Terms of Reference for an Individual Consultant

Title: Review of the implementation of LGAZ Strategic Plan 2021-2025
Project: Partnerships for Municipal Innovation – Women in Local Leadership (PMI-WILL)
Purpose of assignment: To provide technical guidance in reviewing the implementation of the Strategic Plan of the Local Government Association of Zambia (LGAZ)
Position: Consultant – Strategic Plan Review
Number of Positions: 1
Assignment Duration: Nine (9) working days
Reporting to: Director – Corporate Services

1. Background
The Partnerships for Municipal Innovation – Women in Local Leadership (PMI-WILL) is a $27,610,160 project with a financial contribution of $26 million from Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and $1,610,160 of in-kind contributions from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). PMI-WILL is designed to bring about enhanced enjoyment of rights for women and girls in Benin, Cambodia, Ghana, Sri Lanka, and Zambia. To bring about this ultimate outcome, the project will seek to achieve the following intermediate and immediate outcomes:

Intermediate outcome 1000: increased participation of women, particularly those from marginalised groups, as leaders and decision-makers in local governance.
a) Increased capacity of women from marginalised groups to run for local elected office.
b) Increased capacity of women in local government administration to perform their duties effectively.
c) Increased capacity of the network of women elected officials to support women leadership and participation in decision-making in local governance.

Intermediate outcome 2000: increased capacity of local authorities to deliver inclusive, gender responsive municipal services.
a) Increased capacity of local authorities to deliver inclusive, gender-responsive municipal services.
b) Strengthen capacity of LGAZ to create an enabling environment for inclusive, gender-responsive local governance and municipal service delivery.

In Zambia, the project is implemented by LGAZ in collaboration with FCM. LGAZ is a membership association of and exists to promote the interests and autonomy of local government authorities (city, municipal and town councils) in Zambia. Its core activities include the following:
a) Provision of research and advisory services to promote evidence-based decision making in local government.
b) Lobby and advocacy on matters involving local government authorities and communities.
c) Contribute to capacity building of local government authorities so that they are better able to provide quality municipal services.
d) Facilitate municipal international cooperation.
e) Participate in the formulation and review of public policies that affect local government.
f) Advancing gender equality and social inclusion in local governance and development.

To contribute to capacity development efforts in local government, PMI-WILL is working to strengthen the capacity of LGAZ to create an enabling environment for inclusive, gender responsive local governance and municipal service delivery.

2. Purpose of the Assignment 
The core purpose of this assignment is to provide technical guidance in reviewing the implementation of LGAZ strategic Plan (2021-2025) to highlight  successes, challenges and opportunities for improvement and actualization of strategic objectives in the face of major shifts on the local governance landscape.

3. Scope of Work
Within the scope of the assignment, the consultant is expected to provide technical expertise for the following specific tasks:
a) Review, assess and analyze the strategic plan alongside other relevant organizational documents.
b) Conduct a situational context analysis using appropriate methods and tools and ensure results are integrated as strategic priority areas.
c) Engage with the Association’s leadership and staff to gather additional relevant information for performance review purposes.
d) Design and facilitate a 2-day workshop to validate the preliminary performance review results and actionable recommendations with realistic targets and timelines.
e) Develop a results framework for the plan period (2021-2025).
f) Propose monitoring and reporting mechanisms to aid effective implementation of the strategic plan.
g) Develop, validate, finalize, and cost the strategic Plan including outcome mapping for monitoring and evaluation, detailed implementation, and strategic activities for the year 2025.

4. Key Deliverables and Level of Effort
The main deliverables and indicative working days to be invested by the Consultant are summarized below:
a) An inception report (not more than 5 pages) providing details on methodology/approach, workplan and other programmatic aspects/1 day
b) A report highlighting the findings of the desk review of the existing strategic plan. The findings will be summarised in a PowerPoint Presentation/ 3 days
c) A proposed result framework for the next implementation period/1 day
d) Design and deliver a 2-day validation workshop with the Association’s leaders of the Association and staff/2 days
e)A final version of the performance review report to incorporating input from the validation workshop/2 days
Total: 9 days

5. Financial Requirements
Applicants are required to indicate the consultancy fee per day (in Zambian Kwacha, inclusive of Withholding Tax) and the duration (in days) anticipated to complete the assignment.

6. Minimum Qualifications 
The consultant is expected to possess the following:
a) Minimum Qualification: Master’s degree in a relevant discipline, such as Development Planning, Public Administration, Strategic Management, Public Policy & Monitoring & Evaluation.
b) At least (2) years of demonstrated professional experience in facilitating the design and evaluation of strategic plans,
c) Specialised expertise in institutional performance assessment.
d) In-depth understanding of the context in Zambia with specific focus on strategic planning in a not-for-profit setting.
e) Knowledge on Zambia’s local government system is an added advantage.

7. Evaluative Criteria
Candidates will be evaluated based on the technical and financial criteria that combines the following aspects:
a) Demonstrated understanding of the terms of reference (10 points)
b) Applicant’s professional qualifications (15 points).
c) Prior experience in a similar assignment (35 points).
d) Proposed approach to the assignment (30 points)
e) Consultancy daily rate (10 points).

8. Application Process
Please submit a proposal (not more than 5 pages excluding CVs) indicating the following:
a) A current Curriculum Vitae (CV)
b)Prior experience in a similar assignment.
c) Proposed approach (including a work plan) to the assignment.
d) A quotation – anticipated daily fee (in Zambian Kwacha), withholding tax inclusive.

Submissions should be addressed to

Director Corporate Services,
Local Government Association of Zambia, Lusaka
and submitted in PDF format by e-mail to info@lgazambia.org.zm & copy abraham.moobola@lgazambia.org.zm and stanley.chanda@lgazambia.org.zm by close of business on Thursday , 26th September 2024.

ToRs can be downloaded here.