Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union. OPEN RECRUITMENT TACSO Team leader Project: Capacity Building of Civil Society Organisations in the Western Balkans and Turkey (TACSO 2). Location: Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina (the location could be changed during the contract period) Language: Working language is English Deadline for applications: 12.00 hours (CET) on 24 November, 2014 Organisation: FCG SIPU International AB Sectors: Civil Society & NGOs, Social Development, Inst. Development & Capacity Building Contract period: End of January 2015 to August 2017 (220 days/year) Background The project Capacity Building of Civil Society Organisations in the Western Balkans and Turkey (TACSO) commenced operations in August 2009 funded by EU. It was implemented by a consortium with SIPU International as the lead. The first phase of the project was successfully completed in mid-August 2013. The total budget for the four-year period was approximately 13.4 million Euros. The second phase of the project, which started in September 2013, offers technical assistance to civil society in seven countries, i.e. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey. This phase has the duration of four years and a budget of approximately 10.6 million Euros. The project is implemented by a consortium consisting of six European organisations including SIPU International (lead). TACSO’s general objective is to strengthen the overall capacity and accountability of CSOs within IPA beneficiaries and to guarantee the quality of services of CSOs and a sustainable role of CSOs in the democratic process. The main purposes of the project are to increase and improve the capacity and actions of CSOs as well as to strengthen the role of CSOs in a participatory democracy. The assistance is made available through national offices in all beneficiary countries. Managerial and technical support is provided from a regional project office in Sarajevo. Services provided by TACSO include: - the organisation of thematic and networking events, TACSO Regional Office • Potoklinica 16 • 71 000 Sarajevo • t: +387 33 532 757 • f: +387 33 532 757 • e-mail: info@tacso.org SIPU International AB Sweden • Ecorys International • Intrac United Kingdom • Foundation Partners for Local Development Romania • Euclid Network United Kingdom • SMART Croatia Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union. - implementation of various training programmes, - help-desk services, - information events, - monitoring of IPA funded projects, - visibility actions to inform citizens about the contributions to society made by civil society, - management of the people-to-people programme, and - information sharing through the TACSO web-page. TACSO services are mainly targeting civil society organisations, networks, CSO support organisations and other similar institutions in the seven beneficiary countries. Being an integral part of the methodology applied, representatives of other stakeholders are often invited to participate in activities, for example journalists and central/local government officials. Recently, the project has also made attempts to strengthen ties with the private sector. Local advisory groups have been established in all beneficiary countries. They consist of representatives of civil society, donors, governments, media and private sector. The local advisory groups provide guidance to the project at national level. One of the main challenges during the present phase of TACSO is to develop organisational and financial conditions for the continued delivery of TACSO services at national level beyond August 2017 when the project support will cease. To provide for sustainability of the outputs and outcomes generated by TACSO the project’s ToR requires that resource centres are selected in each beneficiary country before the end of the first year, i.e. end of August 2014. At that time the national TACSO offices shall, to the extent possible, be physically and operationally integrated into the resource centres. The intention is that gradually during the following three years the resource centres will develop the necessary capacity and assume responsibility for the delivery of services presently offered by TACSO. This process is on-going. At national level, the project is managed by seven country representatives (resident advisors) based in the respective countries and the team leader based at the regional office in Sarajevo. The project is supported by three key experts, the capacity building expert, the People to People (P2P) manager and the communication expert. The team leader reports to the project director at SIPU International (based in Stockholm). The team leader has the responsibility for the overall planning and implementation of the project activities within the framework of the agreed staffing and financial resources. The current team leader has been with the project since the beginning in 2009. More information about the project is available on www.tacso.org. Specific tasks: The team leader shall ensure that the activities of the project are implemented efficiently. This requires amongst other things that the plans for the different project components are reviewed and updated and that activities are properly co-ordinated and implemented. The team leader shall also ensure that the regional office facilitates and supports the smooth implementation of all project activities. The team leader will have to build and maintain good working relations with TACSO Regional Office • Potoklinica 16 • 71 000 Sarajevo • t: +387 33 532 757 • f: +387 33 532 757 • e-mail: info@tacso.org SIPU International AB Sweden • Ecorys International • Intrac United Kingdom • Foundation Partners for Local Development Romania • Euclid Network United Kingdom • SMART Croatia Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union. implementation partners and key stakeholders in the region. Any problems need to be communicated in a timely manner to the project director. The main tasks are: Keeping an overview of the different project components and their integration with existing national institutional structures, particularly with the resource centres. Monitoring and support the implementation of activities and events. This also includes participation in key events. Supervising the planning of short-term interventions and monitoring their proper implementation. Facilitating interaction and involvement with partner organisations and stakeholders. Ensuring that relevant information is shared with partners and stakeholders in a timely manner. Providing substantial input for the reports required according to the contract and the terms of reference. Personnel management of project staff members including supervision of all project staff including staff members in the country offices. This entails frequent visits to the national offices. Arrangement of issues related to bank account signatory rights. Financial management of project resources entrusted to the project for reimbursable expenses. Review and processing of incidental requests. Administrative management of the regional project office. Ensure and coordinate that quarterly activity reports are submitted to the project director in Stockholm. Responsibility for the monthly collection and transmission to Stockholm of time sheets for all the staff employed in the project. The proper administration and maintenance of furniture and equipment. Responsibility for the monthly collection and transmission to Stockholm of the invoices/receipts for cost covered under the TA Service Contract. Request funds on a monthly basis to cover the running costs of the office. Ensure that all the above tasks are carried out in accordance with EU rules and regulations. Qualifications and skills of the team leader according to the project’s ToR University degree or equivalent (i.c. eight years of professional experience following secondary education, or three years of professional experience following a BA degree). General professional experience: at least ten years of working experience, out of which at least five years of professional experience in an international setting. Specific professional experience: - at least five years of working experience with Civil Society, and; - at least five years’ experience in working with trainers and/or experts and training/capacity building activities at similar scale of this present contract; - at least five years of experience in managing a team composed of trainers/experts; supervising and coordinating all technical aspects of a contract; ensuring good client communication; organising and overseeing administrative and logistical support. TACSO Regional Office • Potoklinica 16 • 71 000 Sarajevo • t: +387 33 532 757 • f: +387 33 532 757 • e-mail: info@tacso.org SIPU International AB Sweden • Ecorys International • Intrac United Kingdom • Foundation Partners for Local Development Romania • Euclid Network United Kingdom • SMART Croatia Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union. Other requirements Additional selection criteria: Proven experience of working with civil scoeity development in the Western Balkans and Turkey. Proven experience in supporting the initiatives of civil society to promote good governance, as well as in building networks and partnerships. Documented experience in monitoring, evaluation and reporting. Documented experience of project financial management. Proven experience in outsourcing of project activities and monitoing of their implementation. Proven experience in creating team spirit in work, professionalism and mutual trust and respect. Knowledge of one of the national languages in the IPA countries. To apply Application including statement on availability, CV (including contact details) as well as three reference persons should be sent to ake.sahlin@sipuinternational.se before 12.00 hours (CET) on 24 November, 2014. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. TACSO Regional Office • Potoklinica 16 • 71 000 Sarajevo • t: +387 33 532 757 • f: +387 33 532 757 • e-mail: info@tacso.org SIPU International AB Sweden • Ecorys International • Intrac United Kingdom • Foundation Partners for Local Development Romania • Euclid Network United Kingdom • SMART Croatia Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union. TACSO Regional Office • Potoklinica 16 • 71 000 Sarajevo • t: +387 33 532 757 • f: +387 33 532 757 • e-mail: info@tacso.org SIPU International AB Sweden • Ecorys International • Intrac United Kingdom • Foundation Partners for Local Development Romania • Euclid Network United Kingdom • SMART Croatia Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union. TACSO Regional Office • Potoklinica 16 • 71 000 Sarajevo • t: +387 33 532 757 • f: +387 33 532 757 • e-mail: info@tacso.org SIPU International AB Sweden • Ecorys International • Intrac United Kingdom • Foundation Partners for Local Development Romania • Euclid Network United Kingdom • SMART Croatia