Consultancy for Identifying Key Insights from ICSW/virtual for ICSW/local Events

Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, is looking for a short-term consultant/s to create Event Briefs from seven ICSW/virtual events held between April and October 2020. The Event Briefs will support local organisations already working in the seven thematic areas to host ICSW/local events to further explore the topic in a local context, discover what is working and brainstorm new ways of addressing related challenges and opportunities. The work and insights from the local events will then be used to inform the ICSW/global event in September 2021. The Event Briefs will provide a critical bridge to link the virtual, local and global events. In addition, the Event Briefs will provide the context, insights and direction to support the background research for local event organisers.

Interested candidates should submit their application to [email protected] by December 02, 2020. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Location: Remote. Global
Duration: early December 2020 to end January 2021
Max: Proposals up to a maximum of US$8000 will be considered

About CIVICUS

CIVICUS exists to defend people power. As a growing global alliance of over 10,000 members in 175 countries, we work together to monitor violations of basic civic freedoms, call out the perpetrators of violations and strengthen the power of people to organise by supporting a more accountable, effective and innovative civil society. We strive to promote excluded voices, especially from the Global South.

ICSW 2020-2021

At CIVICUS, we believe that this is the right time for civil society activists, organisations and social movements to engage in a collective process alongside donors, friends and supporters, to learn, unlearn and relearn ways to sustain and support people power for the long haul.

ICSW 2020-2021 is an 18-month discussion, experimentation and learning process that will cover the following topics:

• Exploring the new sources and forces of people power
• Putting people at the centre of social change
• Growing and sustaining people’s movements to drive fundamental change
• Connecting the local to the global to enhance people’s strength and solidarity
• Understanding, learning and unlearning how to support people power

Tasks and responsibilities

In order to conclude the virtual-only phase and get ready for the next stage of ICSW/local events, we are looking for a consultant who will organise and conduct a review of all seven virtual events. The consultant will extract key insights, recommendations, and points for further exploration from the ICSW/virtual events. The consultant will work closely with the ICSW coordination team to ensure the content and approach is accessible and useful for ICSW/local events. Tasks will include:

• Draft a framework for harvesting essential topics and information from all ICSW virtual events
• Review all seven ICSW/virtual events, including:
  • Participate in orientation (approx. 2 hours) with ICSW coordinator to understand the ICSW context, theme and selected topics
  • Watch all the videos and breakout room recordings
  • Read, analyze and report on all chat box comments, graphic recordings, event concept notes, and event feedback, as well as other resource materials (if applicable)
• Meet and review draft with ICSW coordination team who will provide feedback on the usability and “fit” for local ICSW events, as well as content (with guidance form event partners/coordinators)
• Deliver seven Event Briefs of no more than 300-500 words each.

Further specifications

• All ICSW virtual events are available on CIVICUS website or facebook channel. Each event lasts an average of 90 minutes.
• Timeline: All event briefs need to be completed by the end of January 2021.
• Languages: All events have been delivered in 3 languages (English, French and Spanish)

Proposed Timelines and Deliverables (to be adapted and approved together with Consultant)

• Provide framework and draft for first event – December 14, 2020
• Revise first event draft with input of ICSW coordination team – December 17, 2020
• Revise first event draft with content input from event co-hosts and usability input from local event organisers – December 22, 2020
• Provide six remaining event brief drafts – January 10, 2021
• Revise drafts with input of ICSW coordination team for remaining six events – January 20, 2020
• Revise event drafts with content input from event co-hosts and usability input from local event organisers – January 31, 2021
• All final Event Briefs of between 300-500 words submitted by January 31, 2021

Experience and Skills

Essential Knowledge, skills and Experience

• Relevant professional/academic qualification

• Excellent written and oral communications skills

• Demonstrated experience in research, synthesis and writing succinct, accessible briefs

• Expert knowledge on event topics and people power

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English

• Excellent IT skills, and experience with virtual teams/meetings facilitation

• Ability to analyze complex sets of information and reveal trends
• Interpersonal skills: inclination and ability to work with a diverse, multicultural virtual team

Desirable Knowledge, skills and Experience

• Demonstrated experience in participatory research
• Competence in additional languages (preferably Spanish and French)
• Design thinking methodologies
• Experience in editing