RE-ADVERTISEMENT – Capacity Strengthening for NRC Partner NGOs in Moldova At Norwegian Refugee Council

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. We protect displaced people and support them as they build a new future.

NRC has been present in Ukraine since 2014 and after the escalation of the war in 2022 it significantly scaled up operations in Ukraine as well as setting up operations in Moldova, Poland and Romania, including a regional office based in Warsaw. NRC is one of the largest international NGOs working in the region. NRC works across emergency response and early recovery specialising in cash assistance, protection, shelter, education, legal assistance, and livelihoods to reach internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees and returnees as well as others affected by the conflict. Partnerships with local organisations and other actors are at the forefront of our response.

The Norwegian Refugee Council in Moldova seeks a qualified consultants/firms to provide services for the following service: Capacity Strengthening for NRC Partner NGOs in Moldova

Background/Context

In response to the displacement of refugees fleeing Ukraine, NRC has set up humanitarian operations for refugees arriving in the Republic of Moldova. NRC responds focusing on an integrated approach that combines our sectoral areas of expertise – education, livelihoods, protection, legal aid (ICLA), WASH and shelter working with the local partners. NRC’s Country Office in the Republic of Moldova has rich and varied set of partnerships across thematic areas which is also one of the largest and complex set of partnerships within NRC.

The partnership engagement builds on the program implementation modality and increasingly prioritises comprehensive capacity strengthening to ensure sustainability for longer term viability. As one of the key strategic priorities, NRC is committed to invest in strengthening the capacity of its partners in Moldova on identified areas.

Purpose of the consultancy

NRC in Moldova seeks proposals from a consultant (agencies, individuals, or institutions) to strengthen and scale NRC’s capacity strengthening component with local partners. The consultancy will primarily focus on engaging in detailed capacity needs analysis, development of competency framework, developing and delivering the relevant training modules and reporting the progress made by local partners from organizational perspective.

The training areas and content will be informed by comprehensive capacity needs analysis. However, some of the key areas could include fund raising and donor proposal writing, report writing, data collection, MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning), Project Cycle Management, funding diversification plans etc. Each training shall have a pre-test and post-tests exercise to evaluate the impact of the training.

The consultant will be required to design content in close consultation with NRC and local partners including digitalizing (where possible) the training content in a user-friendly format and designing relevant pre and posttest to measure impact of trainings.

Scope of Work

The consultant will be required to prepare a detailed methodology and work plan indicating how the objectives of the project will be achieved, and the support required from NRC.

The consultant is expected to:

• Carry out through consultation sessions with the partners (up to 8 organisations), assessing gaps and opportunities for organisational development, examining key areas for support and ways in which these could be addressed.
• Developing a competency framework for each organization to track and evaluate the progress made and changes in organisational capacity.
• Development of training modules/packages based on the needs analysis
• Design pre and post-tests to evaluate the impact of the training modules.
• Use user friendly and interactive elements to be incorporated while developing the training modules for longer retention of knowledge.
• Ensure periodic feedback on the trainings being implemented for improved adaptation of the content and quality control.
• Explore digitalization of the selected modules for improved access in a user-friendly format
• Provide strategic advice on organisational development to the senior management of partner organisations and possibly initial coaching to set improvements in motion as a follow up of trainings.
• Ensure that the final training content and delivery reflects the input and requirements of the NRC partners.

Deliverables/ Outputs

1. A comprehensive capacity needs analysis and capacity strengthening plan for each organization with a measurable competency framework for each organization
2. Content development with creation of training modules on identified capacity strengthening areas
3. Delivery of trainings on the modules developed- up to 6 trainings
4. Overall final report of the initiative with summary of partners’ capacities and the list of strategic recommendations provided to partners for enhancing their organisational development and conclusions of any coaching sessions.

Timelines

• 2 months from start date – A comprehensive capacity needs analysis and capacity strengthening plan for each organization with a measurable competency framework for each organization
• 3 months from start date – Content development with creation of training modules on identified capacity strengthening areas
• 4 months from start date – Delivery of trainings on the modules developed- up to 6 trainings
• 5 months from start date – Overall final report of the initiative with summary of partners’ capacities and the list of strategic recommendations provided to partners for enhancing their organisational development and conclusions of any coaching sessions.

Commitment to Quality Work

• The consultant shall use an evidence-based approach and ensure the highest standards of work and timely deliverables at every stage of this assignment.
• The consultant shall ensure clarity of objectives and process during the consultations, counter check all facts and figures cited, ensure that the content and format of the draft strategic plan meets the high standard for such documents and ensure proper editing and clarity.
• The consultant shall, at the onset of the planning process, identify all stakeholders having a direct and indirect interest in the capacity strengthening initiative. All stakeholders must be able to make inputs into the capacity strengthening initiative to ensure wider ownership.

Method

The consultant shall obtain disaggregated data, review relevant literature, interviews, and undertake field/office visits in selected areas. The consultant is permitted to form a team for the delivery of the objectives of the consultancy.

Supervision and Management

The assignment will be task managed and supervised by the Partnerships Team in close coordination with Head of Programs in NRC.

Qualifications/Competencies/ Experience

NRC is seeking for the services of a professional or a consultancy firm to develop and deliver capacity strengthening initiative for its relevant Partner NGOs. The firm/individual must possess the following:

1. Relevant work experience in capacity gaps analysis, development and delivery of trainings and other forms of capacity inputs to civil society actors.
2. Experience with civil society development and capacity assessment and organisational diagnostic tools and methodologies.
3. Knowledge of Project Cycle Management
4. Excellent and proven analytical skills.
5. Excellent organizational and communication skills, ability to prioritize and work with minimum supervision.
6. Possess knowledge in the general social, economic and political environment that influences education landscape in Moldova.
7. Understanding of participatory approaches to management and operations.

Duration

The consultancy shall be for a period no longer than six months, beginning in September 2024.

Application materials:

• Interested parties should submit a concise proposal for how the work will be carried out.
• Interested applicants are encouraged to submit their bids alongside detailed proposals, indicating their work schedule from the commencement to the end of the consultancy. Included should be:
  • Technical approach and suggested timeline (maximum 5 pages)
  • Products of previous experience in strategic development planning.
  • Budget for work to be undertaken (submitted in a single Excel worksheet and broken down into personnel, fees, travel and other).
  • All costs must be submitted as gross amounts and include relevant taxation breakdowns.
  • Any restrictions on consultant availability to begin work in September 2024.
  • Any restrictions on consultant availability to work/travel during the contract.