Conseils techniques et organisationnels pour améliorer la coordination et la promotion de la décentralisation

This assignment is part of the implementation of the Promotion of Responsible Governance in Mauritania II (ProGResp II) project, which supports Mauritanian authorities in strengthening local governance and advancing the decentralization process. Mauritania has undertaken an ambitious reform to bring public services closer to citizens, strengthen local government capacities, and promote inclusive and sustainable local development, in line with national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals. Despite significant institutional progress, decentralization continues to face challenges. Mauritania's vast territory, low population density, climate-related pressures, regional disparities in access to public services, and the presence of refugee populations place considerable demands on local governments. At the same time, their human, technical, and financial capacities remain uneven. Coordination between central institutions, sectoral ministries, regions, and municipalities is also insufficiently structured, while responsibilities and institutional roles are not always clearly defined or effectively implemented. Citizen participation and communication between public institutions and communities remain limited. The Government has strengthened the institutional framework for decentralization, notably through the establishment in 2024 of the Ministry Delegate to the Minister of the Interior in charge of Decentralization and Local Development and the National Council for Decentralization and Local Development (CNDDL). The revision of the National Strategy for Decentralization and Local Development (SNDDL) provides an important framework for consolidating these reforms. Against this background, the ProGResp II project will support the coordinated implementation of decentralization reforms by national and local stakeholders. The assignment will run for 21 months, with a particular focus on strengthening institutional communication, improving stakeholder coordination, and increasing ownership of the decentralization process. The assignment comprises three complementary components: 1. Finalization and implementation of the communication strategy The service provider will support the Ministry in finalizing and operationalizing the existing communication strategy for decentralization and local development. This will include an implementation plan, activity schedule, monitoring and evaluation framework, performance indicators, and a clear institutional communication governance mechanism. Support will also be provided to establish an inter-institutional communication team involving the Ministry, relevant government institutions, local governments, and technical and financial partners. The team will coordinate communication activities, ensure consistency of messages, support national campaigns, and monitor implementation. The assignment will also define target audiences, develop tailored messages and communication tools, and propose a capacity-building programme for communication officers to ensure sustainability. 2. Operational implementation of the communication strategy The service provider will support the implementation of the communication plan through the production of institutional and audiovisual materials, national awareness campaigns, public events, radio and television programmes, and digital content. Particular attention will be given to regional and local communication, including awareness campaigns, citizen dialogue, and strengthened communication capacities of local authorities. Digital communication will be reinforced through the management of digital platforms and social media, regular multimedia content production, and audience engagement monitoring. The assignment will also support permanent dialogue mechanisms between public institutions, local governments, civil society, the media, and citizens through regional forums, participatory workshops, public consultations, community meetings, and digital platforms. These mechanisms will contribute to greater transparency, improved access to information, and stronger citizen ownership of decentralization reforms. 3. Short-term technical assistance A pool of short-term experts will provide targeted technical assistance to the Ministry and project partners throughout implementation. Their support will focus on assessing the implementation of the SNDDL, identifying challenges, formulating recommendations, and supporting its updating in response to the evolving institutional context. Experts may also support national and regional consultations, validation workshops, technical studies, strategic reports, methodological tools, practical guides, capacity-building activities, and the implementation of recommendations arising from evaluations. Their contribution will help ensure the technical quality and sustainability of the reforms and their alignment with national policies and international good practices in territorial governance. Implementation Approach and Expected Results All activities will follow a participatory and inclusive approach, involving central government institutions, local authorities, technical and financial partners, civil society, the media, and community representatives. Particular attention will be given to the participation of women, youth, and vulnerable groups. By the end of the assignment, the Ministry is expected to have an operational communication strategy, strengthened mechanisms for coordinating institutional communication, modern communication and citizen-engagement tools, and an updated and validated SNDDL supported by practical technical recommendations. Overall, the intervention will contribute to stronger coordination among decentralization stakeholders, greater visibility and understanding of ongoing reforms, improved citizen participation, and increased ownership of the decentralization process, thereby supporting more effective and inclusive local governance in Mauritania.