Consultancy: Advancing Localization in the Sudan Humanitarian Response

Description

Terms of Reference

Consultancy: Advancing Localization in the Sudan Humanitarian Response

Duration: 30–45 working days

Location: Remote, with possible travel for engagement across Sudanese response actors

Reporting to: Sudan INGO Forum Secretariat (with oversight by the Steering Committee)

Background:

Sudan’s humanitarian landscape includes a wide array of national and local responders—from established NGOs and community-based organizations to mutual aid groups and emergency response rooms—many of whom have filled critical response gaps in areas where international actors are unable to operate.

Despite these contributions, meaningful inclusion and leadership of local actors in response coordination, planning, and funding mechanisms remains limited. The INGO Forum is committed to supporting the global humanitarian reform agenda on localization, but recognizes the need to critically examine and enhance its own structures, processes, and relationships to make this a reality in the Sudan context.

This consultancy aims to provide clear, realistic recommendations for how the Forum and its members can better enable localized humanitarian action—especially in non-SAF-controlled areas—by leveraging existing relationships, building trust, and identifying operational and structural barriers that hinder collaboration.

Objective:

To review and analyze current engagement with local actors and propose a structured approach for strengthening the Sudan INGO Forum’s localization strategy, in line with the commitments of the Grand Bargain, global best practices, and Sudan-specific operational realities.

Scope of Work:

The consultant will:

1. Assess current localization practices within the Forum’s structures, working groups, and coordination efforts—including membership composition, partner engagement, and participation in strategic decision-making.
2. Map NNGO coordination structures, impact of the conflict, impact of the funding crisis, and impact of BAI
3. Engage directly with a diverse range of local actors, including national NGOs, mutual aid groups, and Emergency Response Rooms, through Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and (where feasible) Focus Group Discussions (FGDs).
4. Identify key barriers and opportunities to enhancing meaningful partnerships with local responders, particularly in hard-to-reach or de facto-controlled areas.
5. Review comparative localization strategies from other humanitarian contexts and extract relevant lessons applicable to Sudan.
6. Draft a forward-looking Localization Strategy that outlines specific actions the Forum can take to operationalize its commitments—including membership models, coordination protocols, and collaborative planning mechanisms.

Deliverables:

• Inception Report detailing proposed methodology, stakeholder mapping, and engagement plan
• Localization Landscape Review summarizing current gaps, practices, and perspectives from local actors
• Draft Localization Strategy for the Sudan INGO Forum, including short- and medium-term recommendations
• Presentation of findings and proposed actions to the Steering Committee and Forum members
• One-pager brief for internal/external sharing on Forum positioning and intent

Qualifications & Experience:

• Proven experience in humanitarian localization or organizational change in complex or conflict settings
• Demonstrated ability to engage diverse local actors in sensitive and trust-based consultations
• Deep understanding of power dynamics, partnership models, and equitable funding structures
• Experience working with NGO coordination bodies, membership networks, or humanitarian policy platforms
• Strong research, writing, and facilitation skills in English; Arabic proficiency preferred

Notes:

• The consultant will work closely with the Forum’s Secretariat and Steering Committee
• Particular attention will be given to geographic and identity diversity among consulted local actors.
• Outputs will guide Forum strategy but may also inform donor and UN engagement on localization in Sudan.

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