Sample Terms of Reference for Strategic Planning Expert

Annex 1: SAMPLE TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR A SENIOR STRATEGIC PLANNING FACILITATOR

Senior Strategic Planning Facilitator

Background of the Project:

• Provide historical overview of relevant country situation;
• Provide overview of history of NHRI in country, or initiatives to establish NHRI, including constitutional and legislative basis, if applicable;
• Describe organisational structure of NHRI, if applicable;
• Assess weakness and strengths of the NHRI, if applicable;
• Identify opportunities and threats in the operating environment;
• Describe need for a planning process, document requests from government or NHRI, as appropriate; and
• Describe NHRI commitment as senior levels for a planning process.

Strategic planning

The [title of head of organisation] believes that developing a strategic plan for the entire institution is the only way to identify priorities, consolidate activities and craft a comprehensive institutional strategic plan.

The Plan will result in the selection of strategic priorities for the NHRI, plus a medium term strategic plan for a period of three (3) years. It should also include short-term institutional operational planning over a period of one year.

Indicative budgets, in the short, medium, and long-term, will be prepared and will be directly linked to specific activities and benchmarks.

The strategic plan should be used as a public document in order to demonstrate the effective management of the institution's resources while ensuring that its work is as relevant as possible to the legitimate concerns and aspirations of the people of [country]. This is very much in the spirit of transparency and accountability upon which the institution wishes to base itself.

The strategic plans will be a blueprint for institutional development including recruitment and training of new staff, ongoing development of procedures and staff manuals, internal monitoring systems, development of external relationships, promotional and training activities, and development of regional offices.

Objectives:

In response to a request from the NHRI the terms of reference pursues the following objectives:

1) Provide the basis for the engagement of a Senior Strategic Planning Manager;

2) Support the institutional strategic planning process; and

3) Support the preparation of institutional plans, as noted above.

Scope of Work:

The Senior Strategic Planning Facilitator will be engaged starting in [term from, to] with the assistance of local nationals as necessary in order to:

1) Prepare the program design, timeline and all project guide documents for the institutional strategic planning process;

2) Facilitate the implementation of the approved program design and ensure that established timelines and deliverable deadlines are observed within the terms of the contract;

3) Supervise and facilitate the implementation of all workshops, meetings, consultations, round-table discussions, focused group discussions as part of the strategic planning process, while in country;

4) Prepare the final drafts of the institutional short and medium term institutional strategic action plan and submit to the [head of NHRI or Deputies] for final approval;

5) Prepare a short narrative document setting out proposed directions and priorities for a five-year planning period;

6) Consult with the [head of NHRI or Deputies] staff and all component/area technical advisers at all stages of the strategic planning process; and

7) Perform such other functions as directed.

Outputs and deliverables:

The following outputs and deliverables are expected to be generated by the Senior Strategic Planning Facilitator:

1) A strategic planning programme design and a timeline for workshops, consultations, meetings, discussions and for submission of deliverables;

2) A small number of strategic priorities;

3) Short and medium term institutional strategic plans, and longer term indicative guidelines, devolving from the strategic priorities; and

3) A project evaluation report with recommendations.

Timing, Level of Effort (LOE) and Reporting Relationship:

The Senior Strategic Planning Facilitator will take place in [location of NHRI, country] for a first period of time for orientation, training and planning for consultations for [two weeks to a month] over [identify calendar period]. A second period may be planned to carry out consultations as required, coordinate input into planning and prepare first drafts of the required plans and budgets.

He or she will work under the supervision of the [head of NHRI or Deputies] in coordination with a Strategic Planning Steering Committee composed of the [head of NHRI or Deputies UN staff or mission title; UN human rights advisor]

The Senior Strategic Planning Facilitator shall provide regular reports to the OHCHR (National Institutions and Regional Mechanisms Section), [name person responsible]at [add email address] and will ensure reports are shared with other colleagues in OHCHR and in UNDP [as appropriate], as well as the desk officer for [country].

The Facilitator shall be asked to travel [ x ] times to [country] in the [calendar period].