Consultant to develop a white paper on Alternative Financing and Localisation

Your mission:
Background  

Throughout 2025, the International Civil Society Centre (hereafter Centre) engaged closely with its key stakeholders and partners, to understand how the ongoing financial and political sector crisis were impacting their work. As traditional donor-driven models are under strain, both national and international civil society organisations (CSOs) must adapt to remain effective and sustainable in the long term. Two critical strategies have been discussed widely as promising pathways forward:  alternative financing and strengthening of localisation efforts. To explore how these interrelated approaches can be leveraged to build financial resilience and relevance for CSOs, the Centre convened its communities to share experiences, learn from emerging models, and co-create strategies towards a more resilient and equitable development sector.  

Building on this work, in 2026, the Centre set up and now hosts a dedicated multidisciplinary Working Group on Alternative Financing and Localisation. The Working Group convenes 7 civil society and academia experts, working across civil society resourcing, business models and localisation efforts. The group brings together diverse experience and expertise to exchange insights and develop actional recommendations for CSOs to adapt to the evolving financial and operational landscape and develop future-fit business models, while fostering power shift and transformation towards localisation. As part of this mandate, the Working Group with support from the consultant, aims to produce a white paper that will provide actionable guidance, foster peer learning, and influence donors and policymakers toward more inclusive, locally driven, and (financially) sustainable models of development cooperation. 

Purpose and Scope of work  

With support from the consultant, the Working Group aims to produce a publication encompassing high-level insights into civil society business models, exploring how civil society organisations can develop alternative financing models to promote organisational sustainability. Furthermore, the publication aims to enhance capacity of civil society to mobilise resources and provide inspiration for organisations to be future-ready.  

The Centre is looking for a consultant or team of consultants who will work closely with the Centre and the Working Group to support the conceptualisation and development of the white paper. As part of this work, the consultant(s) will be tasked with reviewing and analysing data from existing research, supporting the development of the next insights‑gathering formats, and finalising the paper after incorporating Working Group inputs and sign‑off. 

Objectives  

The research shall achieve the following objectives: 

• Review and centralise innovative models onlocalisationandalternative financing across the sector (e.g., decentralised pooled funds or local impact investment), assessing key developments and challenges.
• Provide examples of how local CSOs can adapt to the new funding context, identifying what resources and infrastructure are needed, and how ICSOs and umbrella organisations can support local CSOs and build their capacities.
• Support CSOs diversifying income streams and understanding how to run social enterprises and businesses, adopting endowment funds models and collaborating with high-net-worth individuals and the private sector.
• Explore promising cases of co-creation of national funding mechanisms with government involving various methods, e.g., grants, loans, and public-private partnerships.

Consultant responsibilities  

 The consultant will be responsible for:  

• Drafting of a concept note, a methodological approach and print ready white paper, incorporating feedback from the Working Group, ensuring cohesiveness and organisational fact-checking of text.
• Conducting background research and literature review on alternative financing and localisation models.
• Gathering insights and data from the sector(with contributions for resourcing from the Working Group)through interactive methodologies of the paper.

The Working Group is responsible for: 

• Conducting stakeholder mapping and mapping of similar initiatives.
• Reviewing draft iterations of the white paper, providing feedback and sign-off and contributing to its finalisation together with the Centre.
• Sharing relevant best practices, insights and lessons learned from their work.
• Supporting influencing and dissemination efforts for the white paper.

The final output shall be an approx. 15- 20 pages paper, comprising an introduction, a methodology and a recommendations section. The paper shall be delivered in a print-ready format and will be published and disseminated during convenings, and selected findings may be included in resources and thought pieces.  

Any intellectual property that is created for this consultancy shall belong to the Centre without restriction and the latter shall have an exclusive right of use. The consultant will be credited as the author of the research.  

The consultant will report to Centre staff and the Working Group on a regular basis during the entire period of the assignment.   

Deliverables and timeline 

The consultancy work is expected to take place between April and May 2026 and is expected to require up to 15 days. The kick-off meeting for the consultancy will take place in the week of the 30th of March. 

Item  

Due Date  

Responsibility  

Draft concept note and methodology   

10 April 

Consultant  

Synthesis of research and data collection  

 17 April 

Consultant with support from Working Group members for sourcing of insights and best practices 

Draft white paper 

27 April 

Consultant, in collaboration the Working Group and the Centre for feedback  

Review and feedback rounds of draft  

6 May 

Consultant, liaising with the Working Group and Centre, with two feedback rounds 

Final paper  

12 May 

Consultant with final revision and approval from the Working Group

Your profile:
Qualifications and experience  

• Knowledge of key issues related to civil society financing and business models.
• Significant experience with innovative or hybrid business models, including social enterprises or investment-oriented approaches.
• Knowledge of or experience of power shift and/or localisation in the civil society sector. 
• Solid understanding of global civil society dynamics and challenges.  
• Excellent research and English writing skills, with affinity to editingandlayout development.
• Excellent ability to summarise complex concepts clearly and concisely and attention to detail.  
• Rapid relationship building and professionalism, and close co-creation or collaboration experiences with a range of international and national CSOs. 
• Ability to self-manage and meet deadlines, be highly responsive to contact from the Centre’s staff.
• High level of cross-cultural awareness and emotional intelligence.  

Application  

To apply, please send your CV(s) and a cover letter stating how you meet the experience specifications, examples of comparable work, and an itemised financial proposal in EUR at the bottom of the page.  The budget range available for this consultancy is 10,000-12,000 EUR. 

The deadline for applications is 23 March COB.  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and early applications are encouraged. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to a virtual interview. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Myriam Ciza Gambini,  [email protected].