Consultancy on Business Development Advisor (Ethiopia) – RFP-RO01-002731

Terms of Reference (TOR) for Business Development Advisor (Ethiopia)

Who is the Danish Refugee Council?

Founded in 1956, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading international NGO and one of the few with a specific expertise in forced displacement. Active in 40 countries with 9,000 employees and supported by 7,500 volunteers, DRC protects, advocates, and builds sustainable futures for refugees and other displacement affected people and communities. DRC works during displacement at all stages: In the acute crisis, in displacement, when settling and integrating in a new place, or upon return. DRC provides protection and life-saving humanitarian assistance; supports displaced persons in becoming self-reliant and included into hosting societies; and works with civil society and responsible authorities to promote protection of rights and peaceful coexistence.

DRC Ethiopia began operations in 2009 to respond to the needs of populations experiencing conflict, forced displacement, and the effects of climate change and natural disasters. DRC Ethiopia currently has country-wide programmes implemented through area offices in the Gambella, Tigray, Afar and Somali regions, as well as its country office in Addis Ababa. Due to its long-standing established presence and experience, DRC is able to respond rapidly to the humanitarian needs of displacement-affected communities through a protection lens, restoring livelihoods and contributing to achieving durable solutions for displaced persons on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. In addition, DRC Ethiopia is expecting to be accredited to implement Humanitarian Mine Action programming in 2024.

Purpose of the consultancy

The DRC Ethiopia seeks a short-term consultant to provide support in Business Development. The work is expected to focus on identifying new funding opportunities and donors, supporting DRC Ethiopia in positioning for strategic opportunities based on its unique selling points, and developing compelling materials in support of fundraising efforts.

Background

In view of increasingly challenging funding environment in Ethiopia -with expected cuts in the Humanitarian Response Plan 2024, donors prioritising the UN, and development donors failing to step in, among others-, DRC Ethiopia will need some additional support in new Business Development. With an anticipated reduction our DRC portfolio in 2024, significant fundraising efforts are needed to ensure DRC Ethiopia maintains its footprint and retains its capacity to respond to humanitarian needs, enhances its durable solutions programming for a growing number of communities in protracted displacement and develops further humanitarian disarmament and peacebuilding interventions. In a context of decreased funding opportunities and increased competition among NGOs, it is critical for DRC Ethiopia to position itself as a quality, innovative, principled organisation, taking into account while influencing donors priorities.

Objective of the consultancy

The objective of this consultancy is to support the process of diversifying DRC Ethiopia’s donor pool and secure funding for 2024 and beyond.

Scope of work and Methodology

The consultant is required to:

• Map potential donors and funding opportunities, with emphasis on non-traditional donors/donors with whom DRC Ethiopia does not have an existing relationship (including Foundations, commercial contractors, etc.).
• Based on an analysis of the mapping, and in close collaboration with the Country Director and Head of Programmes, identify key unique selling points of DRC Ethiopia for each of the identified donor/funding opportunity.
• Based on the identified strategic initiatives, update the Funding Plan for 2024, including a fundraising action plan and a donor engagement plan.
• In consultation with the DRC Ethiopia team, DRC Regional Office and DRC Headquarter experts, lead the development of fundraising materials such as unsolicited concept notes, expressions of interest, full proposals and capacity statements for the identified strategic initiatives and funding opportunities.
• Provide capacity building on fundraising and proposal development to the Grants team, Technical Leads and Area Office PMs.
• Provide advice and light administrative support for donor engagement/communications, including by identifying donor strategic priorities and appropriate contact points and briefing the Country Director and Head of Programmes.
• Report progress regularly back to the Head of Programme and Country Director.

Deliverables

The Consultant will submit a field report based on the following deliverables as mentioned below. All deliverables will involve a planning-meetings and briefing-meeting with the Head of Programme and Country Director to ensure expectations are aligned:

Phase 1

Review and Analysis

Mapping Analysis

Identification of new opportunities and mapping analysis with donor profiles, call(s) for proposals details, deadlines, and other business development needs. This will include a timeline and list of deliverables/resources and engagements needed to proceed with potential possibilities. The emphasis will be on non-traditional donors/donors with whom DRC Ethiopia does not have an existing relationship.

Phase 2

Action

Funding Plan

This document will be based on DRC Ethiopia Country Strategic Plan, clearly stating the fundraising goals, such as the target amount of funds to be raised, donors we want to target, the timeline for achieving the goal. Goals can also include a change of strategic direction such as targeting new types of donors (e.g. development donors, foundations, etc.). It will also include a Fundraising Action Plan and a donor engagement plan.

General Concept Note / EOI / Full Proposals / Capacity Statements

Development of concept notes, expression of interest, full proposals and capacity statements for a wide range of donor relations.

NBD workshop

Build the capacity of the program team to enhance quality of proposals.

The Consultant will provide the documentation by email / Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, etc.

Duration, timeline, and payment

The total expected duration to complete the assignment will be 3 months.

Expected start date: April 1, 2024

Completion date: June 30, 2024

Eligibility, qualification, and experience required

• Essential:
  • Demonstrated experience working with INGOs. Minimum of 5 years of working with INGOs at a senior level
  • Minimum of 5 years experience in business/programme development for international humanitarian organisations, especially for institutional and large private donors
  • Proven success in acquiring grants and funding for country programmes in Ethiopia / East Africa context.
  • Experience with emergency response/preparedness, durable solutions, mixed migration and humanitarian disarmament and peacebuilding funding is an advantage.
  • Familiarity with requirements of key humanitarian donors and capacity to work in a multi-donor environment, including DANIDA, SIDA, EU/ECHO, UNHCR, BHA/BPRM, FCDO, CHF among others.
  • High accuracy and attention to detail
• Qualification:
  • Educational level: degree in a relevant field such as International Development, Business Administration, Fundraising Management, Peace and Conflict Studies, or a related discipline.
• Skills and knowledge:
  • Proficiency in drafting high-quality proposals, grant applications, and programme descriptions, showcasing a keen understanding of donor requirements and expectations.
  • Supporting communications with institutional and large private humanitarian, development and/or peacebuilding donors
  • Knowledge of the funding landscape for international humanitarian and peacebuilding projects, with a focus on staying informed about emerging trends, opportunities, and challenges.
• Language requirements:
  • Excellent written and spoken fluency in English, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and concisely.

Technical supervision

The selected consultant will work under the supervision of:

• Country Director, Aurélie Leroyer

Location and support

The Consultant will provide her/his own computer. DRC will provide Wi-Fi connection and mobile telephone. The assignment should be carried out in DRC’s office in Addis Ababa. Other working arrangements could exceptionally be considered based on the consultant profile.

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel to Ethiopia during the duration of the consultancy. DRC Ethiopia will be responsible for travel arrangements and related expenses.

Based on the initial screening, DRC will invite selected bidders for an interview. DRC will conduct reference checks from at least 2 previous works as an additional mandatory requirement. The financial offer will then be weighed against the technical offer. The total cost of the financial offer including tax should be mentioned in the DRC Bid Form annex A.2, with the budget breakdown.

Please find complete bidding documents in the following link RFP-RO01-002731 Business Development Advisor (Ethiopia)