Accountability Specialist

Introduction

The purpose of the Iraq Governance and Performance Accountability (IGPA/Takamul) project is to advance effective, accountable, and transparent governance in Iraq. This USAID effort, implemented by DAI, will work with the Government of Iraq (GOI) at all levels to better respond to citizen needs by supporting reform initiatives and Iraqi change agents on inclusive governance and public-sector transparency, accountability, and economy. “Reform initiatives” includes support to improve service delivery functions, public financial management, and open government initiatives. IGPA/Takamul will support the GOI and the citizens of Iraq in forming partnerships and collaborative efforts to solve problems jointly. IGPA/Takamul has four (4) objectives:

1. Enhance GOI service delivery capacity

2. Improve public financial management

3. Strengthen monitoring and oversight of service delivery and public expenditure

4. Support Iraqi change agents (cross-cutting objective)

 

Background

The IGPA/Takamul project is designed to technically support the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in developing its communications programs that encourage the government to be more accountable towards citizens’ demands. The project’s success in engaging civil society organizations (CSOs) in oversight in recent months serves as the foundation for the formation of accountability platforms. This activity will establish accountability desks to of decision makers from local government and CSOs in two provinces: Sulaimaniya and Halabja. The accountability desk will hold public service providers accountable for public expenditures, performance, and policy implementation. This desk will also provide performance evaluations for local authorities at the sub-district level which will make provincial governments more transparent and accountable through the improvement of governance practices within their own institutions and set an example of transparency and accountability.

The accountability desk is a tool to bring citizens face-to-face with key decision makers and service providers. The Accountability desk will bring together approximately 30-50 citizens, service providers, and key decision makers from the governor’s office (GO) to discuss problems and identify specific solutions. Post roundtable meetings, following up with local authorities and advocate for citizens needs and address the issues that been raised during the meetings.

IGPA will build the capacity of accountability desk members to successfully fulfill their roles & responsibilities and encourage them to remain active even after IGPA’s technical assistance is concluded. 

The objectives for this scope of work (SOW) are as follows:

1. Local governments in Sulaymaniyah and Halabja more accountable to local policies such as provincial development strategy, provincial development plan, and decisions related to enhanced service delivery.

2. Local governments are more responsive to citizens’ needs during an emergency and in times of crisis.

3. CSOs and local governments in Sulaymaniyah and Halabja become more aware of accountability policies and guidelines according to KRG legislation.

II.    Specific Tasks of the Specialist

Under this scope of work (SOW), the Specialist shall perform the following activities:

Task 1: Establish the Accountability desk in Sulaimaniya and Halabja. (LOE 15 days).

The specialist will:

• Coordinate with the government, GO, and service providers in the targeted provinces to introduce the idea and secure the initial approval to establish the accountability desk. The accountability desk is a forum where CSOs and local government can meet and discuss citizens’ issues, and make decisions on resolving the issues. In coordination with IGPA staff and local government, the Specialist will select four to five CSOs in each province to be a member of the provincial-level accountability desk.  In order for a CSO to qualify for membership in the accountability desk, the organization should be active, neutral, have legal registration, target marginalized groups, have experience in the field of advocacy, support human rights & women’s issues, have previous experience supporting government oversight and accountability, etc.
• Submit an official letter issued from local government in each province for establishing the accountability desk including list of officials and CSO representatives. 

Task 2: Conduct a two-day accountability workshop. (LOE 21 days)

The specialist will:

• Design and facilitate a two-day workshop (12 hours) for the established accountability desk members in Sulaimaniya and Halabja provinces together to enhance accountability, transparency, access to information, facilitation skills, and ability to identify citizens’ needs. The workshop will also introduce the concept of roundtable discussions as part of the accountability desk mandate. Workshop location: Sulaimaniya City. Total of participants 25-30 including (50% women) only for accountability desk members. Deliverables: Agenda, handouts, participant sign-in sheets, presentation, event report and photos.

Task 3: Facilitate roundtable discussions. (LOE 28 days)

 The specialist will:

• Facilitate two public roundtable discussions (two hours per meeting for a total of 4 hours) in Sulaimaniya Province Between citizens, CSOs and local government representatives. Such as governorate and service providers water directorate, Municipality and electricity. Each round table should identify and discuss at least two local issues to be addressed by a rapid government response.
• Facilitate two public roundtable discussions (two hours per meeting for a total of 4 hours) in Halabja Province between citizens, CSOs and local government representatives. Such as governorate and service providers water directorate, Municipality and electricity.  Each round table should identify and discuss at least two local issues to be addressed by a rapid government response.

Task 4: Submit final report. (LOE 14 day).

The Specialist should submit the final report including details of steps taken to implement deliverables, challenges, successes, lessons learned, recommendations, and photos of the work performed. In addition, the Specialist should submit weekly progress report including the highlights of completed tasks with support documents for each task (agenda, meeting minutes, participants sign-in sheet and photo) and activities and next week plan.

Equality and Inclusion. 

Inclusive participation will be ensured as follows

1. IGPA will encourage and advance the inclusion of women, vulnerable populations (VP), and youth when conducting the public assessment and awareness campaigns. 
2. IGPA will review the information shared to ensure it is understandable to all categories of the population including but not limited to marginalized populations and people with disabilities.
3. Participation percentage should be aligned with the targets of this activity. 

Monitoring and Evaluation

Activities under this SOW will include Meetings, Workshops and events as well as developing obtaining official letters of different kinds (approvals, adoption, facilitation, etc.), and hence, is directly linked to AMELP indicators;

#9	Number of mechanisms developed, or implemented, to establish effective citizen participation, outreach and communication
#10	Number of interventions implemented by IGPA/Takamul-supported CSOs and SAGs
#11	Number of civil society organizations (CSOs) receiving USG assistance engaged in advocacy interventions.
#12	Number of policy changes by provincial government as a result of advocacy interventions implemented by CSOs/SAGs or TWGs

 

MEL Requirements:

The STTA Shall coordinate with IGPA Staff to meet bellow MEL requirements:

Meetings (Tasks 1):

• Event is created on TAMIS at least 10 days prior to the event date.
• Following the event completion, the following attachments should be uploaded to TAMIS: meeting minutes and detailed budget (if applicable).

For conferences/ Seminars/Roundtables (Task 3):

• Event is created on TAMIS at least 10 days prior to the event date.
• MEL forms required: sign in sheets
• Following the event completion, the following attachments should be uploaded to TAMIS: sign-in sheets, agenda, photos, event report, detailed budget, and event presentation.

Workshops/Technical Assistance (Tasks 2):

• Event is created on TAMIS at least 10 days prior to the event date.
• MEL forms required: sign in sheets.
• Following the event completion, the following attachments should be uploaded to TAMIS: sign-in sheets, materials (including presentations and handouts), photos, event report, detailed budget and agenda.

In addition to;

• Copy of Official Letter of establishing the accountability desk in Sulaimaniya and Halabja as well as official letters issued from local governorates (softcopy) - Task 1.
• Softcopy as well as scanned copy of signed/approved hardcopy of any other documents developed under this SOW, including but not limited to; Handbooks, Guidelines, Procedures, Plans, Tools, Minutes of meetings, Reports (including progress reports and final report), and Official letters of approval, acceptance, adoption, and thanks and gratitude letters as well .. etc.

III.   Required Deliverables:

Deliverable	Format and structure
Task 1: Create an accountability desk in Sulaimaniya and Halabja.
- Approved Official letter by PGs in Sulaimaniya and Halabja. -List of accountability desk team members. -Minutes of meetings.Photo -Weekly progress update	Word document PowerPoint presentation -Kurdish / English Language
Task 2:
-Accountability Workshop -Two days /12 hrs. -Agenda, handouts all materials must be approved by IGPA/Takamul in advance of the training. Handouts, Participant sign-sheet.   Photos- Event reports.	Word Document PPT Presentation- Kurdish / English language
Task 3:
Conducting 4 Roundtables discussion meeting (2 in Sulaimaniya and 2 in Halabja) – Each RT duration 2 Hrs. Agenda, Handouts- Participants Sign-in sheet- Photos- Event report.	Word Document PPT Presentation- Kurdish/ English language.
Task 4: Final Report
The Specialist should submit the final report including details of steps taken to implement deliverable, challenges successes, lessons learned, recommendations, and photos of the work performed. In addition, the STTA should submit weekly progress report including the highlights of completed tasks with support documents for each task (Agenda, meeting minutes, participants sign-in sheet and photo) and activities and next week plan. ____________________________________________________________________	PPT Presentation during the Event Microsoft Word- English language.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1V. Payment schedule and milestone deliverables:

 

Milestone	Milestone’s Description and Required Documentation	Payment Amount (%)	Anticipated Completion Dates
1	Approved Official letter by PGs in Sulaimaniya and Halabja. meeting minute. Photo.	5%	4 Weeks from Contract Start Date
2	Conduct Two days’ workshop for both Accountability team in Sulaimaniya and Halabja. WS Agenda, handouts, participants sign-in sheet, photos, event report. All workshop materials a must be pre-approved in writing by IGPA/Takamul.	25%	8 Weeks from Contract Start Date
3	Four Roundtables (each for two hours – two in Sulaimaniya and two in Halabja. List of issues, recommendations.  Agenda, handouts, PPT presentation, Participants sign sheet, photo, event report.	40%	13 Weeks from Contract Date
4	Final Report (in both Arabic and English Languages)	20 %	15 Weeks from Contract Start Date

            V. Deliverable Timeframe

Task	Sub-task	Deliverable	W1	W2	W3	W4		W5		W6		W7	W8	W9	W10	W11	W12	W13	W14	W15
Task 1: Create an Accountability Desk in Sulaimaniya and Halabja. (LEO 15 days).	-Conduct numbers of meetings with PGs in Sulaimaniya and Dahuk	Approved Official letter - List of accountability desk team members. Minutes of meetings.  Photo.
Task 2: Facilitate and conducting Accountability Workshop - Two days /12 hrs (LEO 21 days)	-Accountability Workshop -Two days /12 hrs. for Accountability desk team in Sulaimaniya and Halabja- Place: Sulaimaniya City.	One Workshop report. Agenda, handouts in Kurdish and English, participants sign-in sheet, photos.
Task 3: Facilitate and conducting Roundtable Discussions - 4 Roundtables discussion meeting (2 in Sulaimaniya and 2 in Halabja) – Each RT duration 2 hrs (LEO 28 days)	-Two Roundtables- total 4 hours (each RT– two hrs.) in Sulaimaniya City.   -Two Roundtables- total 4 hours (each RT– two hrs.) in Halabja City.	Four draft of recommendation to be share it with the local government ( Kurdish and English for IGPA. Four RT reports. Four Attendance sheet. Agenda, handouts In Kurdish and English) photos.
Task 4: Final reporting (LEO 15 days)	The final report in should outline the activities of consultant, including details of steps taken to implement deliverable	The report should in English and include challenges and successes, lessons learned, recommendations, and photos. Sign sheets.