About Moving Minds Alliance

The Moving Minds Alliance (MMA) is a multistakeholder alliance advocating for better outcomes and equity for young children affected by crises everywhere. The Alliance leverages the strengths of diverse local and global actors to advocate for early childhood development to be prioritised in every crisis response.

Background and Context

In 2019-2020, the Moving Minds Alliance (MMA) established its first Advocacy Strategy, recognizing a critical need to advocate for increased financing for Early Childhood Development in Emergencies (ECDIE) within humanitarian and development funding. To ensure that this strategy was informed by the latest data, MMA commissioned a financial analysis of ECDIE funds within these sectors – the first analysis of its type. The report published in 2020, the Analysis of international aid levels for early childhood services in crisis contexts, was a critical piece of work that highlighted that just about 2% of all humanitarian funding and 3% of development funding is directly allocated to ECDiE. Informed by these data, MMA subsequently commissioned more detailed analyses to develop donor profiles to support its advocacy.

Since this initial analysis and the subsequent donor profiling in 2021, the political economy of international aid, development and humanitarian funding has transformed and continues to change at a rapid pace. Current global trends are leading to a rapid and significant retrenchment in humanitarian and development aid. Such substantial cuts in global humanitarian and development budgets will inevitably impact the already paltry levels of funding available for ECDIE. This downward trajectory of funding is in inverse proportion to the rapidly accelerating polycrises affecting young children and communities in the most vulnerable contexts globally.

Importantly, the rapidly evolving development and humanitarian ecosystem has recently seen significant retrenchments in the levels of ODA from traditional donor governments including the UK and France as well as the United States. In response, MMA is committed to a fundamental shift and is adjusting its donor influencing strategy and advocacy models to maximize its impact. There remains an urgent need for actors like the MMA to advocate for a more equitable system responsive and accountable to communities affected by crises and displacement. MMA’s new strategy commits MMA to shift its donor advocacy away from its traditional donor-country-focused approach to advocacy centered on local actors in crisis-affected areas. It will seek to strengthen direct collaboration with local governments and field-based donors to mobilize resources more efficiently and effectively. Future areas of research to be commissioned by MMA will include identification of financial resources that could potentially be leveraged to support ECDiE that are held regionally, including in regional development banks, and nationally, by governments supported by the World Bank for example.

MMA is seeking to commission a consultant to revise the donor profiling, in order to account for strategic shifts in donor priorities and to support MMA’s strategic donor advocacy initiatives and activities. This analysis and subsequent report will complement MMA’s donor advocacy research activities, with a view to support political and donor advocacy campaigns led by MMA and other key actors concerned with increasing the prioritisation of ECDiE. This includes the Act for Early Years campaign[1] on which the MMA is a key partner.

Purpose of Consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is as follows:

• Update donor profiles to identify relevant actors as advocacy targets

o Evaluate the existing MMA donor targets to determine their relevance.

o Identify new strategic shifts and gaps in their funding strategies where MMA can provide support, particularly in localization efforts.

o Build relationships with key individuals within these organizations who can advocate for prioritizing ECDIE from existing funding sources.

• Identify additional donor targets (or new markets for advocacy activities):

o Conduct analysis to identify other potential donors that should be targeted.

o Connect with individuals working alongside these donors to facilitate collaboration. For instance, in the past four years, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has emerged as a strong advocate for education and early learning. This project will also assess other donor priorities to enhance MMA’s targets.

• Provide tailored recommendations and modalities for donor advocacy:

o Develop customized recommendations for each donor that align with MMA’s advocacy strategy.

o Identify key individuals necessary for engagement with each donor.

o Define specific advocacy ‘hooks’ tailored to each donor’s interests (e.g., INSPIRE for the World Bank, Education in Emergencies for Canada, and Education in FCDO).

• Build the investment case for locally-led solutions:

o Utilize the updated donor profiles and strategic priorities to advocate for investments in localized systems that support children in crisis and displacement.

o Incorporate relevant case studies and provide actionable recommendations for donors to prioritize funding for local governments, as well as local and refugee-led organizations and networks.

Timeline

The prospective timeline to complete this work is 3 to 6 months, with a suggested 30-40 days of work.

Scope of Work

The scope of work for this project is suggested to include the following:

Donor Consultations:

• Conduct a donor landscape analysis, identifying key focal points from each donor
• Conduct individualized consultations with each identified donor

o Collect and analyze data regarding donor priorities, gaps, and opportunities related to ECDIE and localization

Updated Donor Profiles

• Research and compile information on each donor’s strategic shifts in funding approaches
• Document investments made by each donor in ECDIE within humanitarian and development contexts
• Identify and document current funding priorities of each donor
• Analyze and document major challenges faced by donors in supporting ECDIE and localization
• Develop tailored recommendations for MMA to effectively engage and influence each donor

Develop Localization Funding Tip Sheet

• Collaborate with the Senior Advocacy and Engagement Manager to develop the tip sheet.
• Research and incorporate best practices, case studies, and available resources on integrating localization into ECDIE funding.
• Develop a practical and user-friendly tip sheet for donors.
• Deliverable: A practical tip sheet for donors outlining strategies for integrating localization into their ECDIE funding processes.

Develop Tailored Advocacy Strategic Plans

• Collaborate with the Senior Advocacy and Engagement Manager and the co-leads of the Donor Working Group.
• Develop individual, customized advocacy strategic plans for each donor, based on their profiles and consultation findings.
• Outline specific strategies and action steps for MMA to effectively engage and influence each donor.

Deliverables

For this analysis, the following are expected to be delivered as part of the consultancy:

• Inception Report (including background, analysis questions, detailed methodology, workplan, timeline, risk assessment, and other relevant information)
• Summary of Donor Consultations: A report following individualized consultations with each donor to gain insights into their current priorities, identify gaps, and explore new opportunities.
• Updated Donor Profiles: Comprehensive donor profiles that include the following details:

○ Strategic shifts in their funding approaches

○ Investments made in ECDIE within humanitarian and development contexts

○ Current funding priorities

○ Major challenges faced in supporting ECDIE and localization

○ Tailored recommendations for MMA to effectively engage and influence each donor

• Localization funding Tip-Sheet: Following collaboration with the Senior Advocacy and Engagement Manager, the consultant will develop a practical tip sheet for donors outlining strategies for integrating localization into their funding processes, specifically focused on ECDIE. It is highly recommended to include case studies, available resources, and best practices research into the development of the tip-sheets.
• Tailored Advocacy Strategic Plans: Individual, customized donor-level strategy plans are to be developed following collaborations with the Senior Advocacy and Engagement Manager, as well as the co-leads of the Donor Working Group.
• A presentation of key findings to the MMA

Deadlines for key deliverables to be negotiated and developed alongside the MMA Director through the inception planning phase.

Desired Outcomes

This analysis is intended to provide MMA and its partners within the ECDIE advocacy space the tools to effectively advocate for increased quality funding for ECDIE, and to support MMA in its aims. As such, the following outcomes are expected for MMA as a result of the analysis:

• MMA produces knowledge in the ECDIE funding landscape that supports increased quality and quantity of ECDIE funding
• MMA has increased clarity and stronger ability to plan donor advocacy activities
• MMA will be able to devise tailored advocacy and engagement plans – this will influence donors to ‘shift the needle’ and put ECDIE on their funding agendas, and find clear solutions to funding locally led ECDIE while linking with their donor missions in specific target countries.

Qualifications & Consultant Requirements

To be successful for this consultancy, applicants must have:

• Substantial (10+ years) experience in donor research, advocacy, or analysis, with a demonstrated track record of successfully engaging with and influencing major international donors (governmental, multilateral, and philanthropic).
• Significant experience in developing and implementing effective donor advocacy strategies
• In-depth knowledge of the current international humanitarian and/or development landscape (trends, key actors, relationships, priorities, challenges, etc.)
• Excellent communication skills, with the demonstrated ability to effectively engage high level stakeholders.
• Understanding of the importance of locally-led solutions and the challenges of funding local actors.
• Experience advocating for increased funding for local governments and organizations.
• Experience preparing briefing materials for donor governments and institutional donors, with the ability to integrate internal strategies and political shifts into analyses, is an asset.
• Excellent ability to write reports, presentations, briefs, and knowledge products.
• Knowledge of Early Childhood Development in Emergencies is desirable.

Application Process

Prospective consultants are required to submit the following as part of their application:

• A project proposal (no more than eight pages, excluding annexes) with details on the suggested approach, including timeline and budget breakdown.
• A CV highlighting relevant experience, including contact details of two referees who have recently (within the last three to five years) commissioned your services for similar work.
• Two samples of written work demonstrating experience and expertise in research and analysis.

Application Deadline

Completed applications should be submitted by May 5th 2025, to Tricia Young, Director of MMA, at tricia.young@movingmindsalliance.org.

Please note: Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis. MMA reserves the right to close applications earlier than the defined deadline if a suitable consultant is selected.

[1] The campaign aims to secure: at least $1 billion in new funding commitments from governments, international donors, businesses and philanthropic donors to kick start progress and action for the youngest children; and the first ever International Financing Summit on Early Years with the aim of securing the necessary investments to transform lifelong outcomes for all children.

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