REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

CONSULTANCY SERVICES TO DEVELOP A STRATEGIC RESOURCE MOBILIZATION STRATEGY TO EMPOWER THE LOCAL COUNCILS IN OPTIMIZING RESOURCE UTILIZATION AND ENHANCING SERVICE DELIVERY CAPABILITIES

 Background and Context

The Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs and with support from the United Nations Development Program seeks to recruit a local Consultant to develop a Strategic resource mobilization strategy to empower the Local Councils in optimizing resource utilization and enhancing service delivery capabilities. Over the years, it has been observed through consultations and research that local councils lack the necessary capacity to mobilize revenue and optimize their capacity in its utilization. This is evident in the lack of own source and other revenue streams being mobilized.

Therefore through this strategy the Local Councils seek as observed over the years to enhance their capacity by recruiting a Local Consultant who will develop a revenue mobilization strategy to mobilize resources effectively for optimal resource utilization and to also support sustainable development initiatives.

This strategy is required to be comprehensively tailored to the specific needs and context of the 22 councils in Sierra Leone.

2. General Objective

To develop a robust and sustainable resource mobilization strategy that empowers local councils to effectively identify, secure, and manage resources for their development projects and operations.

3. Scope of Work

The consultant is expected to undertake the following tasks:

1. Assessment and Analysis:
   • Conduct a thorough needs assessment of the current resource mobilization efforts, including a review of existing funding sources, partnerships, and resource utilization practices.
   • Analyze the local councils’ financial status, including revenue streams, expenditures, and budgetary processes.
   • Identify key challenges and opportunities in resource mobilization.
2. Stakeholder Engagement:
   • Facilitate consultations with key stakeholders, including council members, staff, community leaders, government agencies, donors, and development partners.
   • Gather inputs and insights to inform the strategy development process.
3. Strategy Development:
   • Develop a comprehensive resource mobilization strategy, outlining clear goals, objectives, and action plans.
   • Identify potential sources of funding, including government grants, donor funding, private sector partnerships, community contributions, and innovative financing mechanisms.
   • Propose strategies for enhancing revenue generation, including tax reforms, service charges, and public-private partnerships.
4. Capacity Building:
   • Develop a capacity-building plan to enhance the skills of local council members and staff in resource mobilization, financial management, and project planning.
   • Provide training materials and conduct workshops as needed.
5. Implementation Plan:
   • Develop a detailed implementation plan, including timelines, responsibilities, and key performance indicators (KPIs) for monitoring and evaluating the strategy’s effectiveness.
   • Provide recommendations for establishing a monitoring and evaluation framework to track progress and ensure accountability.

4. Deliverables

• Inception Report: Outline of the approach, methodology, and work plan.
• Assessment Report: Comprehensive analysis of the current resource mobilization landscape and stakeholder consultations.
• Draft Resource Mobilization Strategy: Preliminary strategy document for review and feedback.
• Final Resource Mobilization Strategy: Finalized strategy incorporating feedback, with detailed action plans and implementation guidelines.
• Capacity Building Plan: Training materials and workshop reports.
• Implementation Plan: Detailed plan with timelines, responsibilities, and KPIs.

5. Qualifications and Experience

• Advanced degree in public administration, finance, economics, development studies, or a related field with emphasis on local government development with at least 5 years’ experience in the related field;
• An understanding of the Decentralization Process in Sierra Leone and experience working on local government reform programs as well as with decentralization of sector programs: health, education, water and sanitation, gender etc and the design and implementation of a local government assessment system

• Proven experience in developing resource mobilization strategies for local governments or similar organizations.
• Strong understanding of public finance, revenue generation, and donor engagement.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and facilitation skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and build consensus.

• Experience in conducting research, monitoring, implementation and review of development projects will be an added advantage;

6. Duration and Timeline

The consultancy is expected to be completed within a period of 2 Months, starting from the date of contract signing. Key milestones and deliverable deadlines will be agreed upon during the inception phase.

7. Reporting and Management

The consultant will report to the Director, Decentralization Secretariat and will work closely with the local councils’ representatives and other relevant stakeholders.

8. Institutional Arrangement:

The Local Consultant shall work directly with the Decentralization Secretariat and report on a weekly basis to the Director, Dec-Sec. He/she will also need to submit brief weekly updates. The consultant will work in conjunction with staff of the Units on a day to day basis.

The consultant will be required to arrange and cover the costs of transportation, accommodation, travels upcountry, the printing and completion of reports, and other logistics associated with the assignment.

10. Material Availability:

The activity will include desk research and working directly with staff from the Capacity Building and M&E Unit and Local Councils to obtain the necessary information.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Interested National consultants are requested to submit proposals and most recent Curriculum Vitae by 14th June 2024 to:

The Admin& Finance Officer

Decentralization Secretariat

Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs

              Email: joanmickey@ymail.com

Requests for proposals should include:

• A capacity statement, stating the consultant’s capacity, qualifications and experience in delivering the aforementioned scope of work
• A detailed work plan, including timelines
• A detailed budget, specifying all the costs required, as per the specifications provided in this proposal.