Theory of Change Consultant

Location:

Position Location:

Description

Schedule of Services:  Statement of Work (SOW)

Consultancy Title: Theory of Change Thought Partnership & Facilitation

Location(s) where the Services are to be performed: Remote support – no travel required

Contracting Manager: Global Director of Health and Nutrition

Timings: 26 days

Dates: Nov 2023 – Oct 2024

Pre-Hire Checks Requirements: Depending on the nature of services of this contract, if the consultant is traveling to RI field operations, they will require Advanced pre contracting checks.

SCOPE AND NATURE OF THE SERVICES:

Background:

In 2023, Relief International sought a stronger vision and strategy to support organizational alignment, prioritization, and decision-making, morale and momentum, and fundraising goals. Throughout January to September, Relief International, in partnership with experts from Future Work Design, established a Strategy Consultation Group and Strategy Working Group to facilitate strategic clarity and alignment.

Through this strategy clarification and activation process, Relief International has updated its mission statement to: “Relief International partners with communities impacted by conflict, climate change, and disaster to save lives, build greater resilience, and promote long-term health and wellbeing.”

Health and wellbeing, our strategic positioning, are central to everything that we do. We build greater resilience and promote long-term health and wellbeing through a combination of different sectoral approaches working in tandem and through effective use of our core capacities, which are key to how we achieve our mission.

Now that we have a sharpened mission statement and refined vision for our organization, a Theory of Change will guide us on how we will get there. A Theory of Change will help Relief International articulate the connection between its actions and vision.

A Theory of Change (TOC) Working Group (WG) is being established to gather diverse voices (internal and external) and ensure a participatory approach in piloting RI’s country-specific Theories of Change, which will inform RI’s overarching global Theory of Change. RI is also establishing working groups on each of its six Core Capacities (see RI Strategy Map), Values & Behaviors, and Brand Awareness. Leaders of these working groups will participate in the RI Strategy Governance Group (SGG).  An overarching Strategy Consultation Group (SCG) will include all members of the WGs and the SGG. The SCG will gather input from diverse stakeholders within the organization regarding the TOC, provide input to validate the TOC, as well as influence and assist with necessary change management across the organization.

Scope of Work Summary: 

RI is seeking an experienced and skillful thought partner and facilitator to help design and facilitate the RI Theory of Change pilot process resulting in the development of Theories of Change for 4 RI Country Offices (COs), RI’s global Theory of Change, and facilitation guides and tools for use by RI’s second cohort of countries.

Key Delivery Milestones

Goal: Design process and tools to enable collaborative, thoughtful, and data-informed Theory of Change development for 4 RI COs (Cohort 1) and RI Global. Refine the process, facilitation guide, and tools for use by RI’s second cohort of Countries. As a part of this process, the consultant shall:

• Help RI develop:
  • A true and experiential understanding of the Theory of Change approach and its added value for the organization.
  • A deep appreciation of the importance of rigorous data analysis as a fundamental element of the Theory of Change approach.
  • A thorough conceptual understanding of the essential elements of a TOC.
• Develop tools and processes for undertaking the following exercises:

1.    Draft Goal setting (what is the ultimate goal we want to achieve in a country, and globally),

2.    Contextual systems analysis utilizing the RI systems mapping approach,

3.    Causal mapping – articulate assumptions,

4.    Identify areas of intervention (opportunities),

5.    Identify results chain, (Refine the ultimate goal throughout this process), and

6.    Identify proxy/overarching indicators tied to the ultimate goal and the results chain.

• Design tools and facilitation guide for each of the above exercises to enable experiential learning. Ensure that teams utilize relevant research data while undertaking these exercises.
• Facilitate the first set of sessions. In the process, training RI team members as co-facilitators so they can facilitate repeat sessions with additional participants.
• Reflect on sessions for course corrections for next phase of sessions.
• Facilitate the process of RI Global TOC crystallization, based on themes emerging from the CO TOCs and from RI sector TOCs.
• Help RI simply narrate (compelling story telling) each Theory of Change.
• Help RI develop graphic representations of each TOC – (with the support of a graphic designer).

Finally, the consultant will help document a process and tools (refined through execution and reflection) for replication with the remaining RI country offices.

Illustrative Timeline:

Note: Work separately and simultaneously underway on RI Core Capacities will be woven into the TOC development process.

Cohort 1: 3-4 RI Pilot COs for TOC development

Cohort 2: A second group of RI countries selected by Regional Directors.

·       October-November:

o   TOC Working Group (WG) established and TOR agreed upon. Cohort 1 country offices selected.

·       November-December (holiday season):

o   Consultant hired, initial planning conducted, timeline established for deliverables.

·       Note: Consultant input might result in redesign of this process, modules and illustrative timeline.

·       November-Early December:

o   1st meeting of the TOC WG (setting expectations) with Cohort 1

·       January-February:

o   Consultant develops guidance and tools. Preparatory work assigned to Cohort 1 COs/TOC WG along with tools and facilitation design/guides to conduct in-country preparatory sessions (e.g., ultimate goal).

o   Consultant leads WG session on Essential Elements of a TOC (Training of Trainers-TOT) to help participants develop true conceptual understanding of the Theory of Change approach and its added value for the organization and what are the essential elements of a TOC.

§  Consultants shares facilitation guide and tools with WG for undertaking the Essential Elements of a TOC session with Cohort 1 COs.

o   TAD members lead Systems Mapping Training for the TOC WG.

o   WG members lead “Essential Elements of a TOC” and Systems Mapping Training for Cohort 1 COs.

·       March (Ramzan):

o   Consultant facilitates WG+ session: Takeaways from Cohort 1 Systems Mapping; Goal setting; Reflections for Global TOC.  Grounds the discussion in TOC Essentials.

o   GSO TAD use consultant as thought partner and finalize sector TOCs to circulate.

·       April (Ramzan/ Eid):

o   Preparatory work assigned to Cohort 1 COs/TOC WG along with tools and facilitation guides/tips to conduct in-country sessions on drafting TOCs.

o   Consultant facilitates WG meeting to discuss RI Sector TOCs.

·       May:

o   TOC (with indicators & results chain) drafting sessions conducted by Cohort 1 COs with participation of WG+ members (where possible). (Consultant provides facilitation guidance and tools but does not facilitate).

o   Capture reflections for Global TOC.

·       June:

o   Consultant facilitates two WG+ sessions: 2 TOCs (Cohort 1) discussed at each session.

§  Provide feedback for fine-tuning

§  Capture reflections for Global TOC.

·       June-July:

o   TOC WG+ members facilitate Essential Elements of TOC and Systems Mapping training for Cohort 2 COs and TOC ultimate goal setting.  Caveat: Enough trainers available

o   Cohort 2 provided TOC prep materials. (Prepared by Consultant)

o   RPDs + Regional MEAL Managers serve as TOC resources as Cohort 2 COs develop TOCs.

·       July:

o   WG meeting: Consultant leads reflection on draft Cohort 1 CO TOCs; themes captured to feed into Global TOC. Feedback provided to Cohort 1 COs for changes.

·       August:

o   Cohort 1 COs present updated draft TOCs to RSO including Cohort 2 CO reps for input/adjustments. Refine results chain and indicators.

o   WG Meeting: RI Global TOC draft developed and presented to WG with overarching proxy indicator(s) and results chain. Consultant serves as thought partner on Global TOC development.

·       September:

o   Draft #1 of graphic + narrative presentation of each Cohort 1 + Global TOC.

o   Circulate to Cohort 2 COs and encourage Cohort 2 COs to prepare graphic + narrative presentation of their TOCs.

·       October:

o   WG+ and SGG Session: Present draft graphic + narrative TOCs (Cohort 1 COs + Global) for input.

·       November-December:

o   Finalize Cohort 1 TOCs, narratives and graphic presentations

Considerations:

1.    How to enable RI to gain a true conceptual understanding of TOC elements/ approach

2.    How to incorporate relevant research into the TOC development process

3.    How to solicit and incorporate external feedback into TOC development, say from local partners, peer organizations (complementary partners).

4.    How/ when to consult with other COs on CO/ GSO TOC?

5.    WG composition:

a.     Global Director of Health & Nutrition – Melanie Kempster – co-lead

b.     CPO – Najia Hyder – co-lead

c.     Regional Program Director Af/As – Sandra Nakhle

d.     Regional Program Director ME – Isotta Pivato

e.     Regional MEAL Manager ME – Johnnie Auld

f.      Regional MEAL Manager Af/ As – Shayma’a Al Khatib

g.     Cash Advisor – Sabah Fara

h.     Programs Team Coordinator – Stephanie Schwier

i.       Livelihoods Director – Eliud Wakwabubi

j.       Humanitarian Response Director – Azadeh Hassani

k.     WASH Director (TBD)

l.       Pilot CO 1 (TBD)

m.    Pilot CO 1 (TBD)

n.     Pilot CO 2 (TBD)

o.     Pilot CO 2 (TBD)

p.     Pilot CO 3 (TBD)

q.     Pilot CO 3 (TBD)

r.      Pilot CO 4 (TBD)

s.     Pilot CO 4 (TBD)

6.    Set up a WG+ group with PD, other GSO teams/ RSO teams, CO technical teams- for broader consultation.

INFORMATION, SERVICES OR RESOURCES TO BE PROVIDED BY THE CONSULTANT;

The right candidate will have experience of:

1.    Supporting international humanitarian and development organizations – working in RI’s thematic and geographic areas, or similar contexts – with strategic positioning, agency-wide change management, or similar processes.

2.    Prior experience of successfully supporting TOC development processes is highly desired.

RI invites interested candidates to propose total cost of consultancy along with a set of deliverables/milestones tied to a payment schedule.

The consultant should feel free to propose alternative tools and exercises (instead of the above) which ultimately achieve the Goal of this consultancy. If the consultant chooses to do so, they should indicate the advantages of their proposed process/ tools.

RI Values.

Guided by the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, as well as “Do No Harm,” Relief International Values:

We value:

• Integrity
• Adaptability
• Collaboration
• Inclusivity
• Sustainability

How to apply.

• To apply for this post, click on the “Apply” button in the job advert page
• You will be asked to upload a CV and your proposal (timeframe and activities plan) to completing the consultancy.
• Your proposal should be no more than 2 pages long and explain and how your skills and experience make you a good fit.

Closing date. Note the closing date as per the website listing, however, please apply immediately as we will be reviewing submissions on a rolling basis and may withdraw the positing before the closing date.

Relief International has a zero-tolerance policy for unlawful harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse. Relief International is committed to protecting our staff and the communities we work with from abuse and harm including sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and sexual harassment.

All staff are expected to abide by our Code of Conduct.

Recruitment to all roles in Relief International include a criminal records self-declaration, references and other pre-employment checks, which may include police and qualifications checks.