Consultants, CSO Institutional Strengthening Development at World Learning

World Learning is an 83-year-old global non-profit organization with operations in 77 countries. Through its award-winning international education programs - The Experiment in International Living, the SIT Graduate Institute, SIT Study Abroad and the International Honors Program (IHP) - World Learning fosters global citizenship by connecting over 3,000 young ambassadors annually across cultural differences and social barriers. Through its International Development & Exchange Programs, World Learning practices what it teaches, undertaking community-driven international development, training and exchange projects.

World Learning is recruiting to fill the vacant position of:

Job Title: Consultant, CSO Institutional Strengthening Development

Job ID: #872591
Location: Abuja

Background of the Assignment
World Learning is currently supporting the implementation of the Electoral Empowerment of the Civil Society Program in Nigeria under a consortium led by the National Democratic Institute (NDI). World Learning has been tasked with strengthening the institutional capacity of the civil society organizations (CSOs) involved in the project as partners. This will entail undertaking detailed capacity building interventions to strengthen the institutional systems as well as the capacity of the staff in the various organizations. World Learning intends to use its Participatory Institutional Analysis (PIA) tool to achieve this objective.

In this respect, World Learning proposes to bring on board a team of consultants with unique expertise and experience in the various competency areas outlined in its proprietary PIA tool to complement existing technical capacity to support the PIA process. Consultants will work closely with the World Learning CSO Finance and Capacity Building Manager to support specific PIA related assignment they will have been called upon to do. The CSO Manager will act as the link to the other consortium partners and ensure their views and inputs are taken into consideration in the entire process.

Technical Competency Areas Required
The technical support areas required are:

• Organizational Governance, Operations and Management systems
• Gender Mainstreaming, Human Resources & Performance Management
• Strategy, Planning and Sustainability
• Grants and Financial Management
• Project / Program management - M & E, External Relations and Advocacy

Consultants will not be eligible to apply for more than three competency areas. Preference will be given to candidates who have strong competencies in at least two competency areas

Pre-qualified consultants through this process will be requested on need basis by invitation to bid for open consultancies under objective two of the program - Building the capacity of CSOs in Nigeria to better engage in advocacy on democracy and governance.

The main purpose of this EOI is to gather information on consultants interested in possible work with World Learning in the EECSP. Nothing said or implied during the EOI process will be construed to commit World Learning to any action or commitment. Furthermore, nothing said or implied during this process obligates World Learning to contract or enter into any agreement with any particular consultant or firm.

The RFP document will only be made available to those Consultants and firms pre-qualified by World Learning.

Requirements

• Minimum of a University Degree in a relevant discipline
• 5 year experience working for and with CSOs and more specifically in Africa
• Sound knowledge of USAID rules and regulations on grants administration and project management. Experience in working with or on USAID projects will be an added advantage
• Experience in developing of policy papers, project concepts notes, strategic plans, policy and procedure manuals and fundraising strategies
• Solid background on gender mainstreaming
• Experience in undertaking institutional assessments and financial reviews will be an added advantage for consultants bidding for “Finance and Grants Management”

Obligations:

• World Learning will not reimburse respondents for their applications expenses and this solicitation does not commit World Learning to pay for costs incurred relating to the preparation or submission of an application.

Clarification of Submissions:

• World Learning may require a respondent to submit additional information in order to better judge an application.

Probity Obligations:

• If a Consultant or firm is found to have made false or misleading claims or statements, obtains confidential information, or receives improper assistance, World Learning reserves the right to reject an EOI submitted by or on behalf of a Consultant or firm.

Notification of Successful firms / individuals:

• Consultants or firms will be notified in writing of their pre-qualification.

Evaluation Criteria
World Learning will evaluate each EOI response based on the following criteria:

Evaluation Area:

• Percentage Score Core Capacities and Strengths 30% Demonstrated Qualifications and Experience in Specialized Areas as Evidenced by CVs of Key Technical Personnel or consultant 25% Relevant experience on institutional capacity Assessments, systems strengthening / capacity building assignments preferably in Africa 20% Grasp of gender mainstreaming 10% Approach to assignments 15%

Response Format:

• Consultants or firms must submit their applications in English, focusing on the selection criteria outlined above.

Terms and Conditions of the Solicitation
Communication and Confidentiality:

• World Learning will only respond to written questions regarding this EOI through the email address: [email protected] Information provided for this EOI will be treated with utmost confidentiality.
• World Learning will not use the information in any other context or setting and we will not reveal details to other parties other than NDI and USAID.

Application Closing Date
16th March, 2015

How to Apply
Interested candidates should send their CV's to: [email protected]g and Cc [email protected] with subject “EOI for PIA Consulting Assignments”

Application Details

• Profile of firm or CV for individual consultants - CVs and profiles should be no more than 3 pages
• For consulting firms, certificate of registration from the CAC in Nigeria
• A maximum of two page write-up on the competency areas based on the selection criteria; this should cover the core competencies and strengths, specific experiences on the competency areas considered relevant, understanding of USAID, working with CSOs in Africa and knowledge on gender issues - see evaluation criteria

Please Note that any form of subcontracting is not permitted. World Learning will immediately terminate engagement with any consultant or firm that sub-contracts an assignment assigned to them.