Alliance of Indigenous Peoples for Rights and Development – IPARD
Cooperation Agreement No. 7200AA20CA0013
REQUEST FOR CONSULTING SERVICES
CONSULTING SERVICES TO STRENGTHEN AND ACCELERATE YOUNG BUSINESSES THROUGH A VIRTUAL COACHING PROGRAM
- BACKGROUND
Description of the organization
In 2019, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) established the FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF) as the operational office of the Standing Committee of Indigenous Peoples (PIPC). FSC-IF is a foundation of private interest in accordance with Law No. 25 of June 12, 1995 of the Republic of Panama. FSC IF’s mission is to create an enabling environment to guarantee the rights of Indigenous Peoples and promote sustainable forest-based solutions within 300 million hectares of forest Indigenous of the planet. The vision is that the global values of Indigenous Peoples, their rights, livelihoods, ecosystem services, natural capital and territories are recognized and incorporated into forest governance, governance of climate change and market systems.
Alliance of Indigenous Peoples for Rights and Development
FSC-IF is the implementing partner of the Global Alliance for the Rights and Development of Indigenous Peoples Program – IPARD – funded by USAID and FSC. IPARD is made up of three objectives:
- Goal 1: Organize and convene a Capacity Development Program for organizations and stakeholders of Indigenous Peoples;
- Goal 2: Promote an environment conducive to the recognition, effective participation and joint decision-making of Indigenous Peoples in matters that affect them;
- Goal 3: Promote the sustainable development of Indigenous Peoples based on sustainable economic models.
IPARD uses three interconnected approaches to support Indigenous Peoples in overcoming their development challenges:
- Multisectoral Approach (MSA): Under the strategic guidance of the IPARD Steering Committee (SC), IPARD brings together and draws on the experience of multi-sectoral actors. This approach ensures that IPARD takes into account the needs of indigenous communities in a wide range of sectors. Building on the MSA, IPARD brings in various technical partners to support cross-sectoral projects that achieve the program’s development goals.
- Country-Centered Approach (AFC): IPARD’s programmatic strategy is guided by a country approach driven by specific national contexts related to Indigenous Peoples. IPARD implements a structured process to identify, evaluate, and select countries to implement the program.
- Indigenous Project Management Approach (IPMA): Building on FSC IF’s relationships with Indigenous leaders and organizations around the world, IPARD seeks dialogue, continuous consultation and feedback with Indigenous Peoples to advise the program. IPARD supports a forum through which the FSC Indigenous Foundation serves as a bridge between Indigenous Peoples, technical partners, national governments and the private sector. IPARD invests in selecting effective best practices, approaches and methodologies to ensure the strategic cohesion of multi-level partnerships.
Through these three approaches, IPARD aims to empower Indigenous Peoples’ organizations and catalyze an enabling environment in which Indigenous Peoples can continue to develop.
FSC Indigenous Foundation
We are Indigenous Peoples; Our strategies and future actions are shaped by ancestral knowledge, practices, worldview, values and respect for Mother Earth and our past. We, as FSC-IF, are providers of solutions based on Indigenous Peoples, and our ancestral knowledge and traditions have promoted solutions based on Indigenous Peoples for centuries. We are Indigenous Peoples; we are the owners of solutions based on Indigenous Peoples for global challenges, and the FSC Indigenous Foundation is the global vehicle for designing, managing, facilitate and expand solutions led by Indigenous Peoples through multi-sectoral alliances. The FSC Indigenous Foundation has an indigenous perspective driven by values, vision, principles,ancestral knowledge and traditional indigenous practices connected with Mother Earth. FSC-IF is formed to respond to the key challenges and opportunities faced by Indigenous Peoples to achieve their self-development, self-government and self-sufficiency. Driven by this perspective, our way of operating differs from traditional organizational planning because our cultural and traditional way of thinking, acting, and interacting does not fit into a predetermined western tradition of thinking, organizational management or governance.Our way of operating differs from traditional organizational planning because our cultural and traditional way of thinking, acting, and interacting does not fit into a predetermined western tradition of thinking, organizational management, or governance.Our way of operating differs from traditional organizational planning because our cultural and traditional way of thinking, acting, and interacting does not fit into a predetermined western tradition of thinking, organizational management, or governance.
We are committed to working driven by our values of being guided and supporting the values of Indigenous Peoples of: 1) Respect for Mother Earth Managing our lands, waters and ecosystems with great respect for nature and care recognizing that we only borrow them from future generations and 2) Respect for ancestral knowledge Keep our promises to our ancestors of manage the nature and resources provided by Mother Earth in a sustainable and respectful way.
B) CONTEXT
The IPARD Program implemented by FSC-IF focuses on capacity development and aims to support the empowerment and strengthening of Indigenous Peoples. To support Indigenous leaders, FSC-IF has established the Indigenous Scholarship Program. The Program is a leadership-based award for scholarships aligned with the three IPARD goals, designed for leaders of Indigenous Peoples passionate about creating significant change for their communities around the world.
The Indigenous Scholarship Program will provide Indigenous leaders with the tools, experience, knowledge, and capabilities to better support their communities, as well as the necessary support mechanisms to advance its objectives and priorities.
This year, we selected 9 fellows to be divided into the following 4 applets:
– Subprogram 1: Young Indigenous Professionals ( 2 months of experience working in the FSC-IF office with an IPARD Program Manager )
– Subprogram 2: Indigenous Leadership and Networking ( 2 months of experience with the network of FSC family partners in Canada, Mexico or Germany )
– Subprogramme 3: Indigenous Capacities ( short-term training sponsorship from 6 months to 1 year )
– Subprogramme 4: Business Development ( capacity development of young entrepreneurs through business training, a business management program and initial financing of USD $ 3,000 ).
The first 3 subprograms will be carried out internally by FSC-IF and this consultancy will be for the implementation of subprogram 4.
3 ventures were selected for this subprogram:
- A company dedicated to the design, manufacture and production of handicrafts Emberá Wounaan in Panama run by a 23-year-old Indigenous woman.
- A mushroom production and agricultural waste recovery project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo led by a 29-year-old Indigenous youth.
- An initiative to develop tourism in an Indigenous community in Colombia preserving and sharing cultures, creating networks and business partners in Colombia designed by a 25-year-old Indigenous.
C) GOALS AND REQUIREMENTS
General objective
Strengthen 3 Indigenous ventures led by young entrepreneurs from Panama, Colombia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, taking into account the socio-cultural context and incorporating Indigenous perspectives.
Specific objectives
- Support in the consolidation and promote the acceleration of 3 indigenous ventures led by young people through a virtual coaching program that incorporates Indigenous perspectives and the sociocultural context
- Guide young Indigenous entrepreneurs in the implementation of a seed capital of $ 3,000 in the 6 months following coaching that will contribute to long-term self-development, to the indigenous self-sufficiency of their companies and to generate a greater impact in their communities.
- Monitor and accompany the implementation of knowledge and execution of seed capital.
Illustrative activities:
The consulting company or consultant will carry out the following activities ensuring the Free, Prior and Informed Consultation (CLPI) protocols defined throughout the process in coordination with IPARD:
- Diagnosis and analysis of the 3 Indigenous companies, value proposition and their business plans for their strengthening, considering the perspectives of Indigenous Peoples and their socio-cultural context
- Based on the diagnosis, design a strengthening plan through a co-creation process with Indigenous youth and the IPARD Program to incorporate their worldview, ancestral values and knowledge (prioritization of the actions to be carried out with accompaniment and seed capital).
- Design and implement a training and strengthening plan to: 1) improve the entrepreneurial skills of Indigenous youth; and 2) consolidate and promote the acceleration of their businesses with a cultural focus and Indigenous traditions, which may include adjusting the value proposal, strengthening the business model, marketing and communication strategy and pitch construction.
- Connect Indigenous entrepreneurs with other programs or opportunities at the national level, prioritizing access to financing and markets.
- Carry out a monitoring strategy for the implementation of knowledge and seed capital and how it generates a greater impact in the communities where the companies are.
- Prepare a report of lessons learned with the main results and recommendations on how to support companies run by indigenous youth.
Note on activities:
Activities 1, 2, 3 and 4 will take place in 2 months.
Stage 5 is carried out during the 6 months of implementation of seed capital.
Stage 6 is carried out at the end of the consultancy (at 8 months).
The consultant or consulting firm does not have to travel to the communities. Everything will be done virtual and IPARD supports interpretation costs during virtual coaching if necessary.
Expected deliverables:
- Work plan for the implementation of the consultancy with details of the activities, programs, timeline and products that will be delivered.
- Diagnosis of each of the 3 Indigenous youth companies and the corresponding strengthening, acceleration and investment plan with the seed capital provided by IPARD. These documents must have been arranged with the young people participating in the project.
- Report on the results of the training and the link made with other programs and opportunities, especially with the financial and commercial sector. The report should include results on the following 1) Methodology, tools and materials used 2) Results 3) Satisfaction survey delivered by the IPARD 4 team) Knowledge improvement (pre and post test designed by the consultant).
It should also include for each strengthened company:
- Value proposal formulated and / or adjusted
- Business plan
- Marketing and communication plan
- Pitch
- Identification of possible financing mechanisms that you can access for their sustainability
- Final report with the lessons learned and the main results of the project, including the accompanying progress in the execution of the seed capital delivered. This report should focus on identifying the particularities of working with Indigenous Peoples companies in each country / territory, guidelines to carry out similar work with other companies of Indigenous Peoples.
Technical and financial proposal:
The offeror must include a technical proposal with a clear schedule of activities, timeline and products to deliver. The financial proposal must include a budget, explaining each item (including logistics expenses to carry out activities). All financial proposals must include taxes when appropriate and explicitly record them in the budget.
Profile of the consultant or consulting firm to hire:
- Professional or interdisciplinary team that includes professionals in social sciences, economics, with at least 5 years of experience working in entrepreneurship, economic empowerment of young people including projects with indigenous youth. Additional training in commercial or related law will be valued.
- Experience of at least 5 years implementing projects to strengthen entrepreneurship and business in Latin America and / or Africa. Experience in supporting microenterprises or companies in the solidarity sector will be valued.
- Proven history of work with Indigenous Peoples in Latin America and / or Africa.
- It is desirable that you have previous experience working with international organizations and donors.
- Demonstrated cultural awareness and sensitivity to the diversity of values, points of view and approaches on issues relevant to FSC-IF and Indigenous Peoples.
- Solid oral and written communication from the team in Spanish, and desirable in French
Applications must include the following documents:
- CV of the candidate / team that includes descriptions of relevant responsibilities (not just the job title).
- Technical proposal that includes activities to be carried out and the schedule.
- Financial proposal that includes an explanation of the budget items.
How to apply:
Send your CV, technical proposal and financial proposal to the FSC IF email address: procurement.fscif@fsc.org no later than the expiration date indicated in this post and with the subject “ Support in the formalization of young Indigenous entrepreneurs”.
Coordination:
The contracted professional will coordinate the expected work with the Leader of the Capacity Development and Inclusion Program, who will coordinate with the rest of the IPARD Program and FSC-IF team.
Deadline for submission of proposals:
2 weeks
Conditions for the payment of deliverables:
Deliverables must be authorized by the Director of the IPARD Program to proceed with other internal approvals and payments. All products must be delivered in digital format in Spanish in accordance with the expected activities detailed above and the following schedule and payment percentages.
Deliverable
Payments
- Work plan and methodology to implement the project
twenty%
- Diagnosis of the 3 companies and the corresponding strengthening and acceleration plan
twenty%
- Report on the results of the training (virtual coaching) with its annexes
40%
- Final report with lessons learned and main project results
twenty%
Allocation duration:
Eight months from the signing of the contract (two months of strengthening and six months of monitoring the implementation of seed capital), but it is possible to carry out the consultancy in less time as long as they are presented with all the deliverables.
How to apply
How to apply:
Send your CV, technical proposal and financial proposal to the FSC IF email address: procurement.fscif@fsc.org no later than the expiration date indicated in this post and with the subject “ Support in the formalization of young Indigenous entrepreneurs”.