Caritas Norge

 

Caritas is the humanitarian organization of the Catholic Church and one of the world's largest humanitarian networks, with over 160 member organizations and presence in 200 countries and territories. Caritas' vision is a world where the inherent dignity of people is respected and their human rights are realized. Caritas Norway works internationally with emergency aid and development work, and in Norway, Caritas is a leading civil society organization in the field of integration, offering a range of integration measures for refugees and immigrants. For more information, see Caritas.no.

We encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of religion, gender, and ethnic background. Caritas Norway has zero tolerance for discrimination, harassment, and exploitation of position for personal gain. It is expected that all employees adhere to our ethical guidelines and our procedures to prevent and detect violations of these. Employees must be able to be loyal to Caritas Norway's Catholic identity and values in their work. 

 

 

Consultancy to support the Development of a Complete Project Application

Terms of Reference (ToR) 

Consultancy to support the Development of a Complete Project Application for: 

“Connecting Forests – A Bi-regional Initiative to Protect Forests by Faith-based Actors and IPLC” 

 

1. Background

Caritas Norway and its partners are preparing a full project proposal for submission to the Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI). The project, titled “Connecting Forests – A Bi-regional Initiative to Protect Forests by Faith-based Actors and IPLC”, will be implemented in the Amazon and Congo Basin regions. It aims to reduce and reverse deforestation through strengthened territorial governance, improved livelihoods, and inclusive, rights-based environmental stewardship. A concept note has been developed, and a consultant is now sought to lead the development of a high-quality, evidence-based full proposal. 

 2. Purpose of the Consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to support with the development of a comprehensive, technically sound, and donor-compliant full project application. The consultant will work closely with Caritas Norway, implementing partners, and relevant stakeholders to ensure the proposal reflects the project’s Theory of Change, strategic alignment with donor priorities, and integration of partner capacities and experiences. 

 

3. Scope of Work

The consultant will: 

  • Review the existing concept note and background documents. 
  • Facilitate the project design and writing of the full proposal in close collaboration with the CN regional representative.  
  • Collaborate with CN and partners for a coherent, realistic, and knowledge-based theory of change, collating all relevant documented knowledge from all partners to the project. 
  • Ensure the full integration of implementing partners’ experiences and contributions. 
  • Align the proposal with NICFI’s strategic areas, ensuring a strong focus on: 
  • Rights and livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) 
  • Ambitious forest and land use policy frameworks 
  • Incorporate cross-cutting themes, including gender equality, inclusion, conflict sensitivity, and peacebuilding. 
  • Collaborate with CN MEAL advisor and partners for a strategic and coherent Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) plan. 
  • Engage in interactive feedback processes with Caritas Norway and relevant partners.  
  • Ensure donor compliance, including format, language, and content requirements. 

 

4. Key Deliverables

1. Inception Report: Detailing methodology, timeline, and initial observations (within 1 week of contract start). 

2. Draft Proposal: Including: 

    • Detailed narrative, including knowledge-based problem analysis and theory of change.  
    • Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) plan in collaboration with CN and partners.
    • Risk matrix
    • Workplan and implementation timeline
    • Budget narrative (budget inputs to be provided) 

3. Final Complete Application: Revise and finalise the application based on feedback from Caritas Norway and implementing partners, ready for donor submission. 

4. Annexes: Including maps, partner capacity statements, previous project summaries, and any other required documents. 

 5. Duration and Timeline

The consultancy is expected to take 30–40 working days over a period of 10-12 weeks, starting as soon as possible and ending no later than 18th of September 2025. 

6. Reporting and Supervision

The consultant will report to the Regional Representative of Caritas Norway in Latin-America, and work in close collaboration with CNs team and the designated focal points from implementing partners in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, DRC and IRI. 

 

7. Required Qualifications and Experience

  • Proven experience in developing successful proposals for international donors, including NICFI, NORAD, or similar. 
  • Strong understanding of environmental governance, forest conservation, Indigenous rights, and sustainable livelihoods. 
  • Familiarity with faith-based actors’ role in advocacy and grassroots mobilization. 
  • Excellent writing and communication skills in English and Spanish; working knowledge of French is an asset. 
  • Demonstrated ability to work with multiple partners and incorporate diverse inputs into coherent documents. 
  • Understanding of the political, ecological, and social dynamics of the Amazon and Congo Basin regions is highly desirable. 
  • Experience with knowledge-based proposals including MERL is an advantage. 

 

  1. Application Process

Interested consultants or consulting firms should submit: 

  • A technical proposal (max 5 pages) outlining the approach, methodology, and understanding of the task 
  • A financial proposal including daily rates and estimated total cost 
  • CV(s) of consultant(s) with relevant experience 
  • At least two examples of previously developed full proposals for relevant donors 

Send your application by 6th of July 2025 to link  with the subject line: 
Consultancy Application – Connecting Forests Complete Proposal 

 9. Budget and Payment Terms

The consultancy budget is subject to negotiation and will be commensurate with experience and scope of work. Payment will be made in instalments based on satisfactory completion of deliverables. 

 

10. Contact person

In case of additional questions, please contact Yomaida Cardona Párajo (yomaida.parajo@caritas.no)