TASHAROC Programme
Supporting the mid-term review of the Programme de développement régional (PDR) of Tangier – Tetouan – Al hoceima region
Background
TASHAROC is a two-year project based in Tangier and is funded by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office to support the Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma (TTAH) Regional Council in the regionalisation process. As part of the programme to support the Regional Council, TASHAROC will provide capacity building and technical assistance across a range of areas in support of the Regional Council’s mandate.
Regional Council (RC)
The RC is an elected local body governed by public law and is, according to Organic Law 111-14, in charge of various development areas in the region. The RC of the TTAH region is one of the 12 regional councils of Morocco that constitute the first administrative division in the framework of advanced regionalisation.
AREP
The Regional Agency for the Execution of Projects (AREP) is a new agency set up in 2017, whose mandate is to take over the role of central agencies in funding regional development projects. It is designed as the executive arm of the regional councils (RC) to deliver the PDR projects.
Plan de Développement Régional (PDR)
The RC must develop and implement a six-year PDR which includes a diagnostic of regional development priorities and must conform to national policies and strategies. The PDR was finalised and approved by the RC on 25 April 2017, and it lists 45 individual projects. These 45 projects are presented in the PDR as falling into the following technical areas: Increasing the Attractiveness of the Region, Economic Competitiveness, Social Development and Valorisation of Tangible & Intangible Assets.
Mission and Scope of work
As stated by the organic law of regionalisation 111-14, the RC can review and update the PDR from the third year of its implementation. The current PDR was designed and adopted in a specific context marked by a new organic law organising the work of the regions and the new prerogatives provided to political institutions at this level of governance, placing them at the heart of regional development policies. Thus, being in charge of developing this document was a learning experience for both elected members and staff either in designing projects or in leading participatory mechanisms with other stakeholders. During the implementation of the PDR by AREP, many challenges have emerged. These include the absence of convergence with some national strategies, the gap between the objectives of some projects, the prerogatives of the RC and existing resources to achieve them, and the absence of a coherent monitoring and evaluation framework for the whole programme.
As part of its technical assistance, TASHAROC supported the RC and AREP in conducting 5 options assessments for 5 PDR projects and in developing a Monitoring, Evaluation and learning Plan (MELP) for key projects. In addition, the programme is strengthening the capacity of the regional Consultative Bodies (CBs), forming part of the RC participatory mechanism, in policy analysis and evaluation, to play an active role in the process of implementing, evaluating, and reviewing the PDR. All these efforts aim to support the RC and AREP in the ongoing implementation of the PDR and its forthcoming midterm review as well.
Thus, TASHAROC programme is recruiting an expert to provide technical assistance to RC and AREP in this PDR mid-term review.
Working closely with AREP and the RC and in coordination with relevant consultants, the expert will be expected to:
• Analyse the current PDR and relevant progress reports produced by the company hired by the RC to support in this reporting,
• Analyse the outputs of the options assessment studies and the MELP and provide recommendations about key challenges and ways of improvement,
• Coordinate with RC and AREP senior managers throughout the process and work closely with the committee in charge of the evaluation and monitoring of the PDR.
• Coordinate with RC committees and collect their opinions and reports related to the PDR.
• Collect and analyse the advisory opinions and policy proposals of the three Consultative Bodies (CBs) concerning the mid-term review of the PDR.
• Consult, in coordination with RC and AREP, with relevant public administrations at the regional level to ensure the convergence with national strategic orientations and regional policies and programmes.
• Ensure the convergence with the strategic orientations of the Regional Scheme for Spatial Planning (SRAT) and especially the spaces dedicated to projects.
• Examine the eight Provincial Development Programmes (PDP) and identify projects presenting a regional dimension or the potential to be supported by the RC.
• Present findings and recommendations
• Propose an updated version of the PDR including inputs from all consulted stakeholders.
• Present and discuss the reviewed PDR with RC committees and update it based on their relevant comments.
Deliverables
The consultant will be expected to work closely with the RC, AREP and relevant consultants to support this process. This support will be monitored through the following deliverables, which the consultant will be expected to submit to a high quality, according to the format and deadline set out below.
Deliverable 1:
Produce a document that describes the Methodological approach of the assignment and key deadlines of the deliverables.
Format: PPT
Deadline: 17/06/19
LOE: 2
Deliverable 2: Analysis of the current PDR.
Produce a document that analyses the current PDR based on progress reports and documents produced by the consultancy company hired by the RC, and options assessment studies and the MELP developed by TASHAROC. The document should include existing challenges and ways of improving and should focus on these areas:
Obstacles of implementing PDR projects (Technically, financially etc) – Gaps in terms of monitoring and evaluation of projects and the programme as a whole – Projects that are feasible with recommendations to make their indicators, and budgeting, more accurate – Projects that are not feasible according to objective criteria (Absence of funds or partnerships, need for deep analysis and studies etc)
Format: Word
Deadline: 22/07/19
LOE: 10
Deliverable 3: Consultation workshops with key stakeholders.
Produce a document that summarises key decisions of the consultation with RC and AREP, regional public administrations, CBs and RC committees
Format: Word
Deadline: 26/07/19
LOE: 3
Deliverable 4: New proposals of PDR projects.
Produce a document that includes new projects to be included in the PDR. These projects will result from the following activities: Analysis of the provincial development programmes and identify projects presenting a regional dimension or the potential to be supported by the RC – Analysis of the opinions and policy proposals of the three Consultative Bodies (CBs) concerning the mid-term review of the PDR – Analysis of convergence with national strategic orientations and regional policies and programmes and with the SRAT (Regional Scheme for Spatial Planning)
Analysis of conventions and partnership signed by the RC on projects that are not included in the current PDR
Format: Word
Deadline: 16/08/19
LOE: 7
Deliverable 5: An updated version of the PDR.
Produce an updated version of the PDR that includes: Projects categorised according to key competencies of the RC (Own prerogatives, shared prerogatives etc) – For each project: detailed budget and calculation references or studies to be conducted about these aspects, monitoring and evaluation indicators, and timeline of implementation
Format: Word
Deadline: 27/09/19
LOE: 16
Deliverable 6: Presentation of the updated version of the PDR.
Prepare a presentation about the whole process of the mid-term review and its results. This presentation will be given to the RC and AREP and other relevant stakeholders
Format: PPT
Deadline: 15/10/19
LOE: 2
Level of effort and reporting
Up to 40 days are available for this assignment. The assignment will begin with a kick-off meeting with the opportunity to clarify any points. The consultant will report to the RC Lead within the TASHAROC project, with regular contact at each stage of the assignment to discuss progress, any challenges or questions.
The number of days provided does not include any additional time required to amend deliverables outside of the agreed timeframe beyond that reasonably expected.
Profile Requirements
• Master’s degree in management, economics or related subject preferred. Other degrees combined with relevant work experience will be considered
• Minimum of five years’ experience in delivering similar assignments in Morocco essential, and familiarity with the Programmes de développement régionaux (PDR), Programmes de développement Provinciaux (PDP), and Programmes de développements Communaux (PDC) in Morocco preferred
• Demonstrable understanding of the TTAH region
• Demonstrable experience of coordinating workshops and facilitating others for successful outcomes essential
• Demonstrable understanding of the regional political dynamics
• Demonstrable knowledge of the national policies and strategies
• Excellent analytical skills, good team working skills, and an engaging and participatory manner essential
Please note that for this assignment, fluency in French and Arabic is essential.
CLOSING DATE 5th JUNE 2019
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