Programme Development Consultant

1. Background

NRC programs in Niger focus on the education, protection from violence and camp management (CCCM), shelter, water, hygiene, sanitation (WASH), livelihood and food security, and information, advice and legal assistance (ICLA) for populations forced to move. Niger faces a multitude of humanitarian crises: population movements, conflicts, malnutrition, food insecurity, recurring epidemics, cyclical floods and droughts. NRC is currently intensifying its humanitarian response through the thematic and geographic expansion of its programme. To achieve its country objectives, NRC Niger is looking for an experienced Programme Development Consultant that can boost the programme team’s efforts in fundraising and programme quality reviews.

2. Purpose of the consultancy

The Consultant will support the NRC Niger country office programme development with ad hoc tasks progressively defined together with the Head of Programme and Country Director with the overall purpose of improving programme quality and raising resources.

The consultancy aims at developing programmatic areas relevant to the context, needs and NRC core competencies with proactive business development related tasks.

1. Specific tasks to be performed by the consultant.

Specific Terms of Reference (ToRs) including deliverables, timeframes and quality standards will be agreed upon for each task. Some examples of specific tasks are listed below – this is not an exhaustive list:

1. Conducting market and business research and analysis around funding streams relevant for the Niger context, needs, NRC Niger core competencies and added value compared to other agencies.
2. Writing compelling, evidence-based full proposals and annexes for submission to external donors.
3. Conducting analysis and evaluations on programme / core competencies / cross cutting themes.
4. Setting up consortia with multiple stakeholders, developing the programmatic concept and governance structure, attract funding.
5. Other tasks.
6. Lines of Communication
   The consultant will report to the Head of Programme (HoP) in NRC Niger and coordinate closely with the Grants Manager, Country Director, the country management team, heads of departments.
7. Timeframe

The consultancy framework agreement runs approximately from June 2024 to March 2025. The framework agreement should not be interpreted as continuous employment with NRC. The framework agreement is a standby agreement that will be activated through agreed ToRs for specific tasks, the ToRs will be signed by the consultant, the NRC HoP and the Country Director (CD) indicating the number of days for each specific task. The consultant may be exceptionally required to work during weekends.

6. Location

Remote assignment.

7. Budget

The consultant will be paid a daily fee for the number of days worked within a given period, once the agreed deliverable in the specific ToR has been submitted and validated by the HoP and CD. The validated deliverable must be accompanied by a timesheed approved by the HoP.

The consultant is responsible for personal insurance, taxes, and any other expense during the contract. The consultant will provide any necessary material and services (including laptop and internet connection) as well as workspace required to perform the consultancy.

A penalty will be applied for deliverables that do not meet quality standards or that are submitted after the deadline in the specific ToRs. If the quality or the delayed submission compromises the purpose of the specific task, NRC reserves the right to reject the deliverable with no payment and suspend the framework agreement.

8. Qualifications and Experience

The consultant is expected to have the following qualifications and experience, applicable to the specific tasks (see section 3) the applicant is interested in:

• Experience in business development and market research in the development and humanitarian sectors, philanthropy, private sector and fundraising,
• Minimum 3 years of experience in programme design including for consortia lead, proposal writing, preferably in western Africa.
• Capacity to finalise logical, coherent, and consistent documents including logical-frame and budget.
• Prior demonstrated experience developing proposals for institutional donors, preferably USAID, INTPA, FCDO; development banks such as the World Bank, non-traditional donors, corporate entities, foundations.
• Proven experience in attracting funding from climate financing streams, resilience and adaptation funding, livelihood, education, WASH.
• Experience to design programmes and proposals with partners including local and international NGOs, private sector.
• Experience in the set-up and management of consortia as coordinator, Chief of Party and attracting funding.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively in a multicultural context with project members from multiple organisations, including remotely writing and revising documents.
• Ability to integrate different experiences, methodologies, and approaches from a diverse range of stakeholders, organisations, and technical experts from multiple sectors.
• Excellent English and French speaking and writing skills required.
• Advanced university degree (master or equivalent) in international affairs/studies, development, economy, rural development, gender, or a related field.

9. How to submit the application

Any candidate/firm interested in this offer must submit their file via email to the address below no later than May 24, 2024, at 5:00 p.m., Niamey time (GMT+1).

Submit the documents below with Object ‘Programme Development consultancy’ to [email protected]

The application package must include:

• An updated, detailed CV from the consultant/firm mentioning the diplomas attesting to the required level of qualification with at least the 3 most recent references (email and telephone).
• A cover letter demonstrating the interest and ability to conduct the consultancy; the cover letter should specify if the applicant is interested in some of the specific tasks mentioned in section 3 ‘Specific tasks to be conducted’.
• Two Letters of recommendation from organizations that have previously benefited from similar services.
• Two extracts of samples of proposals or evaluation reports conducted in the past one sample in French and two in English.
• A technical offer indicating the timetable, the methodology and the tools to be used.
• A financial offer in USD with the daily rate for specific tasks

Candidates/firm will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Professional skills, expertise and qualification for the tasks described above (40%),
• Previous successful experiences demonstrated through letters of recommendation from previous line managers (10%),
• The technical quality of the two extracts samples of submitted proposals / evaluation report (10%),
• The financial offer (40%).
• For firms, in addition to the documents already requested, must provide:
• Their trade registration number
• Their tax identification number
• Their Tax Regularity Certificate

Period: June 2024 – March2025