Request for Proposal: Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Learning Partnership Consultancy

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1. Introduction
  1. Introduction to the consultancy

Laudes Foundation is inviting proposals for a consultancy to develop and implement an applied learning programme to assist our staff and partners to integrate Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) throughout our programming. The duration of this consultancy will be 12 months.

  1. Introduction to Laudes Foundation

Laudes Foundation is an independent foundation here to advance the transition to a just and regenerative economy. We do this by supporting brave action that will inspire and challenge industry to harness its power for good. Founded in 2020, Laudes Foundation is part of the Brenninkmeijer family enterprise and builds on six generations of entrepreneurship and philanthropy.  Learning from these experiences, we work persistently and collaboratively to influence capital and transform industry, starting with the built environment and fashion industries. 

  1. Background on Laudes’ Approach to Gender Equality and Social Inclusion

Laudes Foundation is committed to embedding equity and inclusion within the Foundation and aspires to promote it through its work with partners. Laudes has been advancing an intersectional gender lens to all its programmatic work.

Ensuring a GESI lens in programming is a strategic function of the Foundation’s Effective Philanthropy team.  In 2021 Laudes Foundation launched two regionally-focused Learning Partnerships for our Asia-based staff and partners, and for our Europe-based programme staff. In 2022, we seek to extend the work with all teams based in our offices in Europe to create more comprehensive learning for our European and global staff and partner organizations, complementing the ongoing learning partnership in Asia.

  1. Background on Laudes’ Learning Approach

Laudes Foundation is on a mission to become a learning organisation. The Foundation has developed an organisational learning strategy to sharpen its strategic focus, test its assumptions and support the adaption of its operations.  As part of the learning strategy, Laudes Foundation is equipping staff with the skills and knowledge they need to be effective learners.  It is also engaging its partners on the learning journey by institutionalising trust-based and partner-centered approaches to learning.   

2. Objectives and Scope of GESI Learning Partnership

Following the launch of a new organisation-wide five-year strategy, in 2021 Laudes Foundation formalized and began implementation of GESI-related learning objectives, listed below.  Working with two learning partners based in Europe and Asia, the Foundation has also developed a metric to evaluate individual and team-level progress along a rubric advancing from GESI ‘unaware’ to ‘transformative.’  A diagnostic report and Roadmap for learning were also developed. Future learning should be consistent with these identified objectives, and assist staff and partners to progress along the identified rubrics, and consistent with the GESI Learning Roadmap.

Learning Objectives

  • Shared understanding of key GESI terms and concepts
  • Shared understanding of root causes and drivers of gender discrimination and social exclusion in each programme sector
  • Ability to apply GESI analysis across all programming, including climate focused programming, to ensure a ‘do no harm’ approach
  • Ability to identify relevant evidence to evaluate the effectiveness of programmes toward equity and inclusion outcomes (e.g. in rubrics design and implementation)
  • Ability to disaggregate and report on programme level expenditures to determine share of programme that is GESI-integrated

 

Learning Roadmap

A roadmap was developed for the foundation by the Centre for International Development and Training (CIDT) following on a baseline assessment and needs identification for our Europe-based teams.  In 2022, building on existing resources, we seek to develop focused, practical and hands-on training materials to address the higher levels identified on this roadmap.  This may include bespoke tools, training and clinics for each programme team to assist staff to be able to apply GESI analysis in pipeline development, proposal review, project management and monitoring and evaluation.

3. Process, Deliverables & Timeline

The 2022 learning partnership will build on a baseline assessment of our Europe-based teams and listening sessions on learning with partners conducted in 2021.  It will also build on activities initiated in 2021, including self-directed and live learning modules and sessions.  Laudes will provide complete background documentation on all of the following to the consultant:

  • Reports and notes on GESI Learning inception workshops with programme teams and staff
  • Diagnostic/Baseline Reports completed in 2021
  • GESI Rubrics
  • Glossary and Introductory Online Module launched in 2021
  • Self- paced case study exercises for all programme teams developed and launched in 2021
  • Notes and outcomes from listening sessions with partners on learning agenda completed in 2021

The consultant will work in tandem with our Asia-based partner, One Future Collective (OFC).  Materials and resources developed by OFC for Laudes will be shared with the consultant so that learning materials for European staff may be aligned with these materials.

New Partnership Activities

Consistent with the GESI Learning Roadmap, we are requesting development of interactive, multi-methods learning activities for staff and select partner organizations to build capacity on topics to include:

    • GESI considerations in pipeline development and organizational due diligence
    • Applying GESI in program design and solicitation
    • Evaluating GESI integration in proposals
    • Effective consultation with affected communities and constituencies in programme development and implementation
    • Adaptive management to address and mitigate unintended consequences on vulnerable groups
    • GESI-sensitive budgeting
    • Incorporating GESI into M&E
    • Supporting/building partner-to-partner engagement i.e. through online communities
    • Assist, as needed, in contributing to GESI-related learning questions and approaches

In addition, we request consultant to work directly with Laudes and OFC to build comprehensive GESI impact metrics for the foundation’s work that can be audited yearly.

Laudes Foundation uses a Learning Management System and will provide guidance on how to integrate new materials into existing systems in relevant formats.

4. Qualifications
  • Extensive experience developing and delivering content and training on GESI integration in a variety of programme contexts, including gendered power analysis/political economy analysis and gender transformative approaches
  • Extensive knowledge on gender, GBV, intersectionality, social exclusion and inclusion, and related laws and policy in the European context (EU, UK, Nordics)
  • Demonstrated capacity to apply mixed methods addressing different learning styles, including self-directed, virtual and live learning to present content in clear way and incorporating practical application to programming
  • Excellent editing/ writing skills and experience curating content and designing creative visual knowledge products
  • Experience developing infographics, online surveys, presentations and managing relevant social media and web-based platforms
  • Excellent organisational and coordination skills, including experience in project management and organising learning events, webinars, and workshops
  • Demonstrated experience as trainers and facilitators

In addition, the team should indicate its ability to access advisors with specialized knowledge of GESI in industries and areas of focus, including but not limited to:  apparel and upstream materials production, including sustainable raw materials; built environment, particularly green building sector; macroeconomic and fiscal policy.  In particular we would welcome inclusion of key personnel with ability to apply GESI analysis to public policy approaches to decarbonisation targeting the built environment, and via use of fiscal policy.

5. Proposal, Research Team Requirements and Level of Effort

Please submit the following to Mr. Stephen Birtwistle, Programme Manager, Laudes Foundation (s.birtwistle@laudesfoundation.org) by 16 November 2021. 

a. Technical Proposal  

A narrative proposal including the following sections:  

  1. Learning Approach: describe your overall approach to learning, including:  partner engagement strategy, proposed experiential learning activities, approach to measuring outcomes and impact
  2. Relevant Experience: provide details of similar work (scope, complexity and nature) you have engaged in previously. In particular, please include previous experience:  
    1. Designing, managing and facilitating learning events, webinars and workshops 
    2. Developing infographics, online resources, and multi-media tools
  3. Key Personnel and Staffing: describe the key personnel. Include CVs (no more than 2 pages each and attached as annex) of key personnel who would be part of the consultancy.  Please also describe and provide examples of your ability to access individuals with industry-specific knowledge in the areas of interest:  apparel and materials production, built environment, fiscal policy.
  4. Timeline: include a detailed timeline of proposed activities consistent with the Laudes Foundation GESI Learning Roadmap.  
b. Financial proposal  

The financial proposal should include a line-item budget and a budget narrative. The cost estimates used to prepare the budget should be presented in Euros. The expected level of effort must be based on the projected level of effort in days per year.  Estimated budget for this activity is approximately € 150,000.

Candidates based in Europe are preferred. 

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