Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Serbia Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Technical Assistance to the Civil Society organisations 2 (TACSO 2) from the IPA Beneficiaries;
EuropeAid/133642/C/SER/Multi
TERMS OF REFERENCE
For Senior Short Term Consultant from Serbia
To assist TACSO Serbia office in capacity building of rural, underdeveloped and newly
established CSOs
Background of the assignment
The general objective of TACSO 2 project is to strengthen the overall capacities and accountability
of the Civil Society organizations (CSOs) within the IPA beneficiaries and to guarantee the quality
of services of CSOs and a sustainable role of the CSOs in the democratic process. The main
purposes of the project are to:
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Increase and improve the capacity and actions of CSOs and to
Improve the democratic role of CSOs.
Within the TACSO Component 3 - Capacity building, we set up the objective: Competencies of
CSOs, networks, platforms, coalitions, initiatives to accomplish their mission is enhanced at the
regional, national and local level. TACSO 2 Serbia Needs assessment led us to plan activities
towards organizations out of the capitol, as there is huge gap between national/regional CSOs and
those acting in smaller cites and in rural areas. Experience and feedback from beneficiaries of TA
during TACSO 1 confirmed constant need for TA services directed to small, rural CSOs. We have
learned that over 6.000 new CSOs have been registered within two last years. This huge group of
organizations need direct assistance, but more than that, the clear concept for the assistance is
important in order to be tested and delivered to TACSO successors – national Resource centres.
So far, we have proved that the best TA set of services combine technical assistance on CSOs’
requests via mail, phone call or clients’ personal visit to TACSO office, plus TA/CB direct field
activities in order to reach CSOs with limited access to resources and information.
In general, TACSO activites will be focused on increasing capacities of new/young leaders in
weaker, rural, underdeveloped CSOs, registered for the first time during last two years. Creation
of efficient methodlogy for providing CB and TA is of special interest.
Scope of the assignment
The main purpose of this assignment is to upgrade basic capacities of new/young leaders in CSOs
(including those that work with/for marginalized social groups such as ethnic minorities, Roma,
elderly, women, persons with disability) through needs identification, designing CB/TA Action plan
and providing direct, focused and tailored assistance. With this assistance, CSOs’ leaders should
be able to overcome specific obstacles within the areas of organizational development,
fundraising and project management, networking and partnership building and to secure better
sustainability of their organizations
Short Term Expert(s) will provide assistance to the TACSO Office in Serbia in the following:
TACSO Serbia Office • Bul Arsenija Čarnojevića 82, stan 9 • 11070 Novi Beograd • t: + 381 11 2606 265 • f: + 381 11 2603 456 • e-mail: info.rs@tacso.org
SIPU International AB Sweden • Ecorys Netherland • Intrac United Kingdom • Foundation Partners for Local Development Romania
Euclid Network United Kingdom • SMART Croatia
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Assisting TACSO team in defining specific target groups and their needs,
Developing detailed criteria for selection of CSOs to be included in TA/CB program for CSO
leadership and assist in evaluation of applications
Assisting TACSO team in development of TA/CB program for Young CSO leadership and
Action plan for implementing
Participate in implementation of the Action Plan for TA/CB program for Young CSO
leadership via:
Providing TA / CB service for up to 100 CSOs: for up to 60 CSOs on their requests via mail,
phone, Web site Q & A and for up to 40 CSOs via direct assistance in the form of inhouse
trainings; TA sessions or Training sessions (this will be definined after needs assesment).
Areas of intervention will be around these topics:
 Organizational strategic development
 EU project management and PADOR registration
 Fund raising and finance management in CSO
 Networking and partnership building
Evaluate quality of the services/ sessions and progress made by participants
Prepare adequate training and informative material for CSO clients
Preparing report on each TA/CB session delivered
Participate in preparation of ToT concept for CSO Basic trainings CB program for Young
CSO leadership
Deliverables/results
1. Assessment document / proposal on capacity building of rural, underdeveloped and
newly established CSOs , including proposals of methodology and specific target groups
and criteria for selection of participants in TA/CB program for Young CSO leadership
2. TA/CB program for Young CSO leadership and Action plan for implementing
3. Agenda and report for each of TA/CB services delivered to seleceted CSOs (in the line with
Action plan). Formats to be provided by contract authority.
4. Training/TA supporting material (handouts, training material, informative materials,
guidance and similar)
5. Final analytical report on TA/CB delivered with evaluation section, lessons learnt and
recommendations
Note: Final analytical report should be written both in Serbian and English.
Assesment document has to be submitted to TACSO Serbia office within 30 days after STE
contracting. TA/CB program for Young CSO leadership and Action plan for implementing within 60
days after STE contracting.
The individual plans for TA/CB sessions should be delivered to TACSO Project officer no later than
7 days in advance of field visit date. Reports on individual sessions have to be delivered to project
office up to 10 days after the TA /CB activity.
The work will be coordinated by TACSO Serbia Resident advisor assisted by Project officer.
Location of assignment
Belgrade and various cities throughout Serbia while prefirming field activities.
Duration and timing of the assignment:
January 2014 – December 2014
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Short term Consultant’s working days:
Total of 10 senior experts days are available for the whole assignment. Division of days among
two STEs (if needed) will be done upon selection of experts.
Profile of the STE:
Qualifications and skills:
 University degree in social sciences, advanced degree is an asset
 The expert should have proven minimum 10 years of professional experience in the field
of CSO capacities building, organizational development, project proposals writing,
fundraising, networking, partnership building
 Proven professional experience in the curriculum development, design, creation of
training materials, manuals, execution of training programs, workshops etc.
 Direct experince in working with /for rural CSOs, including marginalized social groups such
as ethnic minorities, Roma, elderly, women, persons with disability
 Proven professional experience in training, mentoring and advising
 Good understanding of CSO sector in Serbia , especially of rural areas, marginalized social
groups such as ethnic minorities, Roma, elderly, women, persons with disability
 Experience in delivering field technical assistance to CSOs is an asset
 Experience of EU practices and policies
 Strong computer literacy;
 Fluency in written and spoken English.
Applicants must be independent and free from any conflict of interest.
Monitoring and evaluation of the STE
The activity will be monitored by the TACSO Resident Advisor. The STE will deliver the mission
report to the TACSO Office before remuneration.
Application
This is an open call for STEs. STEs from TACSO consultants pool should send only note of
availability/ motivation letter and relevant refernces, while other intersted candidates should
send the package of motivation letter, CV and refernces relevant for the assignement.
Information on expected daily fee rate should also be presented in the letter.
Application should be sent exclusively to the following e mail address: expert.rs@tacso.org with
the subject title: STE application for RURAL CSOs assistance January 15th 2014. CoB.
Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.
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