CIVIL SOCIETY FOR POVERTY REDUCTION

TERMS OF REFERENCE (ToRs)

NAME OF ASSIGNMENT: CONSULTANCY SERVICES TO UPDATE THE FACILITATOR’S TRAINING MANUAL ON ADVOCACY FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ENHANCING WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC DEBT MANAGEMENT IN ZAMBIA.

INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANTS’ SELECTION

1. Background

CSPR is a civil society network of one hundred and four (104) members that has been building the voices for poor people in the fight against poverty in Zambia. It was established in 2000, primarily, to ensure that civil society effectively and meaningfully participated in the formulation, implementation, and monitoring of poverty reduction Programmes, including the National Development Planning process.  The main aim is to ensure that Government provides effective mechanisms for planning and implementing poverty reduction interventions.

CSPR has been operationalizing its mandate and the accompanying activities using the strategic planning approach.  This has been identified as the most appropriate method given that poverty and its reduction are not a short-term matter but require systematic interventions based on careful planning, monitoring, and evaluation.

CSPR, with support from the Open Society Foundation (OSF) is implementing a project titled Advocacy for Transparency and Enhancing Women Participation In Public Debt Management in Zambia to advocate for improved debt management through enhanced transparency and accountability by government.

The goal of the project is to advocate for transparency and enhance women’s participation in Public Debt Management in Zambia. Geographically, the Project will be implemented in Lusaka’s, Luapula (Mansa) and North- Western (Solwezi) Provinces.  Ultimately, this project will improve the management of public debt by government through enhanced transparency and accountability in the utilization of public resources, while at the same capacitating Women – Led Organisations, Feminist Movements, Women and Youth with the necessary skills to hold their duty bearers to account.

The project has three (3) intended outcomes as espoused below:

1. To increase the participation of women and feminist movements and CSOs in monitoring the government’s accountability in the management of public debt at the regional and national levels.

2. To build awareness among community members, women, and women-led organizations on the impact of debt on the provision of services in education, social protection, health, and water/sanitation.

3. To advocate for Gender-Responsive Debt Governance.

2. Objectives of the Assignment

The primary objective of this consultancy is therefore to update and design a facilitator’s training manual which will support the capacity building of Women-led community-based organizations, feminist movements, women and Media organisations in Lusaka, Luapula and North-Western Provinces by Civil Society Organizations. The training manual will also be for use by the project teams implementing the project

In Zambia, the political and economic landscape has been marked by significant challenges in recent years. As of the end of June 2022, Zambia’s total public debt, including interest arrears, rose to $32.5 billion, of which $17.5 billion was external debt. By the end of the year, this figure had increased to $32.8 billion in total public debt, with external debt accounting for $18.6 billion​​. This substantial debt accumulation raises concerns about sustainability and potential impacts on the economy and social development, compounded by issues in governance, transparency, and corruption.

The country’s Corruption Perception Index score, according to Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z), remained at 33/100 for the third consecutive year in 2022, indicating ongoing challenges in the fight against corruption despite political assurances for improvement​​. Furthermore, Zambia’s Gender Inequality Index in 2022 stood at 0.540, placing it at 138 out of 190 countries and territories, highlighting persistent gender inequalities and societal gaps​​.

This situation is further complicated by political polarization and tensions between different political parties, which impede effective governance and dialogue. The project aims to address these issues by advocating for improved debt management, transparency, and accountability, with a focus on enhancing social expenditure. Through capacity building and social accountability initiatives, the project seeks to empower women and feminist movements to play a more active role in governance and public debt management, contributing towards more equitable and gender-responsive public services.

3. Scope of Work

CSPR is looking for a consultant to undertake the improvement and updating of the Project Facilitator’s Training Manual with the current development’s in Zambia’s debt frameworks  as well as the engendering of the document in line with the impact of public debt on the target groups access to basic service delivery.

On the basis of the work that will be carried out by the Consultant, it is expected that the consultant will work;

To review CSPR’s existing literature in the current training materials on public debt awareness and monitoring in Zambia and the SADC region.
To consolidate and update the training manual on public debt monitoring with the current trends/developments in Zambia’s public debt space
To ensure the training manual is gender transformative to be relevant to the target beneficiaries.
Specifically, the consultant shall fulfil the following Terms of Reference:

The Facilitator’s Training Manual should at least contain the following sections and features:

• Adequate modules – for women organisations, community-based organizations, feminist movements media and women.
• The basic principles and characteristics of Public Debt and the current trends in the Zambian Public Debt Framework.
• How it is utilized for service delivery and its effects on communities; especially women.
• It should also include content on how communities can be involved in monitoring the public resource management cycle, specifically the debt components.
• Advocacy Strategies that can be used by women organisations, feminist movements, Community Based Organizations to effectively communicate their intended message on Gender and debt as well as people centered debt management.
• Support pilot testing (either in Lusaka, Luapula or North Western Province) of the training manual on public debt, public finance, and accountability/transparency on public debt in Zambia.
• Produce report on the existing training literature and materials on women focused public debt trainings in Zambia.
• Where necessary, capacity build project staff in the use of the Training Manual

3.1 Methodology

The Consultant will undertake the proposed methodology for the updating of the training manual to be used on the Advocacy for Transparency and Enhancing Women Participation in Public Debt Management in Zambia Project, in liaison with the Client and for quality checks and timeliness in execution of the assignment.  However, the client shall employ a co-creation approach which synergises the expertise and the technical experience of both the consultant and the Client. This should be included in the inception.

4.0 Capacity Building or Training Program

The consultant will orient and/or capacity build the Project Staff on the delivery and use thereof of the Training Manual through participating or delivery of select sessions during the Training of Women Led Organisations, Feminist movements and CBO’s.

1.0 List of reports, schedule of deliveries, and period of performance

The period of the consultancy will be for Ten (10) working days or 2 weeks from the date the contract is signed. The assignment is expected to tentatively commence on 8th – 22nd April 2024. The Consultant will be expected to keep CSPR informed throughout the period of the assignment. The consultant will be expected to provide the following reports;

1. Inception Report; clearly outlining the methodology to be used for the entire assignment

2. First Draft Training Manual for the Advocacy for Transparency and Enhancing Women Participation in Public Debt Management in Zambia Project.

3. 3 days of supporting the Pilot Trainings in designated project implementation sites

4. Final Facilitator’s Training Manual and Report; for the Advocacy for Transparency and Enhancing Women’s Participation in Public Debt Management in Zambia. The Final Report must clearly outline the assessment of the current content and gaps identified and improved upon including concise gender responsiveness in development.

Deliverable 1

Inception report clearly outlining detailed work plan/methodology for the entire consultancy period
2 days from date of signing the contract

Deliverable 2

First Draft Training Manual for the Advocacy for Transparency and Enhancing Women Participation in Public Debt Management in Zambia Project.
5 working days from the date of submission of inception report

Deliverable 3

Support Pilot Trainings
Pilot Trainings for 3 days in Project Implementation sites this can either be in Lusaka, Luapula or North Western Province

Deliverable 4

Final Facilitator’s Training Manual and Report; For the Advocacy for Transparency and Enhancing Women’s Participation in Public Debt Management in Zambia. The Final Report must clearly outline the assessment of the current content and gaps identified and improved upon including concise gender responsiveness in development.
Within 2 Days after conclusion and submission of the Finalized Facilitator’s Training Manual.

6.0 Data, local services, personnel, and facilities to be provided by the Borrower.

The consultant will provide their own office space, vehicles, survey equipment, office and computer equipment, and telecommunication systems. However, the project team will be available to work closely with the consultant.

7.0 Required Minimum Individual Consultant Qualifications and Experience to require undertaking the assignment.

The ideal candidate must meet the following requirements:

1. Should be a person with not less than 5 years of both policy and implementation experience in advocacy interventions addressing public debt.

2. Must have high fluency in English; some fluency in either Nyanja or Bemba would be beneficial.

3. Must be an Expert with demonstrable knowledge of Zambia’s Public Debt Frameworks, Civic Participation & State Accountability, Local governance and Social Accountability in Zambia

4. Should have a master’s degree, in any related field of education and development, with at least five years field experience in Research and Policy Analysis.

5. Knowledge of laws, policies and procedures governing public debt frameworks or debt governance in Zambia.

6. Should have experience designing and utilizing surveys as well as data analysis.

7. Should have excellent material development and report-writing skills (consultant must provide a sample of previously work of a similar nature or scope).

7.1 Bid Requirements

To be eligible for consideration; interested consultants for this assignment will need to meet the below criteria and submit the following documentation via email: and criteria before the meet the below requirements of the assignment:

1.  Curriculum Vitae and an accompanying quotation for the assignment.

2. Three traceable contact details of their referees (recent professional references of people /organizations familiar with the consultants work experience).

3. Reports, Publications and Facilitators Manuals of similar material development work which demonstrate the consultants ability to undertake this particular assignment.

4.  Applications after the deadline will be automatically excluded.

5. Applications not conforming to the conditions will not be considered.

6.  All Applications must be sent to cspr@csprzambia.org. Deadline for submission of bids is on or before midnight of 5th April 2024.

Note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.