Facilitation of the Co-Design Process for developing a new Code of Practice for Household Waste Recycling

Description

The Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024 places a requirement on the Scottish Government to prepare and publish a statutory code of practice for household waste recycling setting out the - standards expected of, and - steps to be taken by, local authorities in carrying out their waste management functions in so far as they relate to the collection and recycling of household waste. In addition, The Circular Economy and Waste Route Map to 2030 , set out proposed actions to optimise the performance of household recycling collection services to make the right choices the easier choices for households, ensure high standards across Scotland and maximise diversion of waste from disposal. This includes the priority action to Facilitate a co-design process for high quality, high performing household recycling and reuse services for which the Scottish Government is issuing this invitation to tender. This piece of work will deliver the transition from a voluntary to a statutory approach to Scotland’s Household Recycling Charter Code of Practice . The Scottish Government has committed to co-design the new Household Recycling Code of Practice with local government and other stakeholders. The resulting statutory Code will build from the existing Code of Practice, and initial scoping work undertaken by local government, and place additional requirements on local authorities regarding collection services. This facilitation service will be carried out on behalf of the Circular Economy Division at the Scottish Government. Lot 1: The Scottish Government is seeking to engage an external facilitator to manage the co-design process. The facilitator will act as the organiser and key delivery partner for the co-design, providing objective direction for the process. They will be responsible for the delivery of the co-design process, including multiple phases to identify barriers and solutions to improved recycling, through the delivery of workshops and reports setting out the findings of engagement with stakeholders. An external facilitator with prior knowledge and experience in co-design methodologies would be welcome, however not essential. Their expertise as skilled facilitators will ensure they can guide discussions and workshops, mediate conflicts, and foster productive collaboration among diverse participants. Additionally, they can provide dedicated resource to the co-design process, enabling and supporting the involvement of participants who may need to balance this work with other responsibilities. The external facilitator will need to ensure that input from stakeholders is captured through workshops or other engagement, assessed and synthesised into reports to detail stages of policy development. By leveraging their experience with other organisations such as those identified as key stakeholders including local government, businesses, third-sector organisations, and citizens, an external facilitator can bring fresh insights and innovative approaches to the co-design, enriching the process with new perspectives. Their ability to work within established frameworks ensures a structured and efficient process, leading to clear and actionable outcomes. Engaging an external facilitator also supports capacity building, as participants can develop co-design skills for future initiatives. Moreover, stakeholders may feel more comfortable sharing candid and valuable input with an impartial third party. To succeed, the appointed facilitator must be results-oriented and aligned with the goals of the co-design process, driving towards a successful project outcome. The facilitator will be required to provide regular reports to the lead officials at the Scottish Government and to periodically attend meetings of the Co-Design Working Group to provide progress updates on workshop delivery and overall programme objectives. They will also be expected to engage proactively in any necessary adjustments to the project timeline or methodology, supporting agile decision-making as the direction of the work evolves.