Terms of Reference (TOR)
Recruitment of a Consultant for coaching on effective collaboration between civil society organizations and other stakeholders on policy advocacy on gender mainstreaming in climate adaptation efforts through Nature-Based Solutions (NBS).
Activities 1121.3 and 1124.3
**Ivory Coast**
I. CONTEXT AND JUSTIFICATION
1- World University Service of Canada (WUSC)
World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is one of Canada’s leading non-profit international development organizations committed to building a more equitable and sustainable world. Our vision is a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable world for young people. A world in which all young people, especially women and refugees, are empowered to ensure a good quality of life for themselves, their families and their communities. We work with a diverse network of students, volunteers, institutions, governments and businesses to improve educational, economic and empowerment opportunities for young people, and to improve the lives of millions of disadvantaged people around the world.
2- Center for International Cooperation Studies (CECI)
The Centre d’Etude de Coopération International (CECI) is a leading Canadian organization dedicated to combating poverty and exclusion by strengthening the development capacities of disadvantaged communities. CECI’s mission is to combat poverty, exclusion and inequality. To this end, CECI strengthens the development capacities of disadvantaged communities. We support gender equality, violence reduction, food security, resilience and climate change adaptation. We mobilize resources and promote knowledge sharing.
3- NbS Guinean forests project
The Nature-Based Climate Adaptation in the Guinean Forests of West Africa project aims to strengthen local and regional capacities of communities residing in the Guinean Forest region of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Guinea in nature-based climate adaptation solutions, while promoting women’s transformational leadership. The region, recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot , faces major climate challenges such as increasing temperatures and erratic rainfall, affecting ecosystems and livelihoods. At COP28, the High-Level Champions, together with the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action, unveiled an ambitious roadmap to accelerate the implementation of climate solutions by 2030. The plan brings together a concrete set of actions, developed with input from a wide range of stakeholders, to achieve critical goals: halving global emissions, closing adaptation gaps, and building resilience to climate impacts. This initiative embodies a collective and pragmatic vision to address the urgent challenges of climate change.
It is in this context that the Nature-based Climate Adaptation in the Guinean Forests of West Africa project is part of the project, which adopts a systemic approach focused on planning, testing and scaling up nature-based solutions that contribute to gender equality and strengthen women’s economic power. It supports communities in the restoration and reforestation of degraded forests and habitats, both on family farms and on other types of land, and strengthens the adaptation strategies and livelihoods of women and their communities in order to protect and restore biodiversity in this critical bioclimatic region.
This initiative is implemented in consortium by World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and CECI, and with other partners including IUCN, CIFOR-ICRAF, International Barcode of Life (iBOL), and ABANTU for Development with financial support from Global Affairs Canada. The project mobilizes various partners including local and national government bodies, regional institutions, the private sector, women’s associations and local organizations to develop solutions adapted to local realities.
This project is funded by the Climate Partnership funding envelope through the Government of Canada, through Global Affairs Canada (GAC) over the period 2023-2026. The Climate Partnership supports projects that use nature-based solutions (NbS) to help countries, communities and people in sub-Saharan Africa – a region particularly vulnerable to climate change – become more resilient to the impacts of climate change and address the drivers of biodiversity loss.
The project aims to strengthen the adoption of gender-sensitive and inclusive Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) solutions among communities residing in the Guinean Forest Region of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Guinea. In doing so, it will improve women’s leadership in climate change adaptation (CCA) planning processes (Intermediate Outcome 1100), increase the restoration of degraded forests and key habitats with biodiversity benefits (Intermediate Outcome 1200), and increase gender-responsive investments with income potential for women (Intermediate Outcome 1300).
Thus, EUMC is implementing a program aimed at strengthening collaboration between Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), women’s organizations and system actors. The objective is to build a strong movement that develops advocacy topics that promote adaptation to climate change through Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) while ensuring gender integration at national and local levels.
To support this initiative, we are looking for an experienced Consultant to design and implement a 2-month mentoring and coaching program (maximum of 15 actual working days) to improve the collaboration, leadership and advocacy skills of our stakeholders, namely, 11 civil society organizations that are part of the National Gender and Climate Change Platform.
GENERAL OBJECTIVE
The overall objective of this consultation is to strengthen the capacities of CSOs and women’s organizations to collaborate and advocate effectively for gender-responsive climate adaptation through Nature-Based Solutions.
II. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
Specifically, the Consultant will have to:
❖ Carry out a needs assessment to identify advocacy topics on climate change adaptation using nature-based solutions, taking into account gender considerations.
❖ Provide training and capacity building sessions on collaboration, advocacy for gender-responsive climate change adaptation and leadership.
❖ Facilitate the design and implementation of joint advocacy initiatives.
❖ Establish an explicit support plan to facilitate the implementation of advocacy actions with political decision-makers.
❖ Provide technical support and ongoing mentoring to local and national organizations, including women’s organizations, for the implementation of advocacy initiatives resulting from the policy engagement workshop.
❖ Guide and direct the development of sustainable advocacy strategies and large-scale actions.
III. SCOPE OF WORK
This study has a national scope. However, crucial importance must be given to the local level, particularly in the areas targeted by the project. This concerns the landscape surrounding the Taï National Park (Nawa region) as well as the landscape around the Divo botanical reserve (Loh-Djiboua region).
The Consultant will be responsible for carrying out the work in the following phases:
PHASES – ACTIVITIES – NUMBER OF DAYS
Phase 1: Start-up and Alignment
❖ Carry out a diagnosis to identify advocacy topics on adaptation to climate change using nature-based solutions taking into account gender considerations.
❖ Facilitate exchanges to align shared objectives on NBS and gender mainstreaming.
❖ Develop and deliver a joint action roadmap (a coaching plan).
2 days
Phase 2: Capacity Building
Design and deliver interactive training sessions on:
❖ Effective collaboration: communication and conflict management.
❖ Advocacy for NBS and gender mainstreaming: tools and planning.
❖ Leadership: Promoting female leadership in climate advocacy
4 days
Phase 3: Technical Support and Continuous Assistance
❖ Provide ongoing technical support and mentoring to local and national organizations.
❖ Support CSOs and women’s organizations in the implementation of advocacy actions targeting political decision-makers, integrating gender-sensitive aspects.
❖ Facilitate follow-up meetings and provide personalized coaching to resolve challenges.
8 days
Phase 4: Collaborative Action and Scaling
❖ Facilitate discussions during workshops to amplify advocacy initiatives and disseminate key messages.
❖ Guide participants in the development of long-term strategic alliances.
❖ Facilitate leadership reflection sessions to ensure sustainability of efforts.
4 days
Reporting
❖ Provide an inception and closing report including recommendations and the coaching plan for civil society organizations.
2 days
IV- DURATION OF THE MISSION
The total number of days of this consultation is 20 working days (maximum 4 months) , starting from March 1, 2025 and will extend until June 30, 2025 alternately.
V- DELIVERABLES AND DELIVERY TIMES
N° – TITLE OF DELIVERABLE – DELIVERY TIMES
01- Needs assessment report and joint roadmap (Coaching plan for the duration of the activity) – Week 1
02 – Training materials for capacity building workshops. – Week 2
03 – Report of the capacity building sessions on collaboration, advocacy, and women’s leadership in climate change adaptation. – Week 8
04 – Interim report on technical support and advocacy actions – Week 12
05 – Report on the results of the discussions on scaling up advocacy and sustainability strategy – Week 20
06 – Final report on results, lessons and recommendations – Week 32
VI- QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE
The ideal candidate will:
❖ Have 7 years of experience in capacity building, mentoring and coaching, particularly with CSOs and women’s organizations.
❖ Have proven experience in climate advocacy, Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) and gender mainstreaming.
❖ Have strong skills in facilitation, training and development of female leadership.
❖ Have a mastery of participatory approaches and adult learning methods.
❖ Have experience working with local and national organizations, including women’s organizations.
❖ Have excellent interpersonal communication and report writing skills.
VII- REMUNERATION
Each applicant is invited to submit a detailed technical and financial offer including all costs relating to the performance of the tasks of this mission, including consultancy fees.
VIII- REQUIRED DOCUMENTS AND METHOD OF SUBMISSION
Interested candidates are invited to submit a complete application including:
❖ A technical proposal describing their understanding of the mission, their methodology and a work plan.
❖ A financial proposal detailing the fees and associated costs.
❖ An updated CV highlighting their professional experience
❖ Examples of similar work carried out.
To apply, please submit your proposal here on our BambooHR portal no later than February 28, 2025 at 23:59 GMT.
IX- CONSULTANT EVALUATION PROCESS AND CRITERIA
A shortlist of three individual consultants will be established following the call for expressions of interest. The consultants on the shortlist will be judged according to the following criteria, based on their updated CV, technical and financial proposal but also, similar studies already carried out.
Criteria – Weight (%)
Technical expertise and relevant experience – 40%
Proposed methodology and approach – 30%
Cost-effectiveness of the proposal – 20%
Clarity and completeness of the proposal – 10%
Total – 100%
NB: The candidate who obtained the highest percentage will be selected for this mission following the evaluation.
X – CONFIDENTIALITY CLAUSE
The Consultant must respect the confidentiality of all information and deliverables related to the project.
XI – DISCLAIMER
EUMC reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal and is not obliged to award the contract to the lowest bidder.
XII – VALUE OF EUMC
EUMC’s activities seek to balance inequalities and create sustainable development worldwide; the work ethic of our staff, volunteers, consultants, representatives and partners must match the values and mission of the organization. EUMC promotes accountability, respect, honesty and professional excellence and we will not tolerate sexual harassment, coercion, exploitation and abuse in any form.
How to apply
If you are interested, please apply via our BambooHR portal.
