About Sawt

The Strengthening Civil Society and Media Systems (Sawt) Activity is implemented by Internews in partnership with Mercy Corps and the International Center for Non-Profit Law (ICNL). Sawt aims to foster sustained civic engagement in Jordan through civil society and digital media innovations through two objectives: 1) Good, Trusted Knowledge-Building Resources: Citizens and civil society build knowledge through accessing and engaging critically with accurate and fact-based information and 2) Participation & Advocacy: Citizens and civil society organizations (CSOs) in Jordan effectively participate in civic spaces and advocate for policies through knowledge-based collective action.

About Internews

Internews is an international nonprofit operating in 100 countries. At Internews, we believe everyone deserves trustworthy news and information to make informed decisions about their lives and hold power to account. We train journalists and digital rights activists, tackle disinformation, and offer business expertise to help media outlets become financially sustainable. For more information about the organization please visit: www.internews.org.

About Sawt Advocacy Partners Program

Sawt Advocacy Partners Program targets CSOs and will encompass capacity building, technical assistance, and financial support with the objective of bringing about measurable improvements in their performance and capacity to serve their constituencies, build sustainable networks, and lead impactful advocacy and citizen engagement efforts.

Summary

Internews is seeking a qualified advocacy service provider to build the capacity of CSOs participating in Sawt Advocacy Partners Program. The advocacy service provider will be instrumental in strengthening the technical capacity of two cohorts of CSOs (64 CSOs in total) enrolled in the program and enabling them to effectively design, engage, and implement advocacy initiatives. The service provider will design and implement training on three topics including advocacy, policy analysis, and research for advanced advocacy. The service provider will also be responsible for administering technical assistance on advocacy and policy analysis to partner organizations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The advocacy service provider will be responsible for undertaking the following tasks under two main areas (training and technical assistance):

Training on advocacy, policy analysis, and research:

1. Reviewing the results of advocacy capacity assessments conducted by Sawt and conducting training needs assessments (TNA) to identify training areas and needs for three training topics including advocacy, policy analysis, and research for advanced advocacy. The assessment review and the TNA aim to feed into designing and developing high-quality training sessions focused on the three mentioned topics and tailored to meet the needs and context of CSOs participating in Sawt Advocacy Partners Program and designing a tailored mentorship program.
2. Creating interactive and informative training materials, modules, and resources to effectively build the skills of CSOs' participants in the three training topics as follows:

Advocacy: in the 3-day training should focus on planning, implementing, and monitoring evidence-based advocacy initiatives. Trainings should aim to build the capacity of partner CSOs to identify key advocacy issues pertinent to the local context and their constituencies needs, creating advocacy strategies, conducting mapping and power dynamic analysis activities, identifying, and implementing advocacy tactics (including campaigns), as well as monitoring and evaluating advocacy efforts.

Note: the service provider is expected to build on Sawt’s existing training content, taking into account the results of the TNA and other Sawt assessments.

Policy Analysis: the 2-day training should focus on introducing participants to public policy, steps of public policy formulation, quantitative and qualitative analysis tools, identifying policy alternatives and using analysis recommendations for advocacy. The training should be tailored to non-legal experts and should provide tools that meet needs and capacities of target organizations

Research for advanced advocacy: the 2-day training should focus on building the skills of participants to use, create, and disseminate evidence relevant to their advocacy objectives. The training should introduce the participants to forms of research, their sources, and how to use them for advocacy and it should also enable them to conduct simple forms of research to serve their advocacy objectives.

1. Providing engaging, interactive, and effective training workshops to CSOs with the use of the above-created materials. The training will have target groups as follows:

Advocacy training will target 20 partner CSOs (Up to 40 trainees) in North, Middle, and South of Jordan (3sessions in total).

Policy Analysis training will target 44 partner CSOs (up to 90 trainees) in North, Middle, and South of Jordan (3-4 sessions in total).

Research for Advanced Advocacy will target 44 partner CSOs (up to 90 trainees) in North, Middle, and South of Jordan (3-4 sessions in total).

Technical Assistance (for up to 15 grantees):

1. Reviewing the results of advocacy capacity assessments and project descriptions and meeting with grantees/partners to identify mentoring and coaching focus areas.
2. Creating and implementing individual coaching and mentoring plans for partners employing tools and methods including tailored workshops, field visits, meetings, product reviews, advice, and recommendations of tools, mechanisms, and methodologies, and providing real-time support to each organization during the assignment. Each grantee should receive a total of 80 (10 days) hours of coaching/mentorship (please refer to coaching plan attached in this ToR).
3. Providing policy coaching to 3-4 groups of CSO representatives for 6-8 sessions, 2 hours each, focusing on policy issue identification, policy analysis, and policy advocacy. The coaching is envisioned by Sawt to be though group sessions where monthly meetings consist of short introductory information sessions followed by allotted time to work on tasks provided by the policy expert leading the sessions occur. Depending on the identified needs and priorities, the expert might engage government, civil society, or private sector actors as necessary. Policy coaching will focus on supporting partners to identify policy issues, propose solutions, and transferring solutions to advocacy interventions.

Scope of Work

The service provider’s role encompasses a range of duties and interventions aimed at empowering partner organizations to engage effectively in designing and implementing advocacy initiatives. The service provider will be engaged in identifying specific capacity building interventions based on the results of advocacy and institutional assessments that Sawt conducts.

The expert will also plan, design, and execute workshops that aim to build the capacities of partner organizations in the form of trainings on advocacy, policy analysis, and research for advanced advocacy.

The service provider will also plan and execute interventions that aim to build the capacity of partner organizations through providing technical assistance in the form of mentorship and coaching on advocacy as well as assistance in the development of advocacy plans and activities for CSOs.

Deliverables

1. A detailed plan and timeline for the implementation of the proposed scope of work and below mentioned deliverables.
2. Training needs assessments for three training topics.  
3. A set of training materials and tools in Arabic for the three topics including a training manual, presentations, handouts, case studies, and interactive resources developed for the CSOs.
4. Advocacy training: Three training workshops each of three days duration, for the 20 partner CSOs (Up to 40 trainees) covering North, South, and Middle regions of Jordan. Training logistics and transportation fees for the trainees will be handled by Sawt activity.
5. Policy Analysis: Four training workshops each of two days duration, for the 45 partner CSOs (Up to 90 trainees) covering North, South, and Middle regions of Jordan. Training logistics and transportation fees for the trainees will be handled by Sawt activity.
6. Research for Advanced Advocacy: Four training workshops each of three days duration, for the 45 partner CSOs (Up to 90 trainees) covering North, South, and Middle regions of Jordan. Training logistics and transportation fees for the trainees will be handled by Sawt activity.
7. Advocacy Interventions Technical Assistance: Individual mentoring and coaching plans for 10-15 grantees upon receipt of grants from Sawt and their implementation.
8. Policy coaching: coaching plans for CSO representatives with session plans and expected deliverables and their implementation.  
9. Reporting: The service provider is expected to develop a report for each training topic, provided technical assistance, as well as a final report outlining efforts carried out by the service provider and the progress achieved by the enrolled partners.  (please refer to attached reporting templates).

Eligibility Criteria

• The organization must be legally registered and has permission to operate in Jordan.
• The organization has an active registration in Jordan.

Required Qualifications

• Experience in Advocacy Campaign Design and Implementation: Possesses/assembles a team with strong understanding and knowledge of advocacy campaign design and demonstrated experience in the implementation of advocacy campaigns in Jordan based on clear need identification and understanding of local context as well as advising and supporting organizations with varying capacities in doing so. Demonstrated ability to build consensus and buy-in among local organizations and local or national governments.  
• Training Experience: Demonstrated 3-5 years of experience in delivering training sessions or workshops, particularly in the field of evidence-based advocacy ability to assemble team of experts to provide policy analysis training and research for advanced advocacy training.
• Professional Experience: Possesses professional experience in working with community and advocacy initiatives and CSOs. Ability to design advocacy capacity-building initiatives and strategies, Ability to manage and/or provide policy analysis and policy advocacy coaching, based on clear need identification and understanding of operating context, and experience working with CSOs, NGOs, or CBOs.
• Local Advocacy and Policy Landscape: Understanding of legislative and political processes in Jordan, local and national advocacy context, and public policy influencing methods. Demonstrated understanding of civil society, rule of law, human rights, governance, gender, and vulnerable populations.
• Networking Abilities: Capacity to build relationships with CSOs, local partners, and stakeholders to encourage collaboration and support ongoing capacity-building efforts.
• Facilitation Skills: Proficiency in facilitating interactive learning activities, group discussions, and practical exercises to promote active participation and learning. Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Coaching and Mentoring Abilities: Capacity to provide mentoring and coaching to organizations on advocacy and policy to enhance their performance and deliverables. This includes strong skills in issue identification, goal setting, constructive and effective feedback provision, and following up throughout the process.
• Communication Skills: Strong communication and presentation skills to effectively convey complex concepts and engage participants from diverse backgrounds.

Application Instructions

Interested service providers are invited to submit their technical and financial proposals, addressed to: [Click to show email] by 17:00, hour Amman time on October 15, 2024 making sure to write “Sawt Advocacy Partners Capacity Building, Sawt Activity”  in the subject of your e-mail.

Duration

The duration of this program is from November 15, 2024 – August 30, 2025, subject to extension.

For more information about deliverables and evaluation criteria, please visit this link Call for Proposals: Advocacy Service Provider for Capacity Enhancement of Civil Society Organizations in Jordan - Information Saves Lives | Internews