Country: Kyrgyzstan
Closing date: 10 Nov 2019
Loan No: AID-176-A-17-00002
Assignment Title: Youth Civic Engagement Consultant
Reference No: EECEY -IND-01-2019
Location: Kyrgyz Republic
Categories: Youth Civic Engagement, Consultancy
The Public Foundation Kyrgyzstan Mountain Societies Development Support Programme (MSDSP KG) is a locally registered public foundation seeking to improve the livelihoods of select communities in the rural areas of the Kyrgyz Republic. In order to achievement its long long-term development objective, MSDSP KG implements a range of integrated interventions in the fields of Agriculture & Food Security, Economic Inclusion, Education, Early Childhood Development, Health & Nutrition and Civil Society. MSDSP KG’s core programs converge in Osh, Naryn, Jalal-Abad and Batken oblasts, covering a total population of over 520,000 people.
Background & Rationale
Youth (defined by the law as those aged 14-281) remain amongst the most vulnerable groups in the Kyrgyz Republic. They account for 35 percent of the total population of the country. In spite of a relatively high per capita investment in the education sector (4 percent of GDP), and a public education system that is mandatory through 9th grade, and free through to 11th grade, the country’s schools have done little to equip young people with the tools to find meaningful and secure employment. The system also fails to provide opportunities for young people to contribute to innovative and constructive solutions to societal challenges. The IMF estimates that youth make up 50 percent of the country’s unemployed population, and more than 60 percent of youth live in rural areas that lack not only infrastructure and services, but also economic opportunity. Connected to the economic issue is that of political and civic engagement among youth. While they are willing to participate in local decision-making processes, however this expressed desire to participate is considerably lower than the actual participation rate. This low participation rate demonstrates that local self-governance structures lack
community mobilization skills and that youth struggle to acquire the skills needed to engage in decision-making processes.
To address the issues of economic and social exclusion, MSDSP KG, in partnership with the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), Association for Social Entrepreneurs (ASE), International Debate Education Association (IDEA CA) and the University of Central Asia (UCA) are implementing the “Enhancing Employability and Civic Engagement of Youth” (EECEY) Project. The goal of this five-year initiative is to support youth to more actively and positively participate in civic, social and economic life and contribute to the development of their families and communities. This will be achieved through the following expected results:
· Result 1: Youth develop relevant life and professional skills that enable them to be civically engaged citizens, leaders, and economic actors in positive ways in their communities.
· Result 2: Youth acquire more inclusive and positive civic identity and values that motivate them to participate more actively and demonstrate leadership in their communities to address local challenges.
· Result 3: Opportunities created to increase youth engagement in local communities, including through partnerships with local government.
· Result 4: Private sector opportunities created to enable youth to develop their professional skills and contribute to their families and communities.
· Result 5: Improved public image of youth in targeted communities.
· Result 6: The evidence base about the challenges facing youth and the policy responses that are most effective is expanded and accessible to government and non-government actor.
· Result 7: Public, private, and other civic actors change policies and strengthen local systems to expand youth’s assets, agency, and opportunities for contribution, or otherwise address the enabling environment for youth engagement.
Objectives of the Assignment
Under Results 2 & 3, the project has identified the involvement of youth in the formulation of local development strategies (LDSs) as a way to allow them to demonstrate leadership in address local challenges and to increase their partnership with local government. In the country, LDSs are framework documents outlining the long-term goals and directions community-based organizations and local government authorities want to take in addressing community needs and strengthening social cohesion at local level.
In that regard, MSDSP KG is seeking for a short-term consultant to provide technical support to the project team for enhancing the capacity of the project-established Community Youth Working Groups (CYWGs) to lead on the formalution of youth and gender-sensitive LDSs. Based on his/her review of project documents, reports and methodologies for supporting youth engagement in local decision-making processes, but also based on the findings from field-based meetings with project staff, CYWGs members and other development projects with similar activities, the selected consultant will (i) identify a set of recommendations for improving CYWG’s role and functions in the formulation of LDSs that are youth and gender-sensitive; (ii) prepare an action plan with the project team for the implementation of those recommendations and (iii) provide his/her guidance on the content of a guideline of CYWG’s establishment and operation.
More specifically, the key tasks of this assignment include:
§ Review of project’s materials and methodology for developing local youth and gender-sensitive LDSs;
§ Considering best international practices for engaging youth in community development planning, support MSDSP KG and its partners in improving the project approach, methodology and tools for enhance youth participation roles in LDSs development. This includes the provision of feedbacks for improving project training materials on lobbying, advocacy and among others;
§ Provide inputs on the content of a future CYWG Establishment and Operation Guideline.
Deliverables
1) One detailed written analytical report, including one presentation for the project team, of the current approach used by the project to engage youth in local decision-making processes, including recommendations for improving that methodology. The report should also include (i) a presentation (max. 30 slides in English and Russian) of the findings for the project staff (English and Russian languages) as well as (ii) a two-page executive summary of findings (English and Russian languages) and a10-slide presentation (Russian language) providing an overview of the findings and recommendations to be used during community meetings.
2) Provide a recommendation report on content of a CYWG Establishment and Operation Guideline. Each recommendation should be linked to existing best international practices and includes detailed information on tools that need to be used to implement those.
Duty Station
Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) with travel to the project targeted geographies.
TIMEFRAME
Consultancy dates in Kyrgyzstan (10 February – 10 March 2020)
Deliverables
Duration
(Estimated # of Days)
Review of the project materials (home-based)
2 days
Meet with project staff to get their view on what works or needs to be improved in the project’s approach for enhancing youth participation in community development planning (field-based)
1 day
Meet with the members of CYWGs and other community stakeholders who are involved in the development youth and gender-sensitive LDSs to get their view on what works and needs to be improved in the project’s approach for enhancing youth participation in community development planning (field-based)
4 days
Meet with project staff and other national stakeholders (e.g. government agencies, key NGOs and INGOs) to get their view about what works and needs to be improved in order to enhance youth participation in community development planning (Bishkek)
1 day
Develop report and presentations about current approach used by the project to engage youth in local decision-making processes, including recommendations for improving that methodology; Develop recommendations report about CYWG Establishment and Operation Guideline
3 days
Conduct a one-day workshop for project staff to share international best practices in enhancing youth participation in community development planning (Bishkek)
1 day
Presentation of the recommendations for enhancing youth participation in community development planning and presentation of recommendations on the content of a CYWG Establishment and Operation Guideline (Bishkek)
1 day
Total
13 days
Reporting line
The selected Consultant will report to the Program Manager of the “Enhancing Employment and Civic Engagement of Youth in the Kyrgyz Republic” project.
Key competences, technical background, and experience required Deadline
The required qualification and experience for the consultancy are:
§ An advanced degree in social sciences, education, social work, human rights, and/or international development.
§ At least eight years of experience in contributing to and advancing issues related to youth civic engagement through research, project implementation, etc.
§ Demonstration – through written work and dialogue – of in-depth knowledge of youth issues, including youth civic engagement and participation in community development planning.
§ Familiarity with mobilization methods and approaches for fostering youth’s collaboration with local governance and community, involvement in participatory research, participatory budgeting, among others, in the context of Central Asia countries.
§ Experience in planning and conducting trainings for youth.
§ Knowledge of Russian language is an advantage.
§ Experience working with the USAID funded youth projects or other multilateral agency is strongly preferred.
MSDSP KG is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable). Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.
How to apply:
Please submit a CV in English and a cover letter outlining your skills and qualifications.
Applications may be submitted via email to: aliia.burkitova@akdn.org or azis.sharshekeev@akdn.org
Please quote ‘Youth Civic Engagement Consultant’ in the subject line.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process
A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual consultants’ selection method set out in the MSDSP KG.
Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 09:00 to 17:00.
Expressions of interest and Curriculum Vitae with other supported documents must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail) by November 10, 201911:55 PM Eastern Daylight Time or November 11, 2019 10:55 AM local time Bishkek.
Public Foundation Kyrgyzstan Mountain Societies Development Support Programme in Kyrgyz Republic (MSDSP KG) is an initiative of the Aga Khan Foundation
124\1, Turusbekova St.
723500 Bishkek, the Kyrgyz Republic
Attention: Ms. Burkitova A., USAID Project Manager
Tel.: +996 312 976247
E-mail: aliia.burkitova@akdn.org or azis.sharshekeev@akdn.org