Event Details:

TERMS OF REFERENCES FOR CONSULTANCY TO CONDUCT CAPACITY STRENGTHENING FOR CSO ACTORS IN GOVERNANCE, MANAGEMENT, RESOURCE MOBILIZATION AND ADVOCACY.

Contextual background

The Rwanda Civil Society Platform (RCSP) is a dynamic forum of 14 national umbrella Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), each representing a broad and diverse network of grassroots and sector-specific constituencies. As the leading voice of civil society in Rwanda, RCSP plays a critical role in promoting good governance, social justice, and sustainable development. It is currently recognized as a champion in advancing the Localization agenda aimed at empowering local actors to take the lead in the development processes and decision-making that directly affect their communities.

With a vision of “A vibrant, inclusive, resilient, and influential civil society”, RCSP is dedicated to strengthening the capacity, voice, and impact of CSOs through capacity strengthening, evidence-based advocacy, representation, coordination, and strategic partnerships. It operates under a national mandate to coordinate, represent, and amplify civil society’s collective voice, fostering dialogue among civil society, government institutions, private sector and development partners to promote inclusive and participatory governance.

RCSP’s ongoing Strategic Plan (2024 – 2029) is built on three pillars, namely (1) Capacity strengthening, (2) Coordination, representation, and partnership, and (3) Research and Public Policy Advocacy.

RCSP’s work is grounded in the core values of solidarity, transparency, resilience, accountability, and professionalism. Through continuous capacity assessments and collaborative actions, the Platform seeks to ensure that civil society organizations remain responsive, empowered, and central to Rwanda’s sustainable development agenda.

Justification of the initiative/assignment

RCSP continues to play a leading role in strengthening civil society in Rwanda through capacity building, policy advocacy, and strategic partnerships. As part of its ongoing commitment to the Localization agenda and the Charter for Change (C4C) principles, RCSP facilitates its members to undertake a regular self-assessment of their capacities with an aim to raise awareness of their strengths and weaknesses and come up with remedial plans. This effort is aligned with RCSP’s commitment to strengthen CSOs’ capacities in various key areas that are defined as readiness criteria to embrace aid localization agenda and sustainability.

In line with the Capacity Strengthening Pillar, RCSP is partnering with UNDP Rwanda to implement a short-term initiative aimed at strengthening capacities of CSO actors in governance and leadership, management, resource mobilization, and advocacy. Specifically, this activity is targeting 20 CSOs, including Leadership and Executives, as well as program-based staff. It is against this backdrop that RCSP intends to hire a Consultant Firm with extensive expertise in strengthening the capacities of CSOs in the above-mentioned key areas.

The implementation of this initiative will be done through two major activities.

Civil society leadership retreat for chairpersons and executives on organizational governance, leadership, management, and policy advocacy.

RCSP recognizes that organizational leaders play a pivotal role in driving meaningful and sustainable change. In line with this vision, RCSP plans to organize a series of leadership retreats targeting 20 Civil Society leaders to think innovatively, engage in critical and often uncomfortable conversations essential for organizational growth, and collaboratively develop adaptive strategies as a response to the rapidly evolving civil society landscape.

Two consecutive 3 day retreats will be held: the first will convene Executive Directors and Executive Secretaries, while the second will bring together Board Chairpersons or Legal Representatives from the selected CSOs.

These retreats will discuss and address key challenges currently affecting good governance, leadership, transparency, accountability, resource mobilization, policy advocacy and sustainability within CSOs. The goal is to strengthen their understanding, capacity to fulfill their mandates and achieve impactful outcomes. Additionally, the retreats will provide a platform for dialogue on the newly enacted NGO law and its compliance requirements, to foster a shared understanding among CSOs.

To maximize knowledge sharing and learning, the retreats will incorporate a range of capacity-strengthening activities. These will include critical reflections, coaching and mentoring sessions, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, confidence-building exercises, case studies and roundtable discussions involving both Boards and Executives Leaders.

Resource Mobilization Workshop, Coaching and Technical Accompaniment for 20 CSOs

 In light of the increasing complexities surrounding fundraising and Resource Mobilization within CSOs, RCSP recognizes the urgent need to equip them with modern, context-specific resource mobilization strategies and techniques aligned with current development trends. To this end, RCSP plans to organize a dedicated Resource Mobilization Workshop targeting program staff whose roles encompass key areas such as fundraising, resource mobilization, grant writing, partnership development, localization, and advocacy.

This workshop represents a significant milestone in RCSP’s ongoing efforts to enhance the effectiveness, accountability, and sustainability of Rwanda’s civil society sector. It aligns with Strategic Area 1 of RCSP’s 2024–2029 Strategic Plan, which prioritizes the strengthening of organizational and institutional capacity. Additionally, the initiative contributes to broader localization efforts aimed at enhancing the capabilities of local actors to effectively compete for and manage diversified funding opportunities.

RCSP will engage an external consultant to facilitate a two-day Resource Mobilization Workshop for 20 participants drawn from the targeted CSOs. Following the workshop, each of the 20 organizations will receive coaching and tailored technical support to develop comprehensive and actionable resource mobilization strategies.

Goal and Objectives of the consultancy

Overall goal

The overall objective is to strengthen CSOs' organizational leadership and programmatic capacities in governance, management, resource mobilization, and advocacy, for them to acquire new principles, skills, practices, and devise adaptive strategies and approaches to initiate new changes within organizations.

Specific Objectives

To achieve the overall goal, the specific objectives of this initiative are:

Equipping senior CSO actors with appropriate skills and strategies and tactics for strategic visioning, planning, and re-positioning their respective organizations to influence and contribute to the national development agenda;

Providing senior CSO actors with updated best practices in organizational governance and management and enhancing their capacities in strategic thinking and planning, advocacy, as well as adaptive fundraising strategies.

Equipping Senior CSO actors with a new understanding of the duties and responsibilities of their Boards and Executive Secretariats and creating a good working environment for both in a way that enhances strategic programming, resource mobilization, transparency and accountability, good reputation, trust, performance, impact, and sustainability;

Providing an opportunity and open space for the senior CSO actors to critically assess and take new transformative actions that lead to the desired change, and more impact and sustainability.

Enhancing skills and knowledge of CSOs in donor engagement and the funding landscape, including identifying funding sources, donor mapping, and relationship-building strategies.

Improving knowledge and skills on fundraising and resource mobilization strategies,

Providing technical coaching plan to develop customized Resource Mobilization Strategy and Action Plan for every CSO, aligned with each organization's context, funding needs, and donor landscape.

Expected Results and Deliverables

It is expected that the following results will be achieved through the 2 major activities:

CSOs’ Legal Representatives and Executives reported increased awareness of their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that surround their organizations and come up with adaptive strategies for improved performance;

CSOs’ Legal Representatives and Executives have acquired new skills, approaches and tools for strategic influence and re-positioning of their CSOs in public policy discourse;

Improved understanding of working relations between Boards and Executive secretariats to deliver on core mandate as embedded in the CSOs’ visions and missions for more complementary organs;

CSOs have committed to improve and update their internal policies, systems and procedures for more compliance, transparency, and accountability;

Enhanced partnerships and collaborations for more commitment, collective voice, and advocacy efforts among CSOs;

Organizational effectiveness and sustainability through improved strategic governance, planning, management, and sustainability strategies;

Legal representatives and Executives have increased understanding of the New NGO law, compliance requirements and its implication.

Improved skills and knowledge in donor engagement and the funding landscape, including identifying funding sources, donor mapping, and relationship-building strategies measured through pre/post-training assessments and group exercises.

Improved knowledge and skills on fundraising and resource mobilization strategies,

Individualized technical coaching plan (1.5 days per organization) to finalize a customized Resource Mobilization Strategy and Action Plan, aligned with each organization's context, funding needs, and donor landscape, is provided.

Key deliverables on the Leadership retreat:

Inception report

Training materials

Training Module on CSOs leadership, governance, management, and sustainability

Facilitation or delivery of the retreats

Consolidated report of the retreat

Key deliverables on the Resource Mobilization workshop and technical support for the 20 CSOs:

Inception report

Training materials

Training report

Facilitation or delivery of the workshop

Resource Mobilization Strategy tailored to every CSO's mission, theory of change, organizational capacity, and funding environment.

At least one completed fundraising tool, such as a pitch deck, concept note, or project proposal, which can serve as a foundation for future proposals.

Coaching report.

A short, practical action plan to strengthen the internal fundraising and resource mobilization capacity of the CSO.

Methodological approach

To ensure the effectiveness and impact of the Leadership Retreats and the Resource Mobilization Workshop, the Consultant will adopt a participatory and adult learning-centered methodology. This approach is grounded in principles that recognize the wealth of experience, knowledge, and practical insight that adult learners bring to the training environment. It emphasizes relevance, dialogue, experiential learning, and immediate applicability to participants’ professional contexts.

Target and selection of participants

The list of targeted participants was based on 14 RCSP umbrella members first and 6 selected affiliate members of these umbrella. Below are the organizations to be involved:

Umbrella members: CLADHO, UPHLS, CCOAIB, Pro-Femmes Twese Hamwe, RCCDN, Coalition Umwana Ku Isonga, WASHNET, RRP+, REFAC, RENGOF, RYOF, IBUKA, NUDOR and RNGOF.

CSOs: Benishyaka, ADTS, Afro-Ark, Reseau des Femmes, Benimpuhwe and AJPRODHO.

Timeframe and duration:

The table below highlights a tentative roadmap of the consultancy/assignment

Deliverables

Date

Submission of bid   google.com, pub-8424431947926653, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0

By 29th April 2025, at 12:00 PM

Validation and contracting

By 30th April 2025

Submission of the inception report

Between 3rd May 2025

Leadership retreats for 20 CSOs

5th -9th May 2025

Resource Mobilization Workshop for 20 CSOs

Between 12th -13th May 2025

Coaching and Technical accompaniment to 20 CSOs

TBD during Workshop (one-on-one plan)

Final reports

By 10th June 2025

Requirements:

Technical offer must include an understanding of the ToRs, methodology and learning techniques, work plan, and the proposed topics to be covered in the two activities,

CVs, and

Financial proposal.

RDB registration Certificate

RRA tax Clearance

RSSB Clearance

Sample of EBM invoice

Qualifications and competencies

Minimum of a Master’s degree in the relevant field of Development studies, Social Sciences, Project Management, Finance, Grant management or its equivalent.

Proven experience in the field of Governance, Leadership, Management, Policy Advocacy and Resource mobilization for civil society organizations.

Proven skills and experience in facilitating training and workshops using participatory approaches and adult learning methodologies, especially for high-level civil society actors and program staff.     google.com, pub-8424431947926653, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0

Proven work experience of at least 7 years working with INGOs, NGOs, CSOs and CBOs in Rwanda. Having an international experience working with donors, UN agencies, Bilateral cooperations, is an added advantage.

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in English and Kinyarwanda. French is an added advantage.

How to apply

Applicants wishing to express their interest in undertaking this initiative under the prescribed TORs must meet the above minimum requirements, should submit the technical and financial proposal together with CVs to [email protected] not later than 29th April 2025, at 12:00 PM.

Done at Kigali, on 20th of April,2025

UWANTEGE KAYUMBA Liliane

Executive Director

Rwanda Civil Society Platform

Attachment   https://www.jobinrwanda.com/sites/default/files/job_description_files/tors-csos-capacity-strengthening-04-20250b19fad821c96a8c167352be3e378d5e.pdf