TERM OF REFERENCE FOR STAFF TRAINING &FIELD WORK ON PRATICAL DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENTOF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN (CDP) FOR TARGET COMMUNITIES IN LOFA COUNTY Concern Worldwide is an international humanitarian organisation dedicated to tackling poverty and suffering in the world's poorest countries. Concern svision is to see a world where no one lives in poverty, fear or oppression; where all have access to a decent standard of living and the opportunities and choices essential to a long, healthy and creative life; a world where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Concern's mission is to help people living in extreme poverty achieve major improvements in their lives which last and spread without on-going support from Concern. In the context of Liberia, Concern first started working in Liberia in 1991with an emergency intervention as a response to the increasing humanitarian needs of displaced Liberians as result of the civil conflict which engulfed the country between 1989 and 2004. However,due to the intensity of the conflict CW was forced to leave in 1992, but returned again in 1996 to continue it emergency response programmes in Liberia throughout the remaining years of the conflict. With the end of the conflict in 2004, Concern re-directed its program intervention to the pivotal aspect of rehabilitation and recovery in Liberia s post-conflict setting Programme Context In 2012 Concern in Liberia undertook a comprehensive contextual analysis (CA) aiming at understanding the socio-economic and political context which extreme poor groups live in Liberia based on the elements of who are they poor, why are they poor, what make them extremely poor, what opportunities exist for them and what needs to change, who is responsible and what is happening to make the change happens? The outcome of the CA leads to the identification of a differentiated extreme poor groups and using Concern sthree dimensions views of poverty: assets and low return on assets, inequality and risk & vulnerability. The CA formed the basisfor the design of Concern s integrated programme approach (with education, Health, Food, Income & Markets and Gender Equality components) that is currently being implemented in the programme areas of Lofa and Grand Bassa. Additional to the integrated programs in Grand Bassawe have our with expanded education program known as EQUAL and funded by USAID (2013 2017); and in Monrovia &Montserradowe implement an EU funded WASHprogram running from 2014 2016. The overall programme aim is to improve household food security, improved nutritional status, improve caring environment and improve public health hygiene practices underpinned by the promotion of improved informal and formal learning 1
outcomes addressing the core problem of endemic attitude and behaviour in relation to men s dominance over women in Liberia. In contributing to sustainable change and supporting Liberia in her sustainable development drive, Concern s firm desire is to position itself strongly within key development framework or agenda of the Liberian Government and its line Ministries ensuring Concern s relevance towards the development of Liberia. In achieving the above, Concernhas developed a new country strategy incorporating this program approach in 2012 which has been consolidated in ourcountry Strategic Plan (2013-2017) which aims at contributing to the sustainable development of Liberia with particular focus on supporting the extreme poor groups and most vulnerable populations through the provision of holistic multi sector programs, and empowering and building the capacity of communities, civil society and government to achieve sustainable development. Each area based program integrates outcomes around Health, WASH, Education and FIM; and also includes nutrition, HIV & AIDS and gender/equality and as a member of the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP), we place a high emphasis on beneficiary protection (P4), participation and accountability. By 2015 Concern envisages to scope and map other poor and vulnerable counties in Liberia (in the North West and South East) for possible future intervention in 2016 and beyond Concern has been trying to target the extreme poor and vulnerable groups including women headed households, youth, poor farmers, disabled, chronically sick and other dependent individuals through its various program interventions. However, with a view to ensure best use of limited resources, it is essential that program interventions are designed following a more tailored approach to meet the needs of different population groups for clearer targeting. In this regard, Concern aims at enhancing community ownership of programs. Concern will ensure that target communities are able to develop a community development plan. This means Concern s Liberia staff will work with communities to jointly identify and analyse local issues, devise strategies to solve the prioritized problems and develop a long-term vision and goal for the community with clarity on the roles and responsibilities of various development actors including communities, government, Concern and other stakeholders. On issues that are beyond Concern s mandate or where we do not have specific expertise or resources, we will facilitate linkages between the community and relevant service providers. Achieving the above task, required Concern staff to be fully trained and equippedwith knowledge, skills and competences to be able to use effectively Community based participatory methodologiesand tools that will enable them to conduct community development planning exercises that will articulate the needs and voices of the community towards their development which will serve as the voice for communities, and especially the extreme poor within those communities, to have a greater say in the district development plans and even budget allocation. In this way Concern Liberiaaimsto 2
link micro to meso and even macro level advocacy actions on behalf of the extreme poor improving their living standard in a sustainable way. Therefore, the roles andresponsibilities of the trainer (s)are of vital importance in supporting Concern to deliver its program intervention in this direction. Aim of the CDP training and field work exercise To build the capacity of staff through an effective training and practical field work exercise that will enhance staff knowledge and skills that will enable them to work with target community populations in designing and developing acomprehensive Community Development Plan reflecting the overall needs and voices of community populationsthat most essentially also include the priorities of the extreme poor so that they can be incorporated into the County and District development plans. With the above exercise, Concern will be able to realise the following strategic outcome results that: by 2015, 65% of CW-Liberia target communities will have a functional Community Development Plans by 2014 the County Development Agenda and District Development Plans, in the target two counties with area based programs, will be reflective of the community action plans articulating the needs of the extreme poor by 2015 the needs of two extreme poor groups (female headed households and youths) are reflected in the County Development Agenda and District Development Plans Overall, Concern expects that the County and District plans would include and prioritise the needs of pro poor and extreme poor groups with CDPs beinga pre-requisite to influencing them. Scope of work for the exercise Provide a well-structured concept note and operational work plan of how the training and field work exercise will be conducted including budget for trainer s service Training should be for not more than 5 days; and the budget is for the training services all other logistical costs will be met by Concern; Provide a theoretical classroom based training & selection of key PRA tools with the emphasis on equity & inclusion in the development of CDP for our field staff Facilitate and coordinate the training and field work exercise for the designing and developing CDP process 3
Ensure effective and active participation of staff in the CDP design and development training and field work exercise Participating staff are provided with a few key tools and methodology required to design and develop a CDP with communities Provide strategic and practical guideline to participating staff that would be of added value to the design and development of CDP in rural context Experiences and learning feedback from the training and field work exercise are ensured and shared Produce a sample Community Development Plan on A1 posters The trainer(s) is willing towork with designated program staff to conduct thetraining and field work exercise in Concern s target Communities Expected outputsof the this training and field work exercise (Before and after) A well defined and structured concept note that meets the criteria for selection for full proposal call on this training Trainer (s) are expected to prepare concise and realistic budget covering only the trainer (s) service for the whole exercise A well-defined and coherent methodology, detailed work plan showing how the trainer (s) will conduct the training and field work, including a time table A comprehensive practical community methodologies and toolsnecessary for conducting a community development Planning exercise with community members Active participation of staff during the training and field work exercise is enhanced Trained staff can demonstrate the capacity to work with community people to design and develop CDP Sample Community Development Plan produced A1 poster sheets left with the community before the teams leave Frequent update and feedback to Concern management related to conduct of the exercise A short report ( 6-7 pages) on the whole conduct of the training exercise showing how aim, objectives, expectation were met and work plan was executed 4
Skills and competences required for this training and field work exercise Education to university degree on any relevant studies related to community/rural development and Planning Practical experience in facilitating trainings and workshop related to the design and development of Community/ District / County development plans in the context of rural context communities Strong analytical skills and clear understanding of use of community participatory tools and methodologies in design and development of CDP Understanding of the linkages between community development plan and District Development Plan in a rural contexts Proven and extensive practical field experience in doing CDP exercise in rural contexts Strong familiarity and experience working with rural communities Competence in data analysis with a strong ability to synthesize and draw key conclusions Ability to prioritise own workload, work independently and to work to deadlines. Ability to train and work with a multi- cultural staff and develop good working relationships Language skills required with Liberian English and a strongwritten and spoken English as an added advantage Good communication and reporting skills Well developed interpersonal and team skills and proven ability to be flexible in demanding situations. Willingness to travel and work in remote communities and stressful conditions Reliable and dependable Desirable Sympathy with the aims and objectives of Concern Worldwide of working with others to tackling poverty and suffering in poor countries Commitment to Concern World wide sp4 policies. Sensitivity to cultural differences, and the ability to work in a wide variety of cultural contexts. Training Duration The period of the Training and Field Work Exercise willfor 5 days scheduled in month of April 2014. It is expected that the Trainer (s) will prepare a detailed activity plan related to the overall coordination and conduct of the Training and Field work exercise. Working relationship The trainer (s) will work and consult withthe followingstaff / team/ audienceform time to time as when necessary Area Coordinator - Lofa Assistant Country Director Programs 5
Assistant Country Director Systems Project Officers Selected Concern communities and beneficiaries Proposed Budget Concern will pay the cost of transport (to& Fro) for two trainers from place resident to training andfield location We ask for two trainers so that field work can be conducted with small groups of field staff simultaneously in two communities Concern will provide lodging or accommodation for two trainers Concern will provide per diem at rate of Concern s staff & management Meals will be provide during classroom based Training Sessions Trainers will inform Concern on the cost of the Service of the Trainers which needs to be agreed by the 2 parties Concernwill meet the other workshop costs and field travel etc. For those wishing to apply please send your expression of interest (EOI) in the form of: 1. Not more than 3 page concept paper plus CVs of the two nominated trainers 2. Five day training program (with 2 days in the field); and 3. Budget for the consultant fees Send your EOI to: Hadson Kargbo (Assistant Country Director for Programs), Email: hadson.kargbo@concern.net Concern Worldwide in Liberia, Head Office, VP Road, Congo Town, Monrovia By March 7 th 2013 19 th February 2014 6