Georgia HICD - New Business (International Consultant)

Georgia Human and Institutional Capacity Development (HICD) Activity

I.            Purpose

The Georgia Human and Institutional Capacity Development (HICD) Activity is implemented by Kaizen, a Tetra Tech Company (Kaizen) and its local subcontractors. The objective of the HICD Activity is to achieve lasting results in the human and institutional capacity development of key strategic partner institutions in Georgia that play an important role in fulfilling the country’s development objectives. It will also create a Center of Excellence (CoE) that supports Georgian organizations pursuing HICD initiatives independent of direct donor assistance.

The HICD Activity will increase the organizational integrity, operational effectiveness, and long-term viability of key partner organizations which, in turn, anchor the country’s reform efforts across all development sectors.

The HICD Activity requires the services of an International Consultant to assist the HICD activity indefinite quantity subcontract (IQS) holder Georgian organizations in developing budgeting and indirect rate calculation approaches.

II.          Background

USAID’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) calls for implementers to invest in country-owned models of inclusive development and build sustainable capacity in the countries where USAID works. Through this strategy, USAID places a renewed emphasis on local capacity building, so that US assistance strengthens the actors and institutions responsible for transforming their countries. The HICD Activity is committed to USAID’s goal of strengthening local capacity and incorporates this vision into the project. Specifically, the HICD Activity works toward the goal of integrating HICD approaches into the operations and institutional culture of the selected local institutions and organizations. The HICD Activity aims to further transfer knowledge of the HICD methodology to key actors in Georgia. The Kaizen Accelerator approach supports subs to cooperate by sharing experiences installing donor-compliant systems in the Georgian context, while also competing to win awards. This includes tools such as USAID compliant manuals on different topics of interest (e.g., data quality assurance, marking and branding, financial compliance) to address the subcontractors’ core needs.

The goal of this consultancy is to increase capacity of IQS holder organizations and guide the organizations towards the internal systems to develop well managed new business development process which will qualify them to compete for donor funded direct awards. 

Objectives

This activity aims to strengthen operational effectiveness of new business development and external linkages management within IQS holder organizations and to thereby help them achieve increased efficiency.

The International Consultant will work on following topics:

• Topic #1: Knowledge management and external linkages
• Topic #2: Fundraising and new business development
• Topic #3: Virtual or live event (depending on USAID approval)
• Topic #4: Short e-learning Video.

The consultant will develop:

Topic #1:  Knowledge Management and External Linkages

• Develop and conduct Knowledge Sharing Session(s) for six organizations. The knowledge sharing Sessions will overview the following subtopics (relevant templates to be provided):
  • External Linkages development approach.
• Guide each organization towards drafting and adapting the systems developed during the Knowledge Sharing Session(s).
• Develop Group Work session (6 organizations, grouped into two) for development of all above mentioned topics for USAID, the overall organization, and specific projects (based on size and type). The trainer will provide feedback during the group sessions as well as individually as necessary.
• Develop templates, tools, and materials for the HICD Activity Center of Excellence (CoE) online repository (including but not limited to): 
  • External Linkages development pipeline template.

Topic #2: Fundraising and New Business Development

• Develop and conduct Knowledge Sharing Session(s) for six organizations. The knowledge sharing Sessions will overview the following subtopics (relevant templates to be provided):
  • New business development team structure (including forecasting, pipeline development, regular activities)
  • Strategic development approach
  • Cash flow strategy (loan structuring, contracts, and ways of sourcing)
  • New business and fundraising approach (with real action activities)
• Guide each organization towards drafting and adapting the systems developed during the Knowledge Sharing Session(s).
• Develop Group Work session (6 organizations) on Fundraising and New business development  approach within the overall organization and specific projects (based on size and type). The trainer will provide feedback during the group sessions as well as individually as necessary.
• Guide two organizations individually to develop all of above-mentioned sections.
• Develop templates, tools, and materials for the HICD Activity Center of Excellence (CoE) online repository (including but not limited to): 
  • New business development pipeline template
  • Forecasted cash flow template.

Topic #3: Learning by Doing Approach

• For topics #1 and #2, develop the “learning by doing” approach so organizations can use acquired approaches and skills during sessions:
  • All six organizations should locate new funding sources
  • All six organizations should locate potential partners and make connections with at least one organization
  • All six organizations should locate new business opportunities and create extensive pipelines; at the same time the new sources should be updatable and renewable.
• Three virtual sessions should be held, and organizations will submit their tasks at least two business days before the sessions in order to receive feedback from the mentor.

Topic #4: Short E-learning Video

• Develop transcript and participate as a speaker for 15–30-minute videos on each of the following topics for the CoE:
  • Topic #1:  Knowledge Management and External Linkages
  • Topic #2: Fundraising and New Business Development

The engagement should start in September and should not last more than 6 weeks. The final dates will be finalized with expert’s involvement.

The consultant will create 2–3-page final report on performed activities and future recommendations as a final deliverable.

The deliverables should be compliant with the Georgian and US government law and delivered in English language.

The consultant will also be required to submit weekly updates on Wednesdays to the HICD team, summarizing the main activities completed during the reporting period, challenges encountered, actions taken to resolve challenges, and any pertinent recommendations.  

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Approach

The International Consultant hired for this program will coordinate closely with the HICD Activity Program Manager to incorporate the agreed upon M&E approach into the Sessions and guidance process. For this purpose, the consultant and HICD Activity will hold online meetings at pre-determined intervals to develop a tailored M&E approach in defining whether IQS holders are on track to achieve the desired results through developing targeted systems on a semi-annual basis.

To gauge the progress, the HICD Activity will develop an activity monitoring spreadsheet based on the Organizational Capacity Assessment (hereinafter ‘OCA’) survey (developed for IQS holder assessments) and monitor progress every six months from the start of the project. The complete assessment will take place after two years of the first intervention sessions for IQS holders (the last quarter of 2023) and will evaluate IQS holders’ OCA score improvement compared to a baseline score.

Anticipated Outcome

IQS holder overall effectiveness is bolstered, ensuring proper procedures are in place for knowledge management, external linkages, fundraising, and new business development. At the same time, organizations can compete with peer organizations for direct and/or indirect donor fund awards due to their compliant and strong internal operating systems.

Profile of Service Provider

Kaizen will implement the program through an International Consultant. The expert should have followed minimum experience:

• At least Master’s degree in a related field with 8 years of work experience;
• At least 5 years of work experience on donor/USAID funded projects under prime contract or working for the organizations which has been awarded the prime contracts;
• At least 3 years work experience on fundraising and external linkages;
• At least 3 years of work experience on new business development .
• Experience in the following regions is preferred: United States, Central Europe, and Eastern Europe.
• Fluency in English is required.

Timing and Level of Effort

This scope of work is for a maximum of 16.5 or 18.5 days LOE (fluctuating depending on if travel is required and USAID approval) over a 1.5-month period. The anticipated time period of the intervention is March – September 2023 (exact dates will be finalized with the consultant).

Location

The program will be carried out remotely, using digital platforms with relevant audio and video conferencing capabilities, except Live event in Tbilisi (the live event can be done online however under special circumstances, however in Person is highly preferred)   

Language of Services

The language of the intervention will be English. Reporting to the HICD Activity will be carried out in English. The final report will be submitted in English.

For candidates applying for positions based in Kaizen's office in Washington, DC, we utilize career.place to mitigate bias in the recruitment process. Upon submitting an application, candidates will receive an email from career.place, prompting them to go through the anonymous screening. In order to be considered for a role, candidates must respond to career.place and proceed with the application. We do not currently use career.place for project positions outside of the United States.

At Kaizen, A Tetra Tech Company, we find strength in our diversity. We are committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive working environment in which everyone has an equal opportunity to fulfill their potential. We know that we can only do development differently if we are open to and inclusive of new and unique perspectives. We encourage candidates of all abilities, ages, gender identities and expressions, national origins, races and ethnicities, religious beliefs, and sexual orientations to apply. Further, we urge parents and non-parents, married and unmarried, those from different or non-traditional educational backgrounds, and persons of all other diverse identities or experiences to apply. Kaizen is an equal opportunity employer.