CIVICUS Independent Subgranting Systems Review Consultancy | Up to USD 18,000
Are you an experienced consultant or consulting team specialising in grant management, process redesign, organisational systems or civil society operations? CIVICUS is inviting qualified providers to submit proposals for an Independent Subgranting Systems Review, a two-phase consultancy designed to strengthen and modernise its subgranting processes and systems.
The assignment offers an opportunity to work with a global civil society alliance and contribute to the development of practical systems that improve grant management, accountability, efficiency and partner support.
The application deadline is 18 September 2026, and CIVICUS anticipates a total budget of approximately USD 15,000–USD 18,000 for the complete assignment.
About the Consultancy
Subgranting has become an increasingly important part of how CIVICUS delivers its mission. As the organisation’s programmes and funding have expanded, however, the systems and organisational structures supporting subgranting have not always kept pace.
CIVICUS has also evolved from a largely South Africa-based organisation into an international alliance working through distributed and predominantly remote teams. At the same time, the external funding environment has become more complex, with donors introducing different compliance, reporting and risk-management requirements.
The review will provide an independent assessment of CIVICUS’s current subgranting cycle and supporting systems, followed by practical recommendations for redesign and a suitable grants-management system.
Two-Phase Consultancy
The assignment will be delivered through two sequential phases.
Phase 1: Subgranting Process Review
The first phase focuses on examining the current end-to-end subgranting process and developing a practical redesigned approach.
The consultant will review existing policies, standard operating procedures, controls and a sample of live and completed subgrant cases. Staff consultations will also be conducted across relevant organisational functions, with confidentiality and anonymisation incorporated into the process.
Key areas include:
- Segregation of duties across operations, finance, HR and programme functions
- Delegation and handover standards
- Close-out and verification controls
- Current subgranting workflows and responsibilities
- Data and evidence from actual cases
The consultant will produce a validated current-state process map and redesign the process to address identified gaps.
Phase 2: Grants-Management Systems Review
Once Phase 1 has been validated and approved, CIVICUS will proceed to the systems review.
The second phase will identify and recommend a grants-management system capable of supporting the redesigned process. The assessment will be independent and based on sector experience and peer benchmarking.
The review will consider:
- Grants-management platforms
- Integration with finance and contracting systems
- Requirements arising from the redesigned process
- Comparable systems used by peer organisations
- Donor compliance requirements
- Implementation considerations
- Indicative costs and benefits
Importantly, CIVICUS intends to follow a “process before platform” approach, meaning that the technology recommendation will be based on the improved process rather than simply digitising existing weaknesses.
Key Deliverables
Depending on the phase undertaken, successful providers will be expected to produce practical and actionable outputs.
Phase 1 deliverables include an inception report, workplan, current-state process map, redesigned subgranting process, updated inputs for manuals and intake forms, training materials and a final report.
Phase 2 deliverables include a systems assessment, peer-benchmarking summary, recommended grants-management system, integration requirements, implementation roadmap, indicative costs and a cost-benefit comparison.
The final findings will also be presented to CIVICUS’s cross-functional Reference Group.
Who Should Apply?
CIVICUS is seeking consultants or providers with demonstrated expertise in process review and redesign for NGOs, civil society organisations or networks.
Ideal applicants should have:
- Experience reviewing grant, subgrant or project-cycle management systems
- A track record of turning assessments into practical tools
- Strong facilitation and interviewing skills
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities
- Experience working with remote and internationally distributed teams
- Knowledge of civil society and member-based organisations
- Experience with grants-management systems and finance-related platforms
- Peer benchmarking and comparative research skills
- Understanding of donor compliance requirements
- Strong technical writing and presentation skills
For Phase 2, providers must be independent from specific grants-management platforms or vendors and must not have a financial or contractual interest in the systems being assessed.
Governance and Independence
A cross-functional Reference Group comprising representatives from Operations, Finance, HR and Programmes will oversee the consultancy.
Both phases will be procured through an open and competitive tender. CIVICUS has stated that no provider or platform has been pre-selected.
Applicants must declare any previous relationship with CIVICUS, while Reference Group members are expected to disclose and manage potential conflicts of interest.
Timeline and Budget
The indicative timeline is:
Phase 1: Months 0–3
Phase 2: Months 3–6
The overall assignment is expected to take approximately six months, although dates will be finalised with the successful provider or providers.
CIVICUS anticipates a total budget of approximately USD 15,000 to USD 18,000 for the entire assignment. Proposals should provide a detailed cost breakdown and demonstrate value for money.
How to Apply
Interested consultants and providers should submit a technical and financial proposal containing:
- Proposed methodology
- Timeline
- Consultant or team profile
- Relevant experience
- Conflict-of-interest declaration
- Detailed budget
Applications should be submitted to procurement@civicus.org by 18 September 2026, with the subject line:
“Independent Subgranting Systems Review”
Applicants may bid for either phase or propose to deliver both phases, depending on their expertise and capacity.
Why This Consultancy Is Worth Exploring
This opportunity is particularly relevant to consultants working at the intersection of NGO operations, grant management, organisational development, digital systems and process improvement.
The successful provider will have the opportunity to help a global civil society alliance strengthen how it manages subgrants, supports partners and responds to increasingly complex donor requirements.
For experienced consultants seeking an international assignment with a meaningful organisational-development component, the CIVICUS Independent Subgranting Systems Review represents an opportunity to apply technical expertise to a significant global civil society challenge.
Application deadline: 18 September 2026.
Indicative total budget: USD 15,000–USD 18,000.
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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.
