Request for Proposals – Fundraising Strategy Development Consultancy

About Interpeace

Interpeace is an international organization for peacebuilding that strengthens the ability of societies to manage conflict themselves in sustainable and non-violent ways. Interpeace designs and delivers its work tailored to each situation in collaboration with local partners and communities, based on extensive consultation and research. Interpeace also ensures that the processes of conflict management and change that it supports are integrated at all levels of society including local communities, civil society, government and the international community (we call it a ‘Track 6’ approach).

Interpeace was originally established by the United Nations and remains its strategic partner. Beyond field-based peacebuilding, Interpeace also assists the international community – particularly the UN – to be more effective in supporting peacebuilding efforts worldwide. This includes contributing innovative thought leadership on peacebuilding policies and practices.

Interpeace is headquartered in Geneva and has offices around the world.

For more information about Interpeace, please visit www.interpeace.org

Background

Interpeace’s funding comes mostly from governmental sources through grants of different forms (principally unrestricted and restricted/earmarked funding). However, this funding has limitations in terms of predictability, flexibility, duration, and scale of the funding needed for peacebuilding activities to be sustained. In addition, the international funding environment is going through significant changes with additional stress due to increasing humanitarian needs and budgets cuts from government donors in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With its 5-year strategy “A Resilient Peace” adopted in December 2020, Interpeace has set ambitious goals aiming at enhancing resilience for peace and to foster systemic change for peace internationally. Achieving these goals requires a robust and agile fundraising strategy backed by a strengthened fundraising capacity.

Interpeace seeks to hire an independent consultant who will advise and support the development of this fundraising strategy.

Purpose and core considerations of the Fundraising Strategy

The overall aim of the fundraising strategy will be to professionalise further and enhance fundraising efforts by Interpeace in a structured way that supports the delivery of the organisation’s overarching five-year ‘Strategy 2021-2025: A Resilient Peace’ and advancing Interpeace’s mandate.

More particularly, the fundraising strategy will:

• Identify and map current and potential sources of funding (including governments, foundations, private donors and other potential sources)
• Assess these sources against their level of availability, predictability, scale and flexibility as well as their access and acquisition costs (donor engagement, support, administrative costs) in order to inform a balanced and optimal fundraising model to secure the greatest level of income
• Streamline and improve Interpeace fundraising practices and processes including donor management

The strategy should be defined bearing in mind the anticipated donor needs of Interpeace during the execution of the current overarching Strategy to 2025, but should also aim to define a continuity of fundraising direction-of-effort and dedicated in-house resources over a longer timeframe.

Annex 1 Terms of Reference

Subject: Fundraising Strategy Development Consultancy

Main tasks and responsibilities

The Consultant will be responsible to deliver:

A. Internal appraisal, consultation and facilitation

• Conduct a comprehensive situational and SWOT analysis of Interpeace’s income and fund-raising model and capacities to date including through interviews with relevant staff members.
• Design and lead a consultative process aimed at informing the development of a fundraising strategy with inputs, recommendations, best practices and lessons learned from Interpeace staff.

B. Sector research, analysis and mapping

• Map and document trends and practices of diverse donors (including governments, philanthropic foundations, individuals and others) with a focus on best practice benchmarking as well as identifying areas of potential for future, longer-term fundraising growth.
• Map and document fundraising practices and trends by international non-governmental organisations, including identifying lessons learned where feasible including on possible areas of potential from partnerships and consortia.
• Consider and define cost-benefits of fundraising options with diverse donors, including defining one-off and ongoing institutional resources required to support the advancement of those options

C. Synthesis and recommendations

• Synthesise findings (from A and B above) and submit recommendations for internal consideration and discussion with management on future fundraising needs, opportunities and internal modalities and resources
• Prepare a written draft Fundraising Strategy including practical and operational recommendations

Contract modalities

Status

The selected Consultant will work as an independent contractor.

Location and Duration

This consultancy can be carried out remotely within a duration of approximately 6 monts. Physical presence in Geneva is an asset.

Reporting and coordination

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The Consultant will report to the Director of Strategic Partnerships & Communications. S/he will be in regular touch with other staff members.

Invoicing and payments

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Invoicing of the Consultant can be done monthly or as commonly agreed with the Consultant. Invoices will be processed within one week after submission.

Required qualifications and skills

• At least ten years of professional experience in international organisations environments
• At least five years of experience providing strategic accompaniment to organisations
• Demonstrable experience and success in designing and defining fund-raising strategies
• Robust knowledge of the international peacebuilding funding environment including with government donors. Knowledge of ‘International Geneva’ is an asset.
• Strategic thinking and proven experience in process design as well as organisational strategy development
• Excellent analytical and synthesis skills
• Team facilitation skills.
• Proficiency in English. Working level of French is desirable.
• Capacity to deliver high quality work within tight deadlines.