Calls for Expression on interest

Call for Expression of Interest for Three Representatives of Civil Society in The Independent Oversight Board of the Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Framework (3RF)

Ritesh Sanan — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 12:13:22 +0000

Call for Expression of Interest for Three Representatives of Civil Society in The Independent Oversight Board of the Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Framework (3RF) Ritesh Sanan Fri, 10/20/2023 - 12:13

CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

FOR THREE REPRESENTATIVES OF CIVIL SOCIETY

IN THE INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT BOARD OF REFORM, RECOVERY AND

RECONSTRUCTION FRAMEWORK (3RF)

Launch: 20 October 2023

Deadline: 15 December 2023

CONTEXT The Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Framework (3RF) is a collaborative and strategic partnership between the Government of Lebanon, civil society actors and the international community. Between 2021 and 2022, the 3RF focused on people-centered recovery, addressing the urgent needs of the people affected by the 4th of August port of Beirut explosion as well as national reforms to pave the way for reconstruction. The people-centered recovery response ended in June 2022. Following extensive consultations on the strategic way forward for the 3RF, both at the technical and at the strategic level, with government representatives, civil society actors and international partners, in 2023, the 3RF focuses on policy dialogue to support the implementation of reforms and the long-term reconstruction of critical assets, services, and infrastructure, enabling sustainable economic recovery across all of Lebanon. The 3RF sets out institutional arrangements that comprise:

A Consultative Group (CG), to serve as a platform for overarching strategic guidance and direction on implementation and for high-level policy dialogue on 3RF priorities.
A Partnership Council (PC) as the governing body for the Lebanon Financing Facility (LFF), which is the trust fund of the 3RF managed by the World Bank.
An Independent Oversight Board (IOB) comprised of civil society representatives providing broad oversight on 3RF implementation progress and use of financing.
Sector Working Groups, serving as inclusive reform and policy dialogue platforms at the technical level.
A dedicated Technical Team and Secretariat providing support to the institutional arrangements, helping to facilitate 3RF implementation.

The inclusion of civil society in the governance and implementation of reform, recovery, and reconstruction is a core principle of the 3RF. Civil society is therefore represented in the 3RF Consultative Group, the LFF Partnership Council and Working Groups.

This Call for Expression of Interest is being issued by the EU-UN-World Bank 3RF Technical Team and aims to facilitate the nomination of three new civil society representatives (“Civil Society Organizations” – CSOs) in the IOB replacing the first three civil society representatives that were named in June 2021.

CSOs are non-State, not-for-profit, voluntary entities formed by people in the social sphere representing a wide range of interests and ties. In the context of the IOB, CSOs may include (i) NGOs with expertise related to inclusion, transparency, and accountability, (ii) representatives of academia/think tanks/citizen initiatives or other community-based organizations, and (iii) professional and/or business/private sector associations. Individual companies/businesses are not eligible to apply.

CSOs need to take note that participation in the IOB is not compatible with participation in the 3RF Consultative Group. In case a CSO has been selected for the Consultative Group and wishes to apply for a role in the IOB, this CSO needs to withdraw from the Consultative Group.

THE INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT BOARD (IOB)

The IOB serves as an independent mechanism for representatives from civil society and other institutions to provide broad oversight on 3RF implementation and hold 3RF stakeholders (i.e., government, civil society, and development partners) and implementing organizations accountable for overall 3RF progress.

The IOB’s functions are:

i)    Deliver credible, non-partisan assessments of the implementation of the 3RF’s guiding principles, in particular: (a) inclusion and leaving no one behind, (b) transparency and accountability, including anti-corruption, and (c) two-way communication and grassroots outreach.
ii)    Conduct independent review and validation of the 3RF’s implementation progress by issuing regular opinions, recommendations or reports notably on progress in the implementation of policy actions and reforms.
iii)    Monitor the implementation of CG decisions and follow up actions.
iv)    Provide policy recommendations to the 3RF CG, based on its own findings and inputs from civil society and other stakeholders, and on the basis of documents and reports received from the Secretariat and 3RF stakeholders, including audit reports.
v)    Advise on- and provide recommendations on the design and terms of reference of mid-term reviews and final evaluations of the 3RF and the LFF and contribute to these processes from the IOB’s perspectives.
vi)    Provide technical recommendations to the 3RF Secretariat on the operationalization of activities related to communications, citizen engagement, functioning of the working groups, , and transparency (including potential corruption risks) and suggest priority areas for action. For example, IOB could recommend that Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) be conducted for a specific sector, or a social audit for a project
vii)    Encourage and promote the use of the 3RF’s citizen engagement, grievance redress and whistleblower mechanisms.
viii)    Communicate IOB? decisions, findings, achievements, and concerns to the wider public by sharing regular and timely information on the 3RF including progress assessments, IOB findings and recommendations, signed Conflict of Interest disclosures, etc.

- The number of representatives on the IOB: 6 members representing a diversity of expertise related to the 3RF core sectors, and the functions of the IOB. In line with the values and principles of the 3RF, gender parity and inclusive/diverse membership in the IOB will be sought.

- The 3RF Core Sectors are:

Justice and human rights, anti-corruption, public procurement, public administration, public financial management.
Macro-economy, business enabling environment policy.
Social protection, health, education.
Electricity, urban policy, transport.

- IOB representation is at the individual level with the approval and endorsement of the organization the individual is associated with. Organizations can choose to nominate a staff, a representative from a member organization (for networks), a board member, or an independent representative that will represent them on the IOB.

- Membership in the IOB is on a pro bono basis, i.e., representatives do not receive compensation or payment to serve on the IOB. Technical support to the IOB will be made available through the 3RF Secretariat. Targeted support for capacity building and/or coaching to IOB members and/or their organizations may be made available by development partners supporting the 3RF. The IOB has access to information and documentation and will be able to advise on the design and later utilize the citizen engagement and monitoring tools that will be put in place by the 3RF Secretariat.

Selection Qualifications:
Eligibility criteria for the nominating CSO:

Expertise: CSOs should have expertise in ethical, credible, and impactful interventions in Lebanon related to issues/sectors of relevance to the 3RF as well as experience in working on issues related to transparency, anti-corruption, accountability, citizen engagement, monitoring, and evaluation. CSOs need to also have a track record on the 3RF core values and principles, including social cohesion and inclusion, transparency, and accountability.

Capacity: CSOs must have the administrative capacity and human resources to support their representative on the IOB. The CSO must commit to making resources available to effectively support their nominated representative if selected

Inclusion & non-partisanship: CSOs must be gender-inclusive, i.e. open to all and not discriminate against particular sex or gender identity or expression. CSOs should be non-partisan and undertake activities without regard to any religious community or political affiliation.

Selection criteria for the nominated representative:

Expertise: The CSO should nominate a representative with relevant experience and expertise to act as a credible member of the IOB. The nominee should have demonstrated expertise in 3RF focus areas and/or specialized in issues related to inclusion, transparency, accountability, governance, citizen engagement and/or monitoring.

Capacity: The nominee must commit to make time available to effectively and efficiently fulfill the role as IOB member, if selected. This will entail preparing for and attending meetings, supporting the preparation of written documents (e.g. recommendations, opinions), analysis of data, etc.

Non-partisanship: The nominated candidate should be independent, not politically active, and not affiliated with any political party or movement.

The CSO submitting an Expression of Interest and/or their nominated candidate will need to disclose any potential conflict of interest (e.g. role in the implementation of a donor or government-funded programs that relate to the 3RF, political affiliation, or political activism).

During their first meeting, new members will be expected to sign a disclosure statement regarding any Conflict of Interest s/he and their immediate family members may have related to the 3RF. Both the policy and signed statements will be public documents shared on the 3RF website and kept by the Secretariat.

Process for Expressing Interest in the Independent Oversight Board Role:

CSOs interested in nominating a member to the IOB are requested to send their Expression of Interest, duly signed by an authorized representative of the organization to the 3RF Technical Team at the following email address: 3RF_Technical_Team@worldbank.org, by December 15, 2023

The expression of interest should describe:

Mandate, objectives, size of the organization (including membership for umbrella organizations/networks);
Short biography of the nominee (a CV can be annexed);
Motivation and interest of the nominee in being a member of the IOB;
Expertise and capacity of the organization and nominee (see criteria above).

The submission should clearly state the CSO’s contact details as well as the name, title, and contact details of the nominee proposed to represent the CSO in the IOB. The CSO must indicate its registration number/status in Lebanon (if available). The submission should be made in English, using Calibri (body) font size 12 (twelve). It should not exceed three pages (excluding additional annexes, as needed, e.g. full CV of the nominee).

Selections Process:

The selection will be based on an open, transparent process. The review and processing of the Expressions of Interest will be done by a committee representing the 3RF Technical Team, composed of officials from EU, UN and WB and a representative from the three CSOs exiting the IOB.
A prioritized shortlist of nominees meeting the criteria will be prepared by the 3RF Technical Team in consultation with the advisory group based on the selection criteria. The selection committee will also consider the need for a mix of expertise and to seek an inclusive and diverse membership (e.g. across age, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and ableness). The selection committee may consider identifying representatives for future nominations (i.e. that would be part of the rotation of IOB members).

The successful applicants will be informed about their selection within one month of the application deadline.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to help guide and direct the implementation of the 3RF by playing a pivotal role in the Independent Oversight Board. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the 3RF Technical team at the following email address: 3RF_Technical_Team@worldbank.org

Categories

Calls for Expression on interest

Publication Date

Fri, 10/20/2023 - 12:00

CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST REPRESENTATIVES OF CIVIL SOCIETY AND PRIVATE SECTOR IN THE 3RF CONSULTATIVE GROUP

3rf_admin — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 11:51:26 +0000

CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST REPRESENTATIVES OF CIVIL SOCIETY AND PRIVATE SECTOR IN THE 3RF CONSULTATIVE GROUP 3rf_admin Thu, 04/27/2023 - 11:51

CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

REPRESENTATIVES OF CIVIL SOCIETY AND PRIVATE SECTOR IN THE

3RF CONSULTATIVE GROUP

Launch: 27 April 2023

Deadline: 17 May 2023

CONTEXT The Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Framework (3RF) is a collaborative and strategic partnership between the Government of Lebanon, civil society actors and the international community. Between 2021 and 2022, the 3RF focused on people-centered recovery, addressing the urgent needs of the people affected by the 4^th of August port of Beirut explosion as well as national reforms to pave the way for reconstruction. The people-centered recovery response ended in June 2022. Following extensive consultations on the strategic way forward for the 3RF, both at the technical and at the strategic level, with government representatives, civil society actors and international partners, in 2023, the 3RF focuses on policy dialogue to support the implementation of reforms and the long-term reconstruction of critical assets, services, and infrastructure, enabling sustainable economic recovery across all of Lebanon. The 3RF sets out institutional arrangements that comprise:

A Consultative Group (CG), to serve as a platform for overarching strategic guidance and direction on implementation and for high-level policy dialogue on 3RF priorities;
A Partnership Council (PC) as the governing body for the Lebanon Financing Facility (LFF), which is the trust fund of the 3RF managed by the World Bank;
An Independent Oversight Board (IOB) comprised of civil society representatives providing broad oversight on 3RF implementation progress and use of financing;
Sector Working Groups, serving as inclusive reform and policy dialogue platforms at the technical level; and
A dedicated Technical Team and Secretariat providing support to the institutional arrangements, helping to facilitate 3RF implementation.

As an inclusive platform, the 3RF ensures civil society is represented in the governance and implementation of the 3RF both at the strategic level in the CG and the LFF PC as well as at the technical level in the sector Working Groups. The civil society organization (CSO) representatives in the 3RF CG first convened for the first meeting of the CG on 31 March 2021, with two rotations each mandated for a year. This Call is published, as the mandate of the second rotation of CSOs in the 3RF CG is coming to an end in April 2023, and in line with the CG co-chair statement published in April 2023. This Call for Expression of Interest is being issued by the EU-UN-World Bank 3RF Technical Team and aims to facilitate the nomination of a third rotation of civil society representation at the strategic level in the CG. Civil society actors are non-State, not-for-profit, voluntary entities formed by people in the social sphere representing a wide range of interests and ties. In the context of the 3RF, civil society actors include representatives of the professional associations, private/economic sector, and networks. 3RF CONSULTATIVE GROUP The CG aims to achieve the following strategic planning objectives:

Providing strategic guidance and direction for implementation of the 3RF;
Ensuring strategic coordination, harmonization and alignment of civil society resources to 3RF priorities;
Reviewing and monitoring progress in implementation of the 3RF; and
Communicating results and undertaking strategic initiatives.

The CG has a tripartite structure, including representatives from the Government and parliament, civil society and development partners. It has met four times thus far, and is expected to meet twice a year, depending on how the political situation unfolds. The CG has a total of 28 members, with nine representatives for each component of the government and parliament, and the civil society components, and 10 representatives for development partners. There are four co-chairs representing the CG: government; civil society; donors/development partners, and the UN. Civil society and donor representation may be assigned on a yearly rotation basis. Membership in the CG is on a pro bono basis. With the support of the 3RF Secretariat, the role of civil society representatives in the CG will include the following:

Prepare and contribute views and positions in CG meetings, including on 3RF priorities, implementation challenges and ways of working;
Contribute to communicating and sharing feedback from CG discussions with other civil society actors and ensure information-sharing;
Collectively represent the CG in Working Groups, ensure civil society participation in various Working Groups, act as a bridge between technical and strategic discussions;
Follow up on CG decisions and next steps including by mobilizing civil society expertise in Working Groups;
Promote the 3RF, its approach and results; and
Prepare and/or contribute to working documents and civil society initiatives

It is expected that the civil society representatives participating in the CG would have to commit at least one-two days every two months to participating in meetings, reviewing and/or commenting on documents, providing feedback and undertaking follow-up, and developing/supporting initiatives. PROPOSED COMPOSITION OF CIVIL SOCIETY CG MEMBERSHIP (9 MEMBERS) Civil society representatives will be selected for the following categories (distribution of seats is indicative):

National and international non-governmental organizations (with a preference for umbrella organizations or networks) – two seats
Academic, policy-oriented research institutes, think-tanks, foundations – three seats
Citizen-based and grassroots advocacy initiatives or organizations – two seats
Professional associations, private/economic sector – two seats

SELECTION CRITERIA FOR CIVIL SOCIETY ACTORS In line with the new agreed upon mandate of the 3RF, the following criteria will be applied to select civil society representatives for the CG:

Reform expertise: demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following area(s) is essential:
- Drafting laws and lobbying for their adoption, including through building the lobbying capacity of grassroots entities;
- Building the evidence base for reforms and policies through research and documentation;
- Raising awareness about laws, reforms, or policies, making them accessible to the public;
- Implementation of laws, in a supporting function to the state.
Sector specific expertise: demonstrated reform or policy expertise in one or more of the following sectors is desirable:
- Justice and human rights, including gender-equality-related legislation, anti-corruption, public administration, public financial management;
- Macro-economy, business enabling environment policy;
- Social protection, health, education;
- Electricity, urban policy, transport;
Track record: CSOs should have a track record of credible, transparent, ethical and impactful interventions in Lebanon; experience in multi-stakeholder coordination is desirable for the NGO and professional association seats. A minimum of five years of experience for NGOs and professional/business associations and of one year for other civil society actors is required. Civil society actors also need to have a track record on core values and principles, including inclusion, transparency, and accountability.
Capacity: Civil society representatives must have the administrative capacity and human resources to engage in the CG. They must commit to make time and resources available to effectively and efficiently perform their role as representatives, if and when selected.
Inclusion and non-partisanship: Civil society entities must be gender-inclusive, i.e. open to all and not discriminate against a particular sex or gender identity or expression. Civil society actors representing youth, disabled and other vulnerable categories will be favorably considered. Civil society entities should provide services and or undertake activities without regard to any religious community or political affiliation.
Membership in other 3RF institutional arrangements: It should be noted that participation in the CG is not compatible with participation in the IOB. In case a civil society actor is selected for the CG and wishes to apply for a role in the IOB, this actor needs to withdraw from the CG and vice versa. However, civil society actors who are active in the 3RF sector Working Groups or are currently members of the CG and meet the selection criteria are encouraged to (re)submit an Expression of Interest. It should be noted that when civil society actors in the CG have access to information about pipeline projects due to their CG membership, this may preclude them from applying to implement those projects if a conflict of interest is identified by the entity responsible for the project.

PROCESS FOR EXPRESSING INTEREST IN CONSULTATIVE GROUP ROLE Civil society actors interested in pursuing this opportunity are requested to fill in the annexed Expression of Interest form, duly signed by an authorized representative of the organization and send it to the 3RF Technical Team at the following email address: 3RF_Technical_Team@worldbank.org, by Wednesday, 17 May 2023. SELECTION PROCESS The selection will be based on an open, transparent process. The review and processing of the Expressions of Interest will be done by the 3RF Technical Team and Secretariat, composed of officials from EU, UN and WB, in cooperation with current civil society members of the CG who do not wish to reapply but would like to be part of the selection committee. The scoring results of shortlisted civil society actors will be shared with the members of the IOB for any comments especially regarding due diligence in the selection process. The selection of civil society actors will aim to achieve full gender balance in terms of individual representatives across the available seats. Nominations will be made for the years 2023 and 2024, taking into account annual rotation. The representatives mentioned in the selected submissions will be informed within a month of the application deadline. The result for each category will be communicated by the 3RF Technical Team to the principal representatives of the UN, WB and EU in the 3RF as well as the CG co-chairs, and will be published on the 3RF website. Thank you for considering this opportunity to help guide and direct the implementation of the 3RF by playing a pivotal role in the CG. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the 3RF Technical team at the following email address: 3RF_Technical_Team@worldbank.org

Categories

Calls for Expression on interest

Publication Date

Thu, 04/27/2023 - 12:00

Call for Expression of Interest Representatives of Civil Society in The Independent Oversight Board of the 3RF

3rf_admin — Wed, 28 Apr 2021 16:42:27 +0000

Call for Expression of Interest Representatives of Civil Society in The Independent Oversight Board of the 3RF 3rf_admin Wed, 04/28/2021 - 16:42

CONTEXT

In December 2020, the European Union (EU), the United Nations (UN) and the World Bank Group (WBG) launched the Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Framework (3RF). The 3RF provides a costed and prioritized plan of key actions over the next 18 months across various sectors to support the recovery and reconstruction of Beirut following the tragic explosion of August 4, 2020. The 3RF sets out institutional arrangements that comprise:

1. a Consultative Group (CG), to serve as a platform for overarching strategic guidance and direction on implementation and for high-level policy dialogue on 3RF priorities;

2. a Partnership Council as the governing body for the Lebanon Financing Facility (LFF); and

3. an Independent Oversight Board (IOB) to provide a civil society led mechanism for broad oversight on 3RF implementation and to hold 3RF stakeholders accountable for 3RF progress.

A dedicated Secretariat will provide support to the institutional arrangements and help facilitate 3RF implementation.

The inclusion of civil society in the governance and implementation of reform, recovery and reconstruction is a core principle of the 3RF. Civil society is therefore represented in the recently established 3RF Consultative Group and the LFF Partnership Council.

This Call for Expression of Interest is being issued by the EU-UN-World Bank 3RF Technical Team and aims to facilitate the nomination of civil society representation (“Civil Society Organizations” – CSOs) in the IOB.

THE IOB

The IOB is envisioned to serve as an independent mechanism for representatives from civil society and other institutions to provide broad oversight on 3RF implementation and hold 3RF stakeholders (i.e., government, civil society and development partners) and implementing organizations accountable for overall 3RF progress.

The IOB’s functions will be to:

(i) Deliver credible, non-partisan descriptions of 3RF processes and assessments of the implementation of the 3RF’s guiding principles, in particular: (a) inclusion and leaving no one behind, (b) transparency and accountability, including anti-corruption, and (c) two-way communication and grassroots outreach;

(ii) Conduct independent review and validation of the 3RF’s implementation progress by issuing regular opinions, recommendations or reports notably on progress in the implementation of policy actions and reforms;

(iii) Monitor the implementation of CG decisions and follow up actions;

(iv) Provide policy recommendations to the 3RF CG, based on its own findings and inputs from civil society and other stakeholders, and on the basis of documents and reports received from the Secretariat and 3RF stakeholders, including audit reports;

(v) Advise on and provide recommendations on the design and terms of reference of mid-term reviews and final evaluations of the 3RF and the LFF, and contribute to these processes from the IOB’s perspectives;

(vi) Provide technical recommendations to the 3RF Secretariat on the operationalization of activities related to communications, citizen engagement, community monitoring and transparency (including potential corruption risks) and suggest priority areas for action. For example, IOB could recommend that Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) be conducted for a specific sector, or a social audit for a project. It could also recommend that an entity be audited, or that targeted/additional communication and outreach may be required to better reach Lebanese citizens;

(vii) Encourage and promote the use of the 3RF’s citizen engagement, grievance redress and whistleblower mechanisms;

(viii) Review Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) data analysis (e.g., numbers, uptake and resolution trends) and actions, including the resolution of grievances to assure the overall quality of redressal; and

(ix) Communicate decisions, findings, achievements, and concerns to the wider public by sharing of regular and timely information on the 3RF including progress assessments, IOB findings and recommendations, signed Conflict of Interest disclosures, etc.

IOB MEMBERSHIP

· Number of representatives on IOB: 6 members representing a diversity of expertise related to the 3RF pillars[2], and core sectors and the functions of the IOB. In line with the values and principles of the 3RF, gender parity and inclusive/diverse membership in the IOB will be sought.

· IOB representation will be at the individual level with the approval and endorsement of the organization the individual is associated with. Organizations can choose to nominate a staff, representative from a member organization (for networks), Board member or an independent representative that will represent them on the IOB.

· Members of the IOB will rotate on a yearly basis with rotation of half of its members to ensure overlap between one Board and another. IOB meetings will take place at least quarterly with the option to call for additional meetings as needed.

· Membership in the IOB will be on a pro bono basis, i.e., representatives would not receive compensation or payment to serve on the IOB. Technical support in the establishment of the IOB will be made available through the 3RF Secretariat. Targeted support for capacity building and/or coaching to IOB members and/or their organizations may be made available by development partners supporting the 3RF. The IOB would have access to information and documentation and be able to advise on the design and later utilize the citizen engagement and monitoring tools that will be put in place by the 3RF Secretariat.

SELECTION QUALIFICATIONS / CRITERIA FOR CSOS

Eligibility criteria for the nominating CSO:

Expertise: CSOs should have expertise in credible, ethical and impactful interventions in Lebanon related to issues/sectors of relevance to the 3RF as well as experience in working on issues related to transparency, anti-corruption, accountability, citizen engagement, monitoring and evaluation. CSOs need to also have a track record on the 3RF core values and principles, including social cohesion and inclusion, transparency and accountability.
Capacity: CSOs must have the administrative capacity and human resources to support their representative on the IOB. The CSO must commit to making resources available to effectively support their nominated representative, if selected.
Inclusion & non-partisanship: CSOs must be gender-inclusive, i.e. open to all and not discriminate against a particular sex or gender identity or expression. CSOs should be non-partisan and undertake activities without regard to any religious community or political affiliation.

Selection criteria for the nominated representative:

Expertise: The CSO should nominate a representative with relevant experience and expertise to act as a credible member of the IOB. The nominee should have demonstrated expertise in 3RF focus areas and/or specialized in issues related to inclusion, transparency, accountability, governance, citizen engagement and/or monitoring.
Capacity: The nominee must commit to make time available to effectively and efficiently fulfill the role as IOB member, if selected. This will entail preparing for and attending meetings, supporting the preparation of written documents (e.g. recommendations, opinions), analysis of data etc.
Non-partisanship: Nominated candidate may not be affiliated with any political party.

The CSO submitting an Expression of Interest and/or their nominated candidate will need to disclose any potential conflict of interest (e.g. role in implementation of donor or government funded programs that relate to the 3RF). During its first meeting, the IOB will approve a Conflict of Interest Policy and request that all its members sign a disclosure statement regarding any Conflict of Interest s/he and their immediate family members may have related to the 3RF. Both the policy and signed statements will be public documents shared on the 3RF website and kept by the Secretariat.

_____________________________

Process for Expressing Interest in the Independent Oversight Board Role

The expression of interest should describe:

(i) Mandate, objectives, size of the organization (including membership for umbrella organizations/networks);

(ii) Short biography of the nominee (a CV can be annexed);

(iii) Motivation and interest of the nominee in being a member of the IOB;

(iv) Expertise and capacity of the organization and nominee (see criteria above).

SELECTION PROCESS

The selection will be based on an open, transparent process. The review and processing of the Expressions of Interest will be done by the 3RF Technical Team, composed of officials from EU, UN and WB in consultation with a small independent advisory group nominated by the 3RF Technical Team.

A prioritized shortlist of nominees meeting the criteria will be prepared by the 3RF Technical Team in consultation with the advisory group based on the selection criteria. The selection committee will also consider the need for a mix of expertise and to seek an inclusive and diverse membership (e.g. across age, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, ableness). The selection committee may consider identifying representatives for future nominations (i.e. that would be part of the rotation of IOB members).

_____________________________

[1] Please note that individual companies/businesses are not eligible to apply.

[2] The four 3RF pillars are: (1) improving governance and accountability; (2) jobs and economic opportunities; (3) social protection, inclusion, and culture; and (4) improving services and infrastructure.

Categories

Calls for Expression on interest

Publication Date

Wed, 04/28/2021 - 12:00

Call for Expression of Interest: Representatives of Civil Society and Private Sector in the 3RF Consultative Group

3rf_admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 17:12:26 +0000

Call for Expression of Interest: Representatives of Civil Society and Private Sector in the 3RF Consultative Group 3rf_admin Wed, 02/10/2021 - 17:12

Context

In December 2020, the European Union (EU), the United Nations (UN) and the World Bank Group (WBG) launched the Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Framework (3RF). The 3RF provides a costed and prioritized plan of key actions over the next 18 months across various sectors to support the recovery and reconstruction of Beirut following the tragic explosion of August 4, 2020.

The 3RF Institutional Architecture. The 3RF sets out institutional arrangements that comprise:

(i) a Consultative Group (CG), to serve as a platform for overarching strategic guidance and direction on implementation and for high-level policy dialogue on 3RF priorities;

(ii) a Partnership Council as the governing body for the Lebanon Financing Facility (LFF); and

(iii) an Independent Oversight Body to provide broad oversight on 3RF implementation progress and use of financing and aggregating citizen perspectives.

A dedicated Secretariat will provide support to the institutional arrangements and help facilitate 3RF implementation.

The inclusion of civil society in the governance and implementation of reform, recovery and reconstruction is a core principle of the 3RF. Civil society will therefore be represented in the Consultative Group as well as the LFF Partnership Council. The proposed Independent Oversight Body will be established once the CG has been constituted and will include opportunities for participation from civil society members or organizations.

This Call for Expression of Interest is being issued by the EU-UN-World Bank 3RF Technical Team and aims to facilitate the nomination of civil society and private sector representation (in short “Civil Society Organizations” – CSOs) in the CG.

CSOs are non-State, not-for-profit, voluntary entities formed by people in the social sphere representing a wide range of interests and ties. In the context of the 3RF, the CSOs component includes representatives of the professional associations and the private/economic sector.

CSOs need to take note that participation in the Consultative Group is not compatible with participation in the Independent Oversight Body. In case a CSO is selected for the Consultative Group and wishes to apply for a role in the Oversight Body, this CSO needs to withdraw from the Consultative Group.

THE 3RF CONSULTATIVE GROUP

The CG will aim to achieve the following strategic planning objectives and outcomes:

Providing strategic guidance and direction for implementation of the 3RF;

(i) Ensuring strategic coordination, harmonization and alignment of resources to 3RF priorities;

(ii) Reviewing and monitoring progress in implementation of the 3RF; and

(iii) Communicating results and undertaking strategic initiatives.

CG Membership

The CG will have a tripartite structure, including representatives from the Government and parliament, civil society and development partners. It is expected to meet initially bimonthly, and later on a quarterly basis.

The CG will have a total of 28 members, with 9 representatives for each component of the Government/parliament and civil society and private sector components, and 10 representatives for development partners. There will be four co-chairs representing: Government; CSOs; donors/development partners, and the UN. CSOs and donor representation may be assigned on a yearly rotation basis.

Membership in the CG will be on a pro bono basis.

The role of CSO representatives in the CG will include the following:

(i) to prepare and contribute views and positions in CG meetings, including on 3RF priorities, implementation challenges and ways of working;

(ii) to communicate and share feedback from CG discussions with constituency and/or civil society at large;

(iii) to follow up on CG decisions and next steps;

(iv) to promote the 3RF, its approach and results; and

(v) to prepare and/or contribute to working documents and CSO initiatives.

It is expected that the CSO representative participating in the CG would have to commit at least 1-2 days every two months to participating in meetings, reviewing and/or commenting on documents, providing feedback and undertaking follow-up, and developing/supporting initiatives.

Proposed Composition of CSOs CG Membership (9 members)

Civil society representatives will be selected for the following categories (distribution of seats is indicative):

(i) National and international NGOs – 2 seats

– INGOs and NGOs (with a preference for umbrella organizations or network)

(ii) Civil Society or Community-Based Organizations or Initiatives – 4 seats

– Citizen-based / academic initiatives, think tanks, advocacy organizations (e.g. gender/women’s rights, inclusion, human rights)

– Community-based and grassroots or neighborhood organizations

(iii) Professional and Business Organizations – 3 seats

– Professional associations

– Business /private sector associations

CSOs will need to meet specified criteria, as per below.

Selection Qualifications / Criteria for CSOs

The following criteria will be applied to select civil society representatives for the CG:

– Representation: As part of their candidacy, interested organizations will need to demonstrate their ability to represent civil society or citizen perspectives at large or of their groupings and to carry the voice and concerns of people, notably vulnerable communities or groups. They will also need to demonstrate ability to feedback progress or challenges of 3RF implementation to their groupings and/or citizens more widely.

– Expertise: CSOs must have demonstrated expertise in area(s) relevant to the reform, recovery and reconstruction of Beirut; expertise to comment and shape strategies and modalities for 3RF implementation; and, experience in 3RF crosscutting areas, including governance, gender, social inclusion, and environment.

– Track record: CSOs should have a track record of credible, transparent, ethical and impactful interventions in Lebanon, including demonstrated work/engagement following the Beirut port explosion; experience in multi-stakeholder coordination is desirable for the NGO and professional/business association seats. A minimum of 5 years of experience for NGOs and professional/business associations and of 1 year for other CSOs is required. CSOs need to also have track record on core values and principles, including social cohesion and inclusion, transparency and accountability.

– Capacity: CSOs must have the administrative capacity and human resources to engage in the Consultative Group. They must commit to make time and resources available to effectively and efficiently perform their role as representatives, if and when selected.

– Inclusion & non-partisanship: CSOs must be gender-inclusive, i.e. open to all and not discriminate against a particular sex or gender identity or expression. CSOs representing youth, disabled and other vulnerable categories will be favorably considered. CSO should provide services and or undertake activities without regard to any religious community or political affiliation.

The selection of CSOs will aim to achieve full gender balance in terms of individual representatives across the available seats. In addition, the intention is to select at least two civil society representatives with a direct focus on women’s rights/interest (such as women’s rights organization or a women’s business association), contingent upon the receipt of enough Expressions of Interest that fulfill the criteria listed below.

The CSO submitting an Expression of Interest for CG membership will need to disclose any potential conflict of interest (e.g. role in implementation of donor or government funded programs that relate to the 3RF).

Process for Expressing Interest in Consultative Group Role

CSOs interested in pursuing this opportunity are requested to send their Expression of Interest, duly signed by an authorized representative of the organization to the 3RF Technical Team at the following email address: 3RF_Technical_Team@worldbank.org, by Tuesday, February 23, 2021.

The expression of interest should describe:

(i) Motivation and interest in being a member of the CG;

(ii) Mandate, objectives, size of the organization (including membership for umbrella organizations/networks); and

(iii) Expertise, track record and capacity of the organization (see criteria above).

In developing the Expression of Interest, CSOs should carefully take into account the selection criteria set out above. CSOs should also identify supporters, i.e., organizations/initiatives that are backing their application, and submit proof thereof (e.g. email, letter of endorsement) in annex.

The submission should clearly state the CSO category applied for: i) INGO/NGO; ii) Civil society or Community-based organizations or initiatives; or iii) professional/business organization.

The submission should also clearly state the name of the CSO and its contact details as well the name, title, and contact details of the person proposed to represent the CSO in the CG. The CSO must indicate its registration number/status in Lebanon (if available).

The submission should be made in English, using Calibri (body) font size 12 (twelve). It should not exceed two pages.

Selection Process

The selection will be based on an open, transparent process.

The review and processing of the Expressions of Interest will be done by the 3RF Technical Team, composed of officials from EU, UN and WB, in cooperation with a small independent advisory group nominated by the 3RF Technical Team.

A prioritized shortlist of CSOs (by category) meeting the criteria will be presented to the CSOs of the relevant category that submitted an Expression of Interest with a view for them to undertake a nomination by consensus (self-selection). In case no consensus can be reached, the decision will be made by a majority vote by the CSOs that submitted an Expression of Interest. Nominations will be made for the years 2021 and 2022, taking into account annual rotation. The 3RF Technical Team will support the selection process.

The result for each category will be communicated to the 3RF Technical Team, which in turn will inform the principal representatives of the UN, WB and EU in the 3RF. The first CG meeting will confirm the nominations.

Other Opportunities for Involvement

There are other opportunities for stakeholders to participate in the implementation process of the 3RF. These opportunities include:

– Specialized CSOs may be called to participate in the CG on ad hoc basis for specific agenda items;

– Participation in the work of the Independent Oversight Body, which in broad terms, would monitor 3RF implementation progress and use of financing; periodic reporting disclosed to the public and presented to the CG; and, collect feedback from beneficiaries and citizens and report its findings;

– Participation in multi-stakeholder coordination mechanisms;

– Participation in working groups and task groups that focus on specific areas/issues;

– Town hall and neighborhood discussions.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to help guide and direct the implementation of the 3RF by playing a pivotal role in the Consultative Group. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the 3RF Technical team at the following email address: 3RF_Technical_Team@worldbank.org.

Categories

Calls for Expression on interest

Publication Date

Wed, 02/10/2021 - 12:00