2.2.3.13: Consultant to Develop Resource Mobilization Strategies for War Child Canada & 10 Implementing Partners of the Bridge Project At War Child Canada

Bridge from secondary education and skills development to job opportunities for refugee and host community youth in Uganda.

Consultancy Title: 2.1.1.3: Develop Resource Mobilization Strategies for War Child Canada and 10 Implementing Partners of the Bridge Project. Additionally, jointly develop and submit a project proposal to the Mastercard Foundation on behalf of two specific partners involved in the BRIDGE project (i,e. ELECU and CEFORD).

Implementing Partners:

1. Southwestern (YIDO, CIYOTA, TOHA, ELECU)
2. West Nile Sub region (CEFORD, YSAT, YEFOSR, CECI, REWO, CRSD)
3. Kampala (War Child Canada)

Reports to: Advocacy and Partnership Lead

Supported by: BRIDGE Project Director, Country MEAL Manager or Bridge MEAL Lead, Head of Programs and Country Director.

Background: War Child Canada is an international charity organization registered in Toronto, Canada, dedicated to helping children and their communities overcome the devastating effects of active and post war. Its vision is “Accelerating Peace by disrupting the cycle of violence” and its mission is “Driving Generational Change for The Hardest Hit by Investing in The Power of Local Communities.”

Since being founded in 1999, War Child Canada has worked in 20 countries across the world and we are currently operational in Afghanistan, Yemen, Sudan, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

During the past five years, War Child Canada reached over 2,500,000 conflict-afflicted children and adults; 985,000 people benefitted from War Child’s educational initiatives; 480,000 people were helped to climb out of poverty and 1,075,000 people learned more about their rights and had better access to justice systems.

War Child Canada has been operating in refugee hosting districts in Uganda since 2005. War Child Canada is registered as an international non-governmental organization (INGO) and holds a registration as a law firm in Uganda. War Child Canada is currently implementing education, protection, and livelihood programs and in currently implements projects in nine refugee hosting districts in Uganda (Adjumani, Koboko, Madi Okollo, Terego, Yumbe, Obongi, Isingiro, Kikube, Kamwenge)

The BRIDGE PROJECT: War Child Canada in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, Community Empowerment for Rural Development (CEFORD), Education Local Expertise Uganda (ELECU) and eight refugee-led community-based organizations, is implementing the BRIDGE: From Secondary Education and Skills Development to Job Opportunities for Refugee and Host Community Youth in Uganda project.

The 5-year BRIDGE project (2022 to 2027) is part of the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works Strategy (2018 to 2030) to address the youth unemployment challenge among refugee and host communities in 9 refugee hosting districts of Adjumani, Obongi, Isingiro, Kamwenge, Kikuube, Yumbe, Terego, Madi Okollo and Koboko districts.

War Child Canada and project implementing partners will employ a gender sensitive and inclusive approach to programming, empower young people and recognize their potential as agents of change to ensure effective implementation and sustainability of the interventions. This will be achieved through two outcomes.

1. Increased access to market relevant secondary and tertiary education and skills for refugee and host community youth
2. Improved capacity of education institutions and teachers to offer quality and relevant education and skills for refugee and host community youth.

BRIDGE ’s overarching program goal is to improve access to quality & relevant education and skills for 73,439 refugee / host community youth and transition 38,912 refugee / host community youth to dignified and fulfilling work in Uganda by 2027.

The program will further support young people in their transition to dignified work and throughout the life of the project, to thrive in their chosen form of employment or livelihood. Activities to support their success will include conducting market analysis annually to tailor interventions to the business context at the refugee settlement, implementing an adopted UPSHIFT business incubation “boot camps”, strengthening youth business support centres and BTVET institutions through training and infrastructure improvements, providing financial support to young people to access training programs and set up businesses and pairing young people with mentors from the business community. Finally, the program approach promotes continuous learning and development to ensure project sustainability.

Consultancy summary: As part of capacity-strengthening initiatives within the BRIDGE project, War Child Canada will implement its own capacity improvement plans and support BRIDGE implementing partners in implementing their identified Capacity Improvement Plans, as determined through an Organization Capacity Assessment (OCA) process (conducted in 2023).

For this purpose, a competent firm is required to provide consultancy services for the development of resource mobilization strategies for War Child Canada and the Implementing Partners of the Bridge Project. Additionally, jointly develop and submit a project proposal to the Mastercard Foundation on behalf of two specific partners involved in the BRIDGE project (i,e. ELECU and CEFORD).

A resource mobilization strategy in this context is a structured plan or approach designed to acquire the necessary resources, including financial, human, and material resources, to support and implement respective organizational humanitarian activities effectively and sustainably. The strategy should aim to optimize the organization’s capacity to secure funding, partnerships, and other essential resources, ensuring the successful execution of their mission in responding to emergencies, providing aid, and addressing the needs of affected communities. The resource mobilization strategy should involve identifying funding sources, cultivating donor relationships, leveraging partnerships, and implementing effective communication and advocacy to attract support and resources for the organization’s humanitarian efforts.

Purpose of Consultancy: The purpose of this consultancy is to develop Resource Mobilization Strategies for War Child Canada and the Implementing Partners of the Bridge Project and ensure that they are integrated into the implementing partner strategic plans. Additionally, jointly develop and submit a project proposal to the Mastercard Foundation on behalf of two specific partners involved in the BRIDGE project (i,e. ELECU and CEFORD).

Specific objectives of the consultancy:

• To facilitate the process of jointly developing Resource Mobilization Strategies for War Child Canada and for each of the 10-implementing partner organization tailored to specific organizational needs.
• To facilitate the process of jointly developing and aligning each partner’s resource mobilization strategy to the strategic plan; this might include developing of a strategic plan where it is nonexistent.
• To orient and enhance the capacity of partners to meaningfully comprehend the developed strategy.
• Facilitate the development and submission of a project proposal to the Mastercard Foundation on behalf of two specific partners involved in the BRIDGE project (i,e. ELECU and CEFORD).

Approach and Deliverables: The consulting firm will use a participatory approach and will ensure that the entire process develops staff capacities and skills. This process will involve the engagement of partner staff, Board of Directors, War Child Canada, and where possible key stakeholders such as Office of the Prime Minister, District Community Development Office, AEP hosting schools, Education in Emergency Working Group Coordinators and other relevant development partners. Where required, review of secondary data will support the alignment of the strategy to the current development trends in both humanitarian and development contexts. War Child Canada team will make inputs into consultancy tools designed for the purpose of developing the strategy.

The consulting firm / person will facilitate the workshop for the development of partner resource mobilization strategies, provide technical skills and support to guide partners in the development of the strategy, quality control and reporting in consultation with War Child Canada.

Specifically, below are the duties of the consulting firm.

• Train and facilitate the design of resource mobilization strategies for War Child Canada Uganda program and for 10 implementing partners of the BRIDGE project in a participatory and practical manner.
• Facilitate the proposal writing/development process for ELECU and CEFORD for submission to the Mastercard Foundation. Develop process tools and share with War Child Canada.
• Share 11 draft resource mobilization strategies and 10 strategic plans developed by respective organizations and the final proposal developed with the active participation of ELECU and CEFORD Share training reports and training materials for reproduction.

The consulting firm will provide the following deliverables:

A. Pre-activity level

1. Inception report: Upon signing the contract, the firm will have 5 working days to submit a detailed report on the proposed approach to this assignment for the development of three outputs namely, Resource Mobilization Strategies and part of Strategic Plans and a Project Proposal. The inception report will include a detailed description of the methodology and process tools, expected outputs, budget with a breakdown of costs and detailed work plan for the entire assignment.
2. Revised inception report: Following the provision of feedback on the first draft of the inception report from War Child Canada and partners, the consulting firm will incorporate revisions and recommendations from War Child Canada.

B. During activity delivery level

1. Undertaking the assignment and submission of the first draft copies of Resource Mobilization Strategies and Strategic Plans: The consultant is expected to share the draft of each organization strategy and any other accompanying document if any for review by War Child Canada and Partners. The Consulting firm should submit the first draft of the outputs for each organization to War Child Canada within 30 days after the start of the contract.
2. A progress report: Midway through the development process, the consulting team will be required to submit a progress report to War Child Canada as a way of tracking and reflecting on the progress through the assignment. The structure of the report will depend on the approach and methodology that will be agreed upon at inception phase.
3. Submission of final Resource Mobilization Strategies and Strategic Plans: The consulting firm will finalize the assignment within 30 days based on the comments and feedback received from War Child Canada and partners on the draft reports. The final Resource Mobilization Strategy and Strategic Plan should incorporate specific, practical and action-oriented recommendations and annexes which are helpful for resource mobilization drives. The strategic plan should have itemized budget and M&E frame works.
4. Submission of final proposal developed by ELECU and CEFORD for submission to Mastercard Foundation by 12th April 2024.
5. Final consultancy / training report: The consultant will prepare a final report summarizing the results of the consultancy, the process undertaken, and any challenges and lessons learned from the process. The structure of this report will be agreed with the consultant during the inception phase of the assignment. Any relevant documents should be included in the report as annexes.

Responsibility of War Child Canada and Partners:

War Child Canada and implementing Partners will be responsible for the following.

• Develop draft strategies based on training and mentorship by the consultant and provide timely feedback on areas for further improvement.
• Ensure staff and key stakeholder buy-in for developed resource mobilization plans/strategies and strategic plans.
• Coordinate with the Mastercard foundation regarding proposal templates and procedures, funding thresholds and timelines.

Scope of work and timeline: The assignment is expected to take a maximum of 60 working days beginning on 26th February 2024. The final assignment report and all other deliverables should be submitted to War child Canada by 30th April 2024.

Experience & skills:

War Child Canada is looking for a competent firm/individual with the skills, knowledge, and proven experience in facilitating the process of developing Resource mobilization Strategies for Civil Society Organizations and Community Based Organizations. Applications from consulting firms will be assessed based on their ability to demonstrate the following qualifications, experiences, and competencies:

• Lead Team members with a University Degree in Education and Skills in any Humanities, Business Administration, Project Management, Organizational Development, or any other related discipline.
• The consulting firm / consultant should have at least 7 – 10 years of demonstrated professional work experience facilitating the development of Resource Mobilization Strategy, business development, fundraising and delivering proposal development training for Civil Society Organizations.
• Demonstrated experience in developing Resource Mobilization Strategies and Strategic Plans.
• Previous experience working with Non-governmental Organizations, Community-Based Organizations and in refugee settlements especially in Western or West Nile regions of Uganda.
• Knowledge and experience in using participatory approaches and innovative techniques, with organizational leadership.
• Excellent analytical, presentation and report writing skills.
• Experience working on projects related to human rights and protection issues, education programs, youth engagement and working with persons of concerns in Uganda or similar context.
• Strong English language skills required; other local languages spoken in Southwestern or West Nile is an asset.

Travel

Travel to the project field locations in Isingiro, Adjumani, Kamwenge, Koboko, Terego, Madi-Okollo, Kikuube, Arua, Obongi, Kampala and Yumbe as required.

*Travel costs are the responsibility of the consultant and should be included in the proposed budget.