Local Expert to perform a Detailed in-depth assessment

The SDLG program covers four thematic priorities: Security & Rule of Law, Migration, Local Revenue Mobilization, and Integrated Water Management.

Sustainable Development through Improved Local Governance (SDLG) program, funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implemented by VNG International, in the upcoming 5 years (2022-2026). in partnership with the Ministry of Local Governments (MOLG) in Palestine

Palestinian municipalities suffer from the lack of reliable property information and data management capacities, which hinders the improvement of municipal service provision. The lack of sustainable funding (cost recovery) and incomplete data are symptoms of an incomplete tax data base on the municipal level. To address this, the main objective of the SDLG programme – Own Source Revenue is that Palestinian local governments are able to improve their services in a financially sustainable way.

The local expert will execute a comprehensive assessment for Qalqiliya and Salfeet municipalities’ current situation and capacity. This assessment aims to provide insights and recommendations to support effective program planning and implementation within each municipality

جميع الحقوق محفوظة لموقع جوبس.

Under the supervision and directions of VNGi local and international project team and in realization of the aim of the assignment, the local expert shall perform the following activities:

Stakeholder Analysis:

• National and regional stakeholders
• Stakeholder influence and potential contribution to the program

Financial Assessment

• Current income of the municipality
• Current Revenue Streams: Describe current revenue sources, with the contribution of each revenue stream to the municipality's budget
• Analysis of taxpayer compliance levels, including factors that influence compliance (e.g., perception of fairness, ease of payment, enforcement mechanisms), including both taxes and service fees.
• Identification of potential new revenue sources

General assessment of the main provided services (Electricity, Water, Solid Waste)

• • Service Type, subscription number, Service Fee Value, Actual Annual Collection Ratio, Total Actual Annual service revenues, Total Annual service revenues as per Financial Entitlement, Total Expenses per Service, and Annual Cash Flow value per service.
  • Quality of service delivery.
  • Policies: # of internal policies in the municipality that reflect citizens' needs (i.e., plan of action/guidelines/SOP/SDIP that are in place and are they up to date

Organizational Assessment

• political dynamics and power structures within the municipality and their influence on decision-making processes and resource allocation.
• Governance (legal framework, decision-making process, methods for setting direction, external links)

Community Engagement

• • General evaluation of community engagement and consultation processes?
  Identification of mechanisms for incorporating community feedback and preferences into program planning and implementation

Technology and Infrastructure

• Financial System, other existing systems, hardware/software, equipment,
• Identification of any gaps in technology or infrastructure

Capacity Building Needs

• Identification of capacity building needs within the municipality
• Recommendations for capacity building initiatives, including training and institutional strengthening

Ongoing Projects

• Currently implemented projects that may affect our project, with general information about each project, to avoid duplication of efforts and to leverage synergies where possible.
  • •  

Risk:

• Potential risks and challenges that may affect program implementation
• Risk mitigation strategies

Gender:

• Assessment of gender and social dynamics within the municipality and female participation in decision-making processes.

Conflict sensitivity:

• Evaluation of potential sources of conflict or tension within the municipality and their implications for program implementation.
• Identification of strategies to promote conflict sensitivity

Outputs (expected deliverables): 

The expert shall produce two (2) detailed, well-structured and precise technical assessment reports; one in Arabic and another in English, with the written results of the above listed activities of the overall capacity development needs for each municipality, the specific needs of each individual municipality according to different categories (size, staff, and location). For the description of the current situation, process / informational flow charts should be used to create a graphical overview.

The assessment report should also include:

• The strengths and weaknesses of the current municipalities approach to citizens’ services as part of the service management;
• Recommendations to improve the municipalities financial, administrative, and IT systems with clear and transparent criteria for allocation of IT solutions, equipment and resources.

Routing of the reporting occurs according to the following guidelines:

1. The expert will work in close collaboration with the local Program Officer and VNGi local and international program team.
2. The expert will ensure that a proper level of information prior to, during and after the activity is provided to VNGi.
3. The expert will report directly to the Resident Program Officer at
4. The expert will not report directly to the beneficiary.

The local Expert should have the following minimum requirements:

Skills:

• Excellent command of English and Arabic Language;
• Excellent writing and reporting skills;
•  Excellent communication skills;
• Pro-active and representative attitude, able to work independently;
•  Efficient time management.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of demonstrated experience with local government;
• At least 7 years of demonstrated experience in institutional and capacity assessment;
• Have strong experience in MIS, business process management, re- engineering and analysis;
• Profound experience in system analysis and information system is essential;
• Capability of aligning business processes with functional and technical aspects;
• Possess strong analytical, communication and management skills, as well as solid mediating and consensus building skills;
• Familiarity    with    techniques    for   organizational    design,   process improvement, technology assimilation and process modelling;
• Have demonstrated skills in working with public sector development concepts and procedures.

The expected allocated level of effort to perform the aforementioned activities is no more than eight working days in total.

The local expert will submit his time sheet and invoice using the VNGi templates and formats.

NB: Holidays and vacations, and days of illness are not considered as working days.

Local individual experts are requested to submit their application form that consists of: cover letter, CV, technical offer includes methodology and approach, and financial offer by COB, Sunday 12th of May 2024 to Amal Odeh ([email protected])

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily rate to undertake the ToR above.