Grant Making Facilitator
Request for Proposals
CLARIFI Grant Making Facilitator for Africa
The Rights and Resources Initiative is requesting proposals for consulting services beginning in August 2026. If interested in providing services to our organization, please review this request and submit a proposal by
June 19, 2026.
About RRI:
The Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) is a global coalition of over 200 organizations dedicated to advancing the forest, land, and resource rights of Indigenous Peoples (IP), Afro-descendant Peoples (ADP),local communities (LC), and the women within these groups. RRI leverages the power of its global coalition to amplify the voices of local peoples and proactively engage governments, multilateral institutions, and private sector actors to adopt institutional and market reforms that support the realization of rights. Its members capitalize on each other’s strengths, expertise, and geographic reach to achieve solutions more effectively and efficiently. By advancing a strategic understanding of the global threats and opportunities resulting from insecure land and resource rights, RRI develops and promotes rights-based approaches to business and development and catalyzes effective solutions to scale rural tenure reform and enhance sustainable resource governance.
About CLARIFI:
The Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) and Campaign for Nature (C4N) launched the Community Land Rights and Conservation Finance Initiative (CLARIFI) in January 2022 to bridge a critical funding gap: while Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and Afro-descendant Peoples protect the world’s most
biodiverse regions, they currently receive less than 1% of global climate finance. CLARIFI serves as a “trusted bridge,” acting as an international funding mechanism that provides direct financing and technical support to rightsholders’ organizations rather than implementing projects itself. Governed by the rightsholders themselves, the initiative aims to contribute to the sector’s goal of raising US$10 billion by 2030 to secure landrights for an additional 400 million hectares and protect 30% of the planet. CLARIFI deploys direct grants ranging from US$100,000 to US$1 million and functions as a pass-through mechanism for larger-scale investments between US$1 million and US$50 million to advance the integrated goals of justice, climate, conservation, and development. For more information, visit www.clarifirights.org.
Terms of Reference
The CLARIFI Grantmaking Facilitator for Africa will be based in the sub-Saharan Africa region (preference butnot limited to candidates based in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and Cameroon) and will work remotely.
The CLARIFI Grantmaking Facilitator will work under the overall supervision of the Africa Program Director, with day-to-day coordination on CLARIFI matters with the CLARIFI Director, and in close collaboration with the CLARIFI Associate and relevant RRI staff.
The CLARIFI Grantmaking Facilitator works independently and does not represent any individual RRI Coalition member during pipeline development or grant implementation.
The CLARIFI Grantmaking Facilitator will perform their duties according to an established work plan for 2026,which may be adjusted in accordance with CLARIFI/RRI´s strategic priorities and will support RRI’s planning cycles.
The CLARIFI Grantmaking Facilitator will focus mainly on CLARIFI-related work, including pipeline development, proposal support, grant implementation follow-up, and support to monitoring, reporting, and learning processes for CLARIFI-funded grants.
In addition, the position will support the Africa Regional Program to ensure alignment, complementarity, learning, and strategic coherence between CLARIFI grants and other regional initiatives supported by RRI.
1. CLARIFI Grantmaking and Team Activities (Approx. 80%)
- Project identification and selectionContinuously gather information and assess potential projects in the region, for CLARIFI projects.Maintain a continuous analysis of emergent needs in the region.Promote the submission of potential project ideas to CLARIFI.
- Participate in the selection of the pipeline of CLARIFI projects in line with the priorities and strategy for the region.
b. Project idea development
- Support the CLARIFI and Africa program teams, as well as potential grantees, in the development of project ideas, including uploading them to the CLARIFI Platform.
- Support the review of ideas on the CLARIFI Platform and help facilitate the selection process with the Selection Committee.
c. Project proposal development
- Coordinate and support the proposal development stage with potential grantees, including assessment and strengthening of grantee organizational capacity.
- In coordination with the CLARIFI Associate, provide guidance on budget development.
- Review narrative proposals and provide technical guidance to grantees.
- Support the CLARIFI grant approval process by ensuring proposal quality, completeness of required information, and effective coordination between grantees and CLARIFI decision-makers.
- Serve as the primary liaison between grantees and CLARIFI/RRI teams, sharing and explaining feedback on narrative proposals, budgets, organizational assessments, and M&E frameworks, based on comments from CLARIFI/RRI teams.
d. Project implementation support
- Support approved grantees throughout grant implementation, administration, and reporting to ensure adherence to RRI/CLARIFI quality standards.
- Provide ongoing technical backstopping and capacity strengthening support to ensure the projects are implemented on time and within budget.
- Maintain regular contact including in-situ visits, if necessary, with grantees during implementation, accompany grantee onboarding meetings led by the CLARIFI Associate, and assist in linking grantees with relevant government, research, and civil society actors, as needed.
- Ensure the timely submission of mid-term and final reports.
- Based on reviews conducted by the M&E consultant, work with grantees to revise reports or respond to questions as required.
- Support field visits from the CLARIFI team, as needed, to implement the M&E, communication strategy, and overall strategy.
e. Team Activities
- Support the design of, and participate in, learning events to capture lessons from grant implementation and support organizational capacity building.
- Contribute to preparations for future strategies.
- Provide regular written and verbal updates to the CLARIFI and Africa teams and Directorson grantee implementation, achievements, challenges, delays, and lessons learned, including any unforeseen difficulties in complying with planned activities.
2. Africa Regional Team Activities (20%)
- Contribute to the execution and implementation of the Africa Regional Strategy and 2026 work plan activities, to ensure CLARIFI projects are aligned and contribute to the strategic impact sought in the region.
- Contribute to the collection of impact stories and the integration of lessons learned into regional strategies.
- Ensure alignment, complementarity, and communication between CLARIFI grants and other initiatives supported under the RRI Africa Regional Program.
- Provide logistical and technical support to grantees to promote synergies and cross-regional learning among RRI partners, collaborators, and resource persons.
- Participate in regional planning meetings to support the integration of CLARIFI grantees and initiatives within regional strategies.
- Arrange and participate in meetings with government entities and civil society organizations, as requested, to discuss CLARIFI grants, thematic priorities, and forest land tenure and rights, ensuring timely information-sharing with the RRI secretariat and grantees.
- Provide technical expertise, as requested, to support regional analysis on forest tenure, rights, community forestry, and relevant political, social, and economic trends affecting the RRI strategy in Africa.
- Follow up on and provide critical feedback on consultant products, including reports, research, and analytical documents, to ensure the delivery of high-quality and impactful outputs.
Monthly technical narrative report providing updates on the status of CLARIFI proposals and grants in the region including any foreseen delays, risks, or impacts for regional strategy objectives.
August to December 2026 with the possibility of renewal.
Eligibility Criteria
- Consultant must be based in sub-Saharan Africa and be a resident of and/or have a permit to legally work in the country where they are located.
- At least seven years of relevant experience in project and budget planning and development, and facilitation with grassroots organizations throughout the project implementation cycle.
- Proven experience of seven years facilitating and guiding the implementation of projects and institutional or programmatic processes with Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and local communities in Africa.
- Demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following thematic areas: Indigenous Peoples’ rights, Afro-descendant Peoples’ rights, local community issues, forest governance and land tenure, climate change, biodiversity, and conservation.
- Professional-level proficiency in French and English required.
- Experience drafting documents and reports in French and English with originality, professionalism and adequate tone.
- Ability to travel within the region to meet with Coalition members, and occasionally to globalmeetings.
- Demonstrated ability to develop teamwork with the RRI office based in Washington, DC, and Montreal, Canada, especially through virtual communications.
- Ability to work independently, with sensitivity to political issues and good judgement with the RRI Coalition.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, teamwork, and results-based performance.
- Preference will be given to candidates based in Francophone African Countries.
- Proficiency in Spanish (in addition to French and English) is an asset
- Expertise in social sciences, international development, environmental studies, program management, or related fields.
- Experience working with diverse stakeholders, including NGOs, government agencies, and international donors.
- Relevant experience in the capacity building of civil society organizations in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Experience in grant making, donor reporting, monitoring, or evaluation of Civil Society Organizations in Africa.
- Experience with public policies, government coordination, and facilitation.
- Experience solving problems in project development.
Key Contract Terms
This will be a time plus materials contract for seven months, with the option for renewal or transfer to anemployment agreement at the end of the contract term. The consultant will be paid an hourly fee for allactivities undertaken in accordance with the terms of reference, plus reimbursement of any approved expenses/materials. It is estimated that a contractor would need to plan for an average of 15 days per month with 8 hours per day.
If an employment agreement is approved for this position after seven months, the Facilitator would be engaged through an Employer of Record in their country of residence and receive a salary in the local currency.
The budget for consulting fees under this contract is up to US$20 per hour. Cost reasonableness and comparisonwill be used to evaluate proposals. We encourage submissions to reflect value for money.
RRI will directly pay for expenses, including:
- International and domestic flights and lodging, when required for travel in the region or to international meetings.
The following expenses will be reimbursed at cost based on receipts/documentation of actual expenses:
- Other approved travel expenses for meals, ground transportation, and incidentals.
All other projected costs/expenses must be included in the consultant’s proposed rate. Consultant is responsible for ensuring that they have all required insurance, certifications, and/or licenses, and that theymeet all legal requirements to provide services in the location where the work is being performed.
Unless stated otherwise included the proposal, the consultant is responsible for providing all equipment, software, and/or supplies required to perform the services.
Submission Requirements
Proposals must include:
- CV/Resume of consultant.
- Cover letter presenting your background, relevant experience, and listing your hourly rate for services. The hourly rate should be all-inclusive, covering overhead and any other expenses required to operate as an independent consultant.
- Brief writing sample (1-2 pages each) in French.
Please submit your proposal and required documents by email to Nelly Njinguet (nnjinguet@rightsandresources.org ) AND Margaux Mahou (mmahou@rightsandresources.org ) with the subject line “CLARIFI Grant-making Facilitator for Africa.”
The deadline for submission is 5:00 pm ET on June 19, 2026.
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be scored based on the following parameters:
- Professional experience (35%)
- Knowledge of sector (30%)
- Quality of writing sample (10%)
- Costs (25%)
Ethical Behavior
RRI is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and ethical conduct in the procurement process. We expect all vendors and consultants to adhere to ethical business practices and comply with applicable laws and regulations. Any attempt to influence the procurement process throughunethical means, including but not limited to fraud, bribery, or conflicts of interest, will result in immediate disqualification.
RRI’s procurement processes are fair and open and allow all vendors/consultants equal opportunity to
win our business. If any individual or organization becomes aware of potential violations of ethical standards related to this procurement process, we encourage prompt reporting to our hotline at www.lighthouse-services.com/rightsandresources. By submitting a proposal, the bidder acknowledges this commitment andagrees to conduct all interactions with RRI in an ethical and transparent manner.
