Position: Capacity Building Consultant

Number: 1

Duty Station: Kigali, Rwanda with frequent travel to different districts of operation

Type of Appointment: Consultancy

Report to: NAR Director of Programs

          1. Background

Never Again Rwanda (NAR) is a peace-building and social justice non-government organization that arose in response to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis. Guided by a vision of a society that enjoys sustainable peace and social justice, NAR aims to o engage society to embrace sustainable peace and social justice. NAR has five core pillars: Peacebuilding, Governance & Human Rights, Youth Engagement, Research and Strategic Partnerships.

Under its governance and Human Rights pillar, Never Again Rwanda is implementing different programmes and activities aimed at promoting participatory governance.  With the support from the Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) through its Public Policy – Information, Monitoring and Advocacy (PPIMA) program, NAR will collaborate with PPIMA partners to implement the advocacy component of the program at the national level. The role of Never Again Rwanda under the PPIMA program is to contribute to policy implementation through evidence-based advocacy engagements with policymakers, regarding citizen’s concerns from the Community Score Card (CSC) process and other public spaces and fora.  NAR will work with all PPIMA partners to collectively consolidate and analyze the issues raised by citizens across the program Districts through the Community Score Card, translate its results into complementary advocacy tools and resources and deeply analyze the lingering challenges through a Participatory Action Research process, for evidence-based conclusions and recommendations to better elevate and advocate for citizen priorities that require attention of national policymakers.

NAR will particularly build on PPIMA partners’ capacity for effective policy analysis, policy implementation and documentation of policy advocacy process with a focus on key actors involved, change messages conveyed, outcome (s) or success stories and enabling factors, challenges faced, and mitigation measures drawn as well as lessons learnt. NAR also will conduct evidence-based advocacy, partner with other CSOs and stakeholders through coalitions including citizen’s representatives to participate in decision making and formulation of policies and plans that reflect citizens’ preferences.

It is against this background that Never Again Rwanda wishes to recruit a Capacity Building expert who will work on a consultancy basis to support strengthening PPIMA partners’ capacities through tailored technical trainings and regular accompaniment. The capacity building areas include but are not limited to; documentation, policy analysis and advocacy, scientific CSC Data collection, analysis for effective policy advocacy and participatory Action Research (PAR)

          2. Purpose of the assignment

The main role of the Capacity Building Consultant will be to lead the capacity building component of the Project.  The consultant will design a capacity building strategy in line with NPA capacity building plan as well as the identified capacity needs among PPIMA partners. The consultant will plan and coordinate the implementation of capacity building activities in collaboration with NAR Capacity Building Officer and entire project team.  The consultant will conduct regular capacity needs assessments among PPIMA partners to determine the capacity improvement and suggest further areas of focus. In collaboration with the Capacity Building Officer, the consultant will plan and deliver technical accompaniment to PPIMA partners to improve and sustain the capacity outcomes.

          3. Scope of work, roles, and responsibilities

The capacity building consultant will carry out the following:

• Conduct desk review of existing organizational and project documents to gain more understanding on NAR and the PPIMA program.
• Lead the design of the capacity building strategy in line with NPA’s capacity building plan.
• Design and operationalize quality capacity assessment tools and processes.
• Conduct capacity needs assessments among PPIMA partners.
• Convene consultation meetings with PPIMA partners and other key stakeholders to identify, update and consolidate capacity building needs.
• Lead the design of quality capacity building materials and methodology based on identified gaps and needs.
• Propose and implement out of the box and innovative capacity building strategies, initiatives, and approaches to enhance PPIMA partners’ capacities.
• Train and provide accompaniment to PPIMA partners in documentation, policy analysis and advocacy in collaboration with NAR capacity building officer.
• Organize and facilitate learning sessions and experience sharing sessions to support PIMA partners review, reflect and support advocacy initiatives to adopt collective policy recommendations for advocacy.
• Organize Capacity building sessions for PPIMA partners in scientific CSC Data collection and analysis for effective policy in collaboration with NAR Policy Analysis and Advocacy Advisor and Capacity Building Officer.
• Lead the design and delivery of participatory Action Research (PAR) and technical accompaniment to PPIMA partners.
• In collaboration with the NAR Senior Researcher and Policy Analysis and Advocacy Advisor, organize and facilitate workshops with PPIMA partners for consolidation and analysis of CSC issues to inform national level advocacy.
• Support NAR Policy Analysis and Advocacy Advisor to organize and facilitate thematic advocacy meetings with PPIMA partners through established coalitions.
• Coordinate planning and delivery of technical accompaniment, on the job trainings, in house technical assistance and peer to peer learning for PPIMA partners to strengthen organizational and program capacities to successfully implement the PPIMA program.
• Design and provide capacity building for NAR staff in identified capacity building areas especially among staff involved in the implementation of the PPIMA program.
• Provide technical assistance and advise to NAR capacity building officer to be able to delivery on day-to-day capacity building activities.
• Transfer capacity building skills and experience to NAR capacity building officer for ownership and sustainability of capacity building initiatives
• Conduct follow up assessments (post-capacity building assessments) to document the capacity building outcomes, good practices, and impact across PPIMA partners and suggest areas of improvement.
• Collaborate with capacity building officer in reporting on capacity building activities conducted.
• Work with capacity building officer to prepare, administer and analyze Pre- and Post-training assessments.
• Actively participate in relevant NAR activities especially those related to the PPIMA program

          4. Key Deliverables and Outputs

The following are key deliverables expected from the consultant:

• Inception report clearly indicating the understanding of the TOR, proposed methodology to deliver the consultancy, detailed implementation plan with clear timelines.
• Consolidated and updated capacity building needs and capacity gaps among PPIMA partners
• Capacity building strategy developed in line with NPA capacity building plan.
• Design quality capacity building materials, tools, and sound capacity building methodology in areas of documentation, policy analysis and advocacy, Participatory Action Research (PAR), training materials and tools for CSC scientific data collection, analysis, and reporting,
• Deliver a 3-day training to PPIMA partners in documentation, policy analysis and advocacy.
• Deliver 2 capacity building sessions for PPIMA partners for 3 days each in scientific CSC Data collection, analysis and reporting for effective policy advocacy.
• Deliver a 5-day training of PPIMA partners in Participatory Action Research (PAR)
• Deliver a 3-day training to National key policy and decisions makers in participatory approaches.
• Consolidated report of CSC issues jointly analyzed by PPIMA partners to inform national level advocacy.
• Organize and facilitate 3 learning and experience sharing sessions to support PIMA partners, review, reflect and support advocacy initiatives to adopt collective policy recommendations for advocacy.
• Thematic advocacy initiatives among PPIMA partners are established and operational.
• Capacity building skills and experiences are transferred to NAR team especially to NAR’s Capacity Building Officer.
• Planning and delivery of technical accompaniment, on the job trainings, in house technical assistance and peer to peer learning    to PPIMA partners for strengthening   organizational and program capacities to successfully implement PPIMA program (50 days   distributed across the year)
• Consolidated report for follow up assessments (post-capacity building assessments) documenting the capacity building outcomes, good practices, and impact across PPIMA partners and areas for improvement.
• Produce event/activity reports and a consolidated consultancy report.
• Pre- and Post-training assessment reports

          5.Timeline for assignment

The assignment is expected to last 80 days (working days) distributed across 8 months starting April 2021. The distribution of the time will be discussed and agreed with the consultant based on NAR’s quarterly and annual plans and consultant’s availability. In summary, 5 days will be allocated to capacity building needs and gaps assessment, 20 days to developing training materials and methodology, 20 days to delivering capacity building to PPIMA partners, 30 days for technical accompaniment to PPIMA partners and documentation of outcomes of capacity building initiatives and 5 days for reporting.

          6.Supervision and Working relationships

The consultant will report directly to the Director of Programs and will work closely with NAR’s management, Capacity Building Officer, Senior Researcher and Policy Analysis and Advocacy Advisor .

          7.Qualifications

The desired skills and experience of the consultant include the following:

• At least 5 years progressive working experience in providing quality capacity building to organizations in areas of governance, advocacy, policy influencing, participatory approaches, research, documentation, data analysis, reporting and learning.
• Strong experience in development projects
• Prior experience in conducting capacity gaps and needs assessments.
• Experience in designing and providing technical accompaniment including on the job trainings, learning by doing, etc.
• Strong capacities and experiences in designing quality capacity building materials.
• Demonstrated experience in developing training curricula, including workshop agendas, presentations, and training exercises, games, and drills.
• Conversant with innovative approaches and strategies for capacity building of adult people
• Experiences in conducting out of the box thinking sessions and facilitate high level cross-learning, policy dialogues and experience sharing.
• Strong experience in producing and disseminating knowledge management products.
• Strong experience in the use of participatory approaches and expert knowledge in Participatory Action Research (PAR)
• Experience and skills in scientific data collection, analysis, and reporting
• Significant experience in NGO capacity building, training, and facilitation in Rwanda and region
• Technical expertise in and experience in facilitation of coalition building and thematic working groups for advocacy and policy influencing,
• Strong written and oral communication skills for high-level policy audiences
• Strong facilitation and training skills required.
• Prior experience working with civil society organizations, preferably in a management capacity.
• Familiarity with a wide range of capacity building techniques.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively and build consensus across diverse sets of stakeholders.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of the drivers of future growth in Rwanda as well as national vision policies (e.g., Vision 2020, NST1, blueprint Vision 2050) and their relationships.
• Expert skills in policy analysis and issue-based stakeholders’ relationships analysis.
• Sensitivity to details and inclusion issues.
• Ability to write powerful change influencing materials (policy notes, issue-based policy briefs, background papers, discussion documents, human interest stories, etc.) and to engage high-ranking government policymakers.
• PhD or master’s degree in performance Improvement, Governance studies, political sciences, development studies, law, or any other relevant field in social sciences.
• Extensive working experience with civil society or international cooperation in a policy influencing or advisory role.
• Proven record of delivering high quality professional outputs.
• Excellent speaking and writing skills in English.
• An ability to work within tight deadlines.

          8.Contract and payments

Never Again Rwanda will sign a consultancy contract with the consultant. The payment of consultancy fees will be agreed upon between NAR and the successful consultant. The payment will be based on the quality and timely delivery of work and submitted deliverables.

• Technical proposal (maximum 5 pages) that demonstrates consultant capacities, understanding of ToRs, methodology and work plan to deliver expected outputs.
• Financial proposal showing the daily rate for the consultant (in Rwandan Francs)
• 3 references who can testify the consultant’s capacities and quality of work done during previous similar assignments.
• Updated CV of the consultant
• Motivation letter