External Consultant for Impact Assessment and Strategic Outlook Review for the International Civil Society Centre

Your mission:
Terms of Reference (ToR) 

Background 

The International Civil Society Centre is looking for a consultant to conduct an impact assessment and strategic outlook review, with the aim of guiding the longer-term work of the Centre to maximise value and impact to support international and local civil society organisations.    

The International Civil Society Centre (ICSC) supports International Civil Society Organisations. Our mission is to ensure the international civil society sector remains resilient, relevant, responsive, and forward looking so it can better support the most vulnerable and marginalised communities worldwide. We support transformational change for international civil society organisations so they remain fit for the future. ICSC embarked on a new strategy in 2025. Our strategy focuses on supporting CSOs to adapt, innovate, and thrive in a changing world. We do this by providing leadership support, convening, and producing research and resources. 

More information on our work can be found at: https://icscentre.org/. Full documents such as strategy, statutes, programme plans etc. will be made available to shortlisted candidates.  

Purpose of the Assignment 

To provide an objective, evidence-based review of the ICSC’s performance and impact, guiding the Board and Shareholders in defining its future role and strategic direction. Examining the impact of the ICSC towards its strategic plans, assessment will be predominantly through our key ICSO community. The consultant will also explore options of how ICSC's work could adapt to remain effective and provide impact in the emerging and future global context. 
 
Objectives 

The consultant will be expected to deliver on the following objectives: 

• Evaluate performance
Assess how effectively the ICSC has delivered against its current strategic plans. Examine ICSC’s support to key ICSO community through its core offer of leadership support, convenings, resources, research and thought leadership. 
• Measure impact on ICSO community and wider civil society
Examine the outcomes and influence of ICSC’s work on peer learning, interventions on transformational change and emerging challenges. Assess how effectively ICSC's work has supported its ICSO community to improve their own missions and mandates and to what extent ICSC has added value to the ICSO community and wider civil society.
• Assess strategic relevance in the current context
Determine how ICSC’s strategic priorities align with evolving ICSO needs and global civil society priorities. Examine the offer of the ICSC in the context of wider global civil society organisations and networks. An assessment of where the ICSC is positioned in the wider ecosystem (vis-a-vis other entities) for offering support and interventions of worth.
• Identify strengths, opportunities and gaps
Identify strengths, opportunities and gaps across programme design, delivery systems, and stakeholder engagement.
• Recommend adaptation strategies
Provide actionable recommendations for refining programmes and activities to ensure impact in a rapidly changing environment.
• Recommendations for future proofing ICSC
Propose ideas for the long-term direction, key themes, and strategic approach of the ICSC to ensure it remains relevant to its community, maintains legitimacy, and acts as an enabler for meaningful impact.

Scope of Work 

The evaluation and impact assessment will cover: 

• Programmatic Themes of ICSC:• Futures of ICSOs
• Strengthening and Supporting Civic Space
• Empowering Marginalised Communities 

• Key Formats:• Leadership Forums
• Thematic Community Groups
• Convenings
• Resources and research 
• Thought leadership 

• Timeframe:
Activities and outcomes from the last 2 years (2024 -2025). This period covers the first year of the new strategy and the last year of the previous strategy.
• Stakeholder Groups:
ICSC Shareholders, board members, CEOs, and senior staff from the ICSO community. Representatives from other civil society organisations at global and regional levels.
• Geographic Reach:
Global focus

Key Deliverables 

The consultant will be expected to deliver:  

• Inception report: A detailed plan outlining the evaluation framework,methodology, timeline, and data collection tools. 
• Draft evaluation report: A comprehensive draft report for review and feedback. 
• Final evaluation report: A finalised report incorporating feedback from the draft review. 
• Presentation of findings: Present to ICSC’s leadership team and board

Timeline 

• Interviews of shortlisted candidates - last week of January
• Begin the assignment in the Beginning of February
• Check in call ICSC staff and Board representatives Beginning of February
• Inception Report by 17 February
• Quantitative data handed over to consultant by 18 February
• Draft report by 24 March
• Final report by 15 April 
• Online Presentation to the Board on 27 April

Your profile:
Consultant Responsibilities   

The consultant will be responsible for:  

• Developing the evaluation framework: Design the methodology and data collection tools in collaboration with the ICSC’s team, ensuring alignment with the evaluation criteria. 
• Data collection: Conduct desktop research and collect qualitative data (e.g., interviews, focus groups, survey) from key stakeholders, including Board members, Key ICSO senior leaders and external CSO networks. ICSC will provide the quantitative and qualitative data that has already been collected.
• Data analysis: Analyse the quantitative and qualitative data to assess outcomes and impact, Segregated data analysis, particularly from CEOs and those from the key community. 
• Reporting: Prepare a comprehensive evaluation report including:• Executive summary 
• Methodology 
• Key findings 
• Lessons learned
• Recommendations for future programming  

• Presentation of findings: Present the evaluation results to the ICSC’s leadership team and board. Facilitating a discussion on key recommendations and future implications with the board. 

The consultant will work closely with the ICSC’s leadership team, which will provide oversight and support throughout the evaluation process. The consultant must ensure that all data and information collected during the evaluation remain confidential and comply with ethical standards.  

Consultant Profile 

The external consultant should possess the following qualifications and skills:  

• At least 5 years of proven experience in conducting evaluations, ideally for civil society organisations. 
• Strong background in evaluation methodologies, including both qualitative and quantitative approaches. 
• Expertise on global civil society and experience with ICSOs. 
• Excellent analytical and report-writing skills. 
• Ability to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Excellent English writing skills and attention to detail. 
• Ability to explain complex issues in a clear and accessible way, avoiding sector-specific jargon.  
• Strong ability to work independently, manage time effectively, and meet project deadlines. 

Proposal Submission 

Interested consultants are asked to submit the following documents:   

• A short proposal (max. 4 pages), outlining your evaluation approach, suggested methodology, and timeline. 
• A CV or profile highlighting relevant experience and qualifications. 
• 1-2 sample evaluation reports (if available) or a brief outline of previous comparable work.  
• Two references from previous clients (who can be contacted if shortlisted). 
• A budget detailing your consultancy rate per day and the total number of working days. 
• If applicable, any declaration of any potential conflict of interest 

Selection Criteria

The recruitment will follow a transparent, merit-based process. The committee of ICSC staff and shareholder representatives will shortlist the proposals based on expertise, skills, approach, and scope. The shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview.  

Budget Range 

The budget range is 10,000-12,000 EUR.

Application Deadline

We accept applications on an ongoing basis, with the application deadline of 26 January 2026 COB.

Contact for Queries 

If you have any questions, would like to discuss your proposal, or need some further information on the quantitative data we have, or strategy documents, please reach out to Rachel Wilkinson ([email protected]).