CIVICUS Seeks External Consultant to Develop Its 2027–2032 Global Strategy
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is inviting experienced consultants and consulting firms to submit expressions of interest for a major strategy development consultancy covering July 2027 to June 2032.
The assignment offers an exciting opportunity for senior strategy, organisational development and civil society specialists to help shape the future direction of one of the world’s largest global civil society alliances. The consultancy is fully remote, open globally, and particularly welcomes candidates based in the Global South.
The application deadline is 4 September 2026 at 23:59 GMT, with an indicative consultancy budget of US$25,000–US$30,000.
About CIVICUS
CIVICUS is a global alliance representing more than 17,000 member organisations and individuals across 189 countries. Since its establishment in 1993, the organisation has worked to strengthen citizen participation and defend civic space around the world.
Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, CIVICUS operates through a distributed global team, with hubs connected to major multilateral institutions in New York, Geneva and London.
Its work includes generating knowledge and analysis, coordinating advocacy, strengthening civil society networks, advancing civil society narratives and supporting communities affected by restrictions on civic space.
As its current 2022–2027 strategic period approaches its conclusion, CIVICUS is preparing a new strategy for July 2027–June 2032.
A Major Strategy Development Assignment
The selected consultant or consultancy team will serve as an external facilitator, working closely with the CIVICUS Strategy Core Team and Membership Committee.
The objective is to develop a strategy that is credible, actionable, evidence-based and owned by CIVICUS members.
The process will involve six broad stages:
- Set-up
- Evidence and sense-making
- Consultation and co-creation
- Drafting
- Validation, approval and launch
- Transition to implementation
The approach is expected to be participatory, inclusive, adaptive, transparent and ethical.
This means the successful consultant will not simply produce a strategy document. They will be responsible for designing a process that enables CIVICUS members, staff, leadership and other stakeholders to meaningfully influence the organisation’s future priorities.
Key Responsibilities
The consultant will facilitate strategy-development processes involving stakeholders across different countries, cultures, regions and time zones.
A major responsibility will be evidence synthesis. The consultant will draw on CIVICUS’s existing knowledge and evidence, including its monitoring and research products, State of Civil Society Reports, programme evaluations and staff perspectives, while also considering external evidence.
The consultant will also design and facilitate online regional workshops, focus groups and membership sessions.
Another central responsibility will be translating these consultations and evidence into a strategic framework containing goals, outcomes, indicators and a Theory of Change.
The consultant will also facilitate a Board strategy session and support CIVICUS as the strategy moves from design into implementation.
This includes helping develop operational plans and monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) frameworks.
Who Should Apply?
This is a senior consultancy, rather than an entry-level strategy assignment.
CIVICUS requires at least 10 years of progressively responsible experience leading or facilitating organisational strategy development, strategic reviews or transformation processes.
Experience should ideally include work with:
- International NGOs
- Civil society organisations
- Membership-based organisations
- Global networks and alliances
- International development organisations
- Philanthropic organisations
Candidates must demonstrate strong experience facilitating participatory processes involving diverse stakeholders.
They should also have experience using evaluations, organisational learning and evidence to inform strategic decisions.
Knowledge of Theories of Change, results frameworks and performance measurement is important, as is experience with environmental scanning, political economy analysis, scenario planning and organisational assessments.
Strong Facilitation Skills Are Essential
The assignment places considerable emphasis on facilitation.
The successful consultant must be comfortable working with Boards, senior leadership teams, governing bodies and multi-stakeholder committees.
They should be able to facilitate difficult conversations, build consensus and manage conflict across different cultures and geographical contexts.
Strong strategic analysis, systems thinking, qualitative research and report-writing skills are also required.
Perhaps most importantly, candidates need a strong understanding of global civil society, civic space, human rights, democracy and citizen participation.
Knowledge of membership-based organisations and network governance models will be highly relevant.
Global South Representation Encouraged
CIVICUS places particular importance on diversity and Global South representation.
The organisation encourages applications from consultants or teams with experience working across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Europe.
Experience with CIVICUS or a similar global civil society alliance would be an advantage.
English fluency is required, while French, Spanish or Arabic would strengthen an application.
Knowledge of civic-space monitoring and advocacy is also desirable.
The organisation is additionally looking for expertise relating to safeguarding, diversity, equity and inclusion, feminist approaches and decolonial approaches to organisational strategy.
Budget and Working Arrangements
The consultancy will be conducted remotely on a global basis.
The indicative budget is between US$25,000 and US$30,000, inclusive of professional fees and associated costs.
Applicants must provide a detailed financial proposal, including daily rates and total fees, with any travel assumptions clearly explained.
The overall process will run from August 2026 to September 2027, with the new CIVICUS strategy expected to go live on 1 July 2027.
What Applicants Must Submit
Interested consultants or firms must submit three main components.
1. Technical Proposal
A maximum of 10 pages, excluding annexes, explaining:
- Understanding of the assignment
- Proposed methodology
- Workplan
- Team composition
2. Financial Proposal
Applicants should provide a detailed budget, including daily rates, total professional fees and any anticipated travel costs.
3. Supporting Annexes
These should include:
- Examples of previous work
- At least three client references
- CVs of key personnel
Applicants should email their materials to strategy32@civicus.org using the subject line:
Strategy Consultant_[Your Name/Name of Firm]
The deadline is 4 September 2026 at 23:59 GMT.
Shortlisted candidates—typically three to five—will be invited to a 45-minute virtual interview with the selection panel.
An Opportunity to Shape Global Civil Society Strategy
This consultancy represents an opportunity for a highly experienced strategy professional to contribute to the future of a major global civil society alliance.
The successful consultant will help CIVICUS translate evidence, member perspectives and global trends into a practical five-year strategy at a time when civic space, democracy, human rights and citizen participation are facing significant challenges worldwide.
For consultants with a strong background in international development, organisational strategy, civil society, governance, facilitation and systems thinking, this could be a particularly significant assignment.
The opportunity is especially relevant for Global South-based consultants and diverse international teams with proven experience designing strategies across multiple regions.
Key Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | CIVICUS |
| Position | External Strategy Consultant |
| Assignment | CIVICUS July 2027–June 2032 Strategy |
| Location | Remote / Global |
| Contract | Consultancy |
| Budget | US$25,000–US$30,000 |
| Process | August 2026–September 2027 |
| Strategy launch | 1 July 2027 |
| Experience | 10+ years |
| Deadline | 4 September 2026, 23:59 GMT |
| Languages | English required; French, Spanish or Arabic advantageous |
Official application and Terms of Reference: CIVICUS Strategy Consultancy – Apply Here
Bottom line: This is a senior, high-value consultancy best suited to an experienced strategy consultant or firm with 10+ years of organisational strategy experience, particularly in international NGOs, civil society networks, alliances or development organisations.
Join Our WhatsApp Community
Disclaimer: Remote Job Opportunities (RJO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the responsible organization directly. Please do not send your applications to RJO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
