Purpose of consultancy

The consultant will work with ECDAN’s Global Policy and Advocacy Lead to support the overall development and implementation of ECDAN’s advocacy strategy.  The consultant will play a particularly key role in advancing ECDAN’s global childcare campaign.

In 2021, in response to a crisis that the COVID-19 pandemic made glaringly apparent, ECDAN launched a global childcare campaign that seeks to increase investments to expand access to high-quality, affordable, accessible, publicly financed childcare services across the globe. The campaign strategy is centered on building bridges between the ECD and gender equality movements to align behind common objectives, develop shared messaging, and harness the combined influencing power of a broad range of partners to elevate the issue within the global policy agenda and support localized advocacy campaigns aimed at strengthening childcare systems.

A key component of ECDAN’s childcare campaign is to support and catalyze civil society led advocacy at the country-level.  ECDAN plans to develop a Catalyze Advocacy, Research, and Engagement (ChildCARE) fund to strengthen partner capacity and coordinate advocacy activities between gender equality, labor, and ECD stakeholders at the country-level. Currently, ECDAN is in the process of developing an overarching strategy and operational plan for the fund.

ECDAN is looking for a consultant to work closely with ECDAN’s Global Policy and Advocacy Lead to support this design process by facilitating relationship building, designing and managing in-person and virtual consultations, and documenting key decisions, and other necessary steps, ultimately leading to an operational and implementation plan for the ChildCARE Fund.

In addition to the childcare focused work, the consultant will assist with moving other aspects of ECDAN’s broader advocacy and communications strategy forward as ECDAN refreshes its strategic plan for the coming five years (2024-2028). Specific areas of work may include advocacy for parenting support, climate change, ECD financing, and other priorities that may emerge.

Timeline

The consultancy is expected to start in October 2023 and take approximately nine months to complete. We expect to contract this consultant for approximately 100 days.

Specific activities

Elements of the consultancy will include but are not limited to:

• Support preparation and work-planning for a consultative design process for the ChildCARE Fund.
• Schedule meetings with internal and external stakeholders, make logistical arrangements, manage RSVPs, assist in generating meeting materials, take notes, and highlight action items.
• Support the design, coordination, implementation, and documentation of a two day in-person workshop in Nairobi, Kenya in March, 2024, that will collect partner input and inform the conceptualization of the fund’s strategy.
• Coordinate a series of virtual consultations and webinars to promote the fund, gather additional partner input, and highlight key issues related to childcare.
• Document lessons learned, insights gained, and recommended next steps from in-person and virtual consultations.
• Lead on drafting of an operational plan for the fund and all required guiding documents (i.e. objectives, principles of engagement, theory of change, results framework, grant selection criteria, governance, application process, accountability measures, and other management mechanisms), as identified through the consultations.
• Draft case studies, a needs assessment, and other communications and global goods which emerge from the consultations as useful to potential grantees and donors of the fund.
• Assist with preparing funding proposals and responding to donor’s questions in order to gain contributions required to launch the fund.
• Collaborate with partners to collect and disseminate videos from “Childcare Champions” that depict the important role childcare plays in the lives of individuals across the globe.
• Attend regular meetings with ECDAN’s Global Policy and Advocacy Lead and other internal staff to coordinate work plans and track progress towards deliverables.
• Support the development of a content calendar and communications strategy for the global childcare campaign and other advocacy initiatives.
• Conduct stakeholder mapping and desk research to support ECDAN policy priorities including parenting support, climate change, and ECD financing.
• Organize webinars and learning events.
• Contribute to and complete additional tasks as needed to support the implementation and refresh of ECDAN’s advocacy and communications strategy.

Inception

Timeframe: October-December

• Inception meeting with Secretariat leadership.
• Follow up meetings with relevant partners.
• Review of key documents to further inform ECDAN’s current childcare campaign needs and future vision.
• Workplan for the consultative process to design the childcare Fund.
• Monthly reports outlining work completed and upcoming actions.

Development

Timeframe: January-April

• Materials and operational plans for the in-person consultation in Nairobi in March 2024.
• Materials and operational plans for two virtual consultations, following the in-person meeting.
• Meeting minutes and report on outcomes of consultations and next steps.
• Two case studies on country-level advocacy approaches to strengthening childcare systems and increase public spending.
• Monthly reports outlining work completed and upcoming actions.

Completion

Timeframe: May-June

• Draft operational plan for the fund and other guiding documents for the fund.
• Package of materials for potential grantees and donors. Meeting with Secretariat leadership for feedback on draft report.
• Webinar to share final decisions with consultation participants and launch the fund.
• Monthly reports outlining work completed and upcoming actions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree (preferably a Master’s Degree) in political science, international development, public policy, or related fields.
• At least 5 years working in global or country policy and advocacy.
• Experience working with diverse civil society organizations, ideally at the country-level.
• Excellent research, analytical, writing, project management, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team as well as independently.
• Experience delivering training or organizing strategic planning workshops.
• Experience developing theories of change, results frameworks, and/or advocacy campaign strategies preferred.