Expected Start Date: February 2024

Background Information

Pursuant to Article 232(1)d of the Constitution, Kenyan citizens have a constitutional right to contribute their views in government planning processes on issues affecting them. Consequently, all Kenyan citizens are expected to be free to provide inputs into various government-led public consultations on issues affecting them including development planning and allied budget processes. In compliance with section 207 of the Public Finance Management Act 2012, all devolved County Governments are required to establish structures, mechanisms and ways to ensure inclusive public participation. The participation spaces that stretch from grassroots Village, administrative Ward, Sub-County, County and national level ought to be inclusive taking into account various stakeholders and providing prior information so that the all stakeholders engage meaningfully from an informed perspective.

Citizens have a right to know how the government is raising and using public funds. Pursuant to chapter 12 of the Constitution, there shall be openness and accountability, including public participation in financial matters. As such, citizens have a right to know how government funds are being spent, and even propose other areas of priority affecting the citizenry that require funding. To do so, citizens and civil society must actively participate in budget processes.

The Constitution of Kenya under Article 174 (d) states that communities have the right to manage their affairs and to further their development. For this right to be realized, there is need for meaningful public participation. Citizens have first-hand information on the realities at the grassroot level, thus best placed to give evidence to inform decisions. Budget advocacy for meaningful public participation begins with community organizing and empowerment and it is done by the community and for the community. As such community propositions and the resultant budget decisions must be justified. A key enabler to this process is timely access to budget information. This enables one to review evidence, analyze data and share results hence promoting evidence-based lobby and advocacy. It is therefore critical that communities are aware of the budget making process.

Purpose and Objective of the Assignment

Hakijamii seeks to commission a consultant to review and develop the simplified version of the budget making process; develop a budget process tracking toolkit; and facilitate the training of community champions in Nakuru and Narok on the existing County Budget Platforms; and the budget making process.

Specific Objective of the Assignment

a) To review and develop a simplified version of the budget making process.
b) To develop a budget process tracking toolkit.
c) To enhance the capacity of communities on the budget making process.

Expected Outcomes:

a. Updated simplified version of the budget making process.
b. Budget process tracking toolkit.
c. Community Champions in Narok and Nakuru are aware of the budget making process and existing budget platforms.

 Scope of work

a) Literature review on data sources from key Budget laws, policies and other relevant documents.
b) Preliminary discussion on the focus of the assignment with the Hakijamii team on the understanding of the project.
c) Develop an inception guide on the simplified budget making process to be discussed and agreed upon by the Hakijamii team.
d) Develop a work plan for the execution of the assignment.
e) Analyse the budget making process; review and develop an existing simplified version of the budget making process.
f) Present the updated simplified version in a one-day feedback session for Hakijamii staff, selected partners, and stakeholders.
g) Incorporate comments from the feedback session and present final simplified version of the budget making process in soft and hard copy
h) Develop the budget process tracking toolkit
i) Train communities on the existing budget platforms and the budget making process.

 Qualifications

a) At least a master’s degree or equivalent in policy, research, finance (budgeting),
human rights related studies or social sciences.
b) At least seven years of professional experience in policy, research, finance (budgeting) and human rights
c) Demonstrated ability to train indigenous people and local communities on the budget making process at county and national level.
d) Proven in-depth understanding and consulting experiences in conducting similar assignments.
e) Have successfully executed similar/related work in the recent past. Such details should be included in the profile that will be submitted.
f) Demonstrated experience in working with Non-Governmental organization, CSOs
and other stakeholders in public sector development programs, especially in
capacity development.

Skills and Competencies.

a) Ability to work with minimal supervision.
b) High level written and oral communications skills in English and Kiswahili
c) Must be result-oriented, a team player, exhibiting high levels of enthusiasm, diplomacy and integrity.
d) Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and professional skills in interacting with stakeholders and development partners.
e) Skills in facilitation of stakeholder engagements/workshops.
f) Evidence of having undertaken similar assignments.

Application process

Interested and qualified individual consultants are required to submit a technical and financial proposal that includes the following:
a) Technical Proposal
a) Qualification and experience of the consultant.
b) The understanding of the assignment, demonstrating background knowledge
c) Proposed approach and methodology to undertake this assignment, highlighting how the applicant will address the needs of the ToR.
d) Previous experience in a similar assignment(s).
e) Detailed activity work plan with a proposal of days.

b) Financial Proposal
a) Total budget (KES) aligned to the work plan and days proposed in local currency (KES). The budget should cover both the professional costs and expenses related
to travel and accommodation for fieldwork. The budget should be presented in a detailed breakdown.
b) Copy of PIN Certificate for individual expert

Payment

The fee and the exact terms of payment will be negotiated with the consultant based on deliverables. Payments will be based on outputs, i.e. upon delivery of the services as specified in the contract.

Timeframe

The assignment is scheduled for a period of ten (10) days with the final document expected to be complete by March, 2024. The entire assignment is to be carried out
between February and March, 2024, spread over a maximum period of ten (10) working days, with clear key timelines and deliverable.

 How to Apply

Interested individual consultants should send their applications addressed to the Executive Director through the following email addresses esrc@hakijamii.com to reach by 31st January, 2023.

All applications should be sent in soft via our email address with a subject line/ Ref: HJ-Budget Making Process-1801-2024