The Citizens' Engagement Program (CEP) in Mozambique will undertake social accountability training for staff and partners. Bente Consulting is contracted to design and plan the training which will take place in August 2017. June-August 2017. Read more about CEP here.
Review of Global South Civil Society Support Program in Kenya, Uganda and Somalia. The review included field work in Kenya and Nairobi from 1-18 July. It focussed on lessons learned in relation to the grant facility mechanism and assessment of obtained results in terms of increased capacity with involved civil society organizations.The main feature of the program is the matching between CSOs/CBOs in demand for capacity development and Capacity Development Partners offering training and capacity building. The review took place from June - August 2017 and was carried out by a team of two consultants for which Bente Consluting provided the team leader. The Global South Civil Society Program was a pilot initiative financed by Danida. Read more about the Global South program here.
Review of the Land Fund in Mozambique (iTC - iniciativas para Terras Comunitärias). The review has focussed on the organizational governance systems, as well as the review of program implementation. The review has analyzed the institutional transition processaimed at establishing an independent foundation. It has paid special attention to the Social Preparation methodology, which aims at empowering communities through land delimitation and collective land demarcation. The monitoring system has been analysed with a critical view on documentation of change against strategic objectives. A gender analysis has been undertaken based on document review, interviews and field observations with the aim of assessing the implementation of the Gender & Diversity Strategy. The review included field work in Gaza, Sofala and Nampula Provinces. Draft findings and recommendations were presented to the iTC General Assembly. The review took place in May-June 2017 and involved a team of three consultants of which Bente Consulting provided the team leader.
Bente Consulting is contracted to support BØRNEfonden's partner organization ASDAP (Association de Soutienau Développement des Activités du Population) in Mali with advocacy training and preparation of a national level advocacy strategy and plan. The advocacy strategy is part of a three-year project addressing Female Genital Mutilation in Mali. The assignment includes the preparation of a 5-days training workshop to be held in Lomé (Togo) from 20-24 February 2017. Read more about ASDAP here.
The 2016 CSR-initiatives were relatively limited and included:
2016 has been a year characterized by major changes in two of the major business areas of Bente Consulting: support to civil society development through Danish NGOs and the upcoming closing of the Danish Embassy in Mozambique. This has called for forward looking strategic choices in terms of new geographical areas and new clients. In spite of this, 2016 has been characterized by a mixture of old and new fields of work and the main tasks have concentrated on:
Civil society and organizational capacity development – unfolded through a Thematic Review of the Danish trade union 3F for Danida with field visits to Zambia and South Africa; mid-term-evaluation of Norwegian People Aid’s support to farmers’ organizations in Mozambique, and review of the Danish Association of the Blind’s Asia-Pacific Program with a workshop in the Philippines. And finally, the part-time position as grant assessment consultant for Globalt Fokus’ capacity development fund, has provided insight knowledge on Danish CSOs and innovative initiatives on organizational capacity building. I have, however, decided to leave Globalt Fokus, as the schedule is often incompatible with my other assignments.
Governance and Human Rights – finalizing the formulation of the Danish Governance and Human Rights Program in Tanzania, including the preparation of Development Engagements with seven local CSOs, development programs and institutions. Youth rights were the main focus for the appraisal of BØRNEfonden’s Youth Program in West Africa carried out at a participatory workshop in Lomé with particioants from Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali and Togo.
Program management – represented through two separate, yet interlinked assignments: A Lessons Learned Study for the Environmental Sector Program Support (institutional capacity component) in Mozambique, gathering lessons learned on program management and capacity development of involved government institutions; and the preparation of a perspective document on a possible Phase II of the Municipal Development Program in Mozambique. Both programs are components under the overall Danish engagement in the environmental sector in Mozambique.
Mozambique – going from bad to worse with looming civil war, economic crisis caused by the former government’s clandestine loans, political killings, increased corruption and inflation. In spite of 40+ years of independence and massive development assistance, poverty is still prevailing and little has changed for the small farmers, who are still demanding access to markets, technical know-how and farm input supplies. They have a mobile phone and easier access – but the basics in terms of education, health and social welfare bear a terrible resemblance with the 1992-situation I know so well from Zambézia Province.
At the doorstep of 2017, the first new assignment is a result of expanding into new business areas – francophone West Africa: Preparation of an advocacy training workshop with ASDAP BØRNEfonden’s Mali partner to take place in Lomé (Togo) in February. The ESPS II Lessons Learned Study will be finalized by end of January when comments from the Mozambican ministry of environment (MITADER) are due.
Bonne Année - Feliz Ano Novo - Happy New Year – Godt Nytår!
The Environmental Sector Program Support phase II in Mozambique is coming to an end by 2017, and Bente Consulting ApS has been contracted by the implementing consultant NIRAS to undertake a Lessons Learned & Visibility Study. The study focuses on capturing lessons learned related to program implementation (alignment, financial management, planning, monitoring and integration of climate change agenda). The study will also incorporate lessons learned captured by on going technical studies on Mangrove Restoration and Water Resources. The study will be presented at a seminar in Maputo on 7th December 2016. Read about the ESPS here.
Bente Consulting ApS has prepared a zero-draft paper on possible focus for the Phase 2 of PRODEM (municipal development program) in Mozambique. This is the second assignment for PRODEM (implemented by COWI) which will be concluded by end November 2016 with a draft paper on the perspectives for focus of Phase 2 (2018-19). The zero-draft has focused on issues related to the implementation strategy, capacity building of municipalities, citizens' engagement and social accountability mechanisms, as well as the role of technical assistance. Read more about PRODEM here.
Bente Consulting is contracted by CISU to undertake an appraisal of BØRNEfonden's program proposal for a youth program in West Africa (Togo, Mali, Benin and Burkina Faso). The youth program focus on SRHR and socio-economic rights and will be implemented through national youth organizations. The appraisal takes place in July 2016 and includes a week's field work in Togo to meet the partners and interview the Togolese partner organization's (JVC) member associations. Read more about BØRENfonden here.
The program was approved by CISU and BØRNEfonden can start implementing from 2017.
Bente Consulting ApS
Egholmvej 32A, Agersoe
DK - 4244 Agersø
Denmark
+45 2257 2207 (Denmark)
+258 82 7679 357 (Mozambique)
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Skype: bentetopsoejensen
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