Tender Details

Country: Zimbabwe
Summary: Consultancy Services to Conduct a Case Study on Building Capacity in Legislative Development Programs
ZWT Ref No: 27373372
Deadline: 08 Oct 2018
Financier: Other Funding Agencies
Purchaser Ownership: -
Tender Value: Refer Document
Notice Type: Tender
Document Ref. No.: ACBF/REOI/013/18/NRF
Purchaser's Detail:

Purchaser : AFRICAN CAPACITY BUILDING FOUNDATION (ACBF)
2 Fairbairn Drive Mount Pleasant Harare Tel: (+263-4) 304663, 332002 Cell: +263 772 185 308 - 10
Email :procurementunit@acbf-pact.org

Description:
Expression of Interest are invited for Consultancy Services to Conduct a Case Study on Building Capacity in Legislative Development Programs: Lessons from the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS). Consultancy Services To Conduct A Case Study On Building Capacity In Legislative Development Programs: Lessons From The National Institute For Legislative And Democratic Studies (NILDS) 08 Oct, 2018 Country: Nigeria Name of Project: ACBF Organizational Capacity Building Expression of Interest Number: ACBF/REOI/013/18/NRF Eligibility: National Consultancy Only 1. Introduction. For a long time, most African countries have failed to consolidate democracy and achieve good governance due to capacity challenges by the legislature to effectively provide oversight functions. In most cases, the legislature does not have the experience and capacity to enhance state capability, accountability and responsiveness, thereby rendering the Parliament ineffective in driving the development process. In recognition of the centrality of the legislature in achieving development results, and also taking into account such capacity gaps, the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) embarked on efforts at building the requisite capacities for effective legislature in Africa. ACBF, with support of key stakeholders, took it upon itself to create multi-disciplinary institutions capable of providing training, capacity building, research, policy analysis and extension services for the legislature. The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) is one such initiative in Nigeria. NILDS builds on the successes of the Policy Analysis and Research Project (PARP), established in 2003 as a capacity building institution of the National Assembly with the financial support of the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF). For over 7 years PARP helped to strengthen the capacities of legislators and ensure that the positions and proposals advanced by the National Assembly are informed by requisite research and analytical support. PARP performed remarkably well as a think tank and capacity building institution of the National Assembly. The project was recognized as a collaborative success between ACBF and the Nigerian National Assembly. By the end of Phase I in 2008, and phase II in 2012, the Project exceeded its set targets in virtually all the components – training workshops and seminars, short-term courses, conferences, exchange of experiences, studies/research, policy analysis, bill analysis, bill tracking and publications. Its accomplishments were beyond expectations mainly in the spheres of strengthening legislative committees and legislative reporting, training of legislators and staff, Information and Communication Technology applications and systems, among others. The successes of PARP provided an opportunity for a smooth transformation of the project to a permanent legislative training Institute – The national Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS). The Institute was established through the National Institute for Legislative Studies Act, 2011, as the successor capacity building institution to PARP. NILS effectively took off in January 2012, having inherited the assets of PARP. Since its take-off, NILS organized national and international programs on legislative strengthening and law reforms. The Institute has been at the fore front of providing legislative and democratic training to Nigerians and participants from other countries in the region. Bill and Policy analysis as well as provision of customized training for national and regional parliamentary staff have been part of the core functions of the Institute. In recognition of its active role in providing capacity building for democratic institutions including political parties, the President of Nigeria accented to a NILS amendment Act that changed the name of the institute to National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) with effect from January 24, 2018. ACBF like other development partners, has paid attention to the lessons learned in the evolution of NILDS, as part of its evaluation exercises for the various projects and programs that it has supported. While these lessons are contained in evaluation reports and provide valuable insights, they are not discussed to detail, neither are they presented in depth and widely shared for the benefit of development partners and policymakers. Moreover, the evaluations do not provide a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of all lessons learned in a particular area as they are project-based. Documenting these lessons and identifying innovations in legislative capacity building is therefore important. Specifically with regard to oversight, the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), previously the National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS) has emerged as one of the most successful Parliamentary Initiatives in the history of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – and within Africa. Documenting the case of NILDS, with a detailed focus on how it has been a success story will definitely help in better strengthening legislature bodies in other countries. In fact, ACBF and AfDB’s recent African Financial Governance Outlook shows that support in developing the capacities of legislatures and regulatory institutions is vital to ensure that public financial management reforms are long-lasting. Building up the strength and capacity of counterbalancing and independent institutions, as well as alternative centers of power, can ensure more sustainable commitment to public financial management reforms. NILS being the first fully established legislative institute in West Africa and providing capacity building support to Nigerian federal and state assemblies, as well as to legislators and staff from other African countries, a focus on its achievements and lessons can be of critical importance for related capacity building interventions. To this end, ACBF in conjunction with NILDS will be developing a Lesson Note on “Building capacity in Legislative Development: Lessons from the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies.” This will help unravel the innovativeness and uniqueness of the intervention, the impact made, and sustainability of the results. This case study findings will help address the knowledge gap and draw lessons that can assist ACBF, development partners and other key stakeholders to work together more effectively in supporting African countries in building the oversight functions for achieving development results. 2. Objectives of the study The overall objective of the case study is to produce and share knowledge on the lessons learned during the past 14 years of ACBF’s engagement with the Nigerian National Assembly in the form of various project collaborations that culminated into the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS). The case study will document why this specific partnership has been successful while other similar initiatives on the continent have experienced little success. Specifically, the case study will distill lessons on how to effectively deliver legislative development programs using the ACBF-supported National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in Nigeria as a case study. The case study will focus on three key questions: (1) How has the ACBF-supported NILDS (and its predecessors) improved Nigeria’s legislative processes (2) How successful has NILDS been at achieving its intended results, and how sustainable are the results? (3) What are the lessons learned and some of the innovative capacity building initiatives that can be scaled-up on the continent? 3. Scope of Work · Thorough review and analysis of the literature available and evaluation reports on legislative capacity enhancement with particular focus on NILDS; · Analysis of the data collected from the survey of key informants; · Drafting of the lessons note; · Integration of comments and feedback from reviewers ; · Produce a minimum of 2 blogs; · Submission of refined finalized lessons note; and · Potential participation in a validation/launch workshop 4. Expected Deliverables · A professionally well-written lessons note of around 5,000 to 6,000 words in length – including tables, figures, maps, footnotes, appendices and references; · A well-written “How-to Note” as a hands-on tool distilled from the lessons learnt; and · Two (02) professionally well-written, succinct, and easily accessible policy-oriented blogs 5. Request for Expression of Interest The African Capacity Building Foundation now invites eligible and qualified Individuals to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services giving a description of similar assignments undertaken. 6. Qualifications of Consultants ACBF is looking for an individual consultant meeting the following minimum requirements: · At least a Masters’ degree in education, economics, development economics, political sciences, or any development related discipline; · At least 5 years of experience in international development, with an extensive experience in Africa preferably at country level; · Demonstrated knowledge of higher education training programs and/or related issues in Africa; · Experience in writing case studies and/or lesson notes as illustrated by publications in books, reports and journals; and · Knowledge of interventions on capacity development on the continent. · Knowledge of parliamentary practice and procedures would be an advantage. 7. Selection of individual Consultant A Co
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