TERMS OF REFERENCEย
Lead Technical Expert / Writer- Indigenous Peoples Partnering for Climate
Save the Children Canadaย
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Title of Assignment
Lead Technical Expert / Writer
Location
Remote (working on EST hours with some flexibility)
Duration
15 Days (approximate)
From: ย ย June 15th,ย 2023
To: ย September 8th, 2023
1. Background
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Following the submission of a concept note in 2023, Save the Children Canada (SCC) and British Columbia Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN) have been invited to submit a full proposal to Global Affairs Canada (GAC) under the Indigenous Peoples Partnering for Climate call. ย SCC and BCAFN jointly submitted a concept note in February, titled โBuilding Climate Resilience from Indigenous Perspectivesโ which is a proposed 4-year overarching initiative focusing on building relationships and collective action between First Nations in Canada and Indigenous organisations / peoples in Latin America. The ultimate outcome of the proposed project is to improve climate resilience of Indigenous Peoples in select countries in the Latin America and Caribbean region, affirming Indigenous rights that uphold self-determination. The project will support climate change adaptation, nature-based solutions, biodiversity and integrates gender equality, while contributing to at least 2 of the 5ย climate finance policy objectives.ย Guiding parameters for this work include;
Indigenous self-determinationโOrganizations must demonstrate how they respect and integrate Indigenous self-determination in their work and clearly prioritize Indigenous leadership, capacity and partnership building, and co-learning.Indigenous climate leadershipโOrganizations must demonstrate how they recognize and support the locally driven climate priorities and perspectives of Indigenous Peoples in developing countries. Where possible, the project should indicate how the proposed project links to First Nation, Inuit and/or the Mรฉtis Nation climate priorities (see Canadaโs Partnership with Indigenous Peoples on Climate).Indigenous perspectives on climate adaptationโOrganizations must demonstrate how they integrate and understand Indigenous Peoples knowledge systems and perspectives on environment, climate change, and self-determined climate adaptation strategies.The project must align with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The project will have various components including capacity building, monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERAL), governance, reporting, project management and sub-granting. The sub-granting will result in funding for climate action partnership projects designed and implemented by Indigenous Peoples in Canada in partnership with Indigenous Peoples in Latin America. The partnership projects need to align with international climate finance outcomes.ย
2. Purpose of the Assignment
SCC and BCAFN are looking for a seasoned technical expert / writer as a Consultant to lead the technical writing of the GAC proposal, working collaboratively with both organization's project teams. The consultant will sit in National Reconciliation Program and will work closely with cross-functional teams, especially SCCโs ย Gender and MEAL teams to ensure that the proposal is fully aligned with Global Affairs Canadaโs, BCAFNโs with respect to the recognition and implementation of Indigenous rights, and Save the Children Canadaโs Results Based Management (RBM) and gender equality standards and most important adheres to Indigenous child rights programming principles.ย
The consultant is expected to have functional understanding and experience in several technical areas including nature based solutions, climate change, Indigenous climate action and leadership and Indigenous rights, realities and perspectives. They will be supported by technical experts that will be taking the lead in conceptualizing component parts of the project. ย The consultant will be expected to be able to pull all of the various project threads together (with aid from the logic model and governance framework) to develop a compelling and coherent proposal. ย ย The key accountabilities of the consultant will be as follows:
Articulate Conceptualizing the efficacy of Indigenous governance structures in the selected countries in the Latin America region in relation to the development of nature-based solutions that are both gender-responsive and Indigenous-rights affirming NBS;ย Articulating our approach to joint-action and knowledge sharing between Indigenous communities on both sides (north and south) affirming nature-based solutions and Indigenous self-determination and jurisdictionLeading on a complex discourse, encompassing multi-dimensional perspective that considers food sovereignty, locally generated power systems and languages based on Indigenous values and Knowledge, and meaningfully engage with Indigenous women who carry with them an ancestral legacy of knowledge, science and technologies which are key to addressing climate change. ย Creating a workplan and work-back schedule, identifying key milestones, decisions and stakeholdersย Convene various stakeholders in the development of concepts and budgets โ ensuring alignment between groups and adherence to project being Indigenous-led.ย Writing a compelling proposal and strategy as an overarching project reflecting the governance structure, sub-granting, capacity building, monitoring and reporting on the project goals, as well as articulating Partnership Project which focuses on the sub-granting components for climate action partnership projects designed and implemented by First Nations in Canada, in partnership with Indigenous Peoples in developing countries.ยThe consultant will work in a matrix system, directly reporting to Acting Director National Reconciliation Programmes (NRP), with strong collaboration with SCCโs Business Development Team and BCAFN team. The consultant will have day to day coordination with SCCโs Senior Manager NRP and Business Development Specialist (BDS).
3. Scope of workย
Orientation meetings with National Reconciliation Unit, Head of Business Development and other key International Programming units to understand the concept note, draft roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders, draft governance and management structure and key partnership modalities, including SCCโs cost parameters as well as with BCAFN.Review SC Canada and Global Affairs Canada Indigenous Child Rights programming principles and gender equality standardsย Engage with the Director National Reconciliation Program (NRP) and project partners British Columbia Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN), Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Regional Office (LAC RO), and LAC partners, including La Organizaciรณn Nacional de Mujeres Indรญgenas Andinas y Amazรณnicas del Perรบย (The National Organization of Andean and Amazonian Indigenous Women of Peru โ ONAMIAP) to validate key partnership strategies and finalise program governance and management structureWork with SCC BDS finalise partnerโs proposal templates and key sections required from teams.Join calls with LAC RO, BCAFN and partners to facilitate sessions around GAC requirements and program design, etc. ย Provide support to partners and LAC RO to complete all proposal inputs in relation to program design (as per GAC guidelines)ย Work with Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Team to update logic model and results frameworkReview all partner inputs (Logic Model, Performance Management Framework, Outputs and Activity Matrix, narrative, budget) with a gender equality lens, and engaging relevant SCC teams to ensure that GAC, ย SC Canada and BCAFN minimum indigenous rights and Indigenous child rights and gender equality standards are met.ย Write or co-write sections of the proposal (sections as agreed with the Director NRP and HoBD, depending on needs expressed by the LAC Regional Office, partners and proposal development team) and any revisions to meet word/page limits to be communicated by GAC at proposal stageWork with the Gender Equality and Program Impact (GEPI) team to finalise the Gender Equality Section for the proposal.Write and finalise other sections of the proposals, such as conflict analysis annex, environmental integration section etc. as per GAC guidelines.ยย
3.1 Deliverables
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Process
Deliverable
Estimated LoE in Days
Estimated max Cost (CAS$)
Orientation on process, tools, platforms, concept note submitted, etc.
Complete document review; complete induction as lead technical writer
1 day
$ 660
SCI / LAC Partner Kick off and coordination callsย
Attending calls with partners both in LAC and Canada facilitating discussing program design, program governance and strategy elementsย
3 daysย
$ 1980
Proposal narrative, in line with key accountabilities mentioned aboveย
Completed all technical sections of the proposal as per GAC requirements (project summary, consultations, human rights, managing for results, monitoring approach, project management plan, partnerships, organization ability relevant to the initiative, etc.)
4 daysย
$ 2640
Proposal narrative, in line with key accountabilities mentioned above
Completed gender equality integration in all sections of the proposal as per GAC standardsย
2.5 dayย
$ 1650
Proposal annexes
Completed LM, PMF and OAM, conflict sensitivity annex, etc.
2 days
$ 1320
Proposal budget
Budget review to ensure cost efficiency for programming activities and that all activities are appropriately budgeted
0.5 days
$ 330
TOTAL
15 days
$ 8580
Timeframeยย
The consultancy will take place from June 15th to September 8th , during which the consultant is expected to work up to a maximum of 15 working days.ย
Qualifications and Experience Social sciences / human rights education background or equivalent training/experience;Strong knowledge and experience in climate change, ย nature based solutions, Indigenous realities, rights and value systems, gender equality etc.A minimum of 5 years of experience in GAC proposal development and design, including financial (budget) development; Strong knowledge of donor compliance requirements and standards, including Results-Based Management;Experience working with Indigenous or community-led proposal development processesStrong knowledge of designing multi-stakeholder consortia projectsย Strong understanding of GACโs gender equality requirements for project proposals.ย Strong writing and analytical and research skills. For example, writing on Indigenous contexts that respectful and dignified. ย Analytical skills in system-based and process-based thinking. ย Research skills in the focus areas of the proposal that is inclusive of Indigenous knowledge systems and ways of knowing. Competencies, Skills and Behavioursย Excellent writing, analytical, and research skillsย Strong interpersonal skills to develop meaningful and respectful relationships amongst various content experts. ย Knowledge translations skills that support process to develop a common language and lexiconAbility to convey complex concepts and processes in simplified manner that supports maximum understanding. ย Skills to build relationships across cultural and organizational boundaries with internal and external stakeholders, and managing through influenceSuperior English writing skillsAbility to work within tight deadlines and time pressuresIf you are interested, please submit a cover letter and resume by June 10, 2023 atย LArcher@savethechildren.ca ย Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview.ย