Methodology and resources

Human resources proposed for service provision programme by five local NGOs

On-the-job training

a) The on-the-job training is used to implement newly acquired skills through the implementation of the service provision programmes. The Project Manager will be constantly supervising and coaching the activities by giving guidance and interacting with the implementation team.

The project will use reporting requirements as an entry point to further develop implementation, monitoring planning and, after the first year, evaluation tools. Each element will be introduced and then implemented by the implementing team of each NGO. The outputs, like monthly reports, PR materials, documents for project planning, etc. will be discussed, individually or at the specialized workshops, collectively, by the beneficiaries. Different new elements will be introduced or existing tools more elaborated and immediately implemented. The different elements will be enabling the trainees in the NGOs to work according to the Project Cycle Management, including Logical Framework Approach (LFA) will be introduced to the Middle Management each year the project documents will be updated and improved.

Besides the monthly report by PC, a quarterly reporting (later according to Logframe) will be presented by each NGO. Newly acquired skills will be implemented and the coaching will enhance the efficiency. The specialized workshops are used to introduce new skills and to enter to an exchange of experience between the different beneficiaries of the middle management.

b) Through monthly specialized workshops, different tools (project implementation tools -planning, implementation / monitoring tools, evaluation tools, institutional capacity building, fundraising, PR Development) are progressively introduced. These workshops will be held 12 days yearly, during the summer a block of workshops will be dedicated to the evaluation of the projects, including the evaluation conducted by SCS.

During the 3 years of the lifespan of the project, the implementation of the acquired tools will be more refined through on-the-job training and the specialized workshops. Each NGOs project design will be redesigned and improved after the yearly evaluation for training purposes and in order to improve the performance and outputs of the service provision programmes. One summer session of the specialized workshop (4 days) will be undertaken to thoroughly evaluate the projects.

Starting in the second year, a project proposal based on the experience of the implementation and coaching process will be prepared for donors.

The monthly meetings will also be a forum for the exchange of experience and cooperation among the middle management. The field experience will be utilized to train the middle management. For specific topics, specialists will be invited to have external inputs. The topics and their intensity of treatment may differ according to the need and the progress of the beneficiaries.

The working language is Arabic.

c) One-day enlarged workshops on cross-cutting issues (4 times a year) provide beneficiaries with training on cross-cutting issues by an external specialist on a topic related to the work of the NGO. Such topics include gender, good governance and child rights. These workshops will be open to interested members of the local NGO community. The working language is Arabic or English, depending on the resource person/specialist.

The following topics/ issues will be covered in the workshops. As workshops are designed to meet the needs of local partners based on the assessment of SCS, some topics may be added during the lifespan of the project.

Proposed topics:

good governance / transparency
child rights / rights based development approach
corporal punishment
animation tools
quality of education

current issues and initiatives (for example, the CRC report)

A specialist on the specific topic will be invited. Also the expertise of other NGOs will be utilized and included in such workshops. The approach of the workshop is to take as a point of departure the experience and work of the NGO. The specialist-s input will then have a more theoretical input to help conceptualize the issue in a constructive manner. This will allow exchange of ideas and experience and should help to establish a common learning process.

Service provision -as capacity building

Involvement of the local NGOs:

SCS requested that each local partner work out a concept paper detailing a service provision action. In developing this proposal, SCS worked closely with each local partner, assisting him or her in developing the proposed action. SCS did not attach major conditions to the service provision programs designed by each local partner, nor were the actions developed by the local partners donor-driven. This approach aimed to ensure local partner ownership of the service provision programme to be undertaken. SCS believes this aspect to be essential to the success of the overall action, including capacity building.

The three years of support for the service provision by the EU is to be seen as a three phased development of the initial project designed by the local NGO. After each year, the NGO and the SCS staff will perform an evaluation and redesign the project according to the project cycle management (PCM). The PCM follows the lifespan of an operation from the initial idea through to its completion. It provides a structure to ensure that stakeholders are consulted, defines the key decisions, information requirements and responsibilities at each phase so that informed decisions can be made at each phase in the life of an operation. It draws on critical evaluation to incorporate the lessons of experience into the design of future programmes and operations.

Service provision - the project of the local NGOs

The method of implementation of all local NGOs is along the line of more community involvement by targeting the children and youth in a holistic approach. Parents, but also other community actors are targeted to become more concerned about educational issues. Workshops are offered to the community and volunteers. Other NGOs, even UNRWA (in Nahr el-Bared), are reached through the NGOs work.

Formal and non-formal activities are to support the children in school. At the same time besides the remedial activities, life skills are included in the curriculum of the NGOs.

NAVTSS in their programme is targeting youth to participate more in community affairs and offering them space to implement activities for the community.

Reasons for the proposed methodology

On-the-job training / workshops

The on-the-job training is an individual tool with high concentration on the needs of the NGO and the project. Also the coaching guarantees intensive follow-up of the newly acquired skills, aspects usually not met by workshop-oriented capacity building exercises.

The monthly specialized workshop and the enlarged workshops support exchange among the beneficiaries and allow external expertise to interact with NGO-s middle management.

Also, cross-cutting topics are meant to enlarge the scope of interest of the NGO and the staff, in order to introduce specific issues to bring added value to the activities and the NGO in general.

It should be emphasised that the project does not impose coordination among the local NGO community, but through cooperation and especially through workshops, cooperation could, on the middle management level, develop naturally.

Service provision - as capacity building

The service provision will be used as training arena for capacity building : The inclusion of the service provision element allows the project manager to have a more profound and thorough exposure to the field and the implementing staff. The evaluation and redesign of the project according to the project cycle management (PCM) offers an excise for the each NGO with a practical outcome in order to guarantee more sustainability and a better project design.

Service provision - the project of the local NGOs

The 3 year support allows the NGO to further develop the programme and the activities. The project methodology offers the middle management to further develop, make use of their competence and expertise and empowers them. Real cost calculation and constant presence in the field allow SCS to collect important insights to judge on improvement measures on organisational and content related issues.

Human resources - capacity building

Human resources proposed for the implementation of the action (give the individuals- functions and state whether they are expatriate or local staff, but do not give their names), including staff on short-term missions (give the number, length and purpose of the missions, and specify whether they are carried out by consultants, NGO representatives, etc.)

Since donors are hesitant to support service provision, although the emphasis of the proposed project is on developing institutional capacities, all human resources -also the support staff - ascribed to the action for a long-term period are included in the budget. SCS advocates real-cost calculation as a good governance approach.

The list below identifies the staff involved, according to each NGO. A percentage of the salaries of the director, but also financial or even secretary staff, are included.

Capacity building:

Expat Project Manager

PURPOSE OF POSITION: To manage the EU co-financing project for SCS.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

To be responsible for the management and continued development of the project, including needs assessments, evaluations, and other analytical procedures.
Prepare project reports as required by donor, programme information and articles as required.
Maintain good communications with SCS office, local NGOs, and the project team and to participate in task-force teams and workshops in project relevant topics.
Represent the project to relevant bodies.
To act as a liaison between NGOs and donors to guarantee sustainability and effective coordination for the project.
Provide support for field personnel.
To be responsible for the management and development of staff involved with the project.
To explore individually and in cooperation with local NGOs further fundraising opportunities.
To be responsible for capacity building of staff targeted in project.
Fundraising and coordination for youth exchange.
Coordination with other NGO active in the field of operation (sectoral and geographical).

Local Team leader (50%)

PURPOSE OF POSITION: To manage the financial matters of the EU co-financing project for SCS and to assist the implementation in close cooperation with the Project Manger.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

To be responsible for the financial management of the project, including the monitoring, and control of the budget for the local NGOs.
To be responsible for the documentation of the project, including the non-financial documents.
Prepare financial reports of as required by donor, and other financial information as required.
Maintain good communications with SCS office, local NGOs, the project team and finance staff of the local NGO.
In case of absence of the Project Manager, to represent the project to relevant bodies.
To assist as a liaison between NGOs and donors to guarantee sustainability and effective coordination for the project.
Provide support for financial personnel in the field including training and monitoring of the partnersÂ´ financial dealing.
To assist the PM and NGOs to explore for further fundraising opportunities.

Experts for workshop.

According to the needs of the NGO, outside experts will be invited to the capacity building workshops for the five local partner NGOs. For the open workshops on cross-cutting issues, experts and specialist will be selected.

Expert for Evaluation

A SCS staff from Sweden will perform the three evaluation visits for 2 mid and one final evaluation reports.

Support staff

Human resources proposed for service provision programme by five local NGOs:

Each service provision activity by five local NGOs:

Most of the NGOs included in their budget part of the director-s salary (Nabaa, NAVTSS), since he will be frequently meeting with the PM. Also, a Programme Coordinator and some administrative staff were assigned by each NGO. This was one of the conditions by SCS. As a further step to professionalize management, a percentage of the NGO-s accountant salary will be covered by the project. In three case the position of an accountant will be infroduced to the routine dealings of the NGO through the project.

Five full-time teachers, and one sports teacher (xx0 %), one Art / Music Teacher and Folk Dance Teacher (all part-time), and one Librarian, are the team for CYC project day-to-day programme in the library and cultural centre in Shatila.

At the GKCF the director of centre will be partly involved in activities (40%). A specialized Teacher for children with special needs, an assistant for a teacher with visual impairment, one Arts teacher for creative activities, one Librarian to support organized the club scheme and a social worker, are the implementing staff. Also a Driver / handy man will be included by the project for transportation of children and volunteers. Two cleaner will be als covered by the program.

As Nabaa-s regular structure includes for each project a project manager, s/he will be in charge of the implementation. One community worker and a different, more specialized music, computer and arts teacher are working directly with the children. To give counselling to children and the staff, one socio-psycho councillor will be cominginvolvedd as full time staff in the project.

An assistant of the project coordinator and a general coordinator (50%) will organise the work with the youth in form of workshops in the project of NAVTSS . The human resources for facilitators -for almost 100 days of workshops -is significant and will be obtained among external specialists. One full position for a Project Coordinator Assistant, whose position might be divided between the two project locations, will assist project in order to facilitate local coordination. Twenty percent for the local administration input is also budgeted.

WHO will employ 3 facilitators, an artist for the painting program (all 30%), a development worker, a social worker and guest lecturers as needed. Two trainers will come from Sweden to train facilitators for the ELLEN and Friends of Ibrahim program. One cleaner will be employed as well.

Main resources proposed for the implementation of the action (equipment, supplies etc.). To whom will movable and immovable assets acquired in the framework of this action belong?

6 laptop computers for each of the five NGOs, plus Project Manger (SCS), one desktop computer with printer to SCS for team leader, and one beamer (for screening of content on computer) will be given to respective benefiting NGOs.