Organisational Development (OD) Consultant to conduct an Organisational Assessment

Terms of Reference (TORs) for Organisational Development (OD) Consultant to conduct an Organisational Assessment

 Terms of Reference (TORs) for Organisational Development (OD) Consultant to conduct an Organisational Assessment

1. Introduction

The Lebanese Association for Scientific Research is a Lebanese non-governmental nonprofit organization that was founded in 2008. After 10 years of existence and several implemented projects and programs, we at LASeR think it’s time now to take some steps to assess the organization and develop its internal structure and processes to a solid and sustainable one.

LASeR has already served more than 1,700 university students by providing partial and full scholarships. We also delivered trainings and build the capacity of more than 5,000 young girl and boy in Lebanon. Some of our projects are running for several consecutive years, we had very successful initiatives, and some less. By now LASeR’s strength is the general assembly (around 40 university professor), a big number of volunteers and friends as well as 12 full time employees.

2. Background to the Proposed Organisational Assessment

Organisational restructuring is often driven by significant changes in the organisational strategy or shift in the environment that requires leaders to undertake such a large-scale initiative.

LASeR thinks that our most important need is an assessment by an organizational development consultant to our strengths and weaknesses, write down recommendations, turn them into an action plan and be ready to accompany us for the implementation (through 2-3 meetings). The OD consultant should look into and assess the governance, internal management and reporting processes; an analysis of the financial systems and planning and implementation process; an assessment of the monitoring, evaluation and learning processes; and an assessment of the fundraising priorities and sustainability strategies. The consultant should produce a report with recommendations, and work with the team to validate the plan in order to implement these recommendations. The consultant is asked to support the team in the implementation for a specified period of time through a maximum of three meetings.

3. Organisational Restructuring Process

By way of these Terms of Reference LASeR will engage an Organisational Assessment expert, with the requisite skills, that include a strong understanding of the work of NGOs, and experience of supporting similar processes with NGO operations within the Lebanese context. The review process must be driven by the principle of “Form follows Function” where it is expected that the consultancy begins with gaining an understanding who we are and what we do so as to determine what organizational structure will best fit with what we do. Therefore, the OD expert is expected to thoroughly review and understand the organisation by reviewing the following key documents: 1) LASeR Organisational Strategy; 2) LASeR ToC (Theory of Change); and 3) Current organisational structure, processes and job descriptions and some Organisational evaluation reports and other documents. Consultations with relevant stakeholders and staff will be conducted to ensure buy-in and to value add to the process.

 The process will include the following 5 key tasks:

1. Visits to the organization and meet with the staff, some of the volunteers, some of general assembly and the board of directors
2. Produce the report concerning: governance, internal management and reporting processes; an analysis of the financial systems and planning; an assessment of the monitoring, evaluation and learning processes; and an assessment of the fundraising priorities and strategies
3. Produce relevant recommendations
4. Validate the implementation plan of the expert’s recommendations produced by LASeR through meetings and testing scenarios etc.
5. Support LASeR for the implementation plan 

4. Scope of Engagement

The Consultant will work closely with the CEO, the staff and the board members. LASeR will provide the Consultant with all relevant documentation, contacts for stakeholders and relevant information to provide insight into the current organizational operations.

The Consultant will be accountable for the following deliverables

• An Inception Report: The inception report should be prepared by the Consultant before embarking on a fully-fledged review exercise. The inception report will detail the Consultant’s understanding of what is being reviewed and why, as well as proposed methods, tools, sources of data and procedures intended to answer each review question. The inception report should also include a proposed schedule of tasks, activities, timeline, deliverables and key issues. The inception report shall not exceed 5 pages.
• A Draft Report: The Consultant will deliver a draft report within the indicative assignment timeframe. The draft report should not exceed 50 pages. LASeR will provide inputs to the report, through both consultative meetings and physical reviews. The report must shed the light on the governance, internal management and reporting processes; analysis of the financial systems and planning; assessment of the monitoring, evaluation and learning processes; and an assessment of the financial sustainability, fundraising priorities and strategies.
• A Final Report: The Consultant will deliver a final report to LASeR, within the stipulated timelines.
• A transition plan from the current structure to the new structure must be submitted together with the final report.
• Follow-up with LASeR for the implementation period of the proposed plan: 2-3 meetings will be scheduled according to the implementation where the expert is expected to express his opinion on this implementation phase.

5. Timeframes

This assignment will be executed against the following time schedule:

• Advertisement of TORs between 1st April and 22nd April 2019
• End date for applications will be 22nd April 2019
• Screening and selection of Consultant, against set criteria, by 3rd May 2019
• Interview of selected candidates and final selection of Consultant, by 5th – 8th May 2019
• Consultant pitch of Inception Report to LASeR, by 31th May 2019
• First draft report submission by 28th June 2019
• Final assignment report submission 12th July 2019
• Revision and validation of the transition plan submitted by LASeR by end of July 2019
• Follow-up until end of February 2020: 3 meetings scheduled (end of September, end of December and end of February 2020) to follow-up on the implementation of the plan.

6. Consultant Qualifications

The Consultant should have at minimum a Master’s Degree in Management Studies, Organisational Development or a related field, with:

• At least 7 years demonstrated knowledge and experience in conducting and facilitating organizational development including feasibility studies and sustainability modelling, for NGOs in the MEA context
• Ability to conduct strategy reviews, Assessment, governance, PM, HR and MEAL
• Experience with Change Management processes
• Knowledge and experience in using participatory approaches and innovative techniques, with organizational leadership.
• Well-versed with education, higher education in the region and in Lebanon
• Excellent analytical and report writing skills
• Fluent in English and Arabic language (Arabic native language is a most)