1. BACKGROUND OF THE DFGG PROJECT
Good governance is a critical challenge facing Cambodia in its efforts to sustain economic growth, reduce poverty and attain the Cambodia Millennium Development Goals. Accordingly, the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) gives prominence to improving governance in its Rectangular Strategy 2004-2008, the Governance Action Plan, and the Decentralization and De-concentration Strategic Framework. One important initiative of RGC in this regard is the planned Demand for Good Governance (DFGG) Project, which will be supported by grant financing from the International Development Association (IDA).
The development objective of the DFGG Project is to promote good governance in Cambodia in order to sustain economic growth and poverty reduction. As elsewhere, efforts to improve governance in Cambodia have focused predominantly on supply-side instruments (e.g., more effective public administration and financial management, delivery of public services, etc,). While these are necessary and useful, better and more lasting results will be achieved if complemented by increased social accountability (i.e., more demand-side pressure).
The DFGG Project shall improve governance quality in Cambodia by building the capacities of institutions, and supporting programs/projects and coalitions, that promote, mediate or address demand for good governance in the context of a few key areas in RGC’s reform agenda. This will result in more effective design, implementation and monitoring of key reforms, and more transparency, accountability and responsiveness of the state to citizens.
The Ministry of Interior (MOI) has been assigned by the RGC to be the lead agency in the preparation of the DFGG Project. Preparation work, including pre-implementation activities prior to project effectiveness, has been programmed over a 52-week period and is expected to start in early 2008. Overall management of preparation is the responsibility of an MOI Undersecretary of State who has been designated as Project Coordinator. Preparation will involve coordination and supervision of a number of preparatory studies to be undertaken by consultants and, based on their findings, recommendations for eventual project design and institutional arrangements. Project preparation will require systematic engagement of a range of stakeholders from the government (both national and sub-national levels), donors, civil society and the World Bank.
2. OBJECTIVE OF THE CONSULTING ASSIGNMENT
This consulting assignment, to be led by an International Consultant (“the International Consultant”) working in collaboration with 4 national consultants (“the National Consultants”), involves two related tasks:
The first task is to identify and select the Cambodian state institutions (maximum of 6) that will be supported by the DFGG Project based on established criteria. State institutions to be identified are those involved in the following four priority reform areas identified by the Cambodian government for improving governance, that is, decentralization and de-concentration, natural resources management, public financial management, and support to the private sector.
The second task is to facilitate the development of proposals for funding by the DFGG Project by the selected institutions.
3. SCOPE OF WORK
The International Consultant will bring global experience in institutional development for strengthening demand side activities and lead in task delivery. She/he will work closely with, and delegate specific tasks to the National Consultants. The scope of work for the consultants-team will be the following:
International Consultant
The International Consultant’s responsibilities in the captioned assignment will include the following:
3.1 Identification and Selection of State Institutions for DFGG Support.
- (a). Supporting the Project Team Leader in the development of a DFGG framework and priority themes related to the reforms, which will be an important tool for building awareness of DFGG concepts and applications, and also constitute an important basis for prioritizing the institutions to be supported
- (b). Developing criteria and options for mechanisms for selecting the state institutions to be supported by the DFGG Project (maximum of 6 institutions), and
- (c). Facilitating a review of these criteria and mechanisms with key RGC stakeholders, (using workshops and other consultation modalities), and creating shortlists of candidate institutions from long lists
3.2 Proposal Development by State Institutions
- (a). Developing a set of guidelines for preparing short concept notes for programs for which the selected institutions will seek DFGG Project funding, and disseminating and clarifying them to selected institutions
- (b). Providing guidance and technical facilitation in the development of the concept notes to the selected institutions, assessing the concept notes for feasibility and consistency with the DFGG project development objectives, and submitting the concept notes to the MOI Project Coordinator (with appropriate recommendations) for review and endorsement
- (c). Developing a set of guidelines for the content and structure of full proposals for the programs for which the selected institutions will seek DFGG funding
- (d). Facilitating the development of the full program proposals by the selected institutions, based on the agreed concepts and guidelines, and helping to enhance their quality. The proposals will enumerate: (1) the context, and issues and problems to be addressed, including governance themes; (2) the program rationale and objectives; (3) a description of the program activities and expected results and how they will advance the project’s objectives; (4) a description of the core institutional capacity building needs for carrying out these activities; (5) the internal organizational structure for implementing the program; (6) how the program will create horizontal links within government and vertical links with civil society, communities or other stakeholders; (6) performance indicators; (7) a risk analysis and mitigation plan; (8) a transparency and anti-corruption plan; (9) a communications and participation plan; (10) a monitoring and evaluation plan; and, (11) a fully-costed budget by component and expenditure categories, and implementation timeline
- (e). Reviewing and appraising the proposals in consultation with the MOI Project Coordinator, identifying gaps and areas for necessary revisions, and facilitating revision and finalization of proposals by the institutions
- (f). Preparing (1) a supervision plan for MOI to monitor each approved program for year 1 of DFGG funding, with performance benchmarks for assessing and extending support beyond the first year of implementation, and, (2) the project implementation agreement, for execution by the approved institutions. These tasks will be done in anticipation of a favorable decision by the Oversight Committee on these proposals, and following approval of the DFGG project by the World Bank Board
National Consultants
Working under the guidance of the International Consultant, the National Consultants will undertake designated tasks, and, in particular, the following:
- (a). Assisting in designing and organizing consultation and participatory processes
- (b). Supporting the processes and activities of identifying and selecting the state institutions for DFGG Project support
- (c). Assisting in assessing concept notes developed by the selected institutions for programs to be funded
- (d). Providing technical support to strengthen the quality of final proposals from the selected institutions
- (e). Assisting in reviewing and appraising the final proposals prior to submission to the MOI and Oversight Committee
- (f). Providing technical support in developing the supervision plan and implementation agreement, and performance benchmarks, and
- (g). Undertaking other tasks relevant to the assignment as may be requested by the International Consultant
4. REPORTING AND PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE
The International Consultant shall be engaged for a total of 110 days over a period of five months, while the National Consultants will be engaged for a total of 240 days (60days each). Commencement date for the International Consultant is set for Feb 1, while that of the National Consultant is set for March 1, 2007.
The consultant-team is expected to submit the following written outputs:
4.1 Analytical Report on Selection of State Institutions.
The analytical report will detail the criteria and process for identifying and confirming the priority state institutions for support by the DFGG Project, highlighting challenges, and issues for further consideration. It will annex the DFGG framework developed.
4.2 Report on Proposals of the Selected State Institutions for DFGG Funding
This report will detail the process and outcomes of developing, appraising and approving concept notes and proposals from the selected institutions. It shall contain the following:
- (a). the guidelines for the content and structure of the concept notes and full proposals
- (b). a list and summary of the concept notes and full proposals developed, with full proposals attached as annexes
- (c). summary of the concept note and full proposal review process, highlighting major issues identified and how they were addressed
- (d). the supervision plan and performance benchmarks for each selected institution; and
- (e). the implementation agreement for each selected institution
5. RESOURCES TO BE PROVIDED BY MOI
The Consultants will work with the Project Preparation Team that has been organized by MOI to oversee the preparation of the DFGG Project.
Aside from providing office space, MOI will also provide the Consultants with administrative support, including technical and communications facilities, making appointments, travel arrangements, arranging meetings, training and workshops, distribution of documents, etc.
6. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
The Consultants will be based in Phnom Penh at the offices of the MOI. They will work under the direct supervision of the MOI Undersecretary of State who has been designated as the Project Coordinator for DFGG preparation, and under the guidance of the Project Team Leader (Consultant).
The Consultants will coordinate closely with other consultants engaged in preparation and the MOI Preparation Team. The Consultants will also, in coordination with the Project Team Leader, interact with the Bank task team as needed.
The Consultants are expected to facilitate the highest level of initiative and participation by the selected institutions in fulfilling the core tasks of this assignment, namely development of proposals for DFGG funding. If appropriate, the Consultants may be “housed” in the selected institutions for relevant parts of their assignment.
7. REQUIRED EXPERTISE AND QUALIFICATIONS OF CONSULTANT
The International Consultant will act as Lead Consultant of the assignment. The required expertise and qualifications for both consultant categories are set out below:
7.1 International Consultant
This assignment is subject to international recruitment.
The International Consultant must be a citizen of a member country of the World Bank, and must have the following qualifications and experience:
A Master’s degree or equivalent in economics, public policy, public administration, business management, social sciences or other relevant disciplines. Specialized training in areas relevant to the project will be an advantage
At least 10 years of global experience in governance, institutional development and capacity building of state institutions. Demonstrated technical leadership and practical experience in doing this through use of demand side approaches and social accountability practices. Experience in working in civil society organizations will be a strong advantage
Significant supervisory and team leader experience with demonstrated interpersonal and communications skills. S/he must have the ability to work independently, while being able to provide guidance and transfer knowledge and skills to government counterpart staff
Computer literacy, with high proficiency in the use of standard software packages
Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, and a strong ability to prepare and synthesize lengthy and complex documents. Understanding of the Khmer language would be an advantage
Broad knowledge and experience of governance and institutional and development issues in Cambodia and South East Asia will be a strong advantage
7.2 National Consultants
This assignment is subject to local recruitment. The National Consultant will have the following qualifications and experience:
At least a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in economics, public policy, public administration, management, social science or other relevant disciplines. Specialized training in areas relevant to the project will be an advantage
At least five years of hands-on experience in governance and institutional development issues in Cambodia, and knowledge of relevant national laws and institutions, policies and programs on governance and the RGC reform agenda.
Practical experience in use of demand side approaches and social accountability practices
Experience with engaging public officials, and with stakeholder participation strategies for ODA-assisted development projects would be a strong advantage
Computer literacy, with high proficiency in the use of standard software packages
Fluency in spoken and written English and the Khmer language
