Consultancy for Digital Security for Local Organizations

Kvinna till Kvinna’s Syria Regional Programme January 2017- December 2021, focuses on women´s increased participation, psychosocial support and women´s economic empowerment as well as support to partner organisations’ capacity building, networking and advocacy in the region.

Kvinna till Kvinna’s partner organisations in the Syria Regional Programme vary widely in structure, level of capacity and topical focus; and they operate under different national and operational frameworks, and degree of physical and organisational stability and they are based in the MENA region and Europe.

Purpose of the assignment

The overall purpose of this consultancy is to support two of Kvinna till Kvinna’s partner organisations in the Syria Regional Programme to have improved their digital security knowledge and skills.

Details of the assignment Deliverables

• Work separately with each of the two partner organizations to review existing digital security risks, best practices, and assess their needs.
• Work closely with each of the two organizations to develop digital security policies and procedures, in a participatory approach, according to the findings of the review, the needs, and the operational context.
• Train relevant staff on ‘Digital Security’, in a participatory and interactive approach, based on the gaps and needs identified to ensure that they have sufficient understanding of digital security risks and best practices as related to their scope of work.
• Finalize and submit the relevant documents agreed upon with the relevant partner organization and Kvinna till Kvinna’s Syria regional programme team (policies, procedures).

Deliverables and reporting requirements

Inception

• Submit an inception report (around 1-2 pages) explaining how the consultant envisions the process of the assignment and a detailed work plan, including tentative timing.

Implementation

• Review and assess existing digital security plans, policies and procedures and all relevant documents of each of the partner organizations.
• Further identify the specific needs for each partner organization around digital security.
• Support in development of tailored policies and procedures to each partner according to their operational context and their different needs and capacities.
• Assess relevant staff’s knowledge, practices, and skills around set topics of digital security.
• Prepare and conduct workshop/training for the partner organizations on relevant skills, approaches, and techniques with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna’s Syria regional programme team. The workshop/s is most likely to happen remotely,
• Follow-up with key staff in each partner organisation to discuss and finalize the policies and procedures for each organization.
• Present to and discuss with the Kvinna till Kvinna Syria regional programme team before finalizing the documents.
• A report (format can be discussed) that includes overall findings, observations, and recommendations per partner organisation to be shared with the concerned partner and Kvinna till Kvinna’s Syria Regional Programme team.

Final reporting:

• A final report (format can be discussed) that includes summaries of overall findings, observations, and recommendations per partner organisation to be shared with Kvinna till Kvinna.

Management and organisation

The consultant will be working closely with the Kvinna till Kvinna Syria Regional Programme team. The consultant is responsible for completing and delivering the above specified deliverables to the Syria Regional Programme team.

The total duration of the consultancy is to be decided between the consultant and Kvinna till Kvinna, based on a time frame submitted by the consultant in accordance with the points specified in this ToR, but is anticipated to not be more than 25 days. The suggested time frame must include sufficient time allocated per organisation including preparation, analysing the findings, support in developing relevant documents, conducting the training for relevant staff and follow up. In addition, the consultant shall contextualise the policies and procedures and workshop to the operational context of partner organisations and deliver reports to Kvinna till Kvinna on the implementation of the consultancy.

Consultant fees shall be specified as fees per day including taxes, social security contributions and VAT. The tender shall state an estimated total value of tender, including expenses such as telephone, internet or postage, and expenses for travel to the Middle East and/or Europe related to the assignment.

Contracted consultant cannot further subcontract the assignment. In cases where the tender includes a team of consultants, their division of work shall be presented.

Required qualifications

• Substantial experience from supporting local and small organisations in digital security and digital rights.
• Good understanding of women’s rights, civil society, and development programming.
• In-depth knowledge of the Syrian context and especially within the digital security context (risks, situation, solutions, contingency plans, etc).
• Fluency in Arabic and English, both written and spoken.
• Strong facilitation skills and the ability to lead a group through a set process.
• Experience of planning and conducting workshops.
• Educational requirement: University degree or equivalent of relevance for the assignment.