Background

On August 28^th 2019, Minister Michael Ring launched Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: A five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland 2019- 2024. The publication of this Strategy is the culmination of a number of years work by the Department of Rural and Community Development, supported by the Cross-Sectoral Group on Local and Community Development. This work has built on the foundations laid by the 2016 Framework Policy for Local and Community Development, and has set a general direction of travel for Government policy in relation to community development, local development and the community and voluntary sector for the coming years. The Strategy includes a commitment to review and re-establish a Cross-Sectoral Group on Local and Community Development to advance the objectives and monitor progress of the implementation of Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities.

To this end, we are now inviting expressions of interest from persons involved in the sector to participate in the Cross-Sectoral Group.

Role of the Cross-Sectoral Group

The primary role of the Cross-Sectoral Group will be to progress the implementation of the Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities Strategy. The role will involve inputting to annual work plans, monitoring progress on implementation and advising on any changes that may be needed to existing actions. The Group will comprise representation from relevant Government Departments, public bodies, and community and voluntary sector stakeholders.

Unassigned Seats on the Cross-Sectoral Group

The Department is committed to ensuring the voice and experience of community and voluntary sector practitioners is strongly reflected in the composition of the Cross-Sectoral Group. The overall composition of the Cross-Sectoral Group as outlined in the Draft Terms of Reference reflects a balance of representation of public bodies and community and voluntary sector and local and community development stakeholders. Two of these seats have been reserved for an open call for expressions of interest from practitioners or persons involved in supporting community and voluntary sector or local and community development.

These seats will be assigned on the basis of this open call for expressions of interest. The Department will shortlist applicants against the criteria, outlined below.

Review Panel

A panel comprising three members (i.e. DRCD Libraries Development and Community Policy Unit, DRCD Community and Voluntary Supports Unit plus one independent, external member who possesses a record of commitment to public service values) will meet to consider the shortlisted applicants.

Indicative Criteria

Applicants will be required to meet the following criteria:

• Actively working in the community and voluntary sector for a period of no less than 2 consecutive years;
• Thorough understanding of the community and voluntary sector – including the challenges, opportunities, historical context and emerging trends in the Irish context;
• Strong motivation to provide a meaningful contribution to the group and to advance the development of the community and voluntary sector, and to local and community development;
• Willingness to represent the interests of the breadth of the community and voluntary sector in Ireland and not any individual organizational positions and/or interests.

Note: An objective is to ensure a good balance on the Group of both urban and rural stakeholder interests, with balanced gender representation and diversity insofar as is possible.

Membership of the Cross-Sectoral Group is entirely voluntary and unremunerated. However, reasonable expenses necessarily incurred in the attendance at meetings by members whose expenses are not ordinarily refundable from any other source may have such reasonable expenses refunded by the Department of Rural and Community Development in accordance with public sector guidelines.

How to apply?

Expressions of Interest must be submitted via email to lcdev@drcd.gov.ie  by close of business on Tuesday 3rd December 2019.

It is anticipated that the first meeting of the Cross-Sectoral Group will take place on 10th December 2019 in Dublin.