CALL FOR A CONSULTANT TO SUPPORT US IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR 2026-2030+ STRATEGIC PLAN

ERGO Network is contracting a consultant to support us in developing our 2026-2030+ strategic plan based on strategic objectives and strategies. We expect a participatory process, including ERGO Network’s board, staff and membership.

ERGO Network

ERGO Network (www.ergonetwork.org) brings together 30 members from across Europe and supports organisations with a common perspective on Roma grassroots empowerment and equal citizenship to combat antigypsyism. We mobilize and connect organisations and individuals that share and express our values – active citizenship, shared responsibility, and passion – to strengthen and empower Roma civil society involvement in decision-making at local, national and European levels and to address existing shortcomings of policies targeted at Roma.

Our office is based in Brussels.

ERGO Network is seeking the services of a consultant with strong experience and excellent organisational skills to develop and implement a participatory strategic planning process. Our network’s culture is based on participation and co-creation, which we also expect from this important planning process.

The objectives of the task are:

• To conduct an in-depth context analysis in collaboration with members, Board and staff to help review the organisation’s strategic directions (vision, mission, strategic objectives, pathways of change…etc.) and the most suitable structure and resources needed to effectively achieve the outcomes and impact necessary for bringing about change;
• To support ERGO Network’s strategic planning for 2026-2030 by effectively bringing the insights and views of ERGO Network members into the process in a participatory manner.
• To support the creation of long-term strategic goals for the organisation to reach by 2035.

Final output:

• Strategic Plan 2026-2030, including long-term strategic goals until 2035, to be adopted by the ERGO Network General Assembly in June 2025.  

ERGO Network staff will be able to support this process by being available for interviews, meetings and comments, providing internal documents, and setting up meetings with members and the board.

Timeframe and fees:

The contract starts on 1^st April 2024, and the full process must be finalised within 12 months, with a first draft of the strategic plan ready by 15^th December 2024.  The maximum budget, VAT included, is 10.000€.  

Interested consultants are required to send a full application to ERGO Network with a brief presentation of their qualifications and experience, the methodology, key activities and the process they plan to develop and implement with a proposed timeline. The application must include a price offer for the total project.

Profile:

• Excellent strategic planning skills, including experience in participatory strategic planning processes;
• Strong facilitation skills and proven ability to lead collaborative consultation processes;
• Knowledge of civil society movements;
• Fluency in English (speaking and writing) is essential;
• Experience working with Roma civil society and with European networks is desirable.

Please send your application to info@staging.ergonetwork.org by 10^th March 2024, 23:59 CET.

For further questions, please contact Christine Sudbrock at c.sudbrock@staging.ergonetwork.org

Call for applications for Rights Experts from Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent in Europe

We are looking for 3 Rights Experts to work closely with ERGO Network and the Global Forum on Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (GFoD). We particularly encourage Roma women to apply for this position to achieve equal representation in the Rights Experts team.

Selected Roma Rights Experts will work closely with other Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD), including Dalits and Burakumin in Asia, Quilombola and Palenque in Latin America, Haratin and the CDWD of various names amongst different groups of Africa, who experience discrimination based on their ancestral occupation. This specific type of discrimination, described by the UN as “discrimination based on work and descent”, is common practice in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe. Yet, it is also one of the least understood forms of discrimination worldwide.

Context

Global Forum on Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (GFoD) is the global advocacy mechanism of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD). More than 270 million people across the world are discriminated against based on work and descent. They are more commonly known as Dalits, Roma, Quilombola, Burakumin, and Haratin, amongst many other names. Discrimination on Work and Decent (DWD) is a global phenomenon which lacks public recognition and acknowledgement, and affected communities are among the most marginalised and excluded people.

Position Overview

GFoD started the CDWD Rights Experts program in 2021 and is currently seeking applications for the next cohort of Rights Experts from Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent to support global advocacy and data collection processes at the national, regional and global levels. Candidates will be recruited based on the requirements and qualifications listed below.

The position requires a high level of autonomy and responsiveness to engage in advocacy processes and a high interest and willingness to engage in national, regional and global advocacy processes. At its core, the program elevates the national level advocacy of these communities towards collective advocacy engagement for all Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD) on the global level, such as the United Nations (UN) and other regional and global human rights mechanisms.

The position requires 32 hours per month for the duration of 12 months with potential international travel, and with a 3-month trial period.

Duties and responsibilities of the Rights Experts (REs)

• Dedicate at least 4 full working days per month to this role.
• Participate and organise capacity building, mutual learning and general advocacy activities.
• Contribute to developing and implementing the GFoD regional and global advocacy strategies.
• Author statements, critical interventions and articles or contribute to specific ideas and concept notes on the concerns of CDWD as per the requirement of HLPF and other UN and human rights instruments, mechanisms or initiatives.   
• Communicate regularly with the GFoD Secretariat and undertake national, regional and participate in global consultation processes within the local, regional and national CDWD community.

Requirements and qualifications

In order of preference, characteristics and qualifications are listed below. 

Please note that given our preference for candidates from respective communities, applicants are not required to have English as a working language. 

1. Anchored and rooted in Communities Discriminated by Work and Descent (CDWD): Persons from Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD) are highly encouraged to apply to this position. Women, youth and other underrepresented and marginalised groups from CDWD are highly desired for this position.
          
2. Experience: Social/community leaders within their community with considerable experience in advocacy actions and processes at national, regional and international levels. Candidates should be established human rights defenders in their country/region/community and are experts in at least one particular field area related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For example, (Access to water and sanitation – SDG 6, Decent work – SDG 8, Inequalities – SDG10 etc.). Please mention which SDGs you are most interested in/have worked on in your application.
   
3. Commitment: Candidates who have shown ongoing commitment and leadership to the cause of CDWD are encouraged to apply.
   
4. Academic qualifications: Academic qualifications such as University qualifications, publications of books, articles or other journalistic work will be considered in the application process.

Recruitment and timeline

Please submit your applications to RE2024@globalforumcdwd.global by 10 March 2024. Please submit your CV together with a one-page letter referencing the relevant experience mentioned above under Requirements and Qualifications. English as a working language is preferred but Spanish, Portuguese, French, Russian and Arabic are also accepted. Please mention all your working languages in your application. The program is dependent and conditional on donor support, which has yet to be released for this program. In case the donor withdraws funding, the program may not continue.

Successful candidates will be appointed for a 10-12 month period with an initial 3-month trial period.

Due to the high volume of expected applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.