by badminme | Mar 3, 2023 | Members News
Request for Tender: Research and training pilot project on Just Transition and Socio Economic Rights in Clare.
Clare Public Participation Network in collaboration with Clare County Council, Clare Local Development Company and Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, is seeking proposals for a researcher or researcher(s) to lead the development of an innovative pilot project that seeks to enshrine Socio-Economic Rights and Just Transition Principles in County Clare’s Local Economic and Community Plan. This is a time- limited project for which the consultative phase of work is expected to be complete by end of May 2023 with other aspects such as written reports and submissions being finalised later but no later than September 2023.
We are open to joint applications for example from a specialist in socio- economic rights working with a specialist in just- transition, or any other collaboration.
Whilst Clare PPN staff will oversee and administer this project it will be informed by a steering group of people with lived experience of poverty, marginalisation, disability and social exclusion in County Clare. Those tendering should expect to meet monthly with this steering group either online or in person for the duration of the project.
The successful applicant(s) will:
- Have a deep understanding of socio economic rights nationally and internationally, an understanding of and experience working with communities who experience disadvantage and poverty. We particularly welcome expressions of interest from researchers who have worked to address and analyse the intersectional nature of disadvantage (including gender, disability, ethnicity, class and residency status).
- Have an understanding of policy making in/for rural or rural- adjacent areas.
- Have expertise in just transition principles, climate change and climate action..
- Have an understanding of policy making in Ireland in particular in relation to Local Government. Demonstrate an understanding of National, Regional and EU policy frameworks as they apply to Local Government policy.
- Have an understanding of other frameworks such as Public Sector Duty and Sustainable Development Goals which will serve to underpin any recommendations made as a result of this pilot project.
Tasks include but are not limited to:
- Conduct a desktop study of existing data and research on Socio Economic Rights, Just Transition and poverty in Clare building on from the recently published ‘Towards an Anti-Poverty Strategy for Clare’.
- Working with staff and members of Clare PPN devise and deliver an introductory training programme explaining Socio-Economic Rights and Just Transition Principles in Clare for stakeholders including some or all of the following; groups who experience intersectional deprivation, staff of community organisations and agencies, staff and Councillors from Clare County Council, TDS/Senators, trade union groups, and representative bodies for example from farming and tourism sectors. Up to 6 online and/or in person workshops should be factored into tenders.
- Will develop an ethical research framework for a stakeholder consultation process.
- Will advise on and assist with the hosting of consultations/surveys /interviews to ascertain stakeholders views and suggestions on enshrining socio economic rights and just transition principles within policy in County Clare in particular within Clare’s Local Economic and Community Plan. Up to 8 online and/or in person consultations should be factored into tenders.
- Will analyse and produce a written interim and final report on the findings from the research and consultations including identifying specific policy responses and actions to address key issues.
- Will be open to working with a creative practitioner who will create visual representations of input from consultations.
- Will, through Clare PPN steering group and staff collaborate with Clare County Council’s Economic Development Strategic Policy Committee, Local Community Development Committee, and LECP Consultant team to share learning and expertise.
Background:
This project is supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Dormant Accounts Fund. Minister Joe O’Brien announces pilot projects to support Local Authority engagement with marginalised communities – Pobal
Clare PPN is a network of 362 community and voluntary groups in County Clare who work collectively for the wellbeing of this and future generations and organise the formal representation of community groups in the policy formation committees of Clare County Council.
The principles and values that underpin the work of Clare PPN are; inclusive, participatory, independent, valuing of diversity, transparent and accountable.
Key Objectives of the project:
- To deliver an introductory training programme that builds a shared understanding of socio- economic rights and just transition principles amongst stakeholders in local government policy making in Clare.
- To produce a report from consultation inputs which can be submitted to Clare County Council’s Local Community and Economic Plan and which contains specific recommendations on realising socio economic rights in Clare and which according to just transition principles, outlines measures and approaches that can help ensure that those who experience poverty and marginalisation are protected from and where possible benefit from actions and changes to reduce carbon emissions in the County.
- To locate, create and provide solid data on the lived experiences in County Clare in particular in relation to socio economic rights. In this aspect of the project the researchers will have the opportunity to consult with and inform a team of consultants currently working to develop the Local Economic and Community Plan for County Clare. It is possible that aspects of this project will overlap with that of the LECP consultants. Clare PPN will provide the opportunities for both ‘teams’ to link together and share information and has established already a willingness to collaborate.
- To collaborate with Pobal and three other pilot projects to share learning both positive or critical from this initiative.
Budget
The budget for this tender is €20,000 inclusive of all the researcher(s) expenses including travel and subsistence and inclusive of VAT. A detailed breakdown of the proposed tender is requested. It is estimated that approximately 60 days work will be required from the successful tenderer(s). This amount is fixed, no matter the number of researchers involved the available funds are as stated.
Please note that fees relating to venues, meeting expenses, participants expenses, promotion and publication of reports are not included in this amount. A current tax clearance certificate will be required. This contract will be awarded on the basis of a fixed price contract. The successful consultant(s) is (are) expected to work within the agreed budget.
Timeframe:
The closing date for receipt of tenders is Monday, 20th March 2023. The successful tender will be informed within one week of closing date and should be ready to commence work immediately.
Tender can be forwarded to sarah@clareppn.ie for the attention of Sarah Clancy, with any supporting documents.
The tender must include the following:
- Methodology to be used
- Description of expertise and experience including an understanding or previous work demonstrating understanding of socio economic rights, just transition and climate action and preferably class based and intersectional structures of marginalisation
- Breakdown of time allocations and ability to meet deadlines stated
- Samples of previous strategies or reports (attached to tender)
- Detailed budget in Euros and inclusive of VAT, including all costs associated with the work such as preparation time and travel expenses
- Referees
Clare PPN shall not accept any responsibility for any expenses or loss, which may be incurred in the preparation of a Tender.
Selection Criteria:
Proposals will be evaluated against the following criteria:
Criterion – Max score available
- Qualifications, Relevant Experience, Track Record – 40%
- Methodology, Understanding of the Brief – 40%
- Cost of successful project delivery and value for money – 20%
- Total Maximum Score Available – 100%
Failure to comply with the above selection criteria will result in disqualification from the tendering process. Clare PPN may wish to conduct interviews on the basis of evaluating the tenders received.
Clare PPN particularly welcomes tenders from researchers with lived experience of marginalisation, disability poverty or other forms of social exclusion.
Confidentiality:
All information supplied in connection with this Tender shall be regarded as confidential and by submitting an offer, the Tenderer agrees to be bound by the obligation to preserve the confidentiality of all such information.
by badminme | Feb 15, 2023 | Current, Members News, National, PPN News
Seven years a growing – some Clare PPN highlights since 2016
When you’re involved with a community organisation, it can be so busy that years go by before you get a chance to stop and stock of your activities and achievements. Clare PPN recently had cause to sit down and reflect on the highlights of the seven years since the network was set up in 2016. Below is a whistle-stop tour through just some of the community events and other projects Clare PPN has been involved in.
A good deal of Clare PPN’s work, which isn’t represented here, is behind the scenes – submissions, public consultations, training and supporting our member groups – but we always love having the opportunity to get out and about in the community.
Rural Rejigs conference
“What an absolutely brilliant day this was… One of the most thought provoking events I’ve ever been to.” Just one of the comments from a participant in ‘Rural Rejigs’ in December 2017, a day of ideas and discussions about how rural communities can thrive. The event, co-hosted with the Clare Local Development Company, was stimulating, encouraging and challenging, while also being a celebration of the tireless work already being done in rural communities. ‘Hive Mind’ discussion groups gave the participants a chance to network and share how they will sustain themselves in their work for positive change. There were also live performances from musicians Katie Theasby and Raed Said.
Quare Clare Pride
The rainbows, glad rags and drag queens were out in force last September (2022) for the first Quare Clare Pride Festival. There was a great turnout for several events over two days, from a poetry reading in Ennis to a burlesque drag and DJ night in Shannon, with a Clare Youth Pride Party and display of the Irish Names Quilt. The Pride Festival was organised by Quare Clare, a group for LGBTQ+ people in the Banner County set up in 2021 by Clare PPN and several other organisations. If you’d like to be involved in Quare Clare, please email: lgbtq.clare@gmail.com. You can follow Quare Clare activities on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/QuareClareLGBTQ
Election Hustings
In the run-up to both the local elections in 2019 and the general election in 2020, Clare PPN held very successful Election Hustings, at which candidates could make their pitches and take questions from voters. This photo shows a packed Cloughleigh Community Centre in Ennis for the general election hustings in 2020. The centre was packed to the rafters for that event, in which 12 of the candidates took part, facilitated by journalists Fiona McGarry and Andy Hamilton. The event was live-streamed, with more than 2,000 views. A poll was taken on entry and exit to add interest to proceedings. These events are part of Clare PPN’s general work to increase interest in participation in political processes in County Clare.
Big Hello Intercultural Picnic
The Big Hello Intercultural Picnic in May 2019 gave people from different communities the opportunity to share experiences and information. About 120 people attended this event, which was organised by Clare PPN, the Clare Women’s Network and Clare Immigrant Support Centre. There was catered food from local restaurants and people also brought their own to share. We also had henna tattoos and entertainment. People from the diverse communities that make up the Clare population got together and met the organisation representatives to learn about what we do and how they can be involved. Thanks to Clare County Council for providing the majority of the funding.
Towards an Anti-Poverty Strategy for Clare
A ground-breaking report on poverty in Co Clare was launched in September 2022, authored by renowned author and activist Dr Conor McCabe and funded by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. The report, which attracted extensive national media coverage, was the outcome of a nine-month participatory research project, conducted by Clare PPN and five other organisations, under the guidance of Dr McCabe. The research included ‘peer to peer’ research sessions at which people experiencing poverty shared their experiences. The aim of the project was to develop an anti-poverty strategy for Co Clare and to address the severe lack of research and data on poverty in the county and to identify the root causes of poverty. You can download the report here:
https://clareppn.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Clare_Anti_Poverty_Report_Sept2022_web.pdf
‘One-Stop Shops’ for Voters
In advance of the various general and local elections and referendums, Clare PPN has held voter registration ‘One Stop Shops’ to make it easy for people to register to vote – in particular those who have turned 18 and those who have migrated to Ireland, who can vote in local elections. To organise these events, at locations across the county, we collaborated with Clare County Council and the Clare Garda Division. This photo is of one of our One Stop Shops in 2018, in the run-up to the referendum on repealing the 8th Amendment, at which more than 200 people registered to vote.
Network November
This event in 2018 was a very successful collaboration with Clare Volunteer Centre and Clare Local Development Company. We delivered training for community and voluntary groups in how to recruit volunteers, how to access funding and how to understand conflict, with training sessions across the Banner County, including Ennis, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Killaloe, Kilrush and Ennistymon.
Supporting DP residents in Lisdoonvarna
Clare PPN has been involved in several events in Lisdoonvarna to support residents of a Direct Provision centre in the town. In August 2018, we facilitated an event with the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland (MASI) who came to Lisdoonvarna to meet with asylum seekers there. The photo above is of a ‘Working Life’ event we hosted in Lisdoonvarna in 2018, offering information and support for navigating the world of work in Ireland. In 2019, during the local election campaign, we held a special voter registration and ‘meet the candidates’ event in Lisdoonvarna, specially for the residents of the DP centre. A journalist for the New Yorker magazine, Masha Gessen, attended this event, at which local election candidates made their pitches:
https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/irelands-strange-cruel-system-for-asylum-seekers
Green Shoots Gathering
Our Green Shoots event, way back in our first year of 2016, was held at Glór in Ennis – a family friendly environmental get together with talks, workshops, entertainment and a screening of an award-winning documentary, Atlantic. It was open to all, and Clare-based environmental and community groups displayed their materials. There were some great speakers, and the day finished with entertainment from Little John Nee – that’s him in the photo above.
Traveller Pride Awards & Clare Traveller CDP
Last July (2022), there was a wonderful evening’s entertainment and a celebration of Travellers and Traveller culture, at the first Clare Traveller Pride Awards. There was a big turnout at Cois na hAibhne in Ennis to see comedian Martin Beanz Warde act as MC for the night. Awards were presented in seven categories, and the aim of the awards was to highlight and recognise the achievements and contributions of Travellers in their communities and in Irish society. The event was organised by what was then a brand new organisation, the Clare Traveller Community Development Project (CDP), which was jointly set up by Clare PPN and other organisations. Its objective is to develop a programme responding to the needs of the Traveller community – engaging closely with the community and ensuring a strong Traveller voice and active participation from the community. Clare Traveller CDP now has three staff and shares a premises with Clare PPN.
Climate presentation to Oireachtas Committee
Clare PPN co-ordinator Sarah Clancy was one of three national PPN representatives who testified to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Climate Action in November 2022. The topic was the Irish experience of community-led climate action and opportunities for its enhancement. Sarah was joined by Charles Stanley-Smith and Cliona Kelliher of Tipperary PPN and Kildare PPN respectively. You can read Sarah’s opening statement here:
https://clareppn.ie/opening-statement-for-the-joint-committee-on-the-environment-and-climate-action/
by badminme | Feb 13, 2023 | Members News, PPN News
CATU Clare met this weekend at Clare PPN. For more information on this grassroots organisation and how to get involved read on:
What is CATU?
- CATU stands for Community Action Tenants Union. It is a union for people outside of their workplaces, in the communities where they live, across the island of Ireland.
- CATU is grounded in the principles of grassroots democracy, collective organising, direct action and solidarity between members.
- The union is open to all those who want to act together against the urgent economic and social issues most of us face in our daily lives, such as sky-rocketing rents, substandard accommodation, lack of social housing, cuts in public services, the rising price of utilities and so on. We want to organise together not just among tenants, but also alongside mortgage holders, those in emergency and precarious accommodation, and everyone else who does not directly profit from the housing crisis.
What we believe
- We think that the only way to beat those responsible for our hardships – the landlords, banks, companies and politicians – is to get organised ourselves.
- We might not have capital, clout or authority, but we have numbers. And our strength comes from our solidarity and determination. We strongly believe that real power lies in the hands of ordinary people – tenants, communities, and workers – and change can only come when we act together.
- Our vision is of an organisation in cities and towns across this island, uniting communities in a coordinated struggle on issues we all share.
And We Want to Win.
Why join CATU?
- CATU is a democratic organisation, not associated with any political party. It is independently funded through membership dues rather than government or corporate grants.
- We are only accountable to our members; our direction, actions and campaigns are free from outside influence.
- All CATU members are equal and actively involved in all decisions and actions. While we are not perfect, we aim for CATU to be welcoming and inclusive to people from all backgrounds. We strongly encourage those whose voices are not heard enough in Irish society to join our union and collectively struggle for a fairer society. CATU is striving to build and improve internal mechanisms which amplify minority and oppressed voices.
- An important part of how we organise is our collective commitment to defending our members. Through organised action, we put pressure on those responsible and act in a spirit of mutual aid alongside CATU members in difficult situations.
- In our relatively short history, we can already count significant victories. Numerous times, CATU branches across Ireland have stopped illegal evictions, pressured landlords into returning deposits, or otherwise helped vulnerable members against abuse and injustice.
What CATU doesn’t do:
- CATU is not a legal advice service, nor is it an advocacy group. None of us are experts, but we constantly learn from each other’s knowledge and experiences.
- Our core activity is on the ground, in communities and real-life situations, not in theorising abstract ideas.
- Becoming a member is not subscribing to a fee-for service, but the beginning of gaining back power by organising with others like you in your community.
by badminme | Feb 2, 2023 | Members News, PPN News
€2.9 million for Clare – Community Recognition Fund 2023
Almost three million euro is being made available to communities in Clare who are hosting Temporary Protection and/or International Protection applicants. Sixteen towns and villages throughout Clare will soon be invited by Clare County Council to apply for small and large scale capital grants. This is to recognise the incredible work already done in these communities in welcoming displaced people and to improve facilities for everybody going forward.
The towns eligible for the funding stream are: Kilkee, Kilrush, Liscannor, Lisdoonvarna, Ballyvaughan, Lahinch, Doolin, Ennis, Clarecastle, Bodyke, Killaloe, Flagmount, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Bunratty, Shannon & Meelick
Application forms will be available and circulated to you on Tuesday 7th February. With a very tight deadline of Wednesday 22nd February for receipt of completed forms, now is this the time for communities to get together and decide on projects they would like to progress in their area.
• A small scale capital grant (up to €2,000) will be available for the purchase of equipment for local clubs, committees and organisations eg: musical instruments, sporting goods, art supplies etc.
• A large scale capital grant (over €2,000) will be available for the development, enhancement or refurbishment of cultural, community, sporting or cultural facilities; purchase of community vehicles etc.
Meetings will be held in each municipal district for information and assistance as follows:
Lisdoonvarna Pavillion: Tuesday 14th February 10am – 2pm
Kilrush (venue TBD): Tuesday 14th February 10am – 2pm
Scarriff MD Area Office: Thursday 16th February 10am – 2pm
Shannon Wolfetones GAA: Thursday 16th February 10am – 1pm
Ennis Buttermarket: Thursday 16th February 2pm – 5pm
Full details will follow next week but please start having the discussion now!!!
