Background
This consultancy is solicited under an on-going project named as CSO’s Building Resilience through Improved Delivery, Governance and Empowerment Programme (The CSO’s-BRIDGE Program) is a 42 months programme funded by European Union (EU) and implemented in partnership of DEUTSCHE WELTHUNGERHILFE EV, Concern Worldwide, Lodhran Pilot Project (LPP), FDO and TRDP. The main purpose of CSO BRIDGE programme is strengthening of CSOs by assessing their capacity needs, followed by a customized capacity development plan, building formal linkages with line departments of the government and the private sector, training on community awareness and engagement on COVID-19 and capacity building on youth engagement, social mobilization, needs identification, prioritization and employment promotion.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has had a direct impact on both the demand and supply of social services and economic opportunities. While there is an increased demand from the citizens, especially the youth for these services, the public sector departments are unable to maintain the existing low standards of service delivery due to immense financial constraints and increased workloads. This has left citizens, specifically the youth predominantly distressed. With the amplification of these trends, the realities of this crisis have triggered reconsideration of several beliefs,
with possible effects on long-term choices for the economy and society. These effects range from attitudes about efficiency versus resilience and our approach to problems that affect us all and call for global and collective action—such as pandemics and climate change—to the role of government and institutions. There is potential for a long-term shift in how institutions support people, through safety nets and a more inclusive social contract. These
trainings would complement the institutional development and will strengthen the capacities. The Pakistani government has scrambled all departments and personnel towards efforts to control transmission and ensure isolation of those testing positive for COVID-19. The effort is monumental as far as disseminating correct information and encouraging social distancing practices is concerned. Multiple organizations are working towards these common goals and are currently insufficient given the massive population to be made aware. The overall objective of the action is to minimize the socio-economic vulnerabilities of communities especially of youth in District Multan, Bahawalpur and Hyderabad through putting in place the role of effective civil society,
improved public services and economically empowered target group during and post Covid-19 times.
Following are the major expected outputs of the programme:

Output 1: Mobilization and technical capacities of local CSO’s are strengthened.

Output 2: CSOs and local authorities reached at higher level of collaboration, cooperation, know-how and transparency.

Output 3: CSOs are able to support Youth, especially females, person with disabilities, transgender and other minority target groups across selected trades.

Objective of the consultancy
Under the supervision and technical guidelines of Lodhran Pilot Project, the consultant, will undertake the following training with nominated staff of 20 CSOs;
1. 03 trainings on Community Score Card approach for CSOs (4 participant’s x 20 CSOs x 3days)

Purpose and specific objectives of the consultancy The Community Score Card (CSC), is a participatory approach to improve the governance and service delivery through assessment of the quality of public services at both sides i.e., service providers & service users like; Health, Livestock, Education, Agriculture, Water &Sanitation, Local Government and PHED etc. The CSC approach is used to effectively engage service providers and service users about available services and their entitlements to solicit their opinions about the accessibility and quality of the services to fill up the gap through strong coordination and advocacy with competent authorities. At the interface stage, service providers and users are provided an opportunity for a direct dialogue that further empowers the public to voice their opinions and demand for improved service delivery. Thus the empowered CSOs will be able to demonstrate CSC exercise in true sense to identify areas for further improvement through better ground work, /planning, conduction of score card through focus group discussion with target groups (service providers and users). The community score card technique will further strengthen the CSOs and raise their capacity to learn about the governance structure and its procedures. The main purpose of offered consultancy, is to capacitate targeted 20 CSOs members on CSC (Community Score card) approach and tools. The Consultant firm / individual will also provide technical support to CSOs members and relevant public institutes in developing effective CSC which will be helpful enough during implementation of community score card activities in targeted communities. As a result, CSOs members will be able to understand the CSC approach and exercise further at their level. Participants will be able to understand the steps of community score card like how to plan better, understanding over RTI, RTF and different related acts during preparatory work & conducting score card with service users and providers. The objectives of consultancy will be accomplished through;

• Developing training manual and participant’s handbook/module over Community Score Card approaches by considering topics on local government system, Right to Information Act, and Right to Public Services Act. In order for the CSOs to be able to rate the quality of government services and understand the grievance redress mechanism outlined in Right to Public Services (RTS) Act.

Facilitate 3 training events of 03 Days Training on Community Score Card approach to Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) members. (20 CSOs, 1CSOx4= 80 pax).

• Practical demonstration is mandatory part of the training to build the capacity of the participants on CSCdevelopment in the field.
• To provide technical support and facilitation at field level during all phases of community score card (CSC) approach activities.
• To develop 20 action plan of interface meetings and Community score card exercise by CSO’s.