Planning and Governance Advisor

Job Title

Planning and Governance Advisor

Division

International Development Services

Reporting to

Senior Inclusive Governance Advisor

Duration

12 months (fixed term)

Location

Khaniyabas, Dhading

Job Profile

Mott MacDonald is an employee-owned management, development and engineering consultancy serving the public and private sector around the world, with more than 16,000 staff worldwide. 

Our International Development Services Unit, IDS, operates portfolios within the international development sectors of Environment, Climate, Water, Roads, Rural & Urban Development, Education, Health, Social and Economic Development in over 40 countries. Together we implement and manage projects in developing countries and emerging economies around the world, supporting national governments and municipalities in policy, planning, project design and delivery. We are committed to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and to provide our expertise to improve the lives of people in need.

Project Description

Mott MacDonald is implementing a FCDO funded post-earthquake reconstruction programme – Purnima, in four districts (Gorkha, Dhading, Nuwakot, Rasuwa). The programme’s aim is long-term positive change in the lives of people in earthquake-affected regions of Nepal. The implementation of the programme started in May 2018 for a 4.5-year duration and will work in 25 local governments worst affected by the earthquake.

Purnima technical assistance is embedded in earthquake affected 22 gaunpalikas, which continues to support federalism and strengthen the capacity of local elected members. Early activities were aimed at building trust and rapport with the gaunpalika staff, which is crucial for developing good working relationships. Purnima now focuses on five broad objectives: organizational development, development of policies and guidelines, a range of broader GP support (both demand and supply driven), economic inclusion and synergy of Purnima’s activities through its five output areas, which are:

1. Support and provide capacity building to Government at Federal, district and local level in economic recovery and inclusion and enterprise development through governance and reconstruction planning support.
2. Direct physical reconstruction, including water supply, foot trails, bridges, schools, public buildings, and potentially other areas.
3. Analysis of, and interventions to address, constraints to the private sector, including supply of labour, materials and transport in the construction sector.
4. Managing a Challenge Fund to leave no-one behind in the reconstruction effort and promote transformational change for women and girls.
5. An evaluation and learning component.

Introduction: Gaunpalika Planning Advisors

Output Area 1 focuses on providing technical assistance in various areas related to strengthening the reconstruction planning process using the “Build Back Better” technology. To this end each gaunpalika (rural municipality) is supported with one dedicated Governance and Planning Advisor and an Engineer. These experts are deployed and supported in 22 gaunpalikas since August/September 2018/2019.  The support aims to provide a framework for all Purnima reconstruction, economic inclusion and recovery activities through developing policy and legal frameworks and improving local governance, planning, economic recovery and inclusion and service delivery. The output builds upon a history of donor assistance in support of the Government of Nepal (GoN) and specifically the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA), and the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA). Major stakeholders of the project include elected representatives of the GPs (Chairperson, deputy chairperson and executive members) as well as technical, administrative and other staff (e.g. management, finance, and engineering).  Similarly, political and social leaders, and representatives of disadvantaged groups in the local civil society are also stakeholders of the Project. The gaunpalikas benefit from demand-driven capacity development measures, which are provided by systems strengthened with support of the project and are thus able to improve their services to the population of GPs.

Purnima applies the principle of “Leave no One Behind” in all its work to enable GPs to implement the upcoming reforms with a focus on ensuring effective service delivery through infrastructure, laws, Acts, policies, rules and regulations. The Project focuses on the planning of GP reforms by key actors at local levels so that their plans are developed with proper consideration to the feasibility of the new local government structures. As a result, coordinated support services are provided for their implementation. The second focus is the direct strengthening of the organisational capacity of the GPs so that they can implement local government reforms based on the needs of the people. Focus is also on the provision of specific GP services with reference to the portfolio of Purnima in the areas of infrastructure, private sector development, sustainable economic development and disaster risk reduction management. Attention is given to promoting access of marginalised populations, such as women, the poor, and disadvantaged castes and ethnic groups. With the explicit focus on inclusion and access to local administration, the project is specifically geared to the principle of “Build Back Better” and "Leave No One Behind". As all the gaunpalikas are affected by the earthquake, support is built around managing disaster and designing risk reduction programmes.

Gaupalikas need to cope with the ever-increasing public demands mentioned above, to effectively deal with the rapid and complex changes. The Governance and Planning Adviser will support gaunpalika’s to achieve their goal of institutional development. The role will require a politically sensitive approach with a strong focus on social inclusion, as well as technical skills on building back better, economic recovery and disaster management. The responsibilities will include support to gaunpalikas in planning and management of infrastructure, governance, economic recovery and related development activities, as well as selection and implementation of project activities. The advisors will be based in the gaunpalika and will travel to the wards throughout the project area to ensure effective knowledge sharing.

Job Description

Reporting to the Senior Inclusive Governance Advisor, the Planning & Governance Advisors will:

• - Lead capacity development support to partner gaunpalikas in coordination with the Output Leads in Kathmandu and district staff;
• - Represent MM in the gaunpalika;
• - Maintain working relations with gaunpalikas, development partners, private sector, local government institutions at palika level and other FCDO funded projects in the gaunpalika;
• - Ensure gaunpalika is aware of and applies the Build Back Better technology in all its infrastructure projects;
• - Ensure social inclusion is followed in gaunpalika by applying the principle of Leave No One Behind it all works;
• - Report on progress of activities in all partner gaunpalikas and provide regular feedback to the Senior Inclusive Governance Advisor;
• - Support gaunpalikas to promote women’s political empowerment through transformational change to develop the next generation of women leaders;
• - Support local governments in economic recovery and inclusion through policies, plans, innovations, capacity building;
• - Support local governments in enterprise development and public private partnership

Specific Responsibilities include:

• - Will be responsible to support participatory planning process, which includes assisting gaunpalika to design and formulate budgetary systems. This will also entail social mapping related to reconstruction and infrastructure
• - Will be responsible in facilitating internal revenue generation of local government to augment the grants received from federal and provincial governments
• - Develop capacity of gaunpalika elected officials and staff in the areas of procurement planning, preparation of tender documents, evaluation and monitoring of construction works
• - Support gaunpalikas, and develop their capacity to make Acts, laws, policies, rules and regulations and ensure that they are implemented
• - Support gaunpalikas to identify women leaders for political empowerment for transformational change
• - Ensure that the gaunpalika adopts GESI as mentioned in the Constitution, and LGOA 2017 in all its work, so that no one is left behind
• - Support Vice Chair in coordination with development partners
• - Lead communication and stakeholder engagement activities with local government, civil society, development partners, and private sector.
• - Participate in field activities for selection, quality assurance, monitoring of activities in all Output Areas across the gaunpalika.
• - Collaborate with other palika-level advisers, and ensure effective knowledge-sharing and lesson-learning
• - Ensure the timely submission of monthly, bimonthly reports
• - Participate in programme review meetings;
• - Support programme activities by building rapport with community and local stakeholders, including NRA to conduct meetings and create environment for meaningful participation. This will lead to develop trust, tolerance and co-operation among community members.
• - Make site visits as appropriate and meet with other relevant agencies in order to better understand the external environment in which gaunpalikas are operating and the ways in which it relates to, or could relate to other Purnima output initiatives
• - Assess capacity and reform process in partner gaunpalikas, identify needs, and build agreements on steps, conditions and scope of engagement and come with suggested reforms and support required in gaunpalika
• - Support in developing capacity of gaunpalikas to build back better by adopting building codes;
• - Support local government in the preparation of strategic plans
• - Ensure that proper decision making, and implementation of reconstruction activities are followed in local and district levels through mediation
• - Perform other duties as required by the programme

Candidate Specification

Required Qualification and Experience:

• - Master’s degree in a relevant field;
• - At least 5 years’ experience in rural development in Nepal, including capacity development, and institutional strengthening and delivery;
• - Experience in enterprise development and public private partnership will be an advantage;
• - At least three years’ experience in bottom up planning and governance support at a local level, preferably on a donor-funded projects (FCDO experience an advantage);
• - Good experience working with minority or disadvantaged groups in the Hills, and a strong sensitivity to the challenges of social inclusion;
• - Demonstrated understanding of the challenges of post-earthquake reconstruction and recovery;
• - Strong communication, interpersonal and leadership skills, but also a team player with the willingness to learn and support the learning of others;
• - Proven ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with local Government;
• - Ability to work effectively in remote areas, and willing to travel extensively throughout the project area, including on foot as well as by vehicle and motorbike
• - Fluency in written and spoken Nepali and English is essential. Fluency in relevant local languages spoken in the project area will be a strong asset.