TERMS OF REFERENCE
1. Project Title: Integrated Capacity Building Programme (ICBP) 2009-2013
2. Title of Consultancy: International/ Riparian Consultant (Mid-term programme review[1])
3. Duty station:
Office of the MRC Secretariat in Vientiane (OSV) with possible travel to the Officer of the MRC Secretariat in Phnom Penh (OSP) and Member Countries.
May – June 2011 with a maximum of 30 working days including travelling.
4. Purpose and Objective:
The Mekong River Commission (MRC), an international river basin organisation, has more than 50 years of regional knowledge and experience. On April 5, 1995, Cambodia, the Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam, signed the “Agreement on the Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin” which recognised the need for cooperation in all fields of basin development, resource management and environmental protection. The member countries by working together and through informed dialogue would be able to develop and agree upon rules and strategies for sustainable water management.
In 2003, the MRC, with support from the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, developed an Integrated Training Strategy and Programme (ITSP) which sought to bring the MRC’s various training needs under one umbrella, and to address these through a single comprehensive and coherent training programme. A comprehensive assessment of MRC’s training needs concluded that improved professional knowledge and organisational development skills were required to accomplish the MRC’s mission, and to address the functional elements of the organisation.
The resulting strategy was to develop a critical mass of human resources at the Mekong River Commission Secretariat (MRCS), the National Mekong Committees (NMCs) and the line agencies by means of a comprehensive long-term training programme which should integrate existing MRC training activities, and focus on cross-cutting areas of knowledge, and related skills and attitudes. Although there was strong support from the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) countries, the programme did not proceed since it was unable to attract the necessary funding.
In 2007, AusAID, the Australian Agency for International Development, expressed an interest in building on the ITSP process by supporting the development and implementation of a capacity building programme. This should target the MRCS, the NMCs and the line agencies and be well integrated with the MRC structure. The MRCS has therefore prepared an Integrated Capacity Building Programme (ICBP) document through a two-step process:
· Step 1, implemented in January-February 2008, identified and planned priority capacity building activities for an initial twelve-month period and established an ICBP team within the MRCS.
· Step 2, begun in July 2008, focuses on the implementation of four priority training activities, and the formulation of the ICBP document, which was formulated through consultation with the MRC programmes, and a series of national consultations with the NMCs and prioritised national agencies in the four countries. A regional meeting followed in March 2009. There is now full alignment of the member countries behind the proposed ICBP strategy, scope and implementation arrangements.
The ICBP 2009-2013 builds on the ITSP, and on other completed or ongoing MRC capacity assessment and building activities, namely (i) the Independent Organisational, Financial and Institutional Review (OR), (ii) the Junior Riparian Professional Project (JRPP), (iii) the MRC Internships, (iv) the Gender Mainstreaming Project (GMP), (v) the training activities under the Operating Expenses Budget (OEB) and (vi) the various capacity building activities across MRC Programmes.
A joint-donor review is required to:
Assess the overall progress of the ICBP with regards to activities and outputs, and assess and analyze the major concerns, risks and assumptions for the success of the programme in the last 18 months from June 2009- to December 2010. Annex 1 is the ICBP Design and Monitoring framework for reference.
Obtain objective views on the programme and its achievements in this evaluation period.
Measure the level of gender sensitiveness in all ICBP activities in the past 18 months and propose steps to further mainstream and monitor gender equality in MRC Programmes as well as to all ICBP activities and approaches.
Gain recommendations for the improvement of the implementation of the programme toward more results-based approaches for next phase (2011-2013).
5. Outputs:
A comprehensive assessment report describing:
· The overall progress of ICBP implementation and management in the period from June 2009 to December 2010 that stating clearly
o The effectiveness and efficiency of programme planning, implementing and managing in the assessment period,
o The key programme achievements and lessons learned
o The major concerns about the sustainability of the programme
o The alignment of the programme to the MRC SP 2011-2015
o The relocation of the ICBP within the MRCS.
· The challenges and risked faced, programme’s risks management process and possible risks for the next phase 2011-2013
· The recommended performance indicators for ICBP in the next 3 years in comparison to the overall MRC’s outcomes and targets set for capacity building.
· Recommendations for the next phase 2011-2013 in relation to:
o More effective and efficient planning, implementing and managing the programme,
o The areas of focus and priorities for the coming phase.
o The possibility of the ICBP beyond 2013.
o Capacity building plan for the ICBP team both at regional and national levels.
6. Responsibilities and Task:
Followings are the key tasks of the consultant:
Desk review of the secondary data related to the designing, planning and implementing of the ICBP 2009-2013
Meet/Interview key stakeholders involved in the implementation process e.g. representatives from NMCs, prioritised national LAs, related MRC programmes, ICBP Steering Committee Members, ICBP team members, etc.
Interview ICBP Development Partners,
Analyse information and write up the assessment report.
Brief the results to the ICBP
Finalise the report
Present the report to MRC Senior Managers, representatives from NMCs and Development Partners
Finalise review report.
7. Itinerary:
1. Project Title: Integrated Capacity Building Programme (ICBP) 2009-2013
2. Title of Consultancy: International/ Riparian Consultant (Mid-term programme review[1])
3. Duty station:
Office of the MRC Secretariat in Vientiane (OSV) with possible travel to the Officer of the MRC Secretariat in Phnom Penh (OSP) and Member Countries.
May – June 2011 with a maximum of 30 working days including travelling.
4. Purpose and Objective:
The Mekong River Commission (MRC), an international river basin organisation, has more than 50 years of regional knowledge and experience. On April 5, 1995, Cambodia, the Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam, signed the “Agreement on the Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin” which recognised the need for cooperation in all fields of basin development, resource management and environmental protection. The member countries by working together and through informed dialogue would be able to develop and agree upon rules and strategies for sustainable water management.
In 2003, the MRC, with support from the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, developed an Integrated Training Strategy and Programme (ITSP) which sought to bring the MRC’s various training needs under one umbrella, and to address these through a single comprehensive and coherent training programme. A comprehensive assessment of MRC’s training needs concluded that improved professional knowledge and organisational development skills were required to accomplish the MRC’s mission, and to address the functional elements of the organisation.
The resulting strategy was to develop a critical mass of human resources at the Mekong River Commission Secretariat (MRCS), the National Mekong Committees (NMCs) and the line agencies by means of a comprehensive long-term training programme which should integrate existing MRC training activities, and focus on cross-cutting areas of knowledge, and related skills and attitudes. Although there was strong support from the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) countries, the programme did not proceed since it was unable to attract the necessary funding.
In 2007, AusAID, the Australian Agency for International Development, expressed an interest in building on the ITSP process by supporting the development and implementation of a capacity building programme. This should target the MRCS, the NMCs and the line agencies and be well integrated with the MRC structure. The MRCS has therefore prepared an Integrated Capacity Building Programme (ICBP) document through a two-step process:
· Step 1, implemented in January-February 2008, identified and planned priority capacity building activities for an initial twelve-month period and established an ICBP team within the MRCS.
· Step 2, begun in July 2008, focuses on the implementation of four priority training activities, and the formulation of the ICBP document, which was formulated through consultation with the MRC programmes, and a series of national consultations with the NMCs and prioritised national agencies in the four countries. A regional meeting followed in March 2009. There is now full alignment of the member countries behind the proposed ICBP strategy, scope and implementation arrangements.
The ICBP 2009-2013 builds on the ITSP, and on other completed or ongoing MRC capacity assessment and building activities, namely (i) the Independent Organisational, Financial and Institutional Review (OR), (ii) the Junior Riparian Professional Project (JRPP), (iii) the MRC Internships, (iv) the Gender Mainstreaming Project (GMP), (v) the training activities under the Operating Expenses Budget (OEB) and (vi) the various capacity building activities across MRC Programmes.
A joint-donor review is required to:
Assess the overall progress of the ICBP with regards to activities and outputs, and assess and analyze the major concerns, risks and assumptions for the success of the programme in the last 18 months from June 2009- to December 2010. Annex 1 is the ICBP Design and Monitoring framework for reference.
Obtain objective views on the programme and its achievements in this evaluation period.
Measure the level of gender sensitiveness in all ICBP activities in the past 18 months and propose steps to further mainstream and monitor gender equality in MRC Programmes as well as to all ICBP activities and approaches.
Gain recommendations for the improvement of the implementation of the programme toward more results-based approaches for next phase (2011-2013).
5. Outputs:
A comprehensive assessment report describing:
· The overall progress of ICBP implementation and management in the period from June 2009 to December 2010 that stating clearly
o The effectiveness and efficiency of programme planning, implementing and managing in the assessment period,
o The key programme achievements and lessons learned
o The major concerns about the sustainability of the programme
o The alignment of the programme to the MRC SP 2011-2015
o The relocation of the ICBP within the MRCS.
· The challenges and risked faced, programme’s risks management process and possible risks for the next phase 2011-2013
· The recommended performance indicators for ICBP in the next 3 years in comparison to the overall MRC’s outcomes and targets set for capacity building.
· Recommendations for the next phase 2011-2013 in relation to:
o More effective and efficient planning, implementing and managing the programme,
o The areas of focus and priorities for the coming phase.
o The possibility of the ICBP beyond 2013.
o Capacity building plan for the ICBP team both at regional and national levels.
6. Responsibilities and Task:
Followings are the key tasks of the consultant:
Desk review of the secondary data related to the designing, planning and implementing of the ICBP 2009-2013
Meet/Interview key stakeholders involved in the implementation process e.g. representatives from NMCs, prioritised national LAs, related MRC programmes, ICBP Steering Committee Members, ICBP team members, etc.
Interview ICBP Development Partners,
Analyse information and write up the assessment report.
Brief the results to the ICBP
Finalise the report
Present the report to MRC Senior Managers, representatives from NMCs and Development Partners
Finalise review report.
7. Itinerary:
Work | Number of days | Tentative dates |
Desk review of the secondary data related to the designing, planning and implementing of the ICBP 2009-2013 | 3 days | May 3rd to 5th 2011 |
Meet/Interview key stakeholders involved in the implementation process e.g. representatives from NMCs, prioritised LAs, related MRC programmes, ICBP Steering Committee Members, etc. | 10 days | May 9th to 21st 2011 |
Interview ICBP Development Partners, | 3 days | May 23rd to 27th 2011 |
Analyse information and write up the assessment report (1st Draft Report) | 5 days | June 1st - 8th 2011 |
Brief the results to the ICBP | 1 day | 10th June 2011 |
Finalise the report (2nd Draft Report) | 1 day | 13 June 2011 |
Present the report to MRC Senior Managers, representatives from NMCs and Development Partners | 1 day | 14th June 2011 |
Finalise report ( Final report) | 1 day | 17th June 2011 |
Extra travelling | 5 days | |
Total number of days | 30 days |
8. Working Principles / Reporting line: the consultant work directly with the ICBP Coordinator and the ICBP Planning, Monitoring and Communication Programme Officer.
9. Qualifications / Requirement:
Master or PhD degree in human resources management, social sciences, development management or other related field;
15 years of experience leading the design and implementation of capacity development programmes;
Extensive experience in evaluating capacity building or human resource development project, especially in Asia context;
Proven track record in conducting complex assessment of capacity development programmes;
Strong expertise and experience in facilitating workshops;
Excellent written and oral communication skills in English;
Familiarity with the LMB and Mekong River Commission.
10. Condition of payment: Payment will be made with 60% at the end of the mission and 40% when final report is approved.
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Mekong River Commission
The role of MRC is to promote and coordinate sustainable management and development of water and related resources for the countries’ mutual benefit and the people’s well-being
MRC Secretariat is now recruiting a highly qualified consultant for the following consultancy
International/ Riparian Consultant
For Mid-Term Programme Review
Integrated Capacity Building Programme, Human Resources Section
Maximum of 30 working days starting from June to July 2011, based at the Office of the Secretariat in Vientiane, Lao PDR, with travels to MRC Member Countries.
Term of Reference and other information can be obtained at MRC website http://www.mrcmekong.org. Women are encouraged to apply. Only short-listed candidates will be notified.
Application procedures:
The application should include (i) a cover letter outlining clearly how the candidates meet the requirements of the position, (ii) a detailed CV, and (iii) MRC Personal History Form. The position title and division/section must be indicated in the cover letter. The application should be sent to:
Mekong River Commission Secretariat
P.O. Box 6101
Vientiane 01000, Lao PDR
Email: mrcs@mrcmekong.org
Closing date for applications: 26 May 2011
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