British Council- Request For Proposal For Consultancy To Support Institutional Capacity Strengthening Of CSO Accountability And Transparency Initiative (CATI) To Sustain Act Supported Initiatives

DEADLINE: 14TH JULY, 2023
BRITISH COUNCIL
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR CONSULTANCY TO SUPPORT INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY STRENGTHENING OF CSO ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE (CATI) TO SUSTAIN ACT SUPPORTED INITIATIVES

(1) OVERVIEW OF THE BRITISH COUNCIL
We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.

We uniquely combine the UK’s deep expertise in arts and culture, education and the English language, our global presence and relationships in over 100 countries, our unparalleled access to young people and influencers and our creative sparkle.

We work directly with individuals to help them gain the skills, confidence and connections to transform their lives and shape a better world in partnership with the UK. We support them to build networks and explore creative ideas, to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications.

We work with governments and our partners in the education, English language and cultural sectors, in the UK and globally. Working together we make a bigger difference, creating benefit for millions of people all over the world.

We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021–22 we reached 650 million people.

(2) INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND TO THE PROJECT/PROGRAMME

2.1 The Agents for Citizen-driven Transformation (ACT) programme aims to contribute to more inclusive, effective, accountable and gender responsive development in Nigeria through enhancing the credibility and role of civil society organizations as drivers-of-change for sustainable development.

Funded by the European Union (EU) and Implemented by the British Council (BC), the programme is providing capacity strengthening support to selected civil society organizations, networks and coalitions to improve their institutional mechanisms – internal, external and programmatic competence. ACT is also facilitating platforms for multi-stakeholder dialogue for an improved and effective regulatory environment for civil society operations in Nigeria. Additionally, the Programme’s intervention includes the provision of platform to strengthen donor coordination on civil society engagement amongst international development partners that are working with civil society organizations in Nigeria. As a crosscutting issue, gender and social inclusion are mainstreamed across all activities of the programme.

As part of efforts to achieve the above, the ACT Programme facilitated and supported emergence of institutional structure that will enhance civil society operational environment in Nigeria. These include CSO National Self-Regulation Council (CNSRC) with membership drawn from CSO networks/coalitions and other CSOs from across the 36 States (plus FCT) of the Federation, and an online civil society regulatory platform (CRP) to improve CSOs’ compliance to existing regulations. Through these structures, CSOs will continue to receive support to guide their operation by providing access to a compendium of relevant laws, guidance on how to achieve and maintain compliance, hotline for resolving inquiries, facilitating some level of access to regulators and general advice on compliance. Participating CSOs are expected to voluntarily sign up to enjoy the support rendered through these platforms.

ACT programme also trained over 240 CSOs (including CS networks) as part of the support to strengthen CSOs capacity to comply with extant laws and regulations.  This is in addition to support provided to facilitate engagement and dialogues for regulatory reforms at national and sub-national levels. 

To sustain the above initiatives beyond the lifespan of the programme, an entity, CSO Accountability and Transparency Initiative (CATI), is undergoing registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Driven by the CSOs through the Steering Committee on Civil Society Regulatory Environment, CATI is a major exit and sustainability strategy for ACT and will take over the ownership and running of the regulatory environment initiatives to ensure continued enabling environment and strong compliant and credible CSOs in Nigeria.  CATI has the following three aims and objects in the Memorandum of Association that it has submitted to CAC:

(1) To promote values, behaviors, and best practices among Civil Society Organizations for greater legitimacy, transparency, and accountability.

(2) To promote effective advocacy, engagement, and thought leadership among critical stakeholders on Civil Society Organisations’ enabling environment.

(3) To conduct research and continuous capacity-building and development programs.

As a newly registered entity CATI will require immediate and initial support to establish itself, function and take on the responsibilities of driving the compliance platforms, the legislative engagements/dialogue for regulatory reforms, and supporting the ongoing self-regulatory initiative of the CNSRC. ACT Programme therefore seeks to engage a consultant to provide specific technical assistance (mentoring and coaching, etc.) to strengthen the institutional and management capacity of CATI.

(2.2) The purpose and scope of this RFP and supporting documents is to explain in further detail the requirements of the British Council and the process for submitting a proposal in response to this RFP (“Proposal”).

(3) PROPOSAL CONDITIONS AND CONTRACTUAL REQUIREMENTS
This section of the RFP sets out the British Council’s contracting requirements, general policy requirements, and the general conditions relating to this procurement process (“Procurement Process”).

(3.1) Contracting requirements

(3.1.1) Contracting authority: the British Council which includes any other companies and organisations that control or are controlled by the British Council from time to time (see: http://www.britishcouncil.org/organisation/structure/status).   

(3.1.2) Delivery location for goods and/or services: the capacity strengthening and mentorship will be delivered physically/virtually to the Board of Directors and members of CATI at locations to the ACT programme will identify and arrange.

(3.1.3) Duration: The assignment is expected to commence on 1 August 2023 (or earlier) and be completed by 31 December 2023. 

INDICATION TIMELINE, AND CONSULTANCY DAYS

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