Foreign economic-aid-related services

Tender description

This contract is for Sub-National Governance Programme II (SNG II) in Pakistan — a 4-year technical assistance programme. SNG II will work with provincial and local governments in 2 provinces of Pakistan — KP and Punjab to improve governance with a view to enhancing service delivery outcomes. The supply partner is responsible for delivering specialised technical assistance on areas such as public finance and planning, conducting analytical studies, engagement with government counterparts, monitoring/evaluation/learning, and the management of 2 funds (one a Research Fund, the other an Innovation Challenge Fund). DFID Pakistan are designing a new programme to work on improving governance at sub-national and district levels in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. It is primarily a technical assistance programme. The delivery partner will undertake targeted technical assistance in the 2 provinces aimed at resolving governance blockages to improving service delivery. In addition to its core focus on planning, PFM, identifying efficiency savings and revenue raising it will also pilot innovative (including technological and digital) solutions to governance challenges through an Innovation Challenge Fund. Specific services will include: Day-to-day engagement with governments (provincial and local) on the topics of concern to the programme, such as public financial management, including understanding needs and using this understanding to inform work-plans. The primary provincial counterparts are expected to be finance departments and planning and development departments, but others are likely to include tax and excise, local government, and provincial revenue authorities. At local level the main counterparts will be finance, planning and service delivery officials in districts. There may also be a need to engage broader stakeholders, such as political figures (e.g. members of Public Accounts Committees or district nazims). Providing specialised technical assistance (largely to the above bodies) both as ‘sit-in’ longer term engagement and ad-hoc support including both national and international expertise. This will include supporting government to carry out assessments and analytical studies, formal and on-the-job training, developing new policies and business processes and ensuring institutionalisation of reforms. Undertaking detailed monitoring and reporting. Knowledge management, including organising learning and lessons dissemination events on relevant topics during the programme, and devising and implementing an effective communications strategy to maximise the programme’s impact beyond its districts and provinces where possible. Engagement with DFID on a regular basis (and organisation of quarterly provincial steering committees) and coordination with other third parties (e.g. World Bank and other development partners). Management of 2 funds (with DFID oversight) – the action research fund and Innovation Challenge Fund. This will include advertisement of funding rounds (the topic of each round will be decided by DFID), financial and project management of the grants, and support to lessons learning and institutionalisation/scale-up of successful pilots.