TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR A BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND RESOURCE MOBILIZATION EXPERT IN CHARGE OF PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF GIFT-MENA MISSION AND SERVICES I. Background The Governance Institutes Forum for Training in the Middle East and North Africa - GIFT-MENA - is a forum that brings together schools of government providing training on governance and public administration issues in the MENA region. Launched in Beirut, in March 2006, the Forum helps improve the capacity to govern at all levels of the State by investing in sustainable capacity building and promoting policy dialogue among stakeholders concerned with governance and state modernization. GIFT-MENA is governed by a convention and bylaws ratified by members in 2008. It brings together today more than 60 government schools and institutes from 20 countries across the MENA region, in addition to 20 partners from leading regional and international organizations. It is, to date, an unformal network. In 2016, the GIFT-MENA network celebrated its 10 th Anniversary. On this occasion, members and partners met in a General Assembly (Paris, October 2016) to discuss the results and recommendations of a strategic assessment that was conducted between July and September 2016, to assist the GIFT-MENA network in developing further its role, positioning, governance and institutional structure as well as offer of services. The General Assembly concluded to the nomination of a Working Group, composed of 6 member institutions, in charge of formulating in the coming months a roadmap and action plan to institutionalize the network and consolidate its approach based on partnerships and co-production. The outputs of the Working Group will be presented, discussed and validated on the occasion of an Extraordinary General Assembly that will convey in August 2017. II. Objective This assignment includes two components. It aims specifically at : 1. Providing technical advice and support in analyzing the future needs of member institutions, updating the network s strategic directions, strengthening the capacities of its secretariat, consolidating its regional positioning vis-à-vis similar initiatives and designing a medium-term (5 years) Development Plan, in support of its vision. This shall ensure that the Network remains a bottom-up, participatory and inclusive in answering the needs of its member institutions, in line with regional priorities, while keeping a certain margin of flexibility. 2. Developing a resource mobilization strategy with a proposed action plan responsive to the GIFT- MENA s strategic vision, objectives and results-orientation. It shall be a forward-looking resource mobilization strategy which takes into account existing constraints, lessons learned from past resource mobilization efforts and explores new aid modalities and actors. It shall outline a systematic and strategic approach to leveraging existing and new partnerships as well as recommendations on how to diversify the network s resource base. Appendix 1-TOR-Business Dev and RM-Mar2017-ENG 1
It shall be conducted in line with the recommendations of the assessment report conducted in 2016 on the occasion of the Network s 10 th Anniversary by a panel of high-level experts and the orientations provided by the Paris Declaration. It shall also include recommendations on how to better link GIFT-MENA s mission to international development challenges and the achievement of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular Goal 16 aimed at Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and sustain its action in a complex funding environment, characterized by a global economic downturn and related financial crisis, shrinking Official Development Assistance and shifting donor priorities. Specific objectives shall include: Review the scope, appropriateness, effectiveness, and responsiveness of GIFT-MENA s services in the past 10 years, mainly covering the following issues but not limited to: a. Vision and Mission b. Strategic Objectives c. Offer of services Review the GIFT-MENA mapping of funding in the past ten years, and analyze current resource mobilizations constraints, namely the approach, the sources and tools. The assessment can be conducted through the review of assessments performed in the past and of reports of the General Assemblies, through interviews or the development of a new questionnaire. Establish linkages between the GIFT-MENA mission and vision and the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular Goal 16 aimed at Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. Analyze and document the findings, results and lessons learned from the assessment and formulate a roadmap for the period 2017-2021 including recommendations for the offer of core services and flagship programs. Assess staffing and skill mix at the Secretariat, identify gaps and propose recommendations on the staffing and the set of skill and competencies needed to be able to run the Secretariat efficiently and effectively and answer the identified needs. Assess current financing model, based on the financial mapping produced by the Secretariat, and identify opportunities to be tapped to ensure sustainable and diversified sources of funding for the Network s activities. Based on the above, identify and review the major lessons learned from 10 years of activities and recommend actions for synergies creation that would allow for broader, more strategic positioning of the network in its regional panorama and vis-à-vis similar regional and global initiatives, and fundraising actions to be adopted to sustain the network. III. Expected results This capacity assessment is expected to provide an essential basis for the formulation of a coherent and effective strategy for GIFT-MENA s development and the identification of key functions that are to be the focus of its strategy, as well as the approach and sources of funding to tap. Deliverables shall include: 1. Document 1: An analytical assessment report outlining improvements to be made to the vision, mission, objectives and offer of services of the network to answer future needs. The report shall also provide recommendations on how to strengthen the capacities of the Secretariat as well as recommendations on how to consolidate the Network s position in the regional and international panorama. 2. Document 2: Propose an institutional development plan for the network including a road map and execution modalities for the period 2017-2021, in line with regional and international developments in the fields of governance and capacity development. 3. Document 3: A fundraising strategy, identifying funding needs and potential sources and proposing an action plan to approach donors. Appendix 1-TOR-Business Dev and RM-Mar2017-ENG 2
The deliverables shall be provided in the Arabic and French languages. These documents are expected to serve as decision-making tools for the Working Group and later for the General Assembly. IV. Methodology The business development and resource mobilization expert will work in consultation with members of the Working Group and with the GIFT-MENA Network Secretariat, based in Beirut, at the Institut des Finances Basil Fuleihan. The total number of working days is estimated as 30 days (from April to August 2017). More specifically, the business development expert is expected to be engaged in the following tasks: Desk review of existing institutional documentation related to GIFT-MENA s core institutional documents (vision, mission, etc.), services and upcoming priorities. Interviews, if needed, and based on a pre-approved questionnaire, of members and partners and the Secretariat, to gather further information on the vision, mission and strategic objectives of the network. Interviews are expected to be organized via existing Information and Communication Technologies (Skype, etc.). Assess funding needs and identify existing funding opportunities (internal and external), and match funding sources against priority areas of work. Study the possibilities to sustaining the Network through members and partners contributions Write up the interim documents Present and discuss the documents with the Working Group. Present the final documents and recommendations to the General Assembly. The selected expert is expected to work in close collaboration with the expert in charge of legal institutionalization. The two experts shall coordinate and report to the GIFT-MENA Secretariat on the progress achieved. In order to prevent any conflict of interest, the expert should be independent from the GIFT-MENA network. V. List of references The following documentation will be provided by the GIFT-MENA Secretariat as reference documentation to facilitate the work of the consultant: Document Description Format GIFT-MENA network story Report of the panel of high-level experts on the future of the GIFT-MENA network Document providing key information on the network s objectives, structure, governance, activities and achievements in 10 years (2006-2016) Results and recommendations of a strategic assessment conducted on the occasion of the Network's 10th anniversary in 2016 to assist the GIFT- MENA network in reviewing and further developing its role, positioning, governance and institutional structure as Av. in Arabic and French Av. in French (original) and Arabic (translated) Appendix 1-TOR-Business Dev and RM-Mar2017-ENG 3
The Paris Declaration The GIFT-MENA Convention and Bylaws Report of the General Assembly 2016 The GIFT-MENA Vision Financial reporting 10 years well as offer of services. Declaration ratified by members present at the General Assembly in October 2016 in which they reiterate their commitment to play a central role in modernizing the State in their respective countries and lay down future orientations of their work Reference documents governing the network and to which members accept to abide by when they join the network Minutes of meeting and recommendations made by members on the occasion of the last General Assembly held in Paris in October 2016 A strategic vision document developed by the steering committee in 2008 to steer the network s development at the time Overview of the Network s finances, including funding mechanisms between 2006 and 2016 Av. in Arabic (original) and French (translated) Av. in English (original) and Arabic (translated) Av. in Arabic and French Av. in English Av. in English Additional documents can be provided upon request. VI. Indicative timeline In line with the above-mentioned methodology, the business development and resource mobilization expert will be contracted for the duration of 30 working days for this assignment, between April and August 2017. Most of the time, he/she will work from his/her country of residence, except for the time dedicated to the presentation of the report and recommendations on the occasion of the Network s Extraordinary General Assembly, expected to take place in Salalah, Sultanate of Oman in August 2017. In such cases, round trip travel to Salalah and accommodation (2 nights) shall be included in the contract signed with the Contracting Authority. Timeline of activities: 22 March 2017 Call for expression of interest 7 April 2017 Deadline for expression of interest 10 April 2017 Opening of offers, evaluation and selection of service provider 17 April 2017 Start date of contract 12 June 2017 Submission of the first version of the report containing the above mentioned 3 deliverables in one language (arabic or french) 12 July 2017 Submission of the final version of the report in 2 languages (arabic and french) Appendix 1-TOR-Business Dev and RM-Mar2017-ENG 4
23-24 August 2017 Presentation of the report on the occasion of the GIFT-MENA General Assembly VII. Required Skills and Experience 1. Education: Advanced University degree (Masters or equivalent) in public administration, economics, political sciences, international development, fundraising, or related field. 2. Experience: A minimum of 10 years of experience at national or international level in the development sector, providing advice on institutional development, institutional policy or change management; fundraising, resource mobilization or partnership building; Proven successful track record in fundraising Proven experience with multilateral agencies and bi-lateral aid organizations; Relevant working experience in the Middle East and North Africa is an advantage; Familiarity with the GIFT-MENA network or other similar initiatives would be an asset; Experience of donor assistance in post-conflict settings would be an asset; Familiarity with the financing mechanisms used by Arab Development Funds would be an advantage; 3. Qualifications and Skills: Ability to lead strategic information collection, analysis and result-based use of information; Ability to lead formulation of strategies and their implementation; Ability to apply Resource Mobilization and Partnerships building theory to specific institutional contexts; Sound interpersonal and communication skills; Excellent analytical and presentation skills; Ability to work with close cooperation with international and local stakeholders; Cultural Sensitivity/Valuing diversity: Demonstrating an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and its international outlook; 4. Language Skills: Fluency (both spoken and written) in French and Arabic. English is a plus. VIII. Contacts Contact people: At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development in France (MAEDI) o Mr. Romain RAGOT, MAEDI, romain.ragot@diplomatie.gouv.fr o Ms. Marion PARISET, MAEDI, focal point in Paris, marion.pariset@diplomatie.gouv.fr o Ms. Bernadette CHEHU, Embassy of France in Lebanon, focal point in Beirut, bernadette.chehu@diplomatie.gouv.fr For the GIFT-MENA Network, at the Institut des Finances Basil Fuleihan in Lebanon o Ms. Rola DARWISH, rolad@finance.gov.lb o Ms. Sabine HATEM, focal point in Beirut, Sabinehat@finance.gov.lb Appendix 1-TOR-Business Dev and RM-Mar2017-ENG 5