OVOC Development of a Civic Space Tool Consultancy.

Terms of reference for:

The development of a civic space tool for Plan International

1. Background

The overall aim of this consultancy is to develop a simple tool for civic space analysis for Plan International. Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. Plan International strives for a just world, where all girls know and exercise their rights and live the life they choose. Plan International works together with children, young people and partners supporting girls and young women to stand strong as they learn, lead, decide, and thrive. Plan International wants to see the barriers and discrimination girls and young women currently face broken down. The tool should take in these characteristics of Plan International, with its focus on children and youth rights and with a strong lens on gender and inclusion.

Civic space is under pressure in most parts of the world. Civil society is under severe attack in 117 of 197 countries and territories.[1] Countries are adopting repressive laws and increase restrictions on freedoms to express, participate, assemble, and associate. New technologies help civil society organisations and networks to grow but have also enabled repressive governments to control civil society and to restrict freedom of speech and free press. Many civil society actors, including children and youth, face harassment and attacks. According to Civicus monitor, only 3.2% of the world’s population live in countries with open civic space.

Plan International works in over 80 countries. Civicus monitor rates the Civic space ‘Closed in seven of these countries where Plan International has a CO or NO, and ‘Repressed in a further twenty-six. Plan International has become increasingly aware of that shrinking civic space is impacting the organisation’s programming and influencing and has conducted an internal consultation on civic space. Children and young people usually suffer from restrictions on their civic space from the state, different non-state actors, including their parents and adults in their surroundings who limit their engagement and involvement, using arguments such as that they are too young to engage or that it is dangerous. Children and youth are disproportionally affected by civic space and girls and young women are particularly affected. Plan International has identified a need to strengthen its capacity to analyse civic space and to be able to formulate effective strategies in support of the civic space of youth and civil society partner organisations that it works with.

1. Overall aim and objectives

The overall aim of this consultancy is to strengthen Plan International’s capacity to handle civic space by producing two outputs:

1. a simple and user-friendly tool for a. civic space analysis, b. the formulation of strategies to contribute to an enabling civic space c. mapping of other relevant stakeholders engage in promoting civic space
2. Suggesting how to integrate civic space management into existing procedures and tools linked to the development of country strategies and influencing and advocacy policies and strategies.

The civic space tool should enable Plan International and its staff to:

1. Monitor and analyse civic space in a country context
2. Carry out regular updates of its civic space analysis in an equally easy manner
3. Formulate strategies to contribute to a more enabling civic space of the children, youth and the civil society partner organisation it works with
4. Map other relevant actors that are supporting an enabling civic space

The tool must have an intersectional approach and build upon Plan International’s approaches for gender and inclusion.

1. Scope of work

The consultant will be responsible for:

1. Designing and developing a civic space analysis tool based on existing civic space analysis tools, research and others related to civic space, especially research focusing on children and youth civic space and the specific barriers they and their organisations face, as well as civil society organisations focusing on children and youth’s rights. Work should take into consideration Plan International’s commitment in relation to “locally led, globally connected” and the “Pledge for Change” to ensure their integration. Special attention should be given to already existing tools and documents provided by Plan International.
2. Engaging with a reference group representing Plan International’s working group for civic space. The consultant should also engage with key stakeholders such as Plan International staff working on gender and inclusion, youth engagement, safeguarding, youth representatives, representatives from some country offices and the Global Hub. The reference group will put the consultant in contact with the stakeholders that the consultant should consult with.
3. Designing and developing a Civic Space Tool that incorporates an intersectional and gender transformative approach, giving due consideration to the unique circumstances and vulnerabilities of children and youth.
4. Formulate a simple instruction on the use of the tool and a power point to guide a workshop using the tool
5. Formulate guidelines for formulating strategies to enable Plan International to contribute to an enabling civic space on a country level.
6. Conducting pilot testing with Plan International staff and other assigned participants to refine the tool based on feedback from relevant stakeholders.
7. Reference group

The following Plan International staff will form part of the reference group that will oversee the consultants work and facilitate the consultants work by for example putting the consultant in contact with relevant stakeholders and getting access to relevant documents.

1. Deliverables

The consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs or outcomes:

1. An inception report describing methodology, sources that will be used and how the assignment will be carried out (Not more than 1500 words).
2. A draft civic space tool to be reviewed by the reference group to be delivered x weeks after the signing of the contract in line with the instructions on the tool.
3. A test workshop with assigned stakeholders to test the tool and its instructions.
4. A final version of the Civic Space Tool with a short and user-friendly interface, that has taken into consideration the feedback given by Plan International after the draft was presented.
5. A short guideline for how to use the tool and how to carry out a workshop with staff and other relevant stakeholders to analyse civic space, including a powerpoint that can be used during a civic space analysis workshop.
6. The Tool will be co-funded by the European Union and needs to include this information and follow the EU’s “Communication & Raising EU Visibility Guideline and Plan International Global Brand Manual” as well as following Plan International’s Global Brand Manual.
7. Timeline

The consultancy is expected to be completed within 11 weeks. The timeline should include milestones for tool development, testing, and finalization.

1. Budget and timeframe

The financial proposal and its budget will be assessed with a cost-effective analysis (“value for money”) e.g. considering the relevant qualifications related to the research topic, methodological approach and daily fee. The submitted proposed budget is subject for discussion and adjustment depending on the agreed work plan (including methodology) to be used.

Proposed terms of payment are listed below. Professional fees, administrative costs related to transport, accommodation and stationary will be handled by the consultant.

The timeframe should allow for the following (tentative dates):

• Signature of agreement 31 by March 2024.
• Inception report with a detailed action plan by 15th March 2024.
• Plan International approval of inception report and action plan by 18th April 2024
• Circulation of the draft tool and instruction on how to use it by 10th May 2024
• Pilot test of the tool by 29th May 2023
• Final tool with workshop plan and instructions, as well as recommendations for amendment of other documents 17th June 2024

Payment modality:

Payment details / Weight

After signing the contract / 10%

After submitting the Inception report /20%

Pilot test of the tool /30%

After the final deliverable (incl. workshop plan and instructions) /40%

Total 100 %

1. Qualifications and Experience

The ideal consultant should have:

1. Demonstrated experience in working on civic space for civil society actors.
2. Experience of developing user friendly methodologies and tools.
3. Experience of integrating intersectionality and working from a gender transformative approach
4. Experience of developing tools with a focus on children and youth rights will be favoured.
5. Familiarity with the localisation agenda and the “Pledge for change” is considered a plus.
6. Experience in engaging with diverse stakeholders, including civil society organizations, youth groups, and child rights organizations.
7. Proposal Submission

Interested consultants should submit their proposals, including a detailed work plan, methodology, and a financial proposal, by 12 March 2024.

The technical proposal should contain:

• Presentation of the understanding of development of the tool.
• A proposed methodology for the development of the tool. As the methodology is meant to evolve in dialogue with Plan International, new suggestions are possible to include.
• A proposed work plan including dates for submission of the draft and final tool as well for the testing of the draft tool.
• Evidence of availability of appropriate qualifications, experiences and key staff that will constitute the team.
• CVs of the assigned team member(s) detailing relevant experience.

The financial proposal must be submitted in EUROs with a breakdown of all key activities and costs. The financial proposal may be revised before signing of contract if Plan International and the consultant agree on a revised technical proposal/work plan.

1. Selection Criteria

The selection of the consultant will be based on:

1. Experience and skills related to tools and development of models in the area of civic space.
2. Experience of developing user-friendly tools and guidelines.
3. Understanding of intersectionality and commitment to children and youth rights.
4. Clarity and feasibility of the proposed methodology.
5. Cost-effectiveness of the financial proposal.

It is preferred that consultant:

• Has documented experience and child and youth-friendly methods and approaches
• Can communicate, orally and in written, in English
• Being an institution, organization or individual with particular focus on either civil society and civic space, or child and youth participation and governance.

1. Ethical and child protection Considerations

Plan has to ensure that no risk or harm is involved in the development of the tool. The consultant(s) should understand and sign child protection policy of Plan International at time of signing agreement with Plan. The consultant (s) avoid plagiarism of any kind and abide by the principle of intellectual property.

[1] https://monitor.civicus.org/globalfindings/

[2] https://monitor.civicus.org/facts/

[3] China, Egypt, Hong Kong, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Nicaragua

[4] Bangladesh, Benin, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Colombia, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, India, Mali, Mexico, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Philippines, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

[5] One of the priorities in Plan International’s global strategy.

[6] https://pledgeforchange2030.org/

[7] These tool are both developed by Plan International itself, as well as civic space tools developed by other organisations, such as Oxfam and Save the Children.