Rise Up is requesting proposals for a South Africa Systems-Change Advocacy Consultant
Rise Up works to advance gender equity and justice in education, health, and economic opportunity by partnering with visionary local leaders around the world. We build power with women, girls, and their allies by providing training, funding, and connection to a global network to help them achieve meaningful, lasting change.
Rise Up seeks an outside entity with extensive experience working with highly diverse and socially minded groups to serve as a lead consultant and trainer. Successful consultants will have experience working in the non-profit sector with the knowledge to adapt, expand, and implement Rise Up’s unique advocacy planning curriculum in South Africa, specifically KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng provinces. This work can be implemented by an individual or a small team.
Rise Up is launching the second South Africa Leadership and Advocacy Accelerator for social justice advocates in May 2025 with 25 non-profit leaders. This is a month-long training with four virtual 1.5-hour sessions followed by a 6-day in-person Accelerator workshop, planned for the first week of May 5-10, 2025.
The consultant(s)/trainer(s) will be responsible for adapting and tailoring Rise Up’s curriculum to implement this hybrid model, reflect relevant policy cases and local policy advocacy contexts in South Africa, and provide follow-on coaching and technical assistance to Rise Up leaders during their advocacy project implementation.
SCOPE OF WORK
Training Preparation
- Detailed review Rise Up’s training curriculum to adapt training the basic sessions to reflect current local political and social contexts for a diverse cohort in South Africa using current advocacy case studies and drawing on local advocacy successes and challenges in the area of gender equity
- Adapt Rise Up’s core virtual and in-person curriculum to implement a hybrid training program with up to four virtual sessions and a 6-day in-person training that builds upon Rise Up’s base curriculum to develop session designs, formal presentations and specific reading/audio-visual materials that reflect a relevant South African social and cultural context by April 1, 2025
- Design and prepare training materials, including presentations, worksheets, handouts, and relevant multimedia content while aligning content to overall training objectives and evaluation tools
- Provide timely feedback on training agenda and finalize curriculum and session designs in a timely
manner
Training and Facilitation
- Implement a high-quality hybrid participant-centered training methodology focused on active learning for 25 non-profit leaders from KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng provinces in South Africa
- Identify local South African experts/panelists as needed, develop key questions for the panelists and moderate panel discussions.
- Fully participate in residential training, schedule in one-on-one meetings with the participants, review group assignments and share written and verbal feedback as needed
- Participate in daily virtual or in-person training debrief meetings to review participant daily evaluations and adapt agenda as needed
- Provide training participants with in-person coaching on proposal development during training
- Support posting training materials on Google Classroom
- Maintain consistent implementation of the Rise Up’s Girl Protection Policy at all times
Training Follow Up and Coaching
- Provide final written training designs upon completion of in-person activities
- Participate in training debrief with Rise Up staff and local trainers to review final participant evaluations and provide feedback and recommendations for future training implementation
- Provide training participants with at least one 30-minute virtual coaching call on proposal development before the Rise Up proposal due date
- Review draft proposals and provide constructive written feedback as per Rise Up proposal selection criteria
- Make recommendations for effective follow-up with participants and identify areas for continued technical assistance, which will differ greatly by project
Technical Assistance
- Provide seven (7) grantees with ongoing technical assistance via quarterly 30-60 minute calls throughout the year-long project implementation starting in October 2025
- Support grantees in problem-solving challenges in advocacy project implementation
- Connect grantees to key stakeholders or other leaders who can facilitate project implementation
- Share local resources, opportunities, and events with Rise Up leaders via Google Classroom
- Document project support and technical assistance provided to leaders and share with the Rise Up team on a monthly basis
- Support the review and validation of grantee interim and final reports, including reading reports, providing written feedback, and supporting Rise Up on donor reporting
Financial Management and Administration
- Submit timely invoices and manage contract effectively
- Conduct timely travel reconciliation as needed
- Communicate regularly and in a timely manner with the Rise Up resource team
- Communicate any financial or scheduling concerns clearly to the Rise Up staff
DELIVERABLES AND FLAT RATE PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Qualifications & Requirements
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A minimum of seven (7) years of experience training diverse communities in the areas of gender-focused systems-change advocacy in South Africa
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Strong knowledge of advocacy, political structures, and state and federal laws affecting gender equity issues in South Africa
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Strong understanding of intersectional gender equity issues across underserved and historically marginalized communities in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces
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Strong understanding of effective participant-centered methodologies and training tools
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Effective communication, presentation, and public speaking skills
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Effective organizational and time management abilities
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High degree of cultural humility in working with diverse populations, including marginalized and LGBTQIA+ communities in South Africa
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Ability to pivot training methods to respond to participants’ needs using critical thinking and effective decision-making
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Demonstrated ability to facilitate a dynamic learning space that addresses the needs of diverse types of learners
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High degree of initiative and ability to work independently while maintaining regular communication with a remote team
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Availability for video calls for curriculum adaptation and session planning with a remote team working in Pacific Time (PST)
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Proficient in MS Office, PowerPoint/Canva, Zoom, and Google Classroom
The trainer/consultant(s) can be a qualified individual or a registered legal entity or a team from a business or organization. The candidate(s) will have expertise in policy issues affecting gender equity in South Africa and subcontract with topic experts if they assess a need for expertise in a specific training area. The consultant(s) should possess excellent training and facilitation abilities, including team building skills, and have an innovative and creative approach to problem solving in group settings.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, please email all required information to- Cover letter
- Resume or CV for all trainers/consultants
- 2-page proposal consisting of a sample session design for a policy advocacy topic
- A budget reflecting the scope of work
APPLICATION DEADLINE
RFPs will be considered as they are submitted. Initial interviews will take place during the week of February 21, 2025. After that date, we will continue to review applications on a rolling basis until the consultancy is filled.Rise Up is committed to advancing social, gender, and racial justice. We value partnering with individuals and organizations that bring a wide range of perspectives and identities including ethnicity, race, gender, socio-economic background, language, political and religious beliefs, sexual orientation, and abilities. We encourage applications from people with diverse perspectives and identities including Black, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQIA+, and people living with disabilities.
Rise Up website: https://riseuptogether.org/