Background:
Save the Children is uniquely placed to partner with multilateral and regional development banks to meet the needs of children in a changing world. Our partnership potential with Development Banks spans a wide-ranging set of collaborations around issues critical to human capital development and welfare of children, including: climate & environment, child poverty & child sensitive social protection, education, youth empowerment, health & nutrition and child-rights friendly supply chains. In fragile and conflict-affected states, there are key opportunities for our organisation to work together to reach the most marginalised children and families. In our joint advocacy and knowledge generation work, we have the opportunity to strengthen the prioritisation of building human capital and the needs of children across national and global agendas.
Between 2021 – 2023, Save the Children has delivered $133 million USD of programming with development bank partners in 22 countries, with a further $172m USD forecasted to be secured in 2024-2025. The majority of these programmes are delivered in collaboration with national government ministries, in sectors including health, nutrition, early childhood development, education, and social protection.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the largest multilateral lender in the world. It is also a major development actor with at least 10% of its operations outside of Europe, operating under a separate arm: EIB Global. EIB Global has been tasked with development mandates, for instance under the EU-ACP agreement. The EIB is the main implementer of the European Fund for Sustainable Development + (EFSD+ funded under NDICI – Global Europe), as well as an important implementer under the new Global Gateway strategy and the main public bank under the Team Europe approach. The EIB is the cornerstone of the financing pillar of the European Green Deal.
According to the annual report on the Implementation of the European Union’s External Action Instruments in 2022, in the framework of the Global Gateway strategy, “(…) the European Commission signed a guarantee agreement worth EUR 26.725 billion with the EIB for public investment under EFSD+. In addition, the Commission (DG NEAR and DG INTPA) allocated EUR 8.45 billion in financial guarantees covering private sector investments assigned under EFSD+ to support 56 proposed investment programmes in the Western Balkans and Türkiye, in the Neighborhood regions and Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin American, Asia and the Pacific.
Given the steady decline in the diversity and accessibility of EU funding opportunities for CSOs within the NDICI-Global Europe as well as the increasingly adoption of ‘indirect management’ by the EU1, which is delegating a significant part of the implementation of NDICI-Global Europe budget to the EU Member State agencies and international organisations (pillar assessed organisations), further reinforces the need for exploring different funding sources for our work and thus, Save the Children Europe wishes to proceed with the analysis of European Investment Bank, which is a major actor in international development cooperation.
Purpose:
A consultant is required to carry out an in-depth analysis of the opportunities and risks of securing EIB funding. This will provide a robust and shared viewpoint about the strategic value of EIB to SC as an organisation, as well as associated implications for how we structure and resource our EIB account in the future.
These findings and recommendations will then be shared with Save the Children’s senior leadership to decide if the opportunity is significant enough and the need for collective action significantly compelling to justify future prioritisation and investment.
The assessment will need to identify available opportunities and the investments needed to optimize this potential. An assessment of the feasibility and affordability of these investments can then be understood.
Activities:
- Undergo a desk review of the most recent documents published on the EIB or by the EIB in reference with its work within the EU and in partner countries, including linkages with EU Global Gateway Strategy;
- Organize interviews with relevant stakeholders (internal and external)
- Mapping the partnerships that EIB has with non-for-profit organisations, including international NGOs and UN agencies as well as private and public entities and match these with SC partners and strategic allies
- Mapping opportunities , entry points and funding modalities for Save the Children to engage with the EIB inside of the EU as well as globally, including under the Global Gateway and draw on the added value of a partnership (memorandum of understanding) with this financial institution.
- Mapping similarities/ relationships / alignment / cross-collaboration / co-funding financing between EIB and other multi-lateral development banks
- Look at the work that SC has done with other multi-lateral development banks elsewhere, transpose what’s worked, and build on existing lessons learnt
- Detailed multi-risk assessment (ethical, legal, and compliance perspectives) including on level of complexity and requirements
- Detailed elements on what SC needs to have in place to effectively partner with EIB
Deliverables:
- Market assessment and strategy assessment
- Strategic recommendations and, if appropriate, an action plan outlining case for investment and resources needed to further establish EIB partnerships
- Final report containing all relevant elements mentioned above
Time Frame and location:
- The Consultancy is expected to take place during Q4 2024, depending on the starting date.
- The Consultant can be based anywhere, as the work will be done online. Any meetings will be during CET working hours, mostly between 9 AM – 5 PM CET.
Required expertise and qualifications:
- The consultant will have a thorough understanding of international development banks, including EIB and/or EBRD
- The consultant will be expected to have a solid knowledge of EU social policy and/or EU development and international cooperation policy
- The consultant has the experience producing this analytical kind of work and collaborating with diverse stakeholders
- Good command of English, both written and spoken
Budget and contract:
- Total budget for the consultancy to be confirmed upon reception of the bids.
- The consultancy will take 20 full working days
How to apply
Interested applicants should submit their bids, including:
- methodological approach to be used for the work
- financial proposal (it shall specify the number of hours covered, and the total lump sum amount, including VAT)
- CV
- any supporting documents
to: candida.salgado-silva@savethechildren.org
Upon appointment, the successful applicant will be required to take a Save the Children child safeguarding training online and sign a child safeguarding policy. The training will be taken within the hours paid for within the consultancy. In case the consultant will be working with children directly, reasonable background checks will need to be facilitated in line with Save the Children policy.
Deadline for submission of bids:
Monday, 26th of August, 17H (CET)