Request For Proposal – FSC-IF And IPARD Global Visibility Strategies

Objective of the Project

General objective:

Create global visibility strategies for the FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF) and the Indigenous Peoples Alliance for Rights and Development (IPARD) Program.

Specific objectives:

1. Organize two global virtual events to launch (1) the FSC-IF and (2) the IPARD Program, as well as increase visibility and engage stakeholders, especially Indigenous Peoples.
2. Create an online presence for FSC-IF and IPARD with a website and social media channels.
3. Develop specific communications products for IPARD and Indigenous Peoples organizations partners.

The Scope

FSC-IF and IPARD are driven by and for Indigenous Peoples to create the underlying conditions necessary to achieve long-term impacts for Indigenous communities worldwide. In light of this, IPARD is committed to a co-creation process with Indigenous Peoples’ organizations, governments, the private sector, and other key stakeholders. The process will be driven by Indigenous Peoples’ visions, values, interests and priorities. These groups will guide and give feedback on the products of this agreement. The IPARD team will guide the co-creation process.

The firm must develop two global visibility strategies – one for FSC-IF and one for the IPARD Program. These two strategies must be complementary and feed into each other, to amplify the impact of both entities and increase communication with key stakeholders.

The anticipated outcome of these strategies is that the FSC-IF and the IPARD Program become worldwide references of initiatives inspiring new models of collaboration with, for, and led by Indigenous Peoples.

The strategies will include the following elements:

Organization of two virtual events:

• The global value and benefits of forests and Indigenous Peoples: Indigenous-led partnerships for Indigenous Peoples – launch FSC-IF, increase visibility and engagement of the FSC-IF with regional and national Indigenous Peoples’ organizations and other stakeholders
• Building partnerships for capacity strengthening of Indigenous Peoples for rights and development: Launching the IPARD Global Development Alliance – launch the IPARD Program and connect the Program to Indigenous Peoples’ organizations, governments, CSOs and donors

Events will be around two hours each with up to 500 global participants. Simultaneous interpretation is required for Spanish, French and Portuguese.

Development of social media strategies:

• FSC-IF web and social media strategy – link to global visibility strategy
• IPARD web and social media strategy – link to global visibility strategy

Creation of communications products:

• FSC-IF and IPARD website – purchase domain and develop one basic website (around 20 pages) for both entities. IPARD will provide all narrative and plan for information flow.
• IPARD logo – design options together with Indigenous Peoples’ organizations.
• IPARD video on Indigenous Voices and Champions – create short video on objectives, plans and aspirations of IPARD by elevating the voices of Indigenous Peoples and key partners. The IPARD team will assist in making connections and gathering video clips from Indigenous Peoples around the world and will provide a video plan. Run time should be approximately five minutes.
• One-pager and business PowerPoint presentation (10-20 slides) for IPARD to different target audiences as guided by IPARD Program Director and IPARD Communication Officer.

Technical and cost proposal

The firm must include a technical and cost proposal including:

• A plan of activities to meet objectives and how they tie together into the Global Visibility Strategies for FSC-IF and IPARD.
• Cost proposal, including the detailed cost breakdown of each of the following deliverables and also the conditions for payment.
• The approach and strategy on how Indigenous Peoples and their organizations will be engaged and will participate in the co-design, co-planning, and execution of all products.

Deliverables

Deliverables of this agreement will include:

Products

• IPARD global visibility strategy
• FSC-IF global visibility strategy
• IPARD logo
• IPARD web and social media strategy
• FSC-IF web and social media strategy
• IPARD video
• FSC-IF / IPARD website
• One pager and business presentation

Virtual Events

• IPARD global event and launch
• FSC-IF global event and launch

Provider Profile

The communications firm should have at least five years of experience in designing communications strategies for international organizations, organizing global or regional events and program launches, preferably in the development sector. Prior experience in working with Indigenous Peoples and other marginalized groups is preferred.

Questions, Clarifications & Coordination

The Point of Contact will be the IPARD Program and Communications Officer, Mary Donovan. Any questions or clarifications about this Terms of Reference shall be submitted to Mary Donovan at: [email protected]

Deadline to deliver Products and Virtual Events enumerated in Section ‘Deliverables’

All Products must be delivered by (tentative date) June 30, 2021, prior to the Virtual Events (dates of Virtual Events to be confirmed).

Conditions for payment

The products must be authorized by the IPARD Program Director to proceed with the respective payment.

Background

Indigenous Peoples Alliance for Rights and Development (IPARD)

A new global capacity development initiative to create long-term solutions with and for Indigenous Peoples

The Indigenous Peoples Alliance for Rights and Development (IPARD) aims to strengthen the capacities of Indigenous Peoples globally so they can manage and develop their communities based on their priorities, traditional knowledge, natural resource management, and respect for their rights in line with national and international laws.

A global partnership for Indigenous Peoples’ rights and sustainable development

IPARD is a public-private global partnership implemented by the FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF). FSC-IF is a global organization governed, led and managed by Indigenous Peoples that seeks to deliver long-term and resilient solutions for Indigenous Peoples worldwide. IPARD was created and is currently funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). IPARD is a five-year, US $13 million program which began operations in August 2020.

IPARD seeks to build a global partnership with Indigenous Peoples, government entities, the private sector, NGOs, universities, UN agencies, multilateral and bilateral agencies and the donor community. It will act as a knowledge hub for Indigenous Peoples’ best practices, successful models and lessons learned and will create opportunities to build coalitions among partner organizations interested in working together to benefit Indigenous Peoples and generate collective gains in any country.

Vision, theory of change and key objectives

IPARD envisions that if Indigenous Peoples develop their technical, organizational and managerial capacities in a consistent way over the long-term, this will strengthen their abilities to better engage and collaborate with national governments and the private sector which would result in three outcomes: a) improved management of their resources and communities; b) enhanced institutional capacity to promote their rights and well-being based on national and international laws, and c) expanded opportunities for successful business partnerships and the creation of innovative Indigenous economic models.

IPARD’s vision will be achieved through three systematic and interlinked objectives:

1. Organize and convene a Capacity Development Program for Indigenous Peoples’ organizations and stakeholders, such as government entities and the private sector.
2. Foster an enabling and authorizing environment for Indigenous Peoples’ effective participation and joint decision-making in matters affecting them.
3. Promote business opportunities and partnerships for Indigenous Peoples’ sustainable development based on innovative economic models.

The Program is driven by Indigenous Peoples and multi-sector partnerships to build innovative ways to implement strategies on the ground and create the enabling environment necessary to achieve long-term impacts for Indigenous communities’ sustainable development in targeted countries.

A programmatic approach based on Indigenous decision-making

The FSC-IF’s central office in Panama City, Panama will implement IPARD adhering to three programmatic approaches:

• Indigenous Program Management Approach (IPMA) – At the highest level, IPARD will be guided by the governance structure of the FSC-IF Council and the FSC’s Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC). At the regional and country levels, IPARD will work in collaboration with many actors including national governments to engage with relevant representatives of Indigenous Peoples’ organizations who will build a collective decision-making process to guide the strategic vision, direction, planning and implementation of the Program with full inclusion of traditional knowledge and social learning.
• A Country-Focused Approach (CFA) – IPARD will integrate multi-sector efforts and resources on a country-by-country basis in order to optimize the likelihood of long-lasting impact and benefits, building on the Indigenous Cultural Landscapes Framework developed by FSC.
• A Multi-Sectoral Approach (MSA) – IPARD is oriented to support the achievement of the vision of Indigenous Peoples in the long-term by building collaborative plans with different sectors and stakeholders. Therefore, its activities will integrate aspirations and needs in all sectors that are relevant to Indigenous Peoples focusing on natural resource management, rights, their economies, their social well-being, and other priorities based on national contexts.

At the operational level, IPARD will implement three detailed approaches through two programmatic models:

• Indigenous Peoples Sustainability – Self Reliance (IP-SSR) Model is an operational and programmatic guiding tool driven by IPARD’s long-term vision and based on five objectives: (1) capacity building of Indigenous Peoples’ organizations, (2) promoting Indigenous Peoples’ rights based on national political contexts, (3) scaling-up of Indigenous resource management practices connected to climate and market-based solutions, (4) development of Indigenous economic models, and (5) identifying alternatives to support inclusive, holistic and cultural development. The IP-SSR Model will build on specific strategic actions and specific target sites or countries to achieve long-term goals and envision the scale of intervention to consolidate resilience and self-reliance.
• IPARD Partnership (IP) Model is the operational tool to support the implementation of the IP-SSR model and IPARD approaches. Strategic, technical, and implementing partners will be mapped based on their potential to contribute to each of the Programmatic areas as guided by Indigenous Peoples’ vision as the center of this work. IPARD’s strategic partners can be international or local NGOs, UN agencies, multilateral development banks, business corporations, foundations, bilateral agencies and others.

What makes IPARD unique?

IPARD and partners will focus on three structural needs: capacity development, the enabling environment and economic development, in an integrated way with a country-by-country approach and based on the long-term vision of Indigenous Peoples themselves and their national governments. Additionally, IPARD will be led, managed and implemented by Indigenous Peoples’ organizations and networks in partnership with their national governments and civil societies. This will ensure the achievement of long-term impacts on the ground for Indigenous communities worldwide.