Local Governance Expert

Result of Service

To explore and examine possible options for setting up and institutionalizing Somalia Mayors Forum, provide comprehensive roadmap and practical recommendations to implement the chosen option effectively

Work Location

Homebased with travel to Mogadishu, Somalia

Expected duration

4 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The Joint Programme on Strengthening Local Governance and Decentralized Service Delivery (Dowladkaab programme) is a five-year initiative by UNDP, UNICEF, and UN-HABITAT funded through the Somalia Joint Fund to further strengthen local governments in effectively responding to the needs and rights of all people as rights-holders as well as amplifying the voices of communities, with a focus on women, youth, and marginalized groups to hold their local leaders accountable. Dowladkaab Programme works with local, state, and federal levels of government to create an enabling environment for inclusive and sustainable governance systems at the district level, advancing responsive basic social service delivery, enhancing state legitimacy and rebuilding trust. Dowladkaab programme emphasizes local ownership and a modular approach to governance, demonstrating a sequenced and coordinated implementation modality. In close collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs, and Reconciliation (MoIFAR), Dowladkaab Programme will utilize key governmental structures to enhance coordination and capacity across government levels and clarifying roles and responsibilities of federal, state and local tiers of government as duty-bearers. Strengthening districts’ core functions by engaging people in local planning, public finance management and budgeting will better resource local governments to deliver equitable, inclusive, and accountable services. The programme focuses on critical issues such as fiscal decentralization, planning, and public finance management to improve taxation, revenue management, and inter-governmental fiscal transfers to increase the use of own-source-revenue in service delivery. Empowering people as rights-holders, including access to social accountability mechanisms will build trust and support for local governments, driving sustainable, people-oriented development. The programme also creates more livable, and resilient districts through proper urban planning that can assist districts to withstand the challenges of urbanization and climate related shocks. Furthermore, the programme will focus on capacity development of the newly formed districts and elected counselors.. The programme will identify and keep a balance both new and previous districts for intervention and identify synergies with other local governance initiatives. Within the framework of Dowladkaab, UN-Habitat is mandated to strengthen public finance management of the districts by instituting effective tax administration and expenditure management, financial management systems, and internal control mechanisms. Towards unlocking the potential of the private sector, UN-Habitat is supporting public authorities in structuring local economic development and institutionalizing public private partnership. On the other hand, UN-Habitat is also responsible to build district capacities in infrastructure and urban resilience development. To enable this, districts’ capacities in undertaking infrastructure prioritization exercises and feasibility studies or assessments are essential interventions of the programme. It will further support the institutionalization of mayor’s forum to facilitate coordination, peer-to-peer learning and information sharing between mayors in Somalia. With these interventions, UN-Habitat contributes to the Dowladkaab Programme endeavor to transform from a traditional development funding into a catalyst for capacity development program, unlocking development financing that enables local governments mobilize resources for sustainable and inclusive public service delivery. The Dowladkaab Programme is started in August 2024, centers on community needs, and aspires for collaborative, participatory development and lasting change at the local level. OBJECTIVES OF THE CONSULTANCY Under Joint Programme on Local Governance and Decentralizaed Service Delivery (PLG III), UN-Habitat supported the Federal Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation (MoIFAR) to hold the first of the Somalia’s Mayors Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, in 2022. This was a combined event that included a tour study of a country with shareable experience and yet, the first session of a forum for Somali Mayors to push the local governance agenda forward. This inspired Somalia to host and convene the second forum in Mogadishu in 2023. With the support of Dowladkaab programme, UN-Habitat intends to transform this forum as a permanent, government-led, and self-sustaining platform. This platform shall support Somalia’s efforts to implement the National Transition Plan and to bring in the voice of local governments for administering and providing efficient and inclusive basic services for all people. While the objective is evident, the option and the practical steps to be taken by the government should be guided by empirical evidence that is backed by both regional and best international practices. Therefore, this consultancy is to explore and examine possible options for setting up and institutionalizing Somalia Mayors Forum, provide comprehensive roadmap and practical recommendations to implement the chosen option effectively. SCOPE OF WORK Under the overall guidance of the Head of Programme, and the direct supervision of the assigned Dowladkaab Programme Manager, the Consultant will perform the following main tasks in close collaboration with other assigned Dowlaadkab team members: 1. Conduct a comprehensive desk review of related documentations to gain understanding and to conceptualize the local governance sector of Somalia. Key documents included but are not limited to reports from the previous Mayors Forums, federal and state local government laws and the provisional constitution of Somalia including progress reports/proceedings on the constitutional review process, stabilization frameworks etc. The consultant shall also consider, and review reports and lessons learnt from ALGASL/ALGAPL. 2. Undertake a thorough review and analyse of all available options for Somalia to set up and institutions the Mayors Forum and provide a detailed account of the SWOT of each of the options. 3. Submit an option paper detailing all possible options with practical recommendations tailored to the local context for the effective establishment of a functioning and self-sustaining Mayors Forum with a clear, objective and self-explanatory methodology for assessing the applicability of each of the options under considerations, enabling the Federal Government of Somalia and its member states to select the option that aligns most effectively with its specific context. 4. Lead and facilitate a two-day consultation workshop with relevant stakeholders from various levels of government and gather their feedback for further consideration. The workshop will take place in Mogadishu. 5. Upon selection of the preferred option, produce a detailed roadmap for implementing the option and 6. Lead and facilitate a one-day validation workshop to present final option paper, the roadmap and detailed implementation plan for the chosen option. 7. Submission of final report

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in public administration, business administration, development studies, law, governance, leadership, political science, international relations, urban development business management, economics, communication or any other related field is required. A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in human settlements, local governance, project or programme management or related field is required. Regional experience particularly in fragile and post-conflict settings is highly desirable experience with a local government’s forums, associations and alliances and their operations is a requirement Familiarity with decentralization and local governance structure and systems in fragile and post-conflict settings is an added advantage.

Languages

For the position advertised, fluency in English is required.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.