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General Objective
The international aid sector and international NGOs (INGOs) in particular are engaged in an ongoing process of interrogating power dynamics in aid and development. INGOs have at times been criticized as crowding out local actors and initiatives, and even reinforcing colonial power dynamics. At the same time, donors are increasingly questioning INGOs support costs, including expatriate salaries and benefits, and demanding cost control measures at the same time insisting on maintaining high quality standards and accountability in all areas. Localization is a trend and commitment requiring INGOs to question their roles and reflect on power, privilege and control of resources.
Within CARE, there is widespread consensus that increased local leadership and localization in Country Offices (COs) is a positive thing, but much less agreement on what exactly localization of CARE COs should look like, what processes should be followed to make COs more locally led and in what sequence, and what types of models are appropriate for different country contexts.
Localization can mean many different things and take different forms. It can focus on increasing the work we do with and the resources we provide to local partners, particularly local women’s organizations, or it might involve investing more in technical capacity closer to where the work of CARE takes place and away from a concentration in the global north. It can also involve more local oversight of CO operations, in the form of local advisory boards and increasing the representation of national staff in the senior leadership of COs.
Specific Objectives
CARE Mozambique seeks to contract an experienced consultant with experience in organizational development and/or change management, who can conduct a qualitative study on pathways to localization and make recommendations to the CO SMT on options for moving forward, transitioning the conversation on localization from the abstract to the concrete and pragmatic. This work should be informed by a thorough understanding of the Mozambican context, including human resource capacities available in the labor market and typical costs.
Some of the guiding questions for this work should include;
- What actions might CARE Mozambique take to advance the localization agenda?
- What forms of localization are there in existence in CARE in other Regions and COs, and how are these working? For example, CARE’s Humanitarian Partnership Platforms are a pilot initiative that seeks to shift power relationships and provide a flexible fund for preparedness and response by Women-Led Organizations (WLOs).
- What can CARE Mozambique learns and adapt from these initiatives?
- What are other INGOs in Mozambique doing to advance local leadership and localization? Some examples may include subbing to local organizations rather than priming, putting in place local advisory councils, and succession planning to replace replacing expatriate key personnel and senior management staff with local staff. What has gone well and what has not? Which efforts go beyond window-dressing or tokenism to contribute to substantive change and progress? How can we learn from their successes and avoid making any mistakes that have already been made.
- Are there any non-traditional partnerships that CARE Mozambique can consider that may help accelerate localization and local leadership? These may include private sector partners, social enterprises or community-based organizations.
- What kinds of investment might be needed to advance the localization agenda and ensure its success? This may include meaningful investment in staff professional development and capacity building, a new salary scale to attract and retain high-capacity local staff, more intensive coaching and mentoring, or more robust succession planning.
Expected Results/Deliverables
- A roadmap for localization for CARE Mozambique in English, providing a clear contextual analysis based in the Mozambique reality and laying out a few options for CARE Mozambique to follow, both in how it is structured and in its relationships with local partners.
- An analysis of the resources, both human and financial, that will be needed to move from a vision of a more locally led CO to a functional reality.
- The consultancy is estimated to be 45-60 days in duration.
Methodology
Applicants can present their preferred methodology in the technical proposal for conducting the study and producing the key deliverables. It is envisioned that the study will include key informant interviews with CARE staff (inside and outside Mozambique), interviews with key stakeholders in Mozambique including INGOs, donors, and Government representatives, and a literature review including CARE strategy documents and policy papers on localization.
Qualifications of Consultant
The selected consultant will have the following skills, qualifications, and competencies:
- 5-7 years experience working in the development or humanitarian sector in Mozambique.
- Familiarity with the human resource and capacity strengths and issues in Mozambique.
- Familiarity with the landscape of INGOs and other development actors in Mozambique.
- Some experience with organizational change and development processes.
- Fluency in written and spoken English and professional competency in Portuguese.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to quickly establish effective working relationships with diverse stakeholder groups.
- High level of integrity and commitment to CARE’s core values and humanitarian principles.
Instructions for Application
Email the following:
- CV in English;
- Cover letter describing your relevant skills and experience;
- Proposed methodology for the study;
- Cost proposal
How to Submit Applications
- Interested individuals’ consultants are expected to submit their proposals for individual consultants, including CVs, financial and technical proposals.
- Proposals can be sent by Email or Physically.
How to Apply
Address: Bairro da Costa do Sol Rua para o Palmar No. 50 – Maputo