Terms of Reference: Development of BGRRF Nuba Mountain Programme 5-year Strategic Plan and Policy Review. At Trócaire

About Trócaire
Trócaire is the official overseas development agency of the Catholic Church in Ireland. Trócaire was established to express the concern of the Irish Catholic Church for any form of human need, but particularly for the needs and problems of communities in the Global South. With our partners we work with some of the world’s poorest people, supporting women, men and communities for long-term change. In Ireland, we raise awareness about the causes of poverty through our outreach programmes in the education sector, through parish networks, and through our public campaigns and advocacy work.
Trócaire has worked in partnership with local organisations in the countries where we work for nearly 50 years. As a partnership agency, Trócaire is committed to the ‘Localisation of Aid’ agenda that has been at the forefront of humanitarian discourse since the World Humanitarian Summit, 2016. In its new Strategic Plan (2021-2025)1, Trócaire has committed to making a step-change from Partnership to Localisation by shifting the power more profoundly to local and national partners. To deliver on this commitment, Trócaire established a Global Hub on Partnership & Localisation2 in Nairobi. The Hub is collaborating with Trócaire South Kordofan (the office of which is based in Nairobi) to strengthen the capacity of its partner in the Nuba Mountains. The Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan are on the border between Sudan and South Sudan. Political and ethnic differences have left people in the Nuba Mountains extremely poor and lacking basic resources. They have also suffered from acts of violence during the war.
More information about Trócaire is available at www.trocaire.org.
Context of Work
Bishop Gassis Relief and Rescue Foundation (BGRRF) is a Faith Based Organisation with its head office currently in Nairobi, Kenya, with its core office functions transitioning to Turalei, South Sudan and Kauda, South Kordofan. BGRRF has grown out of the pastoral services, humanitarian and development programmes implemented in South Kordofan-Sudan and Twic County of South Sudan, the latter originally amongst refugees who fled from Abyei in South Kordofan, expanding to also serve the community in Twic County. H.E Macram Max Gassis, Bishop (Emeritus) of El Obeid, set up this foundation to continue the humanitarian work in the areas of operation of the diocese which were inaccessible to the current Bishop of El Obeid due to civil war, as well as to have the ability to respond to other areas of humanitarian need, as necessary.
The Foundation (BGRRF), in close collaboration with the Diocese of El Obeid, responded to the conflict in the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan with a large-scale emergency programme. In addition to the emergency response programme, the organisation runs development, humanitarian and pastoral service activities in both Sudan and South Sudan. The activities include Health, Education, Women’s Groups, Voice of Peace Radio, Water and Sanitation provision and the diocese’s Pastoral Service
1 https://www.trocaire.org/documents/Trócaire-strategic-plan-2021-2025/
2 https://www.trocaire.org/our-work/localisation/

Programmes. BGRRF coordinates and collaborates with all local stakeholders, including church, local authorities, NGOs, etc.
Due to changing circumstances, BGRRF handed over most of its programmes in the Nuba Mountains to the Diocese of El Obeid, including pastoral programmes, the hospital, the education programme and the radio in 2021. BGRRF continues to run a number of clinics, water and sanitation with potential of supporting new or existing schools and building a new hospital in the Nuba Mountains, as well as its programmes in Twic County. For administrative reasons, BGRRF now operates as a completely separate entity from the Diocese of El Obeid. Assets are currently being divided between the two organisations, and new modes of working are being developed. Thus, BGRRF will develop a 5-year Strategic Plan, develop a fundraising strategy for actualising the strategy, review and update policies to ensure that they can support delivery of the plan.
Scope of the Work
• To support BGRRF in reviewing and developing a 5-year strategic plan for the Nuba Mountains programme;
• To support BGRRF in the review and alignment of the organisation’s structure that will deliver Nuba Mountains Strategic Plan;
• To support BGRRF in the review and revision of existing policies and systems to ensure that they support in the delivery of the Strategic Plan and also meet most donor requirements;
• To support BGRRF in developing a financing strategy for delivery of the Nuba Mountain Programme Strategic Plan.
Proposed Methodology
The following is an initial proposed methodology, which is required to be a participatory partner-based review. Trócaire assumes that the consultant will recommend modifications to the below based on their expertise and experience.

• Document Review of reports and expert analysis of the political, religious, humanitarian and security situation in Nuba Mountains, strategy papers, existing policy documents, donor assessments and evaluation reports;
• Inception meeting with Trócaire’s Global Hub on Partnership & Localisation for questions or clarifications, and to agree on the plan for the consultancy on the basis of the document review. The consultant may be required to submit a brief Inception Report outlining the approach to the consultancy agreed upon after discussions with the team;
• Conduct a participatory assessment and environmental scan of the BGRRF Nuba Mountain programme, including: its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) and Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal and Environmental (PESTEL) analysis (or similar), its past performance and current programming;
• Field visit (to Nuba Mountains and, if possible, to BGRRF office in Twic-South Sudan office) to get an idea of the situation;
• Develop a draft BGRRF Nuba Mountain 5-year Strategic Plan in close coordination with the BGRRF Executive Director;
• Review and update institutional policies and procedures, to enable BGRRF to deliver its 5-year Strategic Plan. These policies include: Child protection (2019), HR (2019), Finance (2019), Procurement (2019), Acting allowance (2017), Whistle blowing (2020), COVID (2020), Complaints and feedback (2020), Risk management plan (2020), R&R 2021, Travel and Perdiem (2021). Also incorporate Safe guarding, Fixed assets, and Communication in the policies.
• Develop a fundraising strategy for BGRRF Nuba Mountain 5-year Strategy;
• Strategy Validation Workshop with BGRRF staff in Nairobi and in Nuba Mountain. This will comprise validation of both the Nuba strategic plan and fundraising strategy;
• Finalise the strategies based on the validation workshop and submit a final version for approval to the BGRRF Board and Trócaire.
Timeline
This consultancy is expected to commence begining of February 2022 with the final products delivered by end of March 2022. The duration of the consultancy is expected to be 30 working days spread over the 2-month period. The consultant should propose the amount of time required for the completion of the assignment in the submission of their application, based on the information provided above. Applicants should also indicate the date they are available to start working on the consultancy.
Final Product
The following outputs are expected to be delivered by the end of the consultancy –

• Final BGRRF Nuba Mountain Program 5 year-strategic plan with a clear delivery structures and accompanying policies.Time should be factored in for BGRRF and Trócaire to review and comment on the strategy, and for the consultant to make revisions based on the feedback. The submitted final product will require the final review and approval by BGRRF Board for the consultancy to be brought to conclusion*** Final BGRRF Nuba Mountain Programme Fundraising Strategy.Time should be factored in for BGRRF and Trócaire to review and comment on the strategy, and for the consultant to make revisions based on the feedback. The submitted final product will require the final review and approval by BGRRF and Trócaire for the consultancy to be brought to conclusion.**
• Reviewed Policy Documents. The identified policy documents will be reviewd in collaboration with relevant teams and endorsed by the Board**Experience/Skills:Essential:**
  • Previous experience in similar assignments for a minimum period of ten years;
  • Relevant professional experience and technical knowledge to carry out the intended report writing;
  • Advanced degree in a related field of study (for example, development studies, public policy, social sciences, or a related field);
  • Excellent spoken and written English skills;
  • Demonstrated strategic planning skills and ability to write high quality reports;
  • A result-oriented team player, exhibiting high levels of enthusiasm, tact, diplomacy and integrity;
  • Excellent time management skills, with an ability to deliver high-quality outputs on time;
  • Commitment to the safeguarding of programme participants, as demonstrated by signing Trócaire’s Safeguarding Programme Participants Policy;
  • Knowledge and understanding of the Civil Society and church environment in the Nuba Mountains;
  • Experience of working with Faith-Based organisations and local / indegenous organisations is of added value.

Safeguarding
All consultants who work for Trócaire will be required to sign and abide by Trócaire’s official position statement on exploitation and abuse, including zero-tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. Trócaire recognises that abuse of power has led, and continues to lead, to many forms of exploitation and abuse. The nature of Trócaire’s work creates a power differential between those employed by or working wiTrócaireth Trócaire and programme participants and partners. Trócaire acknowledges that the potential exists for those who work with programme participants and partners to abuse their position of power. Trócaire’s commitment to safeguarding is inclusive of its staff and all those with whom it comes into contact through its work.