NGO JOBS

Consultancy Description
International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX)

Position Title: Consultant/Trainer for Staff Professional Development
Program: Novateca – Global Libraries in Moldova
Reports To: Program Director
Position Location: Chisinau, Moldova

SUMMARY

The purpose of this request for proposals is to identify a consultant to provide professional development workshops for staff of the Novateca program. The workshops will be particularly aimed at program, administrative, communication and financial staff involved in the Novateca pilot program development and implementation.

The consultant’s role will be to present a 2-day workshop in Chisinau, Moldova for up to 20 participants starting in January, 2013. The consultant will create effective workshop materials focusing on managerial skills (program management, time management, task management), interactive presentation approaches (teaching modern interactive training skills), and team work and communication (developing team communication approaches, styles and norms and department goals and objectives).

The training must enable the Novateca staff to: improve their program management skills; to more prioritize their departmental goals and objectives; to be able to develop and lead interactive and creative session for Novateca’s librarian beneficiaries; and more effectively collaborate with Novateca team members.

A total of amount available for the consultant’s fees and expenses is dependent upon proposed activities.

The project will be managed by the Deputy Director from within the Novateca program at IREX/Moldova.

The workshops will be conducted in English.

BACKGROUND

About IREX
IREX is an international nonprofit organization providing leadership and innovative programs to improve the quality of education, strengthen independent media, and foster pluralistic civil society development.

Founded in 1968, IREX has an annual portfolio of $60 million and a staff of 500 professionals worldwide. IREX and its partner IREX Europe deliver cross-cutting programs and consulting expertise in more than 100 countries.

Summary of the Novateca Program
The Novateca program is a two-year learning grant designed to gain an in-depth understanding of the strengths and opportunities for providing wide scale public access to the internet through the existing public library network. This will occur through networking with a wide range of stakeholders, providing training to librarians, and piloting public access to the internet in a number of libraries.

Novateca is selecting 65 libraries to take part in the pilot network, engaging more over 100 librarians in trainings over the course of the year. The proposed workshops will support program staff to more efficiently and effectively lead Novateca pilot program activities for librarians. A trainer or training company is charged with further developing the managerial, training and communication skills of staff to enable staff to take on increasingly challenging projects, as well as new projects, and to encourage creativity and confidence in program management.

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION

As part of the ongoing professional development program offered to staff, Novateca is requesting a proposal for the development and delivery of a 2-day workshop covering three primary areas: program management, interactive presentation methods and team work/communication.

Audience: Up to 20 Novateca staff
Topics: The workshop should focus on:
• Program Management skills – including project management, time management, task management, objective/task prioritization• Interactive Presentation Approaches – Developing and using modern, interactive and clear approaches to working with Novateca’s library beneficiaries• Team Work and Communication – establishing communication norms, understanding more about staff member work styles, improving teamwork and developing department and program missions and objectives

The workshops should lead staff to develop their own goals in these areas.

SCOPE AND TIMING OF WORK

1) Scope of Services and Deliverables

Overall:
1. Develop 2-day workshop to specifically address professional development in program management, interactive presentation approaches, and team work and communication.
2. Develop all workshop materials and agenda for the 2 days, appropriately covering all topics
3. Deliver the 2-day workshop
4. Submit a final report

The selected company will:
• Develop the workshops (covered in above mentioned areas), including the agenda, working methods and procedures, and materials and evaluation forms of participants developed by Novateca
• Offer methods of instruction based on interactive techniques (no less than 60%)
• Develop a pre-assessment to best guide workshop methods and a post-assessment to ensure goals were met and to understand future staff professional development needs
• Use relevant support materials/handouts
• Deliver the workshop in January 2013, according to an agreed schedule prepared in cooperation with the Novateca
• Facilitate the workshop and offer materials in English
• Distribute and collect evaluation forms
• Draft and submit a report to Novateca within 3 weeks after delivery of the workshops

Novateca will:
• Offer feedback on the development of appropriate workshop content, agenda, working methods and procedures, background materials and evaluation forms of participants;
• Multiply the handouts for the participants, supply other stationary
• Help develop a schedule for the training
• Provide the training location and facilities

2) Key deliverables and timeframe

December/January 2013 – Workshop preparation and pre-assessment – 2 days
January 2013 – Workshop preparation and delivery – 2 days
Produce a final report within three weeks of the delivery of the workshop

3) Proposal Content
Proposals should provide the following information:
1. Description of the individual or company proposing the workshop development and delivery: Provide a brief description of the company’s business, client base, and specific knowledge the firm has, and any specific project experience related to NGO staff training.

1. Description of the Proposed Methodology and Workshop Plan: Provide a description of the overall approach and process to be used in carrying out in the workshop. Provide a proposed outline and agenda for the workshop that includes:
   a. a description of the overall desired outcomes (learning objectives),
   b. a description of each segment of the program,
   c. techniques to be used during each segment to achieve the desired outcomes,
   d. sample materials illustrating the use of exercises, discussions, etc. during the workshop.

2. Project Team: The proposal must describe each person who will work on workshop development and must include resumes.
   a. Project responsibilities: Describe each person’s level of participation in workshop planning and facilitation.
   b. Familiarity with the topic: Include information about each person’s relevant experience and background applicable to the workshop in the area of professional development or staff training.
   c. Workshop planning and facilitation: Describe any relevant experience in planning and facilitating workshops.

3. Budget: The consultant must provide a complete and accurate itemized budget for the proposed workshop that includes the following:
   a. Total cost of consultant time, with a breakdown of the time to be dedicated to the project by each person as well as the time for each set of tasks and the cost of that time.
   b. Cost of travel to the workshops
   c. Any other costs to be incurred by the consultant in carrying out the project.
   *The budget should show the total cost in each category of expenditure and the total proposed expenditures.

4. References: Provide documentation of past performance. Such documentation is to include a list of projects with similar requirements (workshop planning and facilitation, preparation of written materials, knowledge of issues in program management, interactive training approaches and team work/communication). For each reference, provide a contact person, address, telephone number, and a brief description of the project. A minimum of two (2) references must be provided.

4) Proposal Format: The proposal must follow these format guidelines.
• Proposal text should not exceed 6 pages in length (single-spaced, 12 pt. font).
• Supporting materials (collateral materials, resumes) are not included in this page limit but should be summarized in the proposal text. All personnel and subcontractors proposed for the completion of the scope of work must be named within the proposal text.
• The total bid must be on a lump sum basis, including the bidder’s cost for services, materials, postage, travel etc.