TERMS OF REFERENCE
Resilience & Support Toolkit: Navigating Legal, Solidarity Support and Sustainable Resource Models
Consultancy to Strengthen Collective Resilience for National NGO Platforms and Regional Coalitions
Publication Date: December 2025
Research Start Date: January 2026
Location: Flexible (Remote Work)
Duration: 30–45 working days over 12 weeks (January – April 2026)
Budget Range: EUR 15,000 – 25,000
BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE
Forus is a global network empowering civil society for effective social change. It brings together 73 National NGO Platforms and 7 Regional Coalitions across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Pacific, representing over 24,000 civil society organisations worldwide.
National NGO platforms and regional coalitions play a critical role in coordinating civil society actors, influencing policy for sustainable development, and strengthening the enabling environment for civil society at national, regional, and global levels.
Across all regions, these platforms increasingly operate in fragile, volatile, and restrictive environments. Reported challenges include restrictive NGO laws, shrinking funding, public delegitimisation, rising legal and security risks, and increasing need for solidarity and rapid response mechanisms.
In 2020, Forus published the “Exploring New Funding Approaches for Civil Society” toolkit. In 2023, it developed an internal Solidarity Compendium and a Directory of Rapid Response Mechanisms. Since then, the civic space landscape has changed significantly due to funding deterioration, increased digital threats, and heightened member needs.
In response, Forus seeks to develop a practical, action-oriented Resilience & Support Toolkit to support national platforms and regional coalitions in navigating crises, accessing support, and strengthening long-term sustainability. The toolkit contributes directly to the Forus 2026–2030 Strategy under the pillars of Influence, Connect, Support, and Network Health.
PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY
The consultancy aims to produce a user-friendly, evidence-based, and update-ready toolkit that enables Forus members to:
• Navigate legal, political, and administrative threats
• Identify and access legal and solidarity support pathways
• Locate emergency and flexible funding mechanisms
• Explore diversification and shared-resource models
• Strengthen solidarity and peer support within the Forus network
• Communicate and advocate safely in high-risk environments
The toolkit must be operational, globally informed, responsibly handle sensitive information, and be easily updated annually by the Forus Secretariat.
OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT
A. Strengthening Solidarity Pathways
• Build on the 2023 Solidarity Compendium
• Map solidarity support and peer-to-peer practices
• Provide guidance on safe communication and risk-aware advocacy
• Include templates and tools for rapid response
• Promote solidarity as crisis response and long-term resilience
B. Mapping Legal and Emergency Support Mechanisms
• Identify legal assistance pathways available to national NGO platforms
• Assess feasibility, accessibility, timelines, and impact
• Update emergency and flexible funding directories
• Distinguish mechanisms suitable for platforms versus individual CSOs
C. Diversification and Shared Resource Strategies
• Analyse diversification strategies and sustainability models
• Document shared-resource models such as pooled services and infrastructure
• Identify enabling conditions, risks, and governance requirements
• Provide guiding questions and practical assessment tools
• Highlight implications for donors supporting mutualisation
D. Producing a User-Friendly, Update-Ready Toolkit
• Propose a clear and modular structure
• Include editable templates, checklists, and flowcharts
• Recommend update cycles and responsibilities
• Ensure accessibility, clarity, and translation-friendly design
METHODOLOGY REQUIREMENTS
Desk Review
• Solidarity Compendium and EU SEE data
• Rapid response directories and Forus funding toolkit (2020)
• Civic space research and relevant legal frameworks
• Research on funding modalities, pro bono legal systems, and shared-resource models
Member and Partner Consultations
• 10–15 interviews with national platforms and regional coalitions
• Consultations with legal, security, and digital protection experts
• Analysis of regional differences
• Validation workshops in English, French, and Spanish
Safeguarding and Risk Analysis
• Guidance on handling sensitive information
• Tiered access protocols
• Anonymisation and protection measures
Design and Accessibility
• Plain language
• Clear structure
• Translation-friendly formats
• Easy-to-update file architecture
TASKS OF THE CONSULTANT
Phase 1: Inception (Weeks 1–2)
• Desk review and initial research
• Detailed outline and inception report
Phase 2: Research and Mapping (Weeks 3–6)
• Legal support and emergency funding mapping
• Diversification and mutualisation research
• Interviews and consultations
Phase 3: Draft Toolkit (Weeks 7–9)
• Full draft of the Resilience & Support Toolkit
• Templates, checklists, and decision tools
Phase 4: Validation (Weeks 10–11)
• Validation workshop
• Incorporation of feedback
Phase 5: Finalisation (Week 12)
• Final toolkit (English)
• Handover pack and update methodology
DELIVERABLES
• Inception report
• Needs and threats assessment
• Legal support mapping
• Emergency funding mapping
• Diversification and mutualisation report
• Final Resilience & Support Toolkit
• Templates, checklists, and decision trees
• Validation workshop materials
• Handover note for annual updates
PROFILE AND QUALIFICATIONS
• Expertise in civic space, security, and organisational resilience
• Experience supporting civil society networks
• Knowledge of legal and regulatory frameworks affecting CSOs
• Experience with emergency funding and donor systems
• Proven analytical and writing skills
• Experience with global and multilingual processes
• Fluency in English required; French and/or Spanish desirable
Consortiums or teams of consultants are welcome. Individual consultants must specify their lead areas and collaborators.
LOCATION, DURATION AND COSTING
• Location: Remote
• Duration: 30–45 working days over 12 weeks
• Budget: EUR 15,000 – 25,000 inclusive of VAT and all applicable taxes
Payment Schedule
• 20% upon approval of inception report
• 40% upon acceptance of draft deliverables
• 40% upon acceptance of final toolkit
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Applications must include:
• Motivation letter addressed to the Forus Advocacy Coordinator
• Technical proposal (maximum 10 pages)
• Financial proposal with detailed budget
• CV(s) of consultant(s)
• Two writing samples
• Two to three references
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Applications must be submitted by close of business on 4 January 2026.
SUBMISSION EMAIL
[email protected]
For enquiries, contact: [email protected]