Consultancy: Call for Refugee Led Organizations to Partner with the DREEM Project at World University Service of Canada

Main Tasks and Responsibilities of RLOs

• Share information and updates about the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program to refugee and host communities, especially targeting marginalised groups like young women, single mothers, and people with disabilities. This will include coordinated announcements, events, and workshops.
• Collaborate with other RLOs and partners to co-create and operate a lasting RLO-led outreach model that promotes and shares information about higher education opportunities, and ensures long-term access to education.
• Recruit and train peer educators to provide higher education and scholarship application support, prepare candidates for interviews, and offer personalised support to students interested in pursuing opportunities offered through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.  
• Collect, consolidate, and represent  the experiences and knowledge of different settlements to help shape the outreach model and its strategy.
• Expand and maintain a network of RLOs across Kenya to encourage collaboration, knowledge sharing, and resource exchange.
• Participate in mentorship and technical support sessions provided by the DREEM project to strengthen organisational capacity (such as sessions on digital skills, financial management, monitoring & evaluation (M&E), and train-the-trainer (TOT) programs etc).
• Contribute to reviewing the monitoring and evaluation plan and help refine project activities based on feedback and progress reports.

Selected RLOs will receive comprehensive support, including:

• Capacity Strengthening and Mentorship: Selected RLOs will have access to training and receive mentorship to enhance their capabilities in improving access to higher education for RDP and host communities. This support will cover areas such as monitoring and evaluation, program and fund development, financial management, accounting, and general NGO management skills. These will assist RLOs to access opportunities and resources, forge strategic partnerships, and collaborate on advocacy and outreach.
• Networking and Resource Exchange: RLOs will benefit from opportunities to grow their internal and external networks. This includes participating in peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, matching opportunities with organisational needs, and accessing technical assistance from diverse experts. 
• Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Reporting: WUSC will work with RLOs to develop and implement data collection tools for tracking Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) on a monthly and quarterly basis. Mentorship will be provided to assist RLOs in conducting periodic activity monitoring and assessing project progress and results.
• Financial Support: Selected RLOs will receive funding to support their participation in the project and cover associated costs.

Selection Criteria of the Refugee Led Organizations:

• Each RLO that makes up the RLO pair/team is expected to:
• Be a refugee-led, legally registered entity actively operating in  Kakuma, Dadaab, or Nairobi for the last three years; 
• Can dedicate between 2-3 days per week to the project for the duration of the 8 month implementing period
• Have a demonstrated understanding of or demonstrated interest in improving access to higher education opportunities and disseminating information about educational opportunities to refugee and host communities; 
• Present a clear and detailed profile of the organisation’s operations, human resources, and thematic areas of operation;
• Demonstrate commitment to learning and flexibility in programming and operations to commit to change genuinely. WUSC seeks partners that are willing to accommodate change, adapt practices and approaches, engage in ongoing dialogue and evolution in the partnership based on context, time limits, and review/renewal processes, and are willing to have discussions around any deeply entrenched structural inequalities, racism, and power imbalances, if and when they may arise;
• Demonstrate evidence that they have managed and implemented donor-funded projects for at least three years of USD 3,000 and above;
• Show commitment to and understanding of how to take a do no harm approach to promote safety, security, and inclusivity;
• Have sound anti-discrimination principles and codes of conduct, or a commitment to developing/adopting them.
• Have a proven ability and commitment to collaborate with multiple stakeholders and peer organisations.
• Have experience in effectively sharing information in a clear, transparent, and comprehensive manner, including marketing and outreach efforts.
• Possess strong and trusting networks and relationships within the community and relevant sectors.
• Have experience in designing or implementing programs that address the needs of girls, women, or other marginalised populations.