ABOUT SPARK MICROGRANTS

Spark Microgrants believes in a world where everyone lives with dignity and determines their own positive future. Decades of prescriptive aid have sidelined the poor from the very programs meant to uplift them. We believe in local solutions and catalyzing rural villages facing poverty into action.

Building on the success of the Advancing Citizen Engagement (ACE) Project, the Government of Rwanda, through the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC) and the Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA), has developed the National Framework for Participatory Village Planning (NFPVP). The framework aims to strengthen citizen participation and inclusive development planning at the village level as part of Rwanda’s decentralization agenda.

Spark Microgrants, in collaboration with MINALOC and LODA, will support the national rollout of the NFPVP beginning in 2026, alongside direct implementation in selected sectors to generate learning for national scale-up.

As a team, we share a set of common values that shape how we work. These are:

• Facilitators. We don’t impose; we enable others to generate impact.
• Community-driven. We are motivated by what is best for the community.
• Process-centered. The how of what we do is just as important as the what.
• Authentic. Our vision and values live in everything we do.
• Dynamic.We seek opportunities and are willing to take risks to serve our community partners better

Purpose of the Consultancy

Spark Microgrants seeks to engage Technical Advisors as individual consultants to provide embedded technical assistance to MINALOC and LODA. The consultants will support the implementation, institutionalization, and scale-up of the National Framework for Participatory Village Planning through advisory services, coordination support, capacity strengthening, and learning.

The consultants will work closely with government counterparts and relevant stakeholders and will be primarily based within MINALOC or LODA offices in Kigali.

Scope of Work

Under the supervision of Spark Microgrants and in close coordination with MINALOC and LODA, the Consultants will:

• Provide technical advisory support for the rollout and institutionalization of the NFPVP
• Support integration of lessons learned from pilot implementation into national tools, guidance, and training materials
• Design and support national-level trainings and awareness-raising activities
• Identify capacity gaps and quality assurance needs at local government level and propose appropriate responses
• Support resource mobilization efforts, including development of concept notes and engagement with development partners
• Advise on funding mechanisms and incentives to support village-identified priorities
• Support the rollout and alignment of monitoring, evaluation, and learning approaches with government systems
• Facilitate coordination and policy dialogue among MINALOC, LODA, MINECOFIN, and development partners
• Support integration of participatory village planning into existing planning and budgeting processes
• Document learning, good practices, and implementation experiences from pilot sectors
• Support communication and advocacy efforts related to the NFPVP
• Participate in relevant meetings, workshops, and forums as requested
• Provide ad hoc coordination and administrative support related to the assignment

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

• Bachelor’s degree in rural/community development, economics, project management, M&E or other related fields
• Demonstrated experience working with government institutions in Rwanda, particularly at national or local government level
• Strong understanding of decentralization, community development, and participatory planning processes in Rwanda
• Proven experience in citizen engagement, governance, or community-driven development
• Experience supporting resource mobilization and donor engagement
• Strong facilitation, coordination, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English

Reporting and Deliverables

The Consultants will report to the Senior Manager of Donor and External Relations at Spark Microgrants and work closely with designated focal points within MINALOC and LODA. Specific deliverables and reporting schedules will be defined in the consultancy contract.

• Provide technical advisory support for the rollout and institutionalization of the NFPVP
• Support integration of lessons learned from pilot implementation into national tools, guidance, and training materials
• Design and support national-level trainings and awareness-raising activities
• Identify capacity gaps and quality assurance needs at local government level and propose appropriate responses
• Support resource mobilization efforts, including development of concept notes and engagement with development partners
• Advise on funding mechanisms and incentives to support village-identified priorities
• Support the rollout and alignment of monitoring, evaluation, and learning approaches with government systems
• Facilitate coordination and policy dialogue among MINALOC, LODA, MINECOFIN, and development partners
• Support integration of participatory village planning into existing planning and budgeting processes
• Document learning, good practices, and implementation experiences from pilot sectors
• Support communication and advocacy efforts related to the NFPVP
• Participate in relevant meetings, workshops, and forums as requested
• Provide ad hoc coordination and administrative support related to the assignment

• Strong facilitation, coordination, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English

• Bachelor’s degree in rural/community development, economics, project management, M&E or other related fields
• Demonstrated experience working with government institutions in Rwanda, particularly at national or local government level
• Strong understanding of decentralization, community development, and participatory planning processes in Rwanda
• Proven experience in citizen engagement, governance, or community-driven development
• Experience supporting resource mobilization and donor engagement