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Local AdministrationandParticipatory Planning Adviser

Al Widyan Association for Social Development
Based in Aden, Yemen

One year placement

The Progressio Development Worker (DW) will supportthe Al Widyan Association for Social Development in developing participatory planning and budgeting in the Dar Saad district, involving local administration authorities, civil society organisations(CSOs) and communities, andin assisting the advancement of local government’s efforts to promote citizen participation in addressing local development needs.

COUNTRY CONTEXT

The Republic of Yemen (ROY) is a semi-arid country situated on the south-western tip of the Arabian Peninsula, bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, Eritrea and Djibouti to the southwest and the Sultanate of Oman to the east. Yemen comprises of 555,000 square kilometres of diverse landscape, primarily terraced mountains, deserts and coastal plains. It remains one of the world’s least developed countries ranking 140 out of 182 countries on the Human Development Index (UNDP 2008).

Yemen remains primarily a traditional rural society with a population currently estimated at 23.5 million. However, urbanisation is taking place rapidly and is currently estimated at 36 percent. In addition, the country has one of the world’s highest population growth rates at 3.7 percent.

The Republic of Yemen was formed on 22 May 1990, by the merging of the former YemenArabRepublic to the north, and the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen to the south. In the 1990s, the challenge of unifying two very different political systems has resulted in a lengthy process of legal, economic, social and political revision, which has understandably taken government attention away from development concerns.

Yemen’s political stance during the first Gulf crisis resulted in a major downturn in the economy after almost one million Yemeni migrant workers were expelled from Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf countries, leading to a dramatic fall in remittance income to families in rural and urban Yemen and a significant drop in foreign aid. The implementation of Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) since 1995 has resulted in increased food and fuel prices, with a real perception of deepening poverty for the lowest income groups.

While development statistics for Yemen reveal a bleak picture on many fronts, progress is evident in many areas in the country. In contrast with many of its immediate neighbours, Yemen is recognised as an emerging democracy where local non-governmental organisations (LNGOs) and other representatives of civil society are playing an increasingly strengthened role. The local media reports regularly on issues relating to human rights and the role of women in public life. Yemen has successfully negotiated an end to long-standing border disputes with its powerful neighbour Saudi Arabia and newer regional quarrels with Eritrea over the HunaishIslands.

DECENTERALISATION IN YEMEN

Both north Yemen and south Yemen historically supported decentralisation in governance. In the south, political development emphasised devolving public services for efficiency and participation.In the north, municipal elections encouraged political participation at the local level. Since 1995, the united nation of Yemen has re-emphasised decentralisation. In March 1999, a national conference on decentralisation helped provide the impetus for the Yemen Parliament to adopt the Local Authority Law, which introduces the present model for national decentralisation. Some groups have criticised the law for not extending popular elections to the positions of governors or general-directors at the provincial level. Additionally, the government lacks the necessary electoral infrastructure to conduct efficient and proper municipal elections. The safeguards for local governments provide few protections against the removal or dissolution of local councils by the central government or governors.

The Local Authority Law restructures the distribution of budgetary resources between the local and central government. The law consolidates local authority for planning, development, and administration into one elected body: the municipal council. It also provides for a yearly national conference to be convened by the Prime Minister to review the status of national decentralisation.

Implementation of the Local Authority Law has been slow due to political opposition, difficulties in demarcating new municipal districts and a lack of institutional commitment. In order to further develop strategies for decentralisation, the Ministry of Local Administration organised a conference to discuss the matter in February 2003. In July 2003, they entered into an agreement with the United Nations Development Project to create the Decentralization and Local Development Support Program (DLDSP), to be executed by the United Nations Capital Development Fund. The project works in the Taiz and Hadhramawt provinces, with the goal of implementing decentralisation reforms, building the capacity of municipal councils and alleviating poverty through local development. Foreign aid will be used to expand the project throughout the country over time.

The most recent local elections took place in September 2006. The candidates of the General Popular Conference Party won 70 per cent of seats, leaving 30 per cent of seats to candidates of the opposition parties.

The Local Authority Law seeks to fiscally decentralise the Yemeni government by increasing local budgetary autonomy. Before 1999, fiscal allocations were tightly controlled by the central government, creating delays in local development projects. Most local revenues raised through taxes and fees were transferred to the capital, Sana’a, with virtually all local budgets coming from fund transfers from the national government. The new law provides that local authorities will keep revenues collected at the local level. Portions of monies collected by the central government will be distributed to municipalities based on population density.

THE PROJECT

Progressio has been working in Yemen since 1974, and is one of the longest-established international NGOs with a presence in the country

Until 2005, Progressio’s work in Yemenwas focused specifically on the provision of improved quality of and access to health care. We have worked in the Governorates of Raymah, Hodeidah and Hajjah, and through training and direct skill-sharing with qualified development workers, we have assisted in the formation of cadres of female health workers at many different levels of the health service. Progressio also established and managed, up to 2002, a health centre for the refugee population in Sana’a.

Progressio undertook a participatory Strategic Review of its work in Yemen in order to redirect its work towards Yemen’s priority developmental needs. The review recommended that Progressio focus its efforts in the coming years in three main areas:

  • Towards a Sustainable Environment - with a particular focus on issues around water.
  • Effective Responses to HIV and AIDS
  • Effective Governance and Participation - In recognition of the changing context in Yemen, and in line with Progressio’s regional strategy of promoting civil society groups with a focus on human rights (in particular women’s rights), HIV and AIDS, and development, Progressio has started responding to the various capacity building needs of local organisations in Yemen. Progressio believes that civil society groups are essential to the development process in their ability to reach out and work with the poor and marginalised sections of the Yemeni population, and that strengthening civil society institutions is an important component of encouraging the democratic process.

Progressio’s approach to development:

  • Sharing skills and strengthening capacities for development through the placement of skilled development workers with communities, LNGOs and some government units in the South, who are striving to overcome poverty and to achieve a fairer distribution of power and wealth.
  • Carrying out and promoting policy advocacy which brings the voice of the poor and marginalised to bear in the relevant spheres, including international affairs, and enables them, and those working with them, to influence development policies in their favour.

Under the theme of effective governance and participation, Progressio works in partnership with a number of local associations/LNGOs, in buildingtheir organisational capabilities.

As an entry point to our capacity building work, as well as establishing and deepening partnerships, Progressio hosted a three-day workshop in Aden in October 2003, followed by a three-day similar workshop in Hodeidah, bringing these NGOs together to discuss issues of mutual concern and to find solutions to problems. As a result of these consultations, an initial stage organisational capacity building project was devised, which is being implemented with 11local NGOs in Hodeidah and eight partner NGOs in Aden. Two developmentworkers are currently working with these partners, in both locations.

Our specific objectives in supporting the work of LNGOs/CSOs include:

  • To strengthen the capacity of LNGOs/CSOs to assist them in engaging in development processes at local and national levels.
  • To support initiatives that promotes the empowerment of women, especially their involvement in political processes and decision making.
  • To build the capacity of LNGOs/CSOs to advocate on behalf of their constituencies including people living with HIV and AIDS, minority groups, people with disabilities, and the poor and vulnerable.
  • To enable LNGOs/CSOs to have dialogue and engage with government to influence progressive national development policies.
  • To enable LNGOs/CSOs to link and coordinate with each other to increase their voice and promote policy change.
  • To undertake sustainable training programmes to increase the number of effective and viable CSOs/LNGOs.
  • To enable the exchange of experience and mutual learning among and between Yemeni NGOs/CSOs, and others in the region and more widely.
  • To foster equal partnerships and mutual learning between Northern and Southern CSOs/LNGOs.

The organisational development work that started in 2005 is now progressing towards engaging in the development process, advocating on behalf of the poor and marginalised, through working with communities and local authorities in participatory planning for development.

PROJECT PARTNERS

The Attadhamon Association for Development in Aden is currently a partner LNGO for the Progressio-Yemen participatory governance project in Alkhaisa village. The Alburaiqa District Authority and the Alkhaisa Fishing Communities are other partners of the project. During the planned expansion of the project, other coastal fishing communities in the Alburaiqa District will be explored for potential partnership.

Al Widyan Association for Social Development,a current partner working with Progressio-Yemen under the Aden CSO Capacity Building project,has decided to expand project work in participatory governance tothe Dar Saad district and will therefore join the Progressio-Yemen participatory governance project.

- Al Widyan Association for Social Developmentin Dar Saad district

Dar Saad district has the largest percentage of the population within Aden governorate and is the second biggest district in terms of geographical area. The district is composed of seven villages and has many differences compared to the other project site, the Al-Buraiqa district. Within the district,a variety of economic activities including trading, industry, handicrafts, agriculture and animal husbandry are undertaken. However, unemployment and povertyremain major issues. A contributing factor to this remains the lack of people’s participation in the development processes. Amongst the seven villages, one village,theEasternDarSaadVillage, is proposed for the initial stage of this project. Major problems faced by the village include large parts of the area have no formal planning processes,a lack of drinking water,low provision of efficient electricity,a lack of appropriate sanitation systems, a lack of health services, a very poor road network, the majority of people are extremely poor, a high number of illiteracy, high drop out rates from education, a high number of peoplefrom minority groups,and a high incidence of communicable diseases.

-Status of women and children

Women / Children
  • High illiteracy among women
  • Majority are housewives, economically dependent on their spouses/family members
  • Lack of health awareness
  • High incidence of communicable diseases
/
  • Communicable diseases
  • High levels of child labour
  • High drop out rate from schools

- Networks and other stakeholders

  • The Ministry of Local Administration, the Office of Aden Governorate, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Local District Administrators in Dar Saad, communities and other CSOs.
  • Other local organisations working to promote decentralisation and participatory planning in Yemen, for example the Public Works Project, the Social Fund for Development, etc.
  • International and UN agencies working within the same theme,for examplethe UNDP, UNICEFand USAID.

-Gender dimension

Progressio endeavours through all its work efforts that gender issues are fully taken into consideration. In all the areas relating to governance and poverty, women generally have less scope and capacity to participate, less power and benefit less from government programmes. It is therefore essential to ensure that women actively participate, and that programmatic work always takes account of gender issues.

The Secretary General of Al WidyanAssociation for Social Development is a woman and two of the seven board members are female. A Child and Women’sCommittee has been established within the association in order to integrate women into economic activities, provide technical assistance to women entrepreneurs, and conductawarenessraising initiatives onHIV and AIDS, family care, violence against women, and women and poverty.

NEED FOR THE PLACEMENT

The current placement is a one-year placement, which may be extended depending on the availability of funds.

There is limited expertise within Yemen on areas of decentralisation and citizen involvement in local governance, and Progressio is one of the few organisations bringing expertise into the country on a long-term basis to work with and support local partner organisations.

THE PLACEMENT

This placement is a step towards supporting and improving civil society participation in general,and the Al WidyanAssociation for Social Development specifically. Based in Aden, the Local Administration and Participatory Planning Adviser will work mainly with partner organisation, in coordination with Local Administration Authorities, communities and other relevant authorities, in assisting/facilitating the understanding and implementation of increased citizen involvement in local decision-making,through participatory planning and budgeting in the Dar Saad district.

- Overall objective

The overall objective is to assist partners, communities and local administrative authorities to work together with other relevant authorities, in taking forward the implementation of a decentralised administration within the newly adopted legal framework of local administration, building capacities to assist in the initiation of the implementation of effective local.

- Specific objectives of the placement

  1. Building the capacity of key local stakeholders in understanding the role of the local authorities and CSOs in governance, especially the legal framework and systems of the local government administration.
  1. Improving skills in participatory development planning, budgeting and monitoring for local government and CSOs, including participatory leadership, advocacy, lobbying and negotiation skills. Creating mechanisms for citizens’ participation, with a clear gender balance, in the form of dialogues, consultations, fora, creation of planning, and implementing and monitoring committees that involve marginalised sectors, private sector, media and other associations (multi-stakeholder in nature).
  1. Providing technical support for development planning within the districts that Progressio-Yemen works in.
  1. Promoting the coordination of all local stakeholders by enhancing the skills of the local administration in the Dar Saad District.

- DW Management and Counterpart

The DW will work alongside, and be responsible to, the Executive Director of the Al Widyan Association for Social Development. The DW will ensure that all-important decisions regarding the work are taken jointly, and fully agreed, with the Management Team.
During the working week, the DW will be working daily with his/her counterpart from the Al Widyan Association for Social Development to skill-share in the area of local governance and planning.

The DW will report directly to the Progressio Yemen Country Representative - overall responsibility for the DW lies with the Progressio Yemen Country Representative.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

This section outlines the skills and requirements we seek for this placement, please read it carefully and ensure your application addresses each of these requirements,giving clear examples.

Specification / Essential / Desirable
Education/
Training / 1.Degree level qualification or equivalent diploma in a relevant discipline
2.Education/training in specific aspects of community development / 22.A post graduate qualification ina governance related discipline
Relevant Experience / 3.A minimum of three years’ direct work experience in participatory planning and/or budgeting for local governance with NGOs, local communities and local government units
4.Experience in training men and women, both formally and informally
5.Experience in building the capacity of CSOs in advocacy and lobbying for changes in policy
6.Experience in initiating citizen involvement in participatory planning and budgeting
7.Experience in strengthening the interaction between government, CSOs and communities, within the framework of decentralised governance
8.Experience of working in a resource poor environment / 23.Organisational development and management experience/skills
24.Experience of gender analysis in participatory budgeting and/or in training others in gender mainstreaming
Special knowledge/
skills / 9.Ability to transfer skills and knowledge through formal or informal training and skills sharing
10.Excellent research and analytical skills, including the ability to translate complex (and potentially sensitive) ideas/issues into briefings and presentations for diverse audiences
11.Ability to promote a gender sensitive approach in all areas concerning governance and poverty
12.Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to communicate and work with a wide range of people in a participatory, respectful, collaborative manner, and to enhance effective work relationships
13.Understanding of the importance of good networking and information strategies surrounding citizen involvement in participatory planning and budgeting
14.Maturity and sound political judgement
15.Ability to plan, prioritise and implement own work
16.Good problem solving skills, and a drive for innovation and excellence
17.Computer literate
18.Good command of English, both spoken and written / 25.Understanding of decentralised systems of governance
Other / 19.Willingness to travel locally
20.Cultural sensitivity in an Islamic setting
21.Personal commitment to learn basic Arabic / 26.Arabic language skills

THE LOCATION -ADEN