COSPE Zimbabwe Invites Consultants to Join EU-Funded CS4ZIM Pool of Experts Through 2028 ·Funded CS4ZIM Pool of Experts Through 2028

COSPE Zimbabwe has issued a Call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) inviting qualified individual consultants and consultancy firms to join a Pool of Consultants that will provide technical assistance, mentorship, and capacity-building services under the Civil Society for Zimbabwe (CS4ZIM) project.

Funded by the European Union, the CS4ZIM initiative is a flagship programme designed to strengthen the capacity, sustainability, and effectiveness of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), and coalitions across Zimbabwe. The consultancy pool will remain open on a rolling basis until 31 March 2028, offering experienced professionals the opportunity to contribute to long-term civil society development and governance initiatives throughout the country.

About COSPE

COSPE is an international non-profit and secular organization founded in 1983 to promote social justice, peace, democracy, and sustainable development. Operating in 23 countries, COSPE partners with local communities and civil society organizations to support marginalized and vulnerable groups through inclusive development initiatives.

In Zimbabwe, COSPE is a registered Private Voluntary Organisation (PVO) committed to strengthening community empowerment, institutional development, and collaborative partnerships that contribute to human rights, democratic governance, and sustainable social change.

About the CS4ZIM Project

The Civil Society for Zimbabwe (CS4ZIM) project is a European Union-funded programme that aims to strengthen Zimbabwe’s civil society sector by improving the institutional capacity of CSOs, CBOs, and community coalitions.

The initiative supports organizations working in governance, human rights, sustainable development, advocacy, and community participation by providing:

• Capacity development and technical assistance.
• Financial support to eligible organizations.
• Organizational strengthening.
• Networking and collaboration opportunities.
• Resource mobilization support.
• Institutional sustainability initiatives.
• Improved governance systems.
• Enhanced programme implementation capacity.

Through this support, participating organizations will be better positioned to deliver impactful programmes that address the needs of communities across Zimbabwe.

Purpose of the Call for Expressions of Interest

COSPE intends to establish a diverse pool of qualified consultants who can be engaged to provide specialized technical support throughout the implementation of the CS4ZIM programme.

Selected consultants may be called upon to:

• Deliver technical training.
• Provide organizational mentoring.
• Facilitate workshops.
• Support institutional development.
• Strengthen governance systems.
• Guide strategic planning processes.
• Assist organizations in improving operational effectiveness.
• Build long-term sustainability for civil society organizations.

Inclusion in the consultant pool does not guarantee immediate employment. Instead, consultants will be considered for assignments based on project requirements, technical expertise, methodology, availability, and budget.

Validity of the Consultant Pool

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until 31 March 2028.

Approved applicants will:

• Be included in the official COSPE Pool of Consultants.
• Remain eligible for consideration throughout the CS4ZIM project period.
• Be considered for assignments based on specific project needs.
• Remain valid until 30 June 2028, subject to COSPE procurement procedures and contractual agreements.

Each consultancy assignment will be awarded separately following approval of terms of reference, consultant availability, and budget allocation.

Who Can Apply?

The opportunity is open to:

• Individual consultants.
• Consultancy firms.
• Subject matter experts.
• Capacity development specialists.
• Governance advisors.
• Organizational development practitioners.

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Proven expertise in one or more thematic areas listed in the call.
• Previous experience supporting CSOs, CBOs, or community organizations.
• Ability to deliver services in English.
• Experience working within Zimbabwe or with Zimbabwean organizations.

Areas of Expertise

Applicants may apply under one or multiple technical areas, including:

• Organizational constitutions and organizational development.
• Strategic planning and policy development.
• Communication and advocacy strategies.
• Resource mobilization and fundraising.
• Sustainability planning.
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies.
• Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL).
• Leadership and human resource management.
• Public speaking and communication.
• Digital literacy and online safety.
• Responsible use of Artificial Intelligence in NGOs.
• Digital transformation and workflow automation.
• Data management, visualization, and dashboards.
• Cybersecurity and information governance.
• Safeguarding and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse.
• Child protection and survivor-centred programming.
• Grant compliance and donor reporting.
• Procurement procedures and audit preparedness.
• Fraud prevention and organizational risk management.
• Board governance and institutional strengthening.
• Community engagement and participatory planning.
• Gender equality and women’s leadership.
• Prevention of gender-based violence.
• Conflict sensitivity and peacebuilding.
• Civic space monitoring and human rights documentation.
• Volunteer management and staff wellbeing.
• Financial management and grant administration.
• Climate justice and climate adaptation.
• Disability inclusion and participation.
• LGBTIQ+ inclusion and participation.
• Shadow reporting and international human rights reporting.
• Social enterprise development.
• Crowdfunding and public-private partnerships.
• Financial sustainability and reserves management.

Consultants are encouraged to describe their preferred methodologies and demonstrate how they would support organizational learning and capacity strengthening.

Required Application Documents

Applicants must submit the following completed documentation:

• Declaration of Honour.
• Financial Identification Form.
• Legal Entity Status documentation.
• Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) with at least three professional references.
• Consultancy fee schedule.
• Completed Expression of Interest form detailing expertise and methodologies.
• At least two recommendation letters from current or previous clients outlining:
  • Services provided.
  • Client satisfaction.
  • Professional relationship.
  • Client contact information.

All application materials must be completed in English.

Assessment and Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on several factors, including:

• Completeness of submitted documentation.
• Technical expertise relevant to the identified thematic areas.
• Demonstrated experience working with CSOs and CBOs.
• Quality and practicality of proposed methodologies.
• Professional references.
• Consultancy fee proposals.
• Availability for assignments.
• Geographic location and proximity to project partners.
• Commitment to ethical practice and safeguarding.

In line with COSPE’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, qualified female consultants and emerging professionals are encouraged to apply, provided they meet the required technical and administrative standards.

Ethics and Safeguarding

Consultants engaged through the CS4ZIM project will be expected to comply with COSPE’s Code of Ethics and safeguarding principles.

Successful applicants must demonstrate commitment to:

• Respect for human dignity.
• Non-discrimination.
• Confidentiality.
• Prevention of exploitation and abuse.
• Responsible professional conduct.
• Protection of vulnerable communities.
• Ethical engagement with project beneficiaries.

Applications will undergo a thorough review process, including verification of eligibility and assessment against exclusion criteria before consultants are admitted to the pool.

How to Apply

Interested consultants and consultancy firms should request the official application forms by sending an email with the subject line:

“Expression of Interest for Pool of Consultants”

Applicants should then complete and submit all required documentation in accordance with the instructions provided by COSPE.

Applications may be submitted at any time before 31 March 2028, and shortlisted applicants will be notified by email within approximately 30 days of submission.

This rolling opportunity offers experienced professionals an excellent platform to contribute to strengthening Zimbabwe’s civil society sector while supporting governance, human rights, organizational resilience, and sustainable community development through one of the country’s leading European Union-funded programmes.

VIEW THE EXPRESSION OF INTEREST HERE

For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and WPChannel

Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, 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.