of people in these groups will be tracked throughout the project.

Objectives and Scope of Work

Job purpose

Based in Kigali, Rwanda, the Adviser on Village Level Planning for socio economic transformation will provide technical assistance to LODA. The Adviser will work closely with the office of the Director General and support LODA’s work on Village Level Planning. In this full-time role for a period of 1 year (renewable based on need and performance) the Adviser will work with all stakeholders including LODA, MINECOFIN and Spark Microgrants to design a village level national framework that can be utilized by the Government of Rwanda in strengthening village level planning across the country. The Adviser will also support LODA’s work on social protection and community development and report to the Director General at LODA.

Scope of work

1. Provide high-level advice to the Director General at LODA on village-level planning, citizen engagement and graduation.
2. Serve as a focal point for the ACE Project in LODA
3. Act as strategic advisor to the Director General at LODA
4. Build capacity within LODA in areas of village level planning and citizen participation
5. Organize and facilitate cross-cutting discussions with stakeholders especially during the design of the national framework.
6. Support Spark Microgrants to organize the Policy Working groups on various elements of villages level planning process
7. Support with organizing and participating in study visits to countries that have implemented village level planning at national scale and document best practice to share with government counterparts.
8. Work in collaboration with MINALOC, LODA, MINECOFIN, Spark Microgrants and other TA to design the national framework for village level planning.
9. Work with all key stakeholders to identify policy entry points for the national framework on village-level planning.

Desirables

1. Experience working with local government in Rwanda
2. An understanding of Rwanda’s social protection system and village level development
3. Relevant development experience, ideally in either community-driven development, governance, citizen engagement, social accountability, livelihoods, or other related areas and/or policy-driven change,
4. Have supported or managed relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including government actors and civil society.
5. Excellent written communication skills, preferably including experience writing reports and program documents

Application Details:

• Attach your resume and a cover letter that explain why your experience and background make you the ideal candidate for this position, and should be no more than one page.
• Please also include a sample of writing relevant to this position’s responsibilities.
• Please do not contact LODA or Spark Microgrants to inquire as to the status of your application. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• Knowledge of the Social Cohesion, Livelihoods, Civic Engagement and/or Social Accountability field(s) within international development

OTHER INFORMATION:

Position: Technical Advisor – LODA

Project: Advancing Citizen Engagement (ACE)

Location: Kigali, Rwanda with travel as required by project. Based in LODA unless working remotely due to COVID-19 related restrictions.

Application end date: 30th November 2022

Please send completed application through this LINK

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