Terms of reference
VENRO is the association of German humanitarian and development NGOs with around 140 member organisations. In order to improve the quality of the programmes of German humanitarian NGOs, VENRO and Ruhr-University Bochum offer several trainings related to humanitarian topics in a joint project funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.
We plan to engage external service providers for the design and implementation of a humanitarian negotiations training for staff of German humanitarian NGOs in the field and their local partners. After the seminar, participants will have the chance to take part in individual online coaching sessions with the trainer(s) (optional).
We are looking forward to receiving your offer by 21 November 2021 CoB.
Background
Implementing humanitarian projects means constant negotiations on the ground to obtain access to project regions or to receive permits for starting or continuing projects. Negotiation partners and locations are divers, be it with local or national authorities, armed groups or at borders or road checkpoints. This is aggravated by the fact that humanitarians are working under time pressure in stressful conflict or catastrophe settings.
In a three-day online seminar, participants will get to know a good overview of humanitarian negotiation techniques and skills and practice them during the seminar.
Online training: Humanitarian Negotiations
Venue and date: Online, February or March 2022, 3 days
The three days can be divided into several online sessions.
Date and timeframe will be coordinated with VENRO.
Target group: Up to 20 staff of German humanitarian NGOs that are working in country as well as staff of partner organisations of German humanitarian NGOs.
Language: English.
Objectives of the seminar:
- Participants know different steps that are necessary for humanitarian negotiations in project areas;
- Participants obtain practical humanitarian negotiations skills and techniques during the seminar.
Possible guiding questions:
- Who is responsible for planning humanitarian negotiations and who conducts them?
- How are humanitarian negotiations planned? Which different steps exist from planning to negotiating?
- Who should take part in humanitarian negotiations and who are negotiating partners?
- Which negotiations methods and strategies are relevant for humanitarian professionals? How to apply them?
2. Telephone/online coachings
Venue and date: by telephone or online, in total maximal ten hours
Objectives of the coaching
a. Participants will be supported to implement the knowledge gained through the seminar in their own organisations and in collaboration with their partner organisations.
b. Knowledge from seminars will be incorporated in institutional processes of the organisations.
The telephone/online coachings will take place as required after the seminar. After the seminar, participants contact VENRO if they are in need of coachings. VENRO will connect the participants with the experts. The billing is made for all conducted coachings in total.
Outputs
The following services have to be provided within this contract:
1) Design: Conceptual design of the seminar for up to 20 participants from staff of German humanitarian NGOs in country and local partner organisations. This includes the preparation of a schedule of the seminar including contents, methods and targets of the seminar sections. The schedule should contain interactive expert inputs, exchange between participants and practical negotiation exercises (e.g. role plays). Methodological variety is desired.
2) Moderation: Moderation of the seminar and realisation of telephone coachings.
3) Documentation: Writing of a short documentation (max. 5 pages) that summarises the contents and discussions of the seminar.
4) Coachings: Contacting interested organisations. Writing a short summary of the coaching that will be sent to VENRO after the coaching.
All outputs will be provided in close coordination with the responsible VENRO policy advisor Karoline Krähling. Ongoing feedback loops regarding workshop design and moderation are part of the assignment and will not be compensated additionally.
How to apply
1) Please send the signed offer via e-mail in PDF format to Karoline Krähling: k.kraehling@venro.org.
2) The expiry date for offer submission is 21 November 2021 CoB.
3) The offer should include the costs and working days for the above listed outputs 1), 2) and 3) as well as costs per hour for the 4) telephone coachings. Prices should be specified without as well as including taxes.
4) The offer should additionally include a workshop plan the seminar with an overview of the single workshop elements and goals and a time plan (max. 2 DIN A 4 pages).
5) Please also submit your CV/the CV of the trainer(s) incl. relevant work experiences.
6) Please include possible dates for the conduction of the seminar.
7) The decision upon the assignment will be made based on a) fees (50%), b) quality of the offer (objectives, feasibility, variety of methods, experience) (40%) and experience (10%).
We are looking forward to receiving your offer. For further questions, please contact Karoline Krähling (k.kraehling@venro.org).