REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT)

FOR:

Facilitation of Citizen Engagement (CE) activities in the FLOWS project (Fostering and Leveraging Opportunities for Water Security Program)

COUNTRY – Republic of Kosovo

NAME OF PROJECT- Fostering and Leveraging Opportunities for Water Security Project (FLOWS)

ASSIGMENT TITLE: Facilitation of Citizen Engagement (CE) activities in the FLOWS project

IDA Credit No. 6636-XK

Project ID No. 169150

Reference number: FLOWS-CS-IC-14

Issued on: November 22, 2022

BACKGROUND

The Government of Kosovo has applied for a credit totaling EUR 40 million from the International Development Association (IDA), to finance the Kosovo Fostering and Leveraging Opportunities for Water Security (FLOW) Project. The Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (MESP) has overall responsibility for the Project, and is responsible for the implementation of the Project through its Project Implementation Unit (PIU).

The objective of the Project is to strengthen national capacity for managing Kosovo’s water resources for water security, and in selected basin areas, improve integrated land and water resource management practices and services, in a resilient manner.

This will be achieved through two main components: (1) transformation measures, and (ii) Catalytic Investments and Emergency Response. The project will implement both the basin specific investments as well as the national investment planning. It includes a number of activities and implement investments that show readiness and are proof-of-concept and/or provide learning opportunities. The project will be flexibly designed to adapt to priorities emerging from the basin planning process, and overall support water security, climate change adaptation and preparing investments for future programmatic and larger scale investments. A number of activities that are best approached through civil society initiatives and private sector (a number of activities related to agro-environment, watershed, water-saving, afforestation, irrigation efficiency improvements, and tourism) will be supported through targeted and mainstreamed grant financing and sub-projects

Subcomponent 2.3 of the FLOWS project “People-centered water stewardship investments”, supports piloting bottom-up activities that engage communities and individuals in water stewardship via a specific tool i.e. watershed concept approach (plans) in order to achieve water resources management goals, whereas sustaining socio-economic activity. The component will include the analyses, actions, participants/citizens, and related resources. Accordingly, the subcomponent will be focused on:

(a) Preparing a sub-watershed action plans by community groups and,

(b) Pilot a small grants program.

The sub-watershed action plans are to be designed and in concert with national water priority documents i.e. National Water Strategy (2017–2036), Water Security Outlook, Agriculture and Rural Development Program (KARDP), etc. The small grants will be provided to community groups i.e. marginalized groups (e.g. woman in water sector), civil society organizations, individuals, and academia/education institutions, to:

(a) promote, test, and demonstrate innovative practices to increase water security, leading to improved resilience to drought and flood, whereas recognizing the role of woman in water stewardship;

(b) enhance sustainable natural resources management in the project area; and

(c) raise awareness about water security and environmental protection.

Sub-component 2.3 is a specific component, which requires application of a Citizen Engagement (CE) approach, similar to the sub-component 2.2 “Investments in water infrastructure and services addressing the water crisis” which applies to enhancement of the water supply systems, as well as Sub- component 1.1 “Strengthening National Water Resources Investment Planning. The later aims to to update the hydrological, technical and economic analysis underlying water resources investment planning in Kosovo, whereas preparing an investment pipeline for specific water sector investments and interventions. For these purposes, and in order ensure the highest possible efficiency of the project, a CE facilitation will be provided through engagement of a Consultant (CE Facilitator), that will be responsible to carry out the activities described below.

Objectives of the Assignment

The objective of this assignment is to define the responsibilities of the Consultant to provide professional expertise, technical assistance and organizational support to beneficiaries for sub-component 2.3. Key objectives of this assignment include: a) to increase outreach of overall project activities to stakeholders and grant beneficiaries; b) to facilitate participation in small grant program; c) assist beneficiaries undertake basic financial, social and environmental feasibility of their proposed grant applications, including participatory monitoring.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment: Facilitation of Citizen Engagement (CE) activities in the FLOWS project (Fostering and Leveraging Opportunities for Water Security Program), can be obtained at the address given below:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wL2kVMERNQFGZx0rdhDQW2QD2T0-SJiC/view?usp=share_link

The Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure/ FLOWS project now invites eligible Individual consultant to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested individual consultant should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.

Qualifications:

• Graduate degree (MBA, MA, PhD, JD, etc.) in political science, public administration, economics, law, or other relevant field from an accredited institution.
• 10 years of experience in project support and working with local government officials, civil society organizations, advocacy, and improving communications between citizens and public officials;
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in community engagement, community participation, program management and training;
• Demonstrated track record and technical expertise working on accountability, good governance, local governance strengthening, civic engagement, and social inclusion, particularly in an international development context, strongly preferred;
• Demonstrated ability to manage relationships with local partner organizations that achieve the desired results.
• Experience in working collaboratively and effectively with local national staff, World Bank and other institutions, host government counterparts, and other relevant stakeholders on project implementation.
• Experience and capacity to establish and maintain collaborative, productive working relationships with local government counterparts, civil society organizations, media, academia, private sector associations, and other key stakeholders;
• Fluent in English and at least one other official language of the Republic of Kosovo.
• Ability to work in Kosovo required.

Reporting

The consultant will report to the Project manager and will submit monthly time-sheets to account for the actual days worked during the calendar month.

Contract duration

The services of the CE facilitator are envisaged to start in December 2022 for an initial period of 12 months. Duration of involvement up to end of project, November 2025.

Selection process

Experienced and qualified individuals will be selected under the provisions of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for Investment Project Financing (IPF) Borrowers, July 2016, and revised Nov 2017 following open competitive selection process.

The evaluation and shortlisting criteria are:

1. Qualification: 30 %

2. Similar experience in the past: 70%

Shortlisted candidates will be invited in the interview.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours: 09:00 to 16:00 (Monday to Friday).

Detailed CV and other relevant documents of candidates must be delivery by email: to address below lates on December 7, 2022 at 16:00 hours Kosovo time.

FLOWS Project

Address:" Sheshi Zahir Pajaziti 2/2 nr:31

10000, Prishtina, Kosovo,

Email: [email protected]