Local expert on Civil Society Sector (SSAs)

Përshkrimi i postimit

• Issued by: OSCE Mission in Kosovo
• Requisition ID: PUB00000F
• Contract Type: Special Service Agreement (SSA) / Consultant
• Grade: No grade
• Job Type: Consultant
• Number of posts: one
• Location: OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Prishtine / Pristina
• Issue Date: Jun 7, 2022
• Closing Date: Jun 28, 2022
• Job Field: Democratization
• Target Start Date: 15/08/2022

Background:

Overall, the public perception of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) as truthful monitors of the Government’s work is positive  and CSOs regularly contribute to decision-making processes .

In terms of applicable legal framework, the Government’s Strategy for Co-operation with Civil Society (2019-2023) and its action plan remain partially implemented and the identified shortcomings related to the current regulation of public funding to CSOs   should be addressed.

Upon consultations with CSOs’ umbrella organizations, international organizations, donors and governmental institutions, the Mission   identified that civil sector in Kosovo faces the following challenges:

• The vast majority of the CSOs do not have clearly defined missions or strategic plans to measure their achievements. Only few large CSOs have clearly defined management structures with delineated duties and responsibilities.
• CSOs, especially small ones, tend to operate on an ad hoc basis. They have limited internal structure, including a clear mandate and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• CSOs are not, or not fully, financially sustainable and are largely dependent on project-based support. As a result, only a limited number of CSOs have adequate in-house capacities to maintain full-time staff in permanent positions and the overall turnover in the civil society sector is high.
• CSOs face difficulties in (i) accessing available public funding at ministerial and local levels and (ii) complying with applicable administrative/ financial regulations.
• Cross-sectorial CSOs partnerships are almost inexistent.
• Civil society activity is not evenly distributed across Kosovo. CSOs mostly gravitate around major Kosovo administrative and regional centers.

Regarding long terms trends, CSOs generally display financial vulnerability and low sustainability of their activities. In this context, capacity building efforts, particularly in the areas of advocacy and partnership building remain necessary.

In light of this, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo (the Mission) seeks to engage a local expert (the expert) with sound professional experience in the civil society sector, including applicable legal framework  for developing and implementing a capacity building programme for up to 20 locally based Kosovo CSOs.

In order to ensure beneficiaries’ commitment, the Mission will organize a competitive CSOs selection process via an open call for application, which will be published no later than 12 June 2022.

In his/her role, the expert will conduct an initial desk research on the applicable civil society legal framework (please see Deliverables section).

With the support of the Mission, the expert will develop and conduct a series of capacity-building sessions and will provide mentoring support to selected beneficiaries, in line with the following plan:

• Drafting quality templates of internal documents: CSOs mandate and SOPs (one day course with one day mentorship to develop/fine-tune CSOs’ internal documents);
• Enhancing financial management skills and increasing awareness on applicable legislation (two day course with practical exercises on administrative and financial reporting).
• Advocating successfully with public institutions and building partnerships, including with the private sector (two day course with practical exercises and one day mentorship to support the development of advocacy and/or partnership initiatives).

The capacity-building sessions for the selected CSOs will be closely organized in coordination with the Activity Manager.

In order to award a final small performance-based grant, for a value of 1,000 EUR, the expert will develop and conduct ex-ante and ex-post beneficiaries’ evaluations. The expert, together with Mission’s representative, will also assess the advocacy and/or partnership initiatives developed by participants.

After the completion of the capacity-building programme, the expert will submit a final report, highlighting the key findings and recommendations for future actions. The report will be presented to the Activity Manager and finalized based on the provided comments.

The expert will also contribute to a final conference (i.e. the Annual CSOs Forum) and present the final report.
Objective of Assignment: 

The Mission seeks to engage one local expert with a sound professional experience in the civil society sector, including the applicable legal framework, for developing and implementing a capacity building programme for up to 20 locally based CSOs.
Duration of Assignment:

The local consultant will be engaged for 25 working days.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

The scope of the work that will be performed by the expert will include the following tasks:

• Conduct an initial desk research on the applicable civil society legal framework.
• Design and conduct a series of capacity-building sessions and provide mentoring support to selected beneficiaries, in line with the following plan:
• Drafting quality templates of internal documents: CSOs mandate and SOPs (one-day course with one day mentorship to develop/fine-tune CSOs’ internal documents);
• Enhancing financial management skills and increasing awareness on applicable legislation (two-day course with practical exercises on administrative and financial reporting).
• How to advocate successfully with public institutions and how to build partnership, including with the private sector (two-day course with practical exercises and one day mentorship to support the development of advocacy and/or partnership initiatives).
• Develop and conduct an ex-ante and an ex-post beneficiaries’ evaluations.
• Assess the advocacy and/or partnership initiatives developed by participants.
• After the completion of the capacity-building programme, submit a final report, highlighting the key findings and recommendations for future actions.
• Contribute to a final conference (i.e. the Annual CSOs Forum) by presenting the final report.

Deliverables:

The consultant will report to the Activity Manager.

A final report shall be delivered to the Activity Manager, by 15 October 2022, in accordance with deliverables and time frame described in the table below. The local legal expert will also contribute to a final conference, tentatively planned for November 2022.

Performance Indicators:

• Effective and regular communication with Activity Manger;
• High-quality capacity building programme is designed and delivered;
• Accurate ex-ante and ex post beneficiaries’ evaluations are conducted;
• Accurate assessment of advocacy and/or partnership initiatives in conducted;
• High quality deliverables are produced in line with the above timeline;
• All tasks are completed in a qualitative, timely and professional manner, in close cooperation and consultation with the Activity Manager;
• Final report prepared by 15 October 2022.

Necessary Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree in Political Science, Public Administration, Law or other relevant fields;
• At least five (5) years of professional experience in the civil society sector, with focus on capacity-building;
• Fluent in Albanian and English language, knowledge of Serbian language is an asset;
• Demonstrated ability to produce high quality reports, with clearly actionable recommendations;
• Strong analytical and research skills, and demonstrated experience in conducting ex-ante and ex-post evaluations of beneficiaries;
• Ability to work in complex, multi-stake-holder project environments;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and ability to integrate gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Excellent communication skills;
• Team work skills, capacity to respond positively to critical feedback, and a consensus-oriented approach to work.

Remuneration Package:

Remuneration will depend on the qualifications and experience of individual experts as well as the detailed work plan to be agreed upon and will be based on the current OSCE consultancy rates.

In order to apply for this position, you must complete the OSCE’s online application form, found under https://vacancies.osce.org/. Applicants are encouraged to use the online recruitment and only fully completed OSCE applications will be accepted. However, if you have technical difficulties with the system you may use the offline application form found under https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model and forward the completed form quoting the vacancy number by e-mail to: consultancy.omik@osce.org. In line with your qualifications please indicate your preference to one or more fields of expertise listed above (while using the online application the field of expertise preference can be indicated in the cover letter part). Kindly note that applications received after the deadline, submitted in different formats than the OSCE Application Form, or in other languages than the English language would not be considered. The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply.