1. Background
The Netherlands Red Cross (NLRC) is supporting other Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) National Societies (NSs) in the area of Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA). NLRC has been using various methods to build capacity and support institutionalization of CEA in partner NSs.
In the last quarter of 2022, a review of the IFRC CEA strategy for Africa surfaced key points why CEA has not been institutionalized yet:
- Volunteers are gatekeepers to community, but receive least capacity strengthening
- CEA knowledge and skills do not trickle down to branch level
- There is a lack of institutional memory around CEA
- There is limited systematic use of participatory approaches to decision-making
In order to overcome these challenges and meet its objectives for capacity building and institutionalization, NLRC is looking for an external company who is specialized in rethinking and reshaping ways of working to co-create a method to build lasting capacity, specifically within the area of Community Engagement and Accountability, which is a crosscutting theme throughout all the work that the Red Cross movement undertakes.
In today's rapidly evolving world, the importance of capacity building cannot be overstated. Whether it is within organizations, individuals, or communities, the ability to adapt, learn, and grow is vital for success. However, the traditional methods of capacity building are often outdated and fail to address the dynamic challenges we face. To meet these demands head-on, there is an urgent need to develop an innovative capacity building method that can truly transform individuals and institutions. This terms of reference outlines the objectives, scope, and desired outcomes of this initiative.
2. Objectives
The objective of this assignment is to co-create a better CEA capacity strengthening approach that NLRC can use to ensure that the capacity strengthening efforts the NLRC is undertaking with NSs has higher effectiveness and durability, and especially reaches the NSs’ staff and volunteers who work closest with the communities.
In particular, this new approach would focus on:
- Redefining capacity building: Establish a forward-thinking approach that moves beyond the conventional understanding of capacity building and encompasses innovative strategies to empower individuals, organizations, and communities.
- Promoting collaboration and knowledge-sharing: Foster a collaborative environment that encourages knowledge exchange, interdisciplinary cooperation, and the sharing of best practices, enabling participants to leverage diverse perspectives and experiences.
- Embracing emerging technologies: Emphasize the integration of cutting-edge technologies and digital tools in the capacity building process, enabling individuals and organizations to leverage the power of innovation for improved efficiency and effectiveness.
3. Scope
This new approach should be the result of a co-creative process. The external party should propose a concept and process that will engage NLRC and NSs’ staff in re-thinking capacity-building and CEA. We envision to choose one or two NSs in the Africa region who are currently involved in CEA capacity-building projects with NLRC.
The external party will facilitate and guide the process of re-thinking capacity building, while also contributing its expertise, experience and knowledge of organizational learning.
The external party will then develop and formalize an innovative capacity building method. This method will then be piloted by NLRC.
The innovative capacity building method will be designed to engage the participants (who are the staff and volunteers of local Red Cross organizations) in the following ways:
- Equip participants with the knowledge and skills to design and implement effective community engagement strategies that promote inclusivity, participation, and ownership.
- Enhance, participants' understanding of accountability mechanisms and frameworks, empowering them to establish transparent, responsible, and ethical practices. This will involve training in monitoring, evaluation, and feedback mechanisms to ensure the effectiveness and impact of community engagement efforts.
- Develop participants' communication and advocacy skills to effectively convey messages, mobilize support, and create awareness about community engagement initiatives. This will encompass techniques for storytelling, media engagement, and utilizing digital platforms for amplifying community voices.
- Provide participants with conflict resolution and mediation skills to address conflicts and disputes that may arise during community engagement processes. This will involve training in negotiation, dialogue facilitation, and consensus-building techniques to promote constructive dialogue and resolve disagreements.
The innovative capacity building method will deliver the following outcomes:
- Empowered Individuals: Participants will emerge with enhanced skills, knowledge, and confidence, capable of leading the mainstreaming of high quality community engagement strategies within their organizations and communities.
- Lasting Impact: The innovative capacity building method will contribute to lasting enhanced capacities at the branch levels of local Red Cross organizations, resulting in programs and operations that address the needs, capacities and priorities of the people we aim to serve to a much higher degree, by using highly effective community engagement and accountability practices.
4. Deliverables
The external company is expected to submit the following deliverables at the end of the consultancy:
- Innovative Capacity Building Method: A well-structured and customized capacity building method tailored to the needs of staff and volunteers in community engagement and accountability that can be used across all Red Cross Red Crescent organizations.
- Adaptive Modules: Interactive and engaging capacity building modules that provide practical guidance and hands-on learning experiences, with clear instructions on what and how they can be adapted to specific contexts if necessary.
5. Responsibilities and lines of communication
The external consultant will be communicating with the NRLC CEA Delegate leading on this work. The entire concept, both the process and the final product, will be developed in close coordination with the NLRC Delegate and one local Red Cross in the Africa region. There will be continuous and ongoing feedback from the NLRC back to the external company.
The external company will be selected through a tender procedure. The NLRC-Logistics Officer will post the Terms of Reference (ToR), requesting an expression of interest from at least three candidates. The NLRC CEA Delegate together with the PMEAL (Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning) Advisor, using a comparative bid analysis tool, are responsible for the final selection.
Payment is subject to satisfactory performance and completion of all deliverables.
All submissions will be made electronically (email, Skype, Teams, phone, etc.), unless requested otherwise by the NLRC team.
6. Duration of the consultancy
The external consultant will need to start per July 2023 and needs to finalize the assignment by November 30th 2023 the latest.
7. Required qualifications and experience of external company
- Proven experience in supporting organisations, preferably international humanitarian organisations, in rethinking their ways of working;
- Proven experience in developing training methods, preferably for low literacy target audiences;
- Portfolio of a variety of similar assignments;
- Excellent written and spoken English, French language skills an advantage;
- Experience working for a client in the humanitarian or development sector.
8. Bid requirements and analysis criteria
The winning bid will be the one deemed the most economically advantageous (quality of technical proposal and previous work vs. value of financial proposal).
Key assessment criteria:
1. Proposed methodology and approach
Suitability and credibility of the concept to deliver an innovative capacity building method
Capacity of proposal to meet all deliverables and objectives set out in TOR.
2. Experience of company/service provider
Consultant has proven experience leading processes of rethinking ways of working
Consultant has experience working on similar assignments for the humanitarian sector
Consultant has experience working on similar assignments creating capacity building tools
3 Writing and presentation
Concise, well written proposal in language matching TOR.
Layout and presentation of proposal.
4. Environmental Impact
Proposal clearly attempts to minimise its carbon footprint.
Proposal is in line with NLRC climate charter.
How to apply
The deadline for applications is July 3rd 2023.
Interested companies should submit the following documents electronically to logistics@redcross.nl
- Short concept showing:
- The process in writing and or visual presentation;
- The final product idea outlined.
- 2 samples of previous work that show the expertise and experience of the company on similar assignments; samples must be the original work of the company.
- Financial proposal including detailed budgets for professional fees and reimbursable expenses (if any) for all tasks related to this assignment. No payments will be made outside the contractually agreed budget.
Incomplete applications or applications that are received late will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.