Mercy Corps
Consultancy: Advancing Localization in the Sudan Humanitarian Response
Mercy Corps, Portland, Oregon, United States, 97204
Overview
Consultancy: Advancing Localization in the Sudan Humanitarian Response. Location: Remote, with possible travel for engagement across Sudanese response actors. Duration: 3045 working days. Reporting to: Sudan INGO Forum Secretariat (with oversight by the Steering Committee). Description
Background: Sudans humanitarian landscape includes national and local responders that fill critical response gaps where international actors are unable to operate. The INGO Forum seeks to enable localization by examining and improving its structures, processes, and relationships to support local actors in response coordination, planning, and funding mechanisms. Objective: To review and analyze current engagement with local actors and propose a structured approach for strengthening the Sudan INGO Forums localization strategy, aligned with the Grand Bargain commitments, global best practices, and Sudan-specific realities. Scope of Work
Assess current localization practices within the Forums structures, working groups, and coordination efforts, including membership composition, partner engagement, and participation in strategic decision-making. Map NNGO coordination structures, and assess impacts of conflict, funding crisis, and related factors. Engage with local actors (national NGOs, mutual aid groups, Emergency Response Rooms) via KIIs and, where feasible, FGDs. Identify key barriers and opportunities to meaningful partnerships with local responders, especially in hard-to-reach areas. Review comparative localization strategies from other contexts and extract relevant lessons for Sudan. Draft a forward-looking Localization Strategy with concrete actions for operationalizing commitments, including membership models, coordination protocols, and collaborative planning mechanisms. Deliverables
Inception Report detailing proposed methodology, stakeholder mapping, and engagement plan Localization Landscape Review outlining current gaps, practices, and local actor perspectives Draft Localization Strategy for the Sudan INGO Forum with short- and medium-term recommendations Presentation of findings and proposed actions to the Steering Committee and Forum members One-page brief for internal/external sharing on Forum positioning and intent Qualifications & Experience
Proven experience in humanitarian localization or organizational change in complex or conflict settings Ability to engage diverse local actors in sensitive consultations Understanding of power dynamics, partnership models, and equitable funding structures Experience with NGO coordination bodies, membership networks, or humanitarian policy platforms Strong research, writing, and facilitation skills in English; Arabic proficiency preferred Notes
The consultant will work closely with the Forums Secretariat and Steering Committee Attention to geographic and identity diversity among consulted local actors Outputs will guide Forum strategy and may inform donor and UN engagement on localization in Sudan Seniority level
Mid-Senior level Employment type
Consultancy Job function
Consulting Information Technology Sales Industries
Non-profit Organizations
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Consultancy: Advancing Localization in the Sudan Humanitarian Response. Location: Remote, with possible travel for engagement across Sudanese response actors. Duration: 3045 working days. Reporting to: Sudan INGO Forum Secretariat (with oversight by the Steering Committee). Description
Background: Sudans humanitarian landscape includes national and local responders that fill critical response gaps where international actors are unable to operate. The INGO Forum seeks to enable localization by examining and improving its structures, processes, and relationships to support local actors in response coordination, planning, and funding mechanisms. Objective: To review and analyze current engagement with local actors and propose a structured approach for strengthening the Sudan INGO Forums localization strategy, aligned with the Grand Bargain commitments, global best practices, and Sudan-specific realities. Scope of Work
Assess current localization practices within the Forums structures, working groups, and coordination efforts, including membership composition, partner engagement, and participation in strategic decision-making. Map NNGO coordination structures, and assess impacts of conflict, funding crisis, and related factors. Engage with local actors (national NGOs, mutual aid groups, Emergency Response Rooms) via KIIs and, where feasible, FGDs. Identify key barriers and opportunities to meaningful partnerships with local responders, especially in hard-to-reach areas. Review comparative localization strategies from other contexts and extract relevant lessons for Sudan. Draft a forward-looking Localization Strategy with concrete actions for operationalizing commitments, including membership models, coordination protocols, and collaborative planning mechanisms. Deliverables
Inception Report detailing proposed methodology, stakeholder mapping, and engagement plan Localization Landscape Review outlining current gaps, practices, and local actor perspectives Draft Localization Strategy for the Sudan INGO Forum with short- and medium-term recommendations Presentation of findings and proposed actions to the Steering Committee and Forum members One-page brief for internal/external sharing on Forum positioning and intent Qualifications & Experience
Proven experience in humanitarian localization or organizational change in complex or conflict settings Ability to engage diverse local actors in sensitive consultations Understanding of power dynamics, partnership models, and equitable funding structures Experience with NGO coordination bodies, membership networks, or humanitarian policy platforms Strong research, writing, and facilitation skills in English; Arabic proficiency preferred Notes
The consultant will work closely with the Forums Secretariat and Steering Committee Attention to geographic and identity diversity among consulted local actors Outputs will guide Forum strategy and may inform donor and UN engagement on localization in Sudan Seniority level
Mid-Senior level Employment type
Consultancy Job function
Consulting Information Technology Sales Industries
Non-profit Organizations
#J-18808-Ljbffr