Localization Expert (consultancy)

• Level: Consultant
• Contract Type: Consultancy (6 months full time)
• Duty station: flexible within WC Countries, preferably Kampala, Uganda.

Background

Inspired by the 2016 Grand Bargain commitments, War Child is embarking on a journey to progress on localization. With commitment from the highest decision-making bodies within the organization, the next steps in this project are to translate War Child’s understanding of localization into a policy framework and guidance document to stimulate and influence concrete, measurable change over the coming Global Alliance Strategy period. This will be an internal project set around a clear set of organizational objectives.

More specifically, the localization project has three key objectives:

1. To define the concept of localization as it pertains to War Child’s mandate and vision
2. To align War Child with a progressive and principled localization standard
3. To reshape organizational presence and embed culture in a manner that embeds leadership, representation and participation by local actors, holding the organisation to account against agreed principles and standards.

Purpose of the assignment

The consultancy will build on existing desk research and conceptualisation to contribute to the following actions, in collaboration with the localization working group and localization steering group. The consultancy will contribute towards:

Framing of localization agenda in the War Child context

Develop a progressive vision and theoretical framework on localization that is not just programmatic but structural and organization wide. To this end and in collaboration with the Steering Group and the Working group:

• Conduct in-depth review of other NGOs practices and lessons learned and best practice.
• Establishes dialogues with decolonization, feminisms, and anti-racist movements.

Review/restructure/improvement policies to reflect shared power relations in decision-making, programme design, resource mobilization and other stages/elements of the program/project cycle and partnership development process.

Providing guidelines on how to deepen the understanding (and acceptance) of shared power relations amongst War Child members/staff by organizing discussion groups on localization and power-sharing, including the establishment of spaces for reflective practice with local partners, communities, children and youth on power relations and appropriateness of interventions and programmes.

Accountability

Achieve clarity on engagement to collective initiatives such as Grand Bargain, Charter 4 Change, Pledge for Change etc. by ensuring that commitments are reflected in systematic change within the organization.

Phase 1 Deliverables

1. A progressive vision and theoretical framework on localization is delivered (and approved by IMT) through as part an updated Policy Framework for localization.
2. Gap Analysis (desk review and interviews) evaluating the gap between the adopted vision and policy framework and current operations to inform the content of the localization project
3. Clear organizational guidelines and high-level recommendations on how to close the gap:
   • promoting and advocating for a shift in the balance of power between WC and local actors
   • guidance on external engagement (mention accountability elements)

Phase 2 deliverables will be developed after Phase one is completed.

Scope of work

• Desk research
• Engagement with staff across organisation through the working group and the steering group
• Setting up of reflection groups that include external actors.
• Key informant and focus group discussion.
• Development of guidelines and sharing for review and approval.

Work schedule and planning

• The localization expert may be based n any War Child Country but preferably be in Kampala, Uganda.
• The duration of the assignment is between 8 - 12 months. With deliverables defined in two phases.
• The consultant will develop and submit to WC a monthly implementation plan that cumulatively builds into the overall delivery plan for the assignment

Payment schedule

Payments by War Child are delivery-based. The Consultant will be paid on a monthly basis upon the submission of a monthly delivery report. The monthly fee will be agreed with the selected Consultant and included in the Consultancy Contract.

Type of supervision

Working closely with the Localisation working group and steering group. Reporting to the leads of the two groups jointly.

Education and experience

• Advanced university degree in social sciences, education, international development, or related discipline.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience with either the UN and/or NGO in international settings.
• Experience working in the Humanitarian sector with specific reference to localisation, partnership, decolonialization and anti-racism activities.
• Knowledge of the localization agenda, interagency policies, and standards under the Grand Bargain;
• Proven high level analytical and communication skills and ability to build collaborative relationships at all levels and across sectors and agencies.
• Proven excellent competencies within report writing, analysis and evaluation, and communication;
• Fluency in English
• Knowledge of Arabic, French and/or Spanish will be an advantage.

How to Apply

Use the suggested schedule mentioned above to indicate your estimate cost related to the proposed hours of work. Submit this with your English CV (maximum of two pages) and cover letter to apollo.leeman@warchild.nl and kaggwa.misaeri@warchild.nl no later than 15th October, 2023 .

Safeguarding

War Child is committed to humanitarian values, standards and norms and we expect the same from job applicants. War Child is especially committed to safeguarding the children and youth we support and doesn’t tolerate any form of abuse. Because we want to prevent and deter any actions that place children and youth at risk, conduct references are an important part of our recruitment procedure. As part of the selection process, War Child will request standardized references in accordance with the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and a recent Criminal Records statement.

Equal opportunity

War Child has a dream that every child lives in peace - no matter who or where they are. That’s why we pride ourselves on being an equal opportunity employer. We promote diversity and belonging in everything we do and select our potential new colleagues without regard to gender, race, colour, religion, nationality, disability, age or sexual orientation.

Application process

To ensure that we spend as much of our resources on the support of children and youth, War Child needs to operate as efficiently as possible. This means we can only process job applications received through our websites.

If we appoint a suitable candidate before the given closing date, the vacancy will be removed from our websites. In this case, any responses received after removal will not be processed. Sometimes the closing date of a vacancy is extended. If so, and you have not yet heard from us, your application will remain active.