Capacity development for creating an advocacy strategy and action plan
COMPANY INFORMATION
Established in 2002, Baan Dek Foundation (BDF) is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization with the mission to provide access to essential education, health, and child protection services to disadvantaged children and families living in construction site camps. Through field projects and
advocacy activities, BDF aims to improve access to services for the estimated 60,000 children connected to the construction sector in Thailand. BDF’s activities reach over 1,600 children and 10,000 workers in the construction industry per year.
Additionally, with funding and support from Kindernothilfe (KNH), a German child rights NGO active in Thailand, and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), BDF is implementing a 3.5-year project to scale up the systemic impact work and the Building Social Impact (BSI) Initiative.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Migrant workers connected to the construction sector in Thailand frequently relocate from one project to another with their children and live in construction site camps with slum-like conditions. Their access to essential public services is severely hampered by their continuous relocation and other challenges,
such as a lack of Thai language proficiency. As a result, many of these children live in unsuitable conditions, are often out of school, and lack access to social protection, healthcare, and social services.
BDF has extensively provided direct support to construction workers and their children in camps to access essential services, with most groundworks taking place in Chiang Mai. Since the BSI Initiative was introduced in 2022, BDF has scaled up its efforts and advocated for systemic change in the Thai
construction sector, encouraging the sector to provide better living conditions for construction workers and their children in camps and facilitate access to education, health, and social services. We develop key partnerships with major real estate developers and construction companies to support them in
implementing changes in camps with training and a toolkit containing Guidelines and a Self-Assessment Tool. This strategy and the toolkit are based on the BSI Framework for Action, 12 recommendations for companies to implement improvements in 4 key areas, and access to services in construction site camps.
In summary, the project aims to achieve four key outputs:
1. Thai construction companies apply the BSI Framework for Action and BSI Toolkit in construction site camps.
2. Relevant Thai ministries* create an enabling environment for integrating business and human rights principles in the construction sector‘s value chains.
3. Camp managers, camp bosses, camp residents, and local service providers work together for the access to services for workers and children in the camps.
4. The voices of migrant workers and their children are incorporated into the BSI initiative.
Through the implementation of this project, up to 14,000 migrant workers and their children in 36 camps are anticipated to take advantage of the improved infrastructure and begin using public services for themselves and their families. This result will help achieve the overarching goal of providing effective and
equitable access to essential public services in construction site camps.
*Output nr. 2 is primarily characterized by advocacy work with the Royal Thai Government, particularly the Ministry of Justice - Rights and Liberties Protection Department (RLPD), the entity responsible for integrating the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and implementing it through the National Action Plan (NAP) on Business and Human Rights (BHR). The project seeks to position the BSI Initiative as a key ally of the RLPD in promoting the business and human rights agenda within the construction sector. The Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Public Health are also targeted by the project activities due to their mandates in ensuring the protection and promotion of migrant workers’ rights and their children’s rights.
MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE CONSULTANCY WORK
To transition from focusing on programs and service delivery to advocacy enabling systemic change, it's necessary to clearly understand what advocacy is, what it comprises, and its varied techniques and approaches. Given this context, the project requires a Capacity Development Consultant on Advocacy to develop the project staff's understanding of advocacy and meet the following objectives.
● The project staff are equipped with theoretical and practical knowledge on advocacy approaches, methods and tools for formulating, implementing, maintaining and evaluating advocacy work with state stakeholders, do’s and don’ts of effective advocacy towards state stakeholders and the steps involved in developing a relevant advocacy strategy and action plan. The knowledge could be delivered in a 3-day training workshop using appropriate theoretical and practical training methods.
● The project staff are able to reflect on the draft advocacy strategy based on the feedback given by the consultant, complete it and develop a feasible action plan. The feedback, reflection, and finalizing could be delivered in a 2-day reflection workshop using appropriate workshop tools.
● The project staff are able to reflect on the applicability of the action plan based on their experience and the input given by the consultant and adapt it if necessary. The reflection and adaptation could be delivered in a 1-day-implementation workshop using appropriate workshop tools.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DELIVERABLES
We are looking for a consultant, facilitator, or trainer/training institute to support the project as a Capacity Development Consultant on Advocacy and develop the capacity of the project team for creating and implementing an advocacy strategy and rendering consultancy support if the needs arise.
The goal is to enable the project staff to accomplish the above mentioned targets.
Key responsibilities:
● Conduct a need assessment exercise with the selected staff (participants).
● Design the capacity development activity according to the knowledge, experiences, perspectives, and needs of the project and participants.
● Equip the project staff with theoretical and practical knowledge of advocacy, its approaches,
methods, techniques, and tools.
● Develop the project staff’s competencies in advocacy issue identification, strategic planning and development, action plan development, advocacy and advocacy campaigns implementation, and its M&E system and tools with targeted ministries and policies mentioned above.
● Provide guidance to the project staff in planning, monitoring, and evaluating the advocacy strategy and action plan with targeted ministries and policies mentioned above.
● Conduct capacity development activity per the contract/proposal, applying meaningful methods and tools for project staff with diverse advocacy experience.
● Provide guidance and consultancy support on request after the capacity development activity has been finalized.
● Create a report of the capacity development activity with the actual implementation schedule, the content of each activity with applied methods and tools, an evaluation of the participants on their individual learning output and applicability of the learned aspects, and photos of the capacity development outcome.
● Produce a report on the guidance and consultancy support provided on request stating the topic of discussion and the advice given.
Deliverables
● Implementation of the capacity development activity as indicated in the contract/proposal. The methods and tools to be implemented during the activity should be clearly described.
● Guidance and consultancy support on request after the capacity development activity has been finalized
● Report of the capacity development activity with a list of participants, actual implementation schedule, the content of each activity with applied methods and tools, an evaluation of the participants on their individual learning output and applicability of the learned aspects, and photos of the capacity development outcome
● Report on the guidance and consultancy support provided on request stating the topic of discussion and the advice given
QUALIFICATIONS
● A postgraduate degree in a relevant field, such as public policy, international development, international relations, political studies, management, and human resources
● At least 5 years of proven experience in designing and implementing advocacy strategies and projects, especially with state actors
● Ability to write and speak fluently in English; ability to write and speak in Thai is highly preferred
● Proven experience in facilitating participatory workshops applying meaningful methods and toolsfor participants with diverse advocacy experience
● Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with a diverse and multicultural team
● Experience in managing or evaluating private sector engagement projects is an asset
SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL
If you are interested, please submit the following documents to james@baandekfoundation.org and sebastien@baandekfoundation.org:
● CV of the consultant(s)
● List of similar assignments conducted by the applicant, and at least 2 examples of previous similar work submitted along with the application
● A technical proposal of 2-3 pages, including the methodology and a work plan with a timeframe for completing the deliverables
● A financial proposal with a detailed budget breakdown in Thai Baht, including all relevant taxes Additional information relevant to the proposal:
● Language of capacity development: Thai and/or English. An interpretation on request from Thai to English or vice versa by the consultant(s) at all times
would be considered a significant advantage.
● Venue of the capacity development: Bangkok, BDF office
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Submitted proposals will be evaluated on the quality of the technical proposal and the consultant’s experience on the subject matter. The proposal will also be evaluated based on the competitiveness of the financial offer.
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATION: 10 April 2023; early applications encouraged
Please note that applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until a qualified consultant is selected.
Contact : james@baandekfoundation.org, sebastien@baandekfoundation.org
