Organisational assessment and support for The Arab Network for Early Childhood Development (ANECD)

Hosted by the Arab Resource Collective (ARC), and funded by the Open Society Foundation and Bernard Van Leer Foundation, ANECD membership is professionals from governments, civil society and academia from 9 Arab countries (Egypt, Lebanon, Yemen, Tunisia, Morocco, Palestine, Oman, Jordan, and Sudan), and it has five objectives are:

1. Distilling knowledge and good practice
2. Supporting the development of national policies
3. Contributing to the capital of ECD knowledge in each country
4. Raising the profile of ECD
5. Organizing an effective platform for sharing information

General purpose of the consultancy

 Phase 1 of the consultancy:

• Assess the current status of the network (its governance, organisational structure, management, membership, financial health, fundraising strategy, strategic aims, programmatic objectives and plans, communications plans) in light of its organisational aims as an effective ECD actor in the region and global fields of ECD.
• Develop recommendations for a roadmap for the next two years, to be implemented by the organisation, to build ANEC’s governance, organisational structure, management, membership, resource mobilisation plans, financial strength, communications efforts, strategic and programmatic directions and plans for autonomy (including legal status) with clear time table for the short term (to April 2019) with suggestions for the longer term (from April 2019 onwards)
• Phase 2 of the consultancy will involve an organisational assessment and support for Arab Resource Collective (ARC).

Specific objectives

Phase 1 (Run by Open Society Foundation and Bernard Van Leer Foundation):

• Objective 1: assess the current status of the network and identify options for strengthening the network’s governance, organisational structure, management, membership, resource mobilisation capacity, financial health, strategic aims, programmatic objectives and plans, communications plans, position in the field, and legal identity, ensuring engagement of the membership.
• Objective 2: describe and assess the relationship between the network and ARC.
• Objective 3: ongoing advice and production of materials to strengthen the network’s governance, organisational structure, management, membership, resource mobilisation capacity, financial health, strategic aims, programmatic objectives and plans, communications plans, position in the field, legal identity, ensuring engagement of the membership

In phase 2 (subject to a new contract and to be run by ARC):

• Objective 4: undertake an organisational assessment and support of ARC

Outputs (all outputs should be produced in Arabic and English)

1. 2018: An inception report
2. March 2019: Development of outline plans for governance, legal status and process for development of a full organisational strategy to inform phase 2 of the consultancy.
3. 2019: Ongoing advice, material production and facilitation to the network

• The consultant will be available to advise, produce materials and facilitate the process and keep it on track, both in terms of recording what has been agreed and what needs to be done, alongside ensuring appropriate timing and the input of the membership.

Criteria for selection of consultant for Phase 1

Essential

• Experience in strategic planning, as well as in dealing with governance and management of networks and NGOs.
• Experience in providing ongoing, remote support in all areas of organizational capacity building.
• Good knowledge of the NGO sector in the Arab region.
• Familiarity with the human rights, education and health context in the Arab region, both in the public and private/voluntary sectors.
• The consultancy will be conducted in English and Arabic.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the early childhood sector is a clear advantage.
• Familiarity with global and regional networking practices. Work experience with and knowledge of ECD networks is a clear advantage.  

  Please contact Tina Hyder, Esther Gh and Dr. Ghassan Issa for getting the detailed ToRs and for further info.