National Expert in Local Economic Development

Cabo Verde has experienced a positive path towards sustainable development for more than two decades. It has been ranking within the top 11 African countries in human development and classified among medium income countries since 2008. 

However, the country remains vulnerable to external shocks owing to its dependency on tourism. In the past couple of years, multiple crises have challenged the country’s development progress: COVID-19, with a socio-economic impact amongst the highest in the world, led to a decrease of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 14.8%, public revenues by 25%. Climate change impacts on biodiversity and food security as changing weather patterns (especially droughts) influence agricultural production and ocean warming with decreasing fish stocks. Also, the current war in Ukraine is having a negative impact on the economy that is heavily relying on fossil fuels and where 80% of food stocks are imported.  

Vulnerable groups are the most affected: 32% of the population are still living under the poverty line with 13% being extremely poor. But not all islands and communities are equally affected. There are significant territorial differences. 

 Cabo Verde adopted a decentralization reform with the aim to promote national cohesion by reducing regional asymmetries, improving effectiveness of public policies, and aiming at fulfilment of rights by all citizens. The new National Strategic Development Plan (PEDS II 2022-2026) stipulates that: “by 2026, 100% of municipalities have adopted results-based planning and budgeting instruments”. The new United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023-2027, as well as the new Common Country Program Document of UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF for the cycle 2023-2027, is aligned to that vision, with one of the three strategic areas, “Transformative governance and strengthened territorial cohesion”, tackling the problem of territorial inequality. 

 Significant progress has been achieved concerning decentralization during the last five years. Each municipality has defined its agenda for local sustainable development through Municipal Strategic Sustainable Development Plans (PEMDS), established participation mechanisms (‘Local Platforms’) and built the capacity of local actors.

 This new Joint Programme (JP)  is builds upon these achievements to accelerate local development by tackling some of the main issues that persist, including in particular the limited capacity of local authorities to generate own-source revenues, to manage effectively and efficiently existing resources (including natural resources), to effectively engage local populations in local development agenda as well as to allow them to better access basic services, economic infrastructures and assets.

 The Joint Programme implementation will be overseen by a Steering Committee and led by a Joint Programme Management Team. On the United Nations side, the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) will lead the steering process while the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) will collaboratively implement the Joint Programme activities.

 UNDP has been a key partner in the country supporting local development and decentralization. The recent implementation of the Programa “Plataformas locais” (local Platforms) and the “Fundo de Descentralização” programmes showed the importance of the territorial approach in supporting sustainable development based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the country, achieving profound transformations and impacts on territorial capacities and local development. UN-Habitat is the United Nations (UN) agency mandated to promote inclusive, sustainable and resilient cities and communities. In Cabo Verde, it has supported national and local governments in several normative and operational processes, including the establishment of the National Urban and Housing Policies, Local Housing Plans, and participatory upgrading of informal Settlements.

 The Joint Programme will support local governments, local and community development actors, national entities, especially the newly created Ministry of Territorial Cohesion (MCT), and also entail significant engagement with the National Association of Municipalities (ANMCV) and other city associations in organizing for a related to experience sharing, at national level and with international partners. It will support the production of guidelines, handbooks, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and templates to standardize and sustain all good practices consensually agreed. 

3.            Scope of Work 

Summary of key functions:

• Ensure proper planning and programming of Outcome 3 activities and their implementation, monitoring and reporting.
• Support the design, the Implementation and the monitoring of the projects that address the basic needs of persons living in poverty and that contribute to territorial and social cohesion (in collaboration with the Keys Stakeholders).
• Support the design of a sustainable mechanism for financing local development.

1. Promote effective project planning and implementation of the joint programme.

• Participate in the preparation of proposals for selected projects.
• Support project set-up and implementation.
• Prepare terms of reference, guideline for issuing a call for proposals etc.
• Conduct economic and financial evaluations of projects.
• Contribute to the completion of technical and economic feasibility studies and assess viability thresholds.
• Finalize project documents.
• Support other ad hoc activities as deemed relevant and necessary.
• Contribute to the design, the Implementation and the monitoring of the projects that address the basic needs of persons living in poverty and that contribute to territorial and social cohesion (in collaboration with the Keys Stakeholders).
• Facilitate the Local Development Financing Assessment, which aims to provide a holistic and clear understanding of the financial context of the 22 municipalities and will identify challenges and opportunities for local development (in collaboration with MCT and Keys Stakeholders).
• Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of institutional structures and policy frameworks for mobilizing and programming local development finance (in collaboration with MCT and Keys Stakeholders).
• Develop a comprehensive map of past, present and future sources of local development finance, differentiated by source (domestic/external) and type (public/private). Special attention will be given to the functioning of the Tourism Fund, the Environment Fund and the Decentralization Fund, how to develop new public-private partnerships and how to stimulate diaspora participation in local development (in collaboration with MCT and Keys Stakeholders).
• Support the design of a sustainable mechanism for financing local development (in collaboration with MCT and Keys Stakeholders).
• Ensure timely and quality implementation of activities.

1. Monitor and report on progress in implementing project activities and achieving the targets set.

• Participate in regular internal meetings with other portfolios in the Joint office.
• Support the preparation of the annual program work plan.
• Participate in the operational planning and technical reporting (semi-annual, annual, final reports, etc.) of the program.
• Support continuous monitoring of progress achieved.
• Review the results framework and update the indicators, baselines, and targets of the assigned project. Develop clear strategies and an effective system for data collection, means of verification, and information sharing and reporting.
• Monitor implementation and progress in achieving goals and targets in accordance with the established quality criteria and UNDP rules, regulations, and standards. Identify, analyze, and take adequate measures to manage emerging issues, problems, and risks. Conduct field visits to project location sites.

1. Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic area(s).

• Organize training, workshops, and capacity building activities in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia.
• Identify, synthesize and document best practices and lessons learned that are generated from the project and implementing partners.
• Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on project related issues. Support establishment of knowledge platforms for the project, facilitate innovative mechanisms for dissemination of knowledge from the project, and develop knowledge resources and products to share with project partners and to support UNDP’s engagement in this area.
• Promote advocacy on development trends and opportunities to collaborate in coordination with the project partners, stakeholders,
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

4.      Institutional Arrangement

Under the guidance and supervision of the Team Leader of the Joint UNDP UN Habitat Promoting Local Development in Cabo Verde programme, the National Officer in Local Economic Development will carry out the assigned tasks in accordance with the ToR. He/she will work with the other experts, namely the national senior project manager (Outcome 1) (85% of dedication, based in Cabo Verde); a national expert in local administration and RBM (Outcome 2) (100% dedication, based in Cabo Verde), to ensure consistency in implementation. In addition, the National officer in Local Economic Development will have the support from three national experts in local finances and local development (based in Cabo Verde, regionally). The National Officer in local economic Development will promote a client-oriented approach, in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations.

5.      Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA