Consultancy to Review/Finalize Union Council Fund Mechanism for Resilience Building Activities

Background

Concern Worldwide is an international, non-governmental, humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries. Concern has been working in Pakistan since 2001, when it initiated an emergency response project to address the Afghan refugee crisis in Baluchistan. Concern later moved into emergency, early recovery, and long-term development programming being implemented though local NGO partners in Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Punjab, and Sindh provinces. Consortium, led by Concern in partnership with ACTED, Welthungerhilfe (WHH) and International Rescue Committee (IRC) is implementing the CBDRM component of Building Disaster Resilience in Pakistan (BDRP) programme funded by DFID in disaster prone districts of Pakistan. The programme is in first phase includes an eight-month inception period, followed by 16 months of implementation in four districts Rajanpur and Muzafargarh in Punjab and Gotki and Kashmore in Sindh. The overall outcome of the Building Disaster Resilience in Pakistan (BDRP Programme) is “Increased capacity to reduce disaster risk, through better planning, preparedness, response, and resource at community levels”. 

Purpose of the consultancy 

Concern is looking for consultant/consultancy firm with overall purpose to review and finalize proposed 3 tiers [Community Disaster management Committee (CDMC), Union Council Resilience Forum (UCRF) and District Fund Management Committee (DFMC)] fund management system/mechanism developed by consortium. This will require a process of scoping, reviewing the proposed fund management mechanisms, analysis of similar existing models as well as planning process under devolved local government system. The consultant will be making consultations with relevant government authorities in proposed districts and among the consortium members for the purpose of reviewing, analysis and finalization of fund management system with clear proposed mechanism.

Specific objectives

• Review the proposed fund management system/mechanism that includes project fund approval and payment mechanism, implementation strategy, roles and responsibilities of formal and informal institutions at 3 tiers (CDMC, UCRF and DFMC) to identify the gaps and loop holes.
• To analyse similar fund management systems developed/run by Rural Support Programmes or any other INGO/NGO to explore the alternative successful options and models.
• To analyse local government devolved system and planning process in both provinces and identify entry points for meaningful engagement with local government system at district and UC level 1) Based on detail consultations, previous lesson learned propose a Union Council Resilience Forum (UCRF) system with clear possible solutions including changes/modifications with challenges, potential risks and mitigation measures (both financial and programmatic).

Outputs

The consultant(s) will produce following key outputs; these outputs can be further adjusted based on the need of the program and donor. A detailed document presenting Union Council Fund Mechanism for Resilience Building activities that includes: 

• Implementation strategy, project approval and fund flow mechanism, capacity building needs;
• Template for reporting, proposal and financial, HR management related Union Council Resilience Forum (UCRF) for submission of anticipated proposal;
• Challenges, Gaps, potential risks and mitigation measures; and
• Guidelines for engagement with government authorities to lobby for DRR allocations at UC level.

Essential and desirable experience/qualifications

Concern Worldwide is seeking an experienced consultant with the following expertise:

• Post-graduate degree(s) in social science / rural development specialized in civil society/institutional development, public private partnerships, governance and Disaster Management;
• Similar Or relevant experiences of development programming with financial management skill and similar demonstrated experiences;
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of development context, local government systems and related national development policies & priorities; and
• Excellent communication and drafting skills in English.

Payments

Payments will be made in instalment as per the set milestones agreed in the contract agreement. Apart from this Digital copies of all reports/documents will be required by Concern at the end of the set deadline.

Lines of communication

The consultant will report to Concern’s Team Leader for Community Based Disaster Risk Management component of Building Disaster Resilience in Pakistan (BDRP) programme and work closely with PIU Deputy team leader, CBDRM/DRR specialist, MER-Specialist, and the Livelihood Specialist. Apart from this regular meetings and interactions with the relevant team of Consortium partners will be made to discuss and finalize each output mentioned in above section. In addition if required, consultant may be asked to present his/ her work in Consortium Technical Working Groups for broader understanding and feedback of Consortium Partners.

Timeframe

The consultant will complete the work over a period of 15 working days spread over one month starting from mid of January 2017. Work break down will be discussed and finalized after signing of the contract with selected consultant/firm.