Church World Service (CWS) is a faith-based organization transforming communities around the globe through just and sustainable responses to hunger, poverty, displacement, and disaster. Since 1946, CWS has worked to bring about a world where everyone has food, voice, and a safe place to call home. CWS is a global organization with its headquarters and board of directors in the United States.

The CWS Giving Machines program seeks to increase the livelihoods asset base of families in locations where CWS conducts or supports livelihoods programs. LDS gifts have included livestock – chickens, goats, and pigs – and sweet potato seedlings, as well as supplementary nutrition for children living in vulnerable situations. An initial CWS assessment found that by late 2021, these gifts had reached more than 10,000 families in 17 countries. The program has run through FY 24 in a smaller number of countries.[1]

[1] CWS’ fiscal year runs from July to June; FY 24 reflects activities conducted from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.

CWS expects the consultant to provide up to 20 days (i.e., 160 hours) of service over approximately a four-month period, August 1, 2024 – November 30, 2025. Its specific objectives are:

1. Determine actual costs required to deliver the Giving Machines program, given the program’s operating model, across its different locations, from the start of the program in 2020 until 2023/2024.

1. Assess the Giving Machines program operational model and identify how the program has been integrated into CWS programs or other community development activities to deliver planned project activities within the Giving Machines program’s cost structure and implementation requirements.

Additional details are available in the consultancy Terms of Reference: CWS_GM Consultancy TOR_3 July.

Under the guidance of the CWS Senior Director - Technical Unit, the consultant will work together with CWS staff members on the following activities and deliverables:

• Identify and/or design cost analysis model for use in this assessment. CWS expects that this cost analysis will focus on both program inputs, e.g., personnel and non-personnel resources, and program outputs, e.g., activities and target participants; and will assess direct and indirect costs of program implementation.

• Collect and analyze cost data and other relevant information, using the cost analysis model identified. The cost analysis should reflect specifics about the Giving Machines program, including its funding sources; provide a framework for analyzing CWS budget proposals, implementing partners’ budget proposals, and program financial reports and other accounting records; and may include other considerations, as defined by the consultant in consultation with CWS.

• Produce a written report for CWS, which describes the cost analysis model and methods used, data and information sources, cost analysis findings, and recommendations for CWS’ consideration.

Qualifications

• Relevant academic and/or professional training is preferred, e.g., economics, finance, business administration, public administration, program evaluation.
• Familiarity with one or more cross-cutting themes: gender justice, racial justice, child protection, climate action, and/or community development; with preference for understanding of how these can be reflected in designing and conducting cost analyses.
• Fluency in English, with strong oral and written communication skills.
• Working proficiency in one or more additional language(s) is preferred.

Required Experience

• At least three years of experience in designing and conducting cost analyses as part of program evaluations; with preference for applying this experience in evaluations of food security and/or sustainable livelihoods programs.
• Experience in advising global organizations in designing and conducting cost analyses, and/or in applying findings from cost analyses to program planning across diverse contexts, is preferred.
• Ability to work as part of a team, as well as independently.
• Flexibility and cross-cultural competencies to work with colleagues across different locations, contexts, and time zones.

Interested consultants or companies are requested to submit a proposal by July 26, 2024.

Proposals should include the following:

• A short, written proposal outlining the applicant’s applicable experience, methodology and time frame for delivering this consultancy.
• Cost proposal
• Resume/CV

Two relevant professional references

Please email Submissions to Andrew Fuys at afuys@cwsglobal.org