Experience Required

More than 10 years

Position Title

Policy Engagement and Institutional Uptake Lead

Required Numbers

1

Project Name

Local Infrastructure Support Programme (LISP)

Duty Station

Lumbini

Overall Programme Objective

LISP will improve the ability of Nepal’s local and provincial governments to respond to the demands of citizens for local infrastructure and increase the legitimacy and accountability of local government to their citizens with an emphasis on the empowerment of women. It will create green recovery jobs to stimulate the local economy and build climate resilience.

Objectives of the Role

The Policy Engagement and Institutional Uptake Lead will coordinate the programme’s final phase of learning-to-action work, ensuring that evidence, recommendations and best practices generated through programme delivery are translated into a practical policy and influence agenda. The role will develop and implement an institutional uptake strategy, coordinate engagement across federal, provincial and local government stakeholders, oversee policy dialogue and reform processes, The role will focus on targeted, achievable changes in institutional practice, systems, guidance, procedures or decision-making processes, rather than major national policy reform. Over the final eight months of the programme, the Lead will work closely with technical experts, MEL colleagues and programme leadership to identify priority messages, refine recommendations, map target audiences and support structured engagement with relevant stakeholders.

The Policy Engagement and Institutional Uptake Lead’s key responsibilities will include

leading the development of a focused policy and institutional uptake plan including a framework against which progress can be measured;

identifying entry points for small-scale policy, procedural or practice change;

coordinating translation of technical inputs into clear recommendations including policy briefs as needed;

supporting engagement with government counterparts – MoLMCFAGA, DoLI, Provincial governments, PLGSP, local institutions – MuAN, NARMIN, donors, civil society or implementing partners;

facilitating workshops and policy dialogues;

tracking uptake opportunities and stakeholder responses

Contribute to programme reporting as required

Scope of Work

The Policy Engagement and Institutional Uptake Lead will be responsible for the following tasks

1. Leading the development of a focused policy and institutional uptake plan.

Develop a practical institutional uptake and policy engagement plan that translates LISP learning,evidence and recommendations into a clear sequence of priority actions for the final phase of delivery.

Define realistic milestones, responsibilities and progress measures so that implementation can be tracked and adjusted in response to stakeholder feedback and emerging opportunities.

Regularly review and update the institutional uptake roadmap in response to stakeholder engagement, emerging opportunities and programme learning.

Coordinate with the Team Lead – TA Response and Engineering Expert and Technical Coordinator to ensure implementation learning from demand-led technical assistance informs policy engagement priorities and institutional reform activities.

2. Identifying entry points for small-scale policy, procedural or practice change.

Work with programme colleagues and counterparts to identify where LISP evidence can inform achievable changes in guidance, systems, procedures, coordination mechanisms or local infrastructure practice.

Provide strategic direction on evidence priorities and review evidence products to ensure they support policy engagement and institutional uptake objectives.

Prioritise entry points that are politically feasible, institutionally relevant and capable of being advanced within the remaining programme timeframe.

3. Coordinating translation of technical inputs into clear recommendations.

Oversee and coordinate policy reform assignments undertaken by the Policy Reform Support Expert to ensure outputs align with the programme's institutional uptake strategy and government priorities.

Coordinate inputs from technical specialists, MEL colleagues and delivery teams to distil lessons into concise, actionable recommendations, including policy brief if needed, for government, FCDO and other relevant stakeholders.

Ensure recommendations are evidence-based, clearly framed, and tailored to the needs and decision- making processes of the intended audience.

4. Facilitating policy dialogues.

Lead and facilitate policy dialogues, providing strategic direction for agendas, discussion materials and follow-up actions

Support structured engagement with government agencies, donors, national institutions, civil society and implementing partners through targeted meetings, workshops and policy dialogues.

5. Tracking uptake opportunities and stakeholder responses.

Maintain a simple record of engagement, stakeholder feedback, emerging opportunities and agreed follow-up actions linked to the uptake plan.

Use this tracking to inform programme reporting including quarterly reports, identify where additional support is needed, and capture evidence of progress towards institutional or practice change.

Review and provide quality assurance for policy recommendations, institutional guidance and engagement products before dissemination.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

Master's degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, Governance, Development Studies, Civil Engineering, Infrastructure Management or a related discipline.

Experience

At least 10 years’ relevant experience in policy analysis, and policy engagement, institutional strengthening, governance, programme learning or uptake of evidence into practice. (relevance to infrastructure sector will be an advantage)

Demonstrated experience translating programme learning, research or technical evidence into actionable recommendations for institutional or operational change.

Strong understanding of policy and institutional change processes, including how to identify feasible entry points for influence.

Experience in coordinating multi-disciplinary technical teams and facilitating consensus around priority messages or recommendations.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Policy analysis

Excellent stakeholder engagement, facilitation and relationship management skills.

Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and Nepali, including the ability to present complex issues clearly to non-specialist audiences.

Experience working on donor-funded programmes and with government or public institutions is desirable.

Key Terms and Conditions

Consultants will be retained on a framework/call-down basis to provide technical assistance to Local Governments under LISP. Assignments will be offered according to programme priorities and Local Government demand. With the Post-July LISP TA, TA support will be fully demand driven. Consequently, the allocation of inputs under any resulting contract does not guarantee utilisation of the full level of effort, and deployments will be made only when required by participating Local Governments and approved by LISP.

Successful consultants will be required to adhere to DT Global's Code of Conduct, safeguarding, anti-corruption, confidentiality, and health and safety policies. Consultants must complete mandatory compliance training and maintain the highest standards of professional integrity and ethical behaviour throughout the assignment.

Duration

The position is expected to be continued till until 31st March 2027, subject to sufficient interest in the demand led model and success of the delivery model and budgetary commitment from the Client.

Detailed ToR can be downloaded from the following link

"CLICK HERE"

About Company

Vision: A force for positive change. DT Global aspires to shape a future where sustainable development and innovation empower individuals, communities, and nations, fostering inclusive prosperity, social equity, and environmental stewardship.

Purpose

Creating impact. Transforming lives. Partnering for a better world.

Goal

To positively impact 500 million lives by 2045.

We are a top five international development contractor.

Core Values: We value Integrity and Collaboration in everything we do. We make business decisions based on our commitment to Civility, Innovation, Learning & Adaptation, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility, and Technical Excellence.

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