Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)

Deadline: 19 February 2020

Type of Contract: Individual

Introduction

The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) is a social movement comprising individual and affiliate membership. The association was formed in 1998 as an umbrella body of local residents associations in Harare. Responding to the demands of social mobilisation, the association went through a transformation phase which saw the association incorporating individual membership as opposed to group membership. To date the association has a membership of over 35,000 individual members. The association has 38 ward committees mirrored against municipal ward boundaries that coordinate community activities at a micro-level. The core mandate of the association is to represent and support all residents of Harare by advocating for effective, transparent and affordable municipal and other services and quality facilities on a professional and nonpartisan basis. Further, appreciating the need for a vibrant national platform for common articulation of local governance issues at the national level, the association provides secretariat services for the Zimbabwe United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (ZURRA).

CHRA is implementing the #3D (Devolve, Develop, Deliver) Campaign whose overall goal is to build citizen voice and agency in devolution implementation and alignment of local government laws. The campaign also seeks to coordinate the efforts of residents associations and other CSOs to contribute to and influence the content and process of the promulgation of devolution Bills.

Background

Many CSOs in Zimbabwe have done a lot of advocacy work on devolution implementation, especially advocating for the re-alignment of local government and other laws to the provisions of the Constitution. In addition to that, the Government had already started to do some work on devolution implementation, however with citizens raising concerns on the level of attention paid to constitutional provisions, particularly Chapter 14 as well as the slow pace of the alignment process. Within that context, the Combined Harare Residents Association, in collaboration with the Community water Alliance made a successful High Court Application seeking an order to compel the Government to develop legislation that will guide devolution implementation, as is stipulated in the Constitution of Zimbabwe. The High Court granted an Order in September 2020 compelling the Government to come up with a Bill/Bills within six months. The Court Order presents an important opportunity for residents associations and other CSOs to engage and contribute to the content of the envisaged devolution Bills.

Accordingly, CHRA is seeking the services of a local government expert to develop a status paper that highlights the progress and steps that have been taken so far in terms of the devolution implementation; development of the devolution bills as well as analyse the work that has been done by residents associations and other CSOs for purposes of identifying entry points that residents associations can leverage on to contribute to the law making process.

Scope of work

The scope and focus of the consultancy are to do an analysis of the work and progress made on devolution implementation; identify the current status of the local government laws alignment process; analyse the work that has already been done by resident’s associations and other CSOs and develop a status paper that can be used by CHRA and other residents associations to locate entry points for engagement and contributions to the local government law-making process. Under overall supervision of the CHRA Director, the Consultant shall be responsible for the development of the local government status paper.

Qualifications

CHRA requires the consultant to have the following technical expertise: At least a Master’s degree in Development Studies, Social Sciences, Public Policy and Governance or related subjects; with experience in development of factsheets or other relevant communication materials; Proven experience of ability to review documents, interpret information and synthesize information and present it in a creative manner; At least five years of professional experience in similar assignments; high level of written and oral communication skills in English; proven experience in evidence-based research and policy analysis; Extensive conceptual and practical knowledge of local government operating and strategic principles; Experience of working and collaborating with stakeholders including government and civil society in Zimbabwe; Demonstrated ability of analytical and report writing skills and ability to adhere to strict deadlines.

Expected deliverables

The consultant shall be expected to carry out the following specific tasks: Develop a local government status paper that contains - A comparative analysis of the work and progress made by the Government on devolution implementation and alignment of local government laws vis-à-vis relevant constitutional provisions and obligations, An advocacy Gap Analysis of the work done by residents associations and other CSOs and identify opportunities for improvement, Identify opportunities or entry points that CSOs can leverage on as well as recommend advocacy strategies; Attend the Residents Associations Convergence and Coordinating meeting and present the status paper

Key deliverable

Local Government Status Paper