Governance Consultancy

Governance Consultancy

Introduction

Conciliation Resources is seeking a consultant to review the alignment of the existing governance structure of Conciliation Resources (CR) with key priorities of decolonisation, decentralisation and locally-led peacebuilding, making recommendations as required. The timing of this TOR is linked to the current development of the organisation’s next Strategic Plan to ensure any agreed changes to its governance is reflected in this plan.

Background

Conciliation Resources was founded 30 years ago on the conviction that people living in areas of violent conflict should be involved in its resolution. It aims to maintain long-term relationships built on trust with people and organisations in conflict-affected settings. CR provides practical support, advice, solidarity and challenge in our partnerships on a diverse range of activities tailored to each context. We aim to address causes and drivers of conflict, such as exclusion and injustice, through analysis, dialogue and practical initiatives at community civil society and national levels. CR supports partners and activities in countries across South Caucasus, East and Central Africa, Horn of Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia and West Africa and the Pacific. Its publication Accord is a common reference point for people working in peacebuilding around the world.

Conciliation Resources is a company limited by guarantee and a charity regulated by the Charity Commission of England and Wales, and Trustees are also Directors in company law. The Board is responsible for corporate governance. Trustees work with senior management to create strategy and support decision-making that help to realise CR’s mission. The UK Board’s powers and functions are laid down in UK legislation, the Charity Commission’s rules and guidelines, and CR’s Articles of Association as amended from time to time.

Whilst the existing governance structure has served the organisation well, the Board and management team recognise that its London-centric set-up limits opportunity to develop mutual accountability and may limit progress on the key themes of:

1. Decolonisation: the process of deconstructing colonial ideologies regarding the superiority and privilege of Western thought and approaches

2. Decentralisation: the process of redistributing activities and decision-making away from a central authoritative location or entity

1. Localisation: a practice/process to ensure that initiatives are identified, owned and led by people in their own context and address their needs. This includes aligning structures, policies and processes to support CR’s commitment to do locally-led peacebuilding

Purpose

Conciliation Resources requires a consultant to deliver two outputs which will inform the evolution of our governance structure is aligned to progress on decolonisation, decentralisation and localisation, with greater mutual accountability between entities and Boards:

Output 1: Public facing report : A mapping of relevant and peer organisations different governance models, and an assessment of how they can, in theory and practice, serve as frameworks for mutual accountability (between boards and entities) and enable (or constrain) progress towards the interrelated agendas of decolonisation, decentralisation and localisation, while undertaking high quality peacebuilding work. This mapping is to be written as a stand-alone product published by CR and shared externally. It is estimated 15 days will be dedicated to this exercise, in view of having a report of max 25 pages (in designed format including images and all appendices) ready for publication with the support of CR’s Communication team.

Output 2: Internal report comprising two elements:

1) A comparison analysis of CR’s governance set-up and progress on the above agendas in relation to the structure and progress of peer organisations conducting similar work. The comparison will be informed by staff discussions and interviews as well as a facilitated discussion of first findings with CR’s Boards, and Executive Management Team and a staff reference group;

2) A roadmap for CR to evolve its governance structure within its next Strategic period. The roadmap is to include core principles to guide CR’s approach to localisation. Nine days are estimated for this work.

Learning Questions

In addition to the above outputs, the selected consultant is expected to consider and answer the following learning questions (to be refined and agreed with the appointed consultant):

1. How do you integrate mutual accountability into a governance model?

2. How can a governance model and practice support an equitable distribution of decisions, resources and influence?

3. How can a governance model enhance the value and influence of non-Western thoughts and approaches?

4. How can a governance model give people in their own contexts what they need to build peace?

5. How do you manage conflict of interest when operating multiple boards which includes staff as board members?

6. How do you maintain organisational coherence across a decentralised organisation (vision, approach, operations and working culture)?

7. How do you maintain the balance between deep engagement and strategic autonomy?

8. How do you maintain peacebuilding work whilst having a more equitable structure?

Budget

The total budget available for this consultancy is £13,300.