DDP is seeking external consultants to facilitate and support the development of our forthcoming 2024-2027 strategy. Submit your statement of interest by January 11, 2023.
DDP has arrived at an important moment in HERstory. Our Strategy 2020-2023 bore witness to significant growth, decentralisation and diversification of our team, which is more embedded than ever in the communities with whom we seek to work. For the next strategy period, 2024-2027, we hope to take a step further towards embodying a decolonial, intersectional feminist approach to holistic digital protection of human rights defenders, in both our internal and external activities. Some of the things we are thinking about is; more autonomy for regional teams on the investments they want to make, participatory grant making, feminist co-leadership and/or transition of programme management to the ‘Global South’, and a possibly transition out of Hivos.
To this end, we are looking for one or more external consultants who can help us navigate this process: deepening on our core values and identifying the long-term vision that represents them; scoping the next strategy period and the progress it will achieve towards that goal, and clarifying the external and internal modes of work that will enable this.
Specifically, the consultant(s) will, in collaboration with DDP’s team:
- Identify the institutional form that will best fit DDP in the following strategy period, as well as in the long-term;
- Refresh DDP’s Theory of Change and/or Logic Model, or introduce an alternative model to work with for programmatic planning;
- Identify a model of collaboration, decision-making and working together which suits our values and structure;
- Identify a structure through which DDP can continue to decolonise its internal and external work;
- In light of all of the above, develop DDP’s 2024-2027 strategy document.
Scope, methodology, and profiles
There is naturally some flexibility in relation to the precise scope and methodologies which can be employed in this process, and we expect applicants to detail both (see below). In general terms, we will tend to prioritise methodological proposals which:
- Will be framed, designed, and implemented by a diverse team located in the Global South with experience working in the field of social justice and familiar with intersectional and gender-justice issues ;
- Create a safe space for participatory input from DDP’s (potential) beneficiaries, donors, team members, and partners;
In this connection, successful candidates will be able to demonstrate:
- Strong knowledge of the field of human rights defender protection and its key issues.
- Proven communication, project management and research skills in a variety of socio-cultural contexts.
- A keen focus on intersectional and gender-justice issues.
- Familiarity with alternative models of decision-making, flat hierarchies, consensus, etc.
- Knowledge of key issues and tools in relation to digital security, especially in the context of human rights work.
- Availability to travel to East Africa during Q1 2023.
Deliverables, milestones, and timeline
Subject to negotiation in light of the proposals made and their particularities, we suggest the following set of deliverables and timeline for the same:
- Present the draft plan for strategy development and give input to participative sessions concerning 2023 planning, by the first week of February.
- Draft strategy document 2024-2027 by 31 June 2023.
- Finalised strategy document by 31 August 2023.
The budget available for this strategy development is 25,000 EUR which includes travel-related costs. An external mid-term evaluation report was launched April 2022 of which a summary can be found here1 (upon request more DDP documentation can be made available)
How to apply
Questions or Statements of Interest should be addressed to DDP Programme Manager Frerieke van Bree at fbree@hivos.org and submitted no later than midnight CET on 11 January 2023.
Statements of Interest should include:
- A project proposal including scope, methodology, and timeline (2,000 – 3,000 words);
- A (draft) high level itemised budget;
- Curricula Vitae of the Consultants;
- If available, at least one example of a previous strategy development process or other relevant project.