Consultant for research on European Union funding opportunities

CHURCH WORLD SERVICE

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Consultant for research on European Union funding opportunities

I. Period of Performance: 30 days

II. Background

Church World Service (CWS) is a not-for-profit organization working for the world where all have food, voice and a safe place to call home. CWS has a mandate to stand with – and for – the world’s most vulnerable people. Too often, they are children and their mothers. Regardless of the context, our goal is empowerment. The people we meet are determined to rise above their circumstances and CWS is committed to providing them with support to attain self-sufficiency, dignity and security.

CWS Europe Regional office, based in Belgrade, Serbia, covers programs in four countries (Georgia, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia) and works in three main programming areas: the Roma program (includes literacy training for and the empowerment of Roma women, and safe space, education and empowerment of Roma children), the Renewable Energy Technology for the Rural Poor across the region and the Refugees and Migrants program (assisting refugees and migrants with educational opportunities and supporting first responders to offer immediate help and assistance). CWS is registered as a representative office of an INGO, Church World Service, Inc., in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

A goal of CWS is to diversify its funding base, scale up the key projects and leverage further funding from institutional funders, increasing the impact of our initiatives and ensuring the program is financially sustainable.

In the past decade, the European Union and the European Commission (EU/EC) has become the biggest donor in the region of Western Balkans and Eastern Europe, supporting the prosperity, peace and security and development of these regions through various funds and forms of assistance, targeting governments and institutions, but also civil society, associations, small business and individuals. The EU/EC is also a key supporter of humanitarian and development work globally.

CWS is interested in exploring the possibilities of securing funds for its projects with the EU/EC funding for sustainable development and humanitarian response. CWS has not received EU funding to date and is not registered in EuropeAid. CWS does, however, cooperate with local partners who are eligible for EU funding.

III. Scope of Work

CWS is looking to expand its funding portfolio for humanitarian assistance and sustainable development programs in the Europe Region and globally. This task has two high-level goals:

1) Determine CWS eligibility, requirements and process to access EU funding;

2) Identify and recommend potential solicitations from the EU available to CWS in the next 12 months (ideally calendar year 2021 and 2022).

IV. Specific Objectives

CWS requires the services of an experienced consultant with knowledge of the EU funding mechanisms and programs to:

1) assess the eligibility of CWS to access EU funding for CWS Europe Office, and other CWS Global Offices;

2) map out available EU funding opportunities for the CWS Europe region, with special focus on Serbia, Bosnia, Georgia and Moldova considering CWS Europe program areas and goals;

3) provide recommendations and guidance on how to access EU funding; and

4) map out other fundraising mechanisms and opportunities globally for which CWS would be eligible to apply.

V. Task Description

The consultant will be tasked with the following:

a) Assess eligibility of CWS (as a US-based NGO) and its Europe regional office, based in Belgrade, Serbia, to access EU funds and in what category/under what terms/conditions with CWS as lead, sub-lead or in consortia, including partnering requirements, and other relevant aspects of eligibility and process.

b) Provide a detailed overview of the EU funding programs managed by the European Commission, ECHO and other EU institutions which are in line with CWS Europe programmatic areas/sectors

c) Advise on any required formal collaboration agreements with governments (national, subnational, local) that would facilitate access to EU funds.

d) Provide recommendations on which EU funding programs are the most suitable for CWS Europe, either alone or in cooperation with its local partners, what type of projects have the most potential to be funded by the EU, as well as specific recommendations on application process and financial aspects.

e) Provide guidelines on how to research potential funding with EU and EU-related institutions.

f) Identify and recommend potential EU funding opportunities available and applicable to CWS in the next 12-months (calendar year 2021 and 2022). This should include the timeline of all calls for proposals that might be of interest for CWS Europe, or CWS will be eligible to apply.

Deliverables and Due dates

1) Kick-off meeting (notes and recommendations): Due date: within 5 days from signature of contract

2) Detailed Workplan. Due date: 7 days from signature of contract

3) Draft report. Due date: 10 days before end of contract

4) Final Report. Due date: 5 days before end of contract

5) Webinar, a one-time webinar to key CWS staff on this topic should be organized and results presented. Due date: by the end date of the contract

Timeline

The assignment is expected to last 30 working days.

Following the selection of the consultant, an inception meeting will be organized with the consultant and key CWS staff to discuss the objectives and deliverables under this ToR, agree on the proposed work and timeframe and provide all necessary information to the consultant. At least one additional meeting with CWS Europe staff will be organized either in person or by Skype to follow up on progress. CWS Europe staff will be available for consultations via phone, e-mail and Skype during the entire period of the assignment.

The consultant will have 1 month (or 25 working days) to present the first draft of the final report to be reviewed and approved by CWS Europe. Once the feedback is incorporated, the consultant will finalize and submit the final report.

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Contract and Payments

A contract will be signed with a selected consultant and will further detail terms, conditions and deliverables. The fee will be paid in two instalments: 30% upon signing the contract, and 70% upon receiving and approving the final report.

Roles and Responsibilities

The technical direction of this consultancy will be done by the Associate Director for Institutional Partnerships (DHA).

Copyright

All the outputs produced by the report will be treated as CWS’s property and the consultant will not be able to use the report in any manner without prior permission from CWS.

Policies

The CWS Code of Conduct and Child Safeguarding Policy outlines the behaviour which is expected of all employees and others associated with CWS. It is mandatory that all CWS employees and others associated with CWS sign and abide by these policies.

Requirements

· Extensive knowledge of EU funding programs, mechanisms and financial opportunities

· Demonstrable experience in conducting donor or market research

· Sound knowledge of EU rules and principles, including legal aspects in the area of EU funding, particularly for non-governmental and civil society actors

· Good understanding of both bilateral and multi-lateral donors, funds and foundations in the region

· Experience with delivering analytical reports

· Excellent command of English language

Desirable

· Experience in working with donors locally or regionally