The present tender aims to contract a qualified consulting firm or consortium to provide technical assistance and capacity development services that contribute to project output 1. The contractor will work closely with local authorities, decentralized technical services, and civil-society organizations across the three target regions (Assaba, Guidimagha, Hodh Gharbi). 1. Objectives of the Assignment - Strengthen the capacities of communes to plan, finance, and manage local development and basic services. - Support participatory, transparent, and gender-sensitive local governance mechanisms. - Contribute to evidence-based learning, communication, and capitalization of project results. 2. Main Areas of Intervention 1. Institutional and organizational development o Support to communal structures for planning, budgeting, and reporting. o Coaching of municipal teams on administrative and financial management. 2. Capacity development and training o Design and implementation of training programmes for elected officials, communal staff, and local associations. o Development of practical tools and guidelines for participatory planning and local service delivery. 3. Support to local development initiatives o Assistance in identifying, formulating, and monitoring microprojects financed by the local development fund. o Integration of gender equality, climate adaptation, and conflict-sensitive approaches into project selection and implementation. 4. Knowledge management and communication o Collection and analysis of data for monitoring and evaluation. o Documentation of best practices, preparation of case studies, and dissemination of results. 5. Coordination and synergy building o Collaboration with MEF, DGDDL, DGAT, and other partners (EU, UNICEF, ENABEL, World Bank). 3. Expected Deliverables - A detailed inception report with methodology, work plan, and results framework. - Training modules, manuals, and facilitation tools adapted to local contexts. - Regular technical and financial reports, including data on indicators and lessons learned. - A capitalization report summarizing good practices and recommendations for scaling up. 4. Implementation Approach The consultant will apply a participatory, adaptive, and results-oriented methodology aligned with GIZ standards. Capacity transfer, ownership by local actors, and coordination with other donors are key principles. Activities must integrate the cross-cutting themes of gender equality, climate resilience, and conflict sensitivity.