HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO-10-034 - FCM International Development Program Volunteer Assignment - TanzaniaREPORT
REPORT TO:
Councillor B. Vrbanovic, Chair and Members of the Finance
and Corporate Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING:
September 27, 2010
SUBMITTED BY:
Carla Ladd, CAO
PREPARED BY:
Carla Ladd, CAO
WARD(S) INVOLVED:
DATE OF REPORT: September 22, 2010
REPORT NO.: CAO-10-034
SUBJECT:
FCM INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENT - TANZANIA
RECOMMENDATION:
That Rod Regier, Executive Director of Economic Development, be authorized to participate as
a Municipal Local Economic Development Specialist working in a volunteer capacity with the
Federation of Canadian Municipalities to help design a new country program for municipal
economic development in Tanzania between January 2011 and July 2011.
REPORT:
FCM is currently recruiting individual volunteers to assist in the design of new country programs
in Cambodia, Vietnam, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Burkina Faso, Mali and Tanzania for the Municipal
Partners for Economic Development (MPED) program.
The five-year MPED will focus on advancing sustainable and equitable local economic
development (LED) in selected countries by assisting local governments to provide more
effective LED services that meet the needs of their citizens and the business community. MPED
will support national priorities for improving the investment climate and implementing
decentralization and local government reforms through the transfer of new knowledge and tools
related to LED planning, generating revenues and delivering related services. The program will
also help partner cities to increase capacity and skills in outreach, promotion and public
engagement with locally based enterprises, with the overall goal of providing better services to
local businesses. MPED will be co-managed by in-country Local Government Associations
(LGAs).
Canadian municipal experts are required to assist FCM and its partners in the design of the
country programs to support capacity development related to LED. Volunteers are expected to
provide strategic leadership and use culturally-sensitive approaches to initiate a dialogue with
overseas local government representatives and staff. The selected individuals must have strong
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expertise in organizational change management, including the ability to develop systems, tools
and templates to assist Asian, Latin American and/or African counterparts develop and use new
approaches for improved LED. S/he should also have a background in managing projects, as
well as skills/experience in adult education, coaching and/or mentoring. Demonstrated capacity
in providing strategic direction in a peer-to-peer relationship is required. In accordance with the
needs of the partner country, FCM is looking for volunteers with working abilities in English,
French and Spanish.
Mr. Regier has been asked to participate as the Municipal Economic Development Expert for
the project in Tanzania. The project will take place over a period of approximately 6 months,
commencing in January 2011 with completion by July 31, 2011. The specific requirements
during this period will be a two week mission to Tanzania followed by report writing and
meetings with FCM.
The project will result in a country specific economic development program involving
demonstration projects in at least two municipalities in Tanzania. The City of Kitchener will have
an opportunity to apply to participate in these projects once the details are determined by mid-
2011.
This project will build on the City of Kitchener’s participation in FCM’s international development
program and previous experience in Africa. It will provide a significant professional development
opportunity for Mr. Regier and will contribute to FCM’s objective of supporting municipal
capacity building in the developing world.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Funding for the program is provided by FCM/CIDA which covers all direct costs related to travel,
accommodation and living expenses. Support from the City is provided by way of providing staff
time.
COMMUNICATIONS:
None at this time.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Carla Ladd, CAO
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