Consultant

Summary

The World Resources Institute (WRI) intends to award a fixed-cost contract to an individual consultant to support the Energy Program team in reviewing and updating its strategy. We are looking for a consultant based in Africa to support a program-level strategy refresh. The consultant will work closely with the energy team to review current strategy, operating model and partnership to help the program identify ways to optimize internal capabilities, revise the program value proposition, enhance synergy across projects and revise the program strategy to ensure it is well aligned.

About WRI

The World Resources Institute (WRI) is a global non-profit research organization established in 1982. WRI has worked in Africa for over 30 years on forest protection, landscape restoration and more recently, sustainable cities, energy access, food systems transformation, and climate action. In 2017, these operations crystallized under the helm of African leadership and formalized as WRI Africa. Our overarching vision is an inclusive transformation for Africa’s people and landscapes to flourish. Our agenda is squarely African-led, and our approach is home-grown. We use research-based approaches to meet people’s essential needs to protect and restore nature, and to stabilize the climate and build resilient communities. WRI Africa generates actionable knowledge across four strategic pillars: vital landscapes; thriving and resilient cities; clean energy; and climate, economics and finance.

Scope of Work and Deliverables/Outputs

Specific tasks include:

• Review and analyse the program strategy, operations, and projects implementation models.
• Assess internal capabilities (skills and resources) and identify opportunities for synergies within WRI.
• Review program approach to engagement and partnerships to identify gaps and opportunities for improved outcomes.
• Conduct a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis and impact delivering on strategic goals.
• Based on the SWOT analysis, consult with the team and facilitate a process of reflection to articulate a coherent program value proposition.
• Draft three-year action plan for program improvement, including steps to address gaps, challenges, and opportunities.
• Lead a workshop to review and refine the draft action plan and incorporate insights, recommendations, and next steps into a final report.

Timelines

This is assignment is scheduled to take place in between November and December 2024.  

• Inception report: within one week of signing the contract.
• Draft situational report with recommendations: within four weeks of signing the contract.
• In-person consultation workshop: within five weeks of signing the contract.
• Final report and PowerPoint deck: within eight weeks of signing the contract.

DELIVERABLES

• An inception report outlining the proposed methodology and work plan.
• A draft report of findings including a synthesis of recommendations.
• An in-person workshop to review findings and further develop the action plan.
• A three-year program action plan document, including a monitoring and evaluation framework.

Consultant Qualifications

• Professional experience in organizational, project, or management roles requiring strategy formulation and implementation.
• Excellent research and analytical skills, including desk research, interviewing, and stakeholder facilitation.
• Strong understanding of Africa’s energy landscape (highly desirable).
• Experience in program evaluation, strategy development, and value proposition refinement.
• Proven ability to facilitate team collaboration and optimize internal processes.
• Excellent written, verbal communication, and workshop facilitation skills.
• Demonstrated experience in stakeholder engagement with an ability to translate insights into actionable strategies.

Evaluation and Selection

The following elements will be the primary considerations in evaluating all applications submitted in response to this posting:

• The extent to which the applicant’s proposal fulfills WRI’s stated requirements as set out in this posting
• Demonstrated expertise and experience with similar projects 
• Overall cost of the applicant’s proposal
• Sustainability – WRI values sustainability and all other factors being equal, will favor a proposal to more sustainably perform the work.  
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The consultant offering the best overall value will be selected. For this position, price and non-price aspects are considered to be of approximately equal importance. 

Compliance Requirements: WRI receives funding from a variety of sources, including governments and other non-governmental organizations. In addition to WRI’s standard contract terms, certain funder conditions may apply. 

How to Apply

Qualified applicants should submit their expression of Interest including: 

• A CV
• A brief document outlining your approach explaining why you are qualified for this assignment and demonstrating your grasp of the task and intended results.
• An indicative work plan and budget proposal. The budget should provide a breakdown of the consultant fee and other costs.
• All these documents should be in one pdf file.

Please submit your expressions of interest via email to Newton Obbuyi newton.Obbuyi@wri.org  with cc to Meron Tesfamichael meron.tesfamichael@wri.org. 

Please note that WRI is an IRS-registered 501(c)3, tax-exempt organization. WRI is not VAT exempt. All prices or quotes should include VAT and tax, as applicable.

WRI Overview

World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity and human well-being. We are working to address seven critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade in order to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean.

We are passionate. We value our diversity of interests, skills and backgrounds. We have a flexible work environment. And we share a common goal to catalyze change that will improve the lives of people. Our shared ideals are at the core of our approach. They include: integrity, innovation, urgency, independence and respect.

The foundation of our work is delivering high-quality research, data, maps and analysis to solve the world’s greatest environment and international development challenges, and improve people’s lives. We work with leaders in government, business and civil society to drive ambitious action and create change on the ground. Equally important, we bring together partners to develop breakthrough ideas and scale-up solutions for far-reaching, enduring impact.

We have been growing rapidly: our staff has doubled in size over the past 5 years and our operating budget is now $150 million. Founded in 1982, WRI has a global staff of 1,000+ people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico and the United States as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions.  

WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices.