"Ma Implic Phase 2" project seeks to contract a Capacity Development Advisor

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Title: Capacity Development Advisor

Project: MA IMPLIC – Project on Civic Engagement in Local Governance

Contract duration: June 2025 – October 2027.

Type of contract & expected workload: consultant / part-time employment, cca 50% / 10 days/month on average.

1. BACKGROUND

 The Project on civic engagement in local governance “MA IMPLIC” (Phase 2: November 2023 – October 2027) aims at ensuring that the rural population of Moldova has equitable access to quality public service provision and at supporting the government of Moldova in the implementation of the local government reform. The project is implemented by Skat Consulting Ltd., a Swiss consulting firm, and is financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Skat Consulting Ltd, and its project implementation unit, a Moldovan-registered non-profit organization, implement donor-financed projects for a period of more than 10 years in Moldova already.

The project supports project partners at local and national levels. Activities at the national level support government institutions in the implementation of Public Administration, and here especially the Local Government reform. At the local level, the project supports capacity development, civic engagement, and improvement of public service infrastructure in rural communities. The partner LPA groups are illustrated on this map: https://ma-implic.md/proiecte-individuale-faza2/

One of the activity areas of the Ma Implic project aims to increase capacities of partner LPA groups to improve the necessary capacities and skills to improve the performance of their core functions. This will include formats such as trainings, peer-exchanges, mentoring and other suitable formats to enhance skills and capacities in topics such as organisational and strategic planning, public financial management, citizen outreach and transparency; project preparation and management, human resource management, anti-corruption and integrity, digital literacy.

The expected results of these activities are expected to result in measurable improvements of LPA capacities. The Ma Implic project will use the FOCAS tool^[1] to measure these. The project has applied the FOCAS tool to establish baseline values in summer 2024. On the basis of the results of the FOCAS assessment, a Capacity Development Plan for the full duration of the Ma Implic (Phase 2) project has been elaborated. (The CD Program is available on request by sending an email to info@int.skat.ch)

2. SCOPE OF WORK

 The Capacity Development Advisor will work in close collaboration with the Component Manager for Capacity Development and Citizen Engagement.  The scope of work involves implementing the Capacity Development Program through stakeholder coordination, training facilitation, quality management of training providers, support for LPAs in skill application, peer learning, progress reviews, program evaluation, documentation, and consultative guidance on the FOCAS methodology.

The scope of tasks comprises the following group of activities:

• Implementation of the Capacity Development Program
• Facilitate coordination among Ma Implic project team, LPAs, experts and trainers involved in the capacity development program;
• Coordinate and facilitate training sessions and workshops on the topics such as Institutional framework for intercommunity cooperation, Integrity in LPAs, Project management, Citizen engagement and public communication, Participatory budgeting and other topics as identified in the capacity development program;
• Identify suitable training providers and ensure quality control of training and other capacity development formats applied;
• Provide ongoing support to LPAs during and after training to ensure that the skills and knowledge are applied in practice
• Ensure knowledge transfer through peer-to-peer learning activities among partner LPAs
• Organize meeting and workshops to review the progress of Implementation Plan and adjust the plan as necessary;

• Monitoring and evaluation:
• Track the progress and assess the effectiveness of the capacity-building activities;
• Adjust/update the program design based on feedback and performance information

• Documentation:
• Ensure all training and development materials, guidelines, and success stories are well documented and accessible for future use

• Guidance to partner LPAs on implementation of FOCAS methodology
• Provide support (group and individual consultancy) to LPAs staff on implementation of FOCAS methodology (next round of FOCAS assessments in partner LPA groups is planned for summer 2025)

• Monitoring progress for sustainable improvement of partner LPA capacities (using FOCAS indicators)
• Collecting scores on implementation of FOCAS methodology

3. QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS REQUIRED

4. AWARD CRITERIA/APPLICATION PROCESS

5. APPLICATIONS

Interested individuals are expected to apply by sending the documents specified below to tender@int.skat.ch quoting Capacity Development Advisor in the subject line of the e-mail. The deadline for applications shall be May 18, 2025. The application shall comprise the following:

• Curriculum Vitae in English language, incl. two reference persons;
• Motivational letter in English language;
• Financial Proposal;
• Information about the earliest date of availability.

Interviews with shortlisted candidates are expected to be held in the week 19. - 24. May 2025.

The contract is expected to start on 01 June 2025.

^[1] https://cancelaria.gov.md/ro/apc/instrumentul-de-analiza-capacitatii-organizationale-si-functionale-focas