Job Description

Posted on January 21, 2022

TERMS OF REFERENCE
MAPPING AND RAPID CAPACITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF CS-POG[1] MEMBERS AND OTHER CIVIL SOCIETY ACTORS ON BUDGET TRACKING, BUDGET ANALYSIS AND SERVICE DELIVERY MONITORING.
1. INTRODUCTION
Oxfam is a global movement of people who are fighting inequality to end poverty and injustice. Across regions, from the local to the global, we work with people to bring change that lasts. Our work is grounded in the commitment to the universality of human rights. Driven by diversity and founding our asks in evidence and experience, we take sides against poverty and injustice everywhere. Feminist approaches guide all.
The EU Delegation has approved a grant to Oxfam and partners (Zambia Council for Social Development (ZCSD) and Non-governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) for a project entitled, “Beyond the numbers: Making the budget work for the people”.  The proposed project aims to convene diverse civic space (Non-State) actors and citizen groups to seek accountability of duty-bearers on budget development and implementation by building their capacity and facilitating opportunities for them. The project contributes to the EU’s Support to Effectiveness and Transparency in Management of Public resources (EFFECT) programme. The overall objective of the EFFECT programme is to contribute to the sustainable and inclusive economic growth through increased mobilisation and effective use of domestic resources. The specific objective is to improve accountability, transparency, and effectiveness in management of public resources and increase domestic revenue mobilisation.
2. BACKGROUND
For some time now civil society organizations have been critical in fighting various political and socioeconomic inequalities and other many issues. A national budget is one of the most important economic policy tools for macroeconomic management and resource allocation for any government throughout the world. The national budget is also one of the key instruments a government can use to fight inequality and bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. For this reason, that most CSOs around the globe, Zambia inclusively, have turn their attention to the national budget making process. In recent time, CSOs have turn their attention to the national budget making process. Over the past two decades, the involvement of civil society in the different stages of the budget process has become common practice. The engagement of civil society in the budget formulation processes is increasingly being viewed important for strengthening people’s empowerment.
The United Nations Human Development report (2003), describes civic engagement as “a process, not an event that closely involves people in the economic, social, cultural and political process that affect their lives”. This implies that civic or citizen engagement is an ongoing process that requires continuous participation. This participation citizens and CSOs however, requires that institutions and decision-making processes are located closer to where people live but more importantly requires that CSOs are well capacitated to participate in national budget making process effectively.
OXFAM SAF through its country program office in Zambia, therefore, wishes to engage a Consultant to “map and undertake rapid capacity needs assessment of CS-POG members and other civil society actors on budget tracking, budget analysis and service delivery monitoring” to inform the work  Oxfam and its partners on the beyond the numbers project.
3. OBJECTIVE OF THE CONSULTANCY
The overall purpose of the assignment is to map and undertake rapid capacity needs assessment of CS-POG members, civil society actors and other interest groups on budget tracking, budget analysis and service delivery monitoring.
Specific Objectives

Clearly state the roles and how CSOs, CBOs and other interest groups and non-state actors can participate in the national budgeting and planning process in Zambia.
Identify and map community-based organizations (CBOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSO) and CS POG members working on budget tracking, budget analysis and service delivery monitoring.
Assess the needs and capacity gaps of community-based organizations (CBOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSO) and CS POG members in participating, monitoring and oversight of the national planning and budgeting process.
Establishes challenges and opportunities for community-based organizations (CBOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSO) and CS POG members participation, monitoring and oversight of the national budget process.
Provide recommendations on how Oxfam can strengthen CSO and CBGs participation in the budget tracking process.

DELIVERABLES
The following deliverables are expected under this TOR:

Inception report (Detailed methodology on how the consultant intends to execute the assignment, data collection tools and mapped stakeholders agreeable with Oxfam  and partners in Zambia) – 27th – 29th January 2022 (3 days)
First draft report submitted – 30th January – 7th February (7 days)
Second and final report submitted (detailed report and summarized report in form of a policy brief) – 8th – 15th February (5 days)
PowerPoint presentation summarising the findings of the analysis and review

5. ELIGIBILIT Y CRITERIA

Post graduate degree in Public finance Management, Law (Business law), Economics or any other related field.
Demonstrated knowledge of Policy development and analysis highly recommended.
Clear understanding of Public finance management/governance/budgeting/ research approaches
Sound relationship with key role players
Demonstrated ability to prepare deliverables of good quality on time.
Minimum of 5 years’ proven experience of conducting similar assignments in Zambia or SADC with reputable institutions.
Good report writing skills.

6. WORK SCHEDULE
Oxfam expects the consultant to finish the assignment within 15 working days from the day of signing the contract (Specific dates to be agreed with the successful consultant). Failure to adhere to timelines is a violation of a contract and it may lead to termination of contract.
7. SUPERVISION AND MANAGEMENT
Oxfam will supervise the process, specifically the Fiscal Justice Program team. The consultant will be reporting directly to the fiscal governance programme coordinator. The consultant is expected to work and interact with Fiscal Justice Program team on a continuous basis.
8. ETHICS AND SAFEGUARDING
Oxfam has a zero-tolerance policy towards inaction against sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse.  Oxfam’s ethics for safeguarding will be emphasized and remain mandatory throughout the process of the undertaking of the study. Engagements and support will aim to create and maintain safe, equitable, and inclusive culture where all those who work for and with Oxfam as well as those in the communities where Oxfam operates are treated with dignity and their rights and voices are heard and respected.
Selected consultants will be expected to read, sign, and adhere to the Oxfam Code of Conduct for no Oxfam staff and follow Oxfam’s Ethical Content Guidelines.
9. SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS
Interested consultant (s) should submit technical and financial proposal (not more than 20 pages excluding annexes-failure to adhere to this may lead to disqualification), detailing how they will undertake the assignment. Attach up-to-date CVs of the core team as annexes. Proposals should be submitted to the address below in electronic form ONLY and must be clearly indicated ‘CONSULTANCY:  MAPPING AND RAPID CAPACITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF CS-POG MEMBERS AND OTHER CIVIL SOCIETY ACTORS ON BUDGET TRACKING, BUDGET ANALYSIS AND SERVICE DELIVERY MONITORING..’
by 17:00 hours local time on 31st December 2021
All correspondence for the consultancy should be addressed to:
HR through the email below:
[email protected]
END of TORs.
[1] The Civil Society Poverty Observatory Group is a movement of 55 civil society organizations in Zambia working across all the ten (10) provinces. It seeks to exact greater accountability for poverty reduction efforts in Zambia and provide cutting edge policy advice to the Zambian Government on Poverty Reduction, Inequality, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as espoused in Zambia’s National Development framework.