Ministry of Interior, Somaliland Republic In partnership with Joint Program on Local Governance/Local Initiatives for Transformation JPLG/LIFT

1.0.        Background.

The Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Finance under the Government of Somaliland Republic through the technical support of the United Nations Joint Programme on Local Governance and Service Delivery/ Local Investments for Transformation (JPLG/LIFT) for Somaliland is establishing a Local Development Fund (LDF) to provide a discretionary capital grant to districts to respond to their public services delivery tasks. The LDF is linked with the performance assessment of districts which is measured by indicators for Minimum Conditions (MCs) and Performance Measures (PMs).

The Local Development Fund (LDF) has three key short-term objectives, which are:

1.    Develop the capacity of local governments to plan, budget and provide resources for local development and service delivery;

2.    Pilot a discretionary capital fiscal transfer system at the local level; and

3.    Act as an incentive for decentralisation reforms as the lessons and experiences are documented and systematically feed into the reforms.

JPLG/LIFT in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and Ministry Finance works in 8 Mature Districts and 3 new District of Government Led Expansion in Somaliland.

A Minimal Condition and Performance Measurement assessment guideline is prepared by MOI-SL to provide the method for assessing the minimal conditions required for the districts to function properly and relevant performance needed to deliver service. This guideline aims the following two functions:  a) creating qualification basis for districts to access the LDF and b) creating a tool for measuring performance and rewarding accordingly.

Each year, therefore the assessment of the districts is conducted based on selected indicators of the Minimum Conditions (MC) and Performance Measures (PM). The result of this assessment will fundamentally determine the allocation of the LDF for the following year.

For each year, the district annual planning and budgeting process starts from September and it is completed before end of December. Therefore, annual performance assessment (MCs and PMs) of districts should be conducted and completed within the third quarter (September-December) of the year. This implies that each year’s LDF budget ceiling to districts should be provided prior to the start of the planning process for the subsequent

Year.

The FY (2019), the exercise delayed though to technical and is expected to start late February or early week of March, thus, MOI-SL would like to hire a consultancy firm with needed technical expertise and experience in conducted similar or like-minded assessments, across all the 11 JPLG target districts mentioned above.

2.0.        Functions of the service contractor / Key Results Expected

·         The overall objective of Assessment is to determine that the districts have the capacity to manage discretionary development funds and therefore become eligible to access the LDF.

·         Ensure local governments have a minimum level of fund absorption capacity and are able to maintain transparency and accountability.

·         Identify the capacity gaps of local governments in different functional areas and devise targeted effective responses.

The specific objectives of the task are thus:

·         Ensure Local Governments (LGs have minimum level of fund absorption capacity and able to maintain transparency and accountability.

·         Provide incentives for better performing LGs and motivate for even higher performance

·         Identify the capacity gaps of LGs in different functional areas and devise targeted effective responses.

·         Strengthen general monitoring and evaluation of LGs.

·         Create a competition between LGs to sustain improved performance

·         Act as source of maturity and graduation from taking LDF as district performance improves.

Proposed Work Process

·         The consultancy will require receiving induction briefings from MOI-SL to familiarize them in the process.

·         The consultancy needs to conduct a desk review, and study for previous assessment reports conducted in the districts.

·         The consultancy might also interview some of the LG officials, some of the Councillors, members of development committee, and members of village development committee, and specifically consult women groups to verify relevant data obtained

·         As part of the preparation process, MOI-SL will organise an orientation for the Assessors in which they will be guided through:

Ø  The objectives of the assessment

Ø  The purpose of every indicator

Ø  Compliances to local governance rules and regulations

Ø  Skills required for the assessment process

·         The Performance assessment will not take more than TWO days per district. Any extension of time will have to be agreed by both parties

·         The results of each assessment will be made known immediately to the Local Authority after the assessment and followed by a letter from the MOI, once the report is presented. The letter to Local Authorities will be sent together with the Local Authority Assessment report.

·         The District Council should discuss the report of the assessment and a report should be made to the public in the Public Hearing process. The DDC should also prepare an action plan on how to meet the performance gaps if any and submit to MOI.

The specific tasks thus include:

·         Conduct Minimum Conditions assessment (MC)in for all target Districts in Somaliland, namely, Hargeisa, Gabilay, Borama, Saylac, Berbera, Sheikh, Buroa, Odweine, Ainabo, Lasanod and Erigabo,  by assessing Core Functional Area using the six MC Indicators and verifying information’s obtained in the relevant sources.

·         Fill districts’ Minimal Condition (MC) score sheet with the relevant district staff.

·         Conduct Performance Measurement (PMs) assessment for the aforesaid districts using the 17 Performance Measures (PMs) indicators and check all relevant means of verification against information’s obtained the PMs is conducted only the 8 Mature Districts namely Hargeisa, Gabilay, Borama, Saylac, Berbera, Sheikh, Buroa, and Odweine.

·         Fill districts’ performance measurement score sheet with the relevant district staff

·         Identify district performance gaps as well as areas where capacity development efforts can best be targeted.

·         Send the report within 24hrs to the quality assurance consultant of UNCDF via MOI-SL LDF and RM Consultant.

Expected Outputs

·         Completed MC Assessment for Hargeisa, Gabilay, Borama, Saylac, Berbera, Sheikh, Buroa, Odweine, Ainabo, Lasanod and Erigabo, districts including district MC score sheets filled and signed from the districts

·         District Performance and capacity gaps for the 8 Mature District districts

·         Completed Minimal Condition and Performance Measurement synthesis report within two weeks.

Specifically, the consultancy should submit a report with the following:

The report generated by the assessment should be as analytical as possible and this should be prepared immediately after the field assessment. The Assessors are further required to reveal the underlying causes for the realization or non-realization of each indicator. The report should on the minimum have the following information.

1.      Number of districts meeting the MCs

2.      Number of districts not meeting MCs

3.      Number of disqualified districts by number of indicators and functional areas

4.      Reasons and underlying causes for achieving and not achieving the basic scores by districts.

5.      Key observations made on the process during the assessment

6.      Recommendations the proposal of eligible district for the LDF.

7.      Recommendations on the indicators and lessons for future modifications

3.0.        Assessment Team:

The assignment shall have conducted by a team of 3 Local Consultants and one assistant from the potential/selected service provider in Somaliland forming the following team

·         3Local Consultant a (team leader), (Procurement and Budget Specialist) and (Finance and Administration Specialist) who has carried out similar assignment

·         1 Local assistant consultant (with specialized competences in research and LDF experience).

4.0.Requirements for the Core 3 Consultants in Somaliland

Education for the Team Leader

Master’s degree in Planning/Public Administration or Political Science and with 5 years’ work/consultancy experience Team Leader

Team Members

Master’s degree in Business Administration, Accounting or Financial Management, procurement and with 5 years’ work/consultancy experience

Experience:

ü  5 years of proven experience in Research and Consultancy in the areas of Financial Management, Project Development and Management, Local Economic Development and any other relevant areas

ü  Be familiar with the workings with Partner Institutions in Joint Programmes and Results-Based Management Framework.

ü  Ability to appreciate and understand the operation of public institutions in fragile countries

ü  Be very conversant with the operations of the Regions and District Councils in Somaliland.

ü  Knowledge of the decentralisation process in Somaliland, and familiarity with the JPLG and Financing Decentralized in Somaliland would be an asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluent in English and Somali language (Knowledge of Somali would be an asset).

6.0.        Duration of the assessment.

The assessment will take 38 days in the field districts and 7 days at MOI-SLHargeisa headquarters for desk-review.

The selected institution/firm will be able to perform the same assessment in 2020 if their work becomes satisfactory of MOI-SL and the assessment quality assurance team.

The Consultancy will also have two weeks to submit the synthesis report for the assessment.

7.0.         Application Procedure.

Applying consultancy firm should submit:

–          A cover letter/ mini-technical proposal details the firms experience in conducting similar activities, proposed methodologies, work plan and at least three referees.

–          Estimated budget breakdown.

–          An updated CV for the proposed 3 core consultants of the assessment and the assistant consultant.

Deadline for submitting the proposal is 26^nd February, 2020.

Please send you applications to MOI-DG: abdidhabaz2@gmail.com; layla.ibraahim22@gmail.com and send Copy of the application to UNCDF-Programme Specialist (LGF) email : adan.ahmed@uncdf.org

MOI-SL WILL LIAISE FOR THOSE CONSULTANCIES WITH FURTHER INTEREST.