Request for Proposals: Development of Strategic Guidance and Engagement for Indigenous Relationship Building

Background

1.1 The Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health (CanWaCH) is currently seeking a consultant to support CanWaCH’s new initiative, the Equal Futures Network, with strategic guidance, organizational support and recommendations to enhance engagement and collaboration with Indigenous organizations, communities and leaders working to advance gender equality. 

The Equal Futures Network brings together organizations, agencies and projects from across Canada that are committed to advancing gender equality and social justice. Using innovative approaches, the Network builds partnerships by providing a platform for connection, collaboration and capacity strengthening. The Network is committed to ensuring the full inclusion of a range of stakeholders in Canada, by working alongside experts and representatives from diverse communities with unique perspectives. Our goal is to harness the collective power of organizations working to advance gender equality to shape the national gender equality narrative and ensure equal futures for all. 

The Equal Futures Network has strong commitments to advancing gender equality from an inclusive, rights-based and feminist framework. We acknowledge that Indigenous peoples are the traditional guardians of the land and recognize their long standing relationship with this territory. We believe that we have a responsibility to ensure the Equal Futures Network prioritizes reconciliation and decolonization, working with Indigenous peoples and communities, so that the Equal Futures Network can be a space that is reflective of the diversity of the work being done across the country and an inclusive space for all. 

With this in mind, CanWaCH is seeking a Consultant to work with us to: 

• Deepen knowledge, practices and engagement strategies with Indigenous communities and organizations;
• Build new and strengthen existing partnerships with community members;
• Leverage opportunities for Indigenous knowledge sharing and storytelling to disseminate knowledge with our organizations. 

1.2 As the Equal Futures Network team, we aspire to:

• honour Indigenous knowledge systems
• create respectful relationships
• endorse inclusive, rights-based and feminist frameworks for advancing gender equality
• commit to prioritizing initiatives that support reconciliation and decolonization with Indigenous peoples
• be open to learn from each other
• establish and promote safe spaces
• laugh together

2. Project Description and Scope

More specifically, CanWaCH is seeking a provider to: 

• Review and provide input and key recommendations for the Equal Futures Network’s strategic documents, including but not limited to: 
  • Engagement strategies
  • Terms of reference
  • Outreach materials
  • Communication materials, etc.; 
• Provide advice and offer recommendations for relationship building with Indigenous organizations and communities 
• Support the efforts of the Equal Futures Network, including assisting with outreach, to engage with organizations and communities working in gender equality across the country;
• Participate as a member of the Equal Futures Network Advisory Committee, attending monthly meetings and offering advice, direction and insight into current capacity gaps and challenges being faced and;
• Support convening moments and capacity strengthening opportunities for the Equal Futures Network.

To fulfill the scope of work, we anticipate that the Consultant will provide between 5-10 hours of work per week, or approximately 20 hours a month (including meetings), to meet project deliverables. Overall number of hours needed will be dependent upon the needs of the Equal Futures Network.

3. Estimated Project Timeline

1. Week of May 24: Review submissions and select successful Consultant
2. Week of May 31: Finalize contract and conduct initial meeting with CanWaCH for comprehensive review of project scope and deliverables
3. Week of June 7: Commence consulting support, including initial review of key strategic documents, feedback and recommendations
4. June 7 – September 30: Support the ongoing objectives outlined under Project Description

*Please note:

• Timeline dependent upon meeting availability
• Throughout the project period, CanWaCH and the successful applicant will have regular progress meetings.

4. Submitting a Proposal 

To apply, applicants must submit a proposal.

4.1 Proposal to highlight bidder Qualifications

Applicants should provide the following items as part of their proposal:

• Description of knowledge, expertise or lived experience supporting relationship building between civil society organizations and Indigenous communities;
• Outline of knowledge, expertise or lived experience providing strategic guidance, organizational support and high-level recommendations;
• Display a strong knowledge of Indigenous approaches to community building and partnerships with specific examples or portfolio of relevant resources, publications, toolkits etc. that you have developed and attest to your specific skills and expertise in this subject matter area; 
• If applicable, list how many full time, part time and contractor staff are in your organization;
• Testimonials from previous clients;
• Anticipated resources you will assign to this project (total number, role, title, experience);
• Confirmation that you will be able to meet all deadlines outlined in Section 2; 
• Project management methodology, including all planning and consultation with CanWaCH staff.

4.2 Budget

All proposals must include proposed costs to complete the work described in Section 2 Project Description and Scope of Work. 

Throughout the project, CanWaCH will provide the following:

• Access to key documents for review including proposal, strategic plan, workplan, terms of reference, communications engagement strategies, etc.   
• Technical and logistical support for virtual meetings
• If required, translation between French to English for documents 

All costs and fees must be clearly described in each proposal. If the organization submitting a proposal must outsource or contract any work to meet the requirements contained herein, this must be clearly stated in the proposal. Additionally, all costs included in the proposals must be all-inclusive to include any outsourced or contracted work. Any proposals which call for outsourcing or contracting work must include a name and description of the organizations being contracted.

5. Proposal Evaluation Criteria

CanWaCH will evaluate all proposals based on the following criteria. To ensure consideration for this Request for Proposals, your proposal should be complete and include all the following criteria:

• Overall proposal suitability: proposed solution(s) must meet the scope and needs included herein and be presented in a clear and organized manner;
• Organizational Experience: Applicants will be evaluated on their experience as it pertains to the scope of this project;
• Previous work: Applicants will be evaluated on examples of their work pertaining to the delivery of public engagement strategies and/or plans, as well as client testimonials and references;
• Value and cost: Applicants will be evaluated on the cost of their solution(s) based on the work to be performed in accordance with the scope of this project;
• Expertise and experience: Applicants will be evaluated based on descriptions and documentation of staff expertise and experience.

6. Application Deadline

6.1 All proposals in response to this RFP are due no later than Tuesday, May 25 at 11:59 PM EST. Any proposals received after this date and time will be returned to the sender. All proposals must be signed by an official agent or representative of the company submitting the proposal.

6.2 Within the following 10 business days CanWaCH will notify the successful and unsuccessful applicants. Contract negotiations with the successful applicant will begin immediately and be completed within these 10 business days.

6.3 Applicants should submit their proposal to: 

Alli Bunting 

Director, Programs and Operations

[email protected]