Consultancy for Governance and Civic Spaces Mapping in Kayin State

Type of Contract: Consultancy Contract

Project: TDLG Project

Location: Delivered Remotely

Application deadline: 30 June 2022

A. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Oxfam has been working on the Township Democratic Local Governance (TDLG) Strengthening project in Mon state since 2017 in cooperation with the UNDP. The aims of the project are CSO strengthening and creating civic engagement spaces among local stakeholders through civil society, community-based organizations, and community leaders including women leaders across the ten townships of Mon State. Oxfam has conducted a series of training and workshops, particularly on social accountability and women’s leadership, with 100 civil society organizations and over 100 women leaders, and facilitated their meaningful participation by building constructive engagements in local governance.

The project aims to explore the Kayin State as a new project area with a similar intervention like Mon State with added perspectives of Kayin State’s different parallel governance systems in conflict-affected settings and integrated into collaboration approaches with local civil society organizations.

The Covid-19 pandemic and political crisis have impacted the TDLG project, in particular created processes and spaces, due to shrinking spaces for engagement in local governance, and the role of civil society organizations being restrained by increasing restrictions under unjust laws and orders.

In response to these critical situations and the rapidly changing context, the project needs to deepen its understanding of emerging sub-national, township, and ward/village tract-level governance structures and mechanisms, contextual changes, key challenges, and limitations. The study will also try to understand key drivers and factors threatening the role of CSOs and civic space actors to represent their community voices in the new context.

B. OBJECTIVE

The key objective of this TOR is to map out the emerging or changing local governance structures and running mechanisms at the sub-national level and below and to analyze key factors and drivers in strengthening the role of civil society and civic space, given the contextual changes.

C. SCOPE OF WORK

• Develop a proposal with the scope of work, methodology, work plan, and compliance along the process and agree with the Oxfam team.
• Desk review of various reports and research relevant to the current political context, including Oxfam’s existing learning documents.
• Map out key emerging multiple administration governance structures, running mechanisms, and their limitations at the sub-national level to ward and village tract levels in relation to the role of civil society and protecting civic space.
• Identify the risks and the enabling/shrinking drivers and actors that contribute to the role of civil society and civic space under the current context.
• Provide key analysis and recommendations for further strengthening the role of civil society and protecting civic space.
• Prepare a report with key findings and recommendations.

Note: The consultancy is focused on Kayin State but reaches diverse actors and information. The consultant will lead in engaging with key implementation partners of Kayin State-based Civil Society Organizations and relevant respondents, develop communication channels, and conduct analysis under an agreement with Oxfam on ways of working and approaches, working closely with project team members. A team with diverse contact with civil society leaders, ethnic leaders, EAOs, and local government actors would be of great value to this study.

D. DELIVERABLES

• The design and methodology are presented and agreed upon by the project team.
• The report mapping findings of emerging local governance mechanisms and recommendations for protecting and strengthening civic spaces in changing contexts.
• Presentation of key findings to Oxfam, donors, and other development partners, organized by the project team.

E. LOCATION OF THE PROJECT AND TIMEFRAME

Recruitment will be completed by the first week of July 2022. The draft report by the consultant will be due in the second week of Sep 2022. After review and feedback from Oxfam, the report will be finalized by the consultant by the end of Sep 2022. The consultant will complete this project working from home and Oxfam will not provide office equipment for this work.

F. FEES & PAYMENT METHOD

The consultant fee will be paid as lumpsum amount as follow. After contract signed 20 % of agreed consultancy fees withing 3 weeks and on delivery of report and invoice 80 % of agreed consultancy contract within 3 weeks.

G. QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong knowledge and understanding of Myanmar local governance, understanding of Kayin State context, Kayin State’s Civil Society Landscape, and civic space is preferable.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting similar analyses of local governance projects or programs in Myanmar.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting context or stakeholder analysis and producing high-quality reports or briefings.
• Proven experience and understanding of both multiple administration systems and civil society perspectives.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English, Burmese, and Karen is an asset.

Our values and commitment to safeguarding:

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom Oxfam GB engages. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Oxfam GB also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Note to candidates: Shortlisted candidates will be assessed on our organisational values and attributes at the interview stage. The successful candidate(s) will be expected to adhere to our code of conduct. We encourage candidates to read and understand our code of conduct here.

About Us

Oxfam is a global community who believe poverty isn’t inevitable. It’s an injustice that can be overcome. We are shop volunteers, women’s right activists, marathon runners, aid workers, coffee farmers, street fundraisers, goat herders, policy experts, campaigners, water engineers and more. And we won’t stop until everyone can live life without poverty for good.

Oxfam GB is a member of international confederation of 19 organisations working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries.

Only short-listed candidates will be notified.