Terms of Reference
Consultancy to co-design and co-facilitate the Incubator Lab for Oxfam in Asia 2023-2024
Background: why is this piece of work required?
The Asia region is facing rapid and exponential changes that do, and will have, a major impact on our focal concern for an equitable Asia: contributing to the creation of the most inclusive, sustainable, and resilient Asia possible. To address these challenges, Oxfam in Asia has committed to an ambitious strategy that will require a focus on innovation, rights in the digital age, partnership, knowledge and thought leadership, and engaging with the private sector. The Innovation in Asia roadmap 2023-2026 aims to support the development of innovative mindsets, processes and solutions in the region. The roadmap specifies activities to support capability across four workstreams: people, organisation, resource mobilisation and knowledge and digital technology.
Oxfam aims to support country teams, regional teams and partners in Asia to develop and strengthen innovative solutions with potential for impact at scale through two related programs called the ‘Incubator Lab’ and ‘InnoScale’. The programs will build on lessons from two rounds of the ‘Impact@Scale accelerator’ program, run in 2018-2019, and 2019-2021. These terms of reference are solely for the Incubator Lab program.
Purpose of the Incubator Lab
The purpose of the Incubator Lab is to explore key development and humanitarian challenges, and identify, nurture, and test bold solutions to these challenges.
Objectives of the Incubator Lab
- Develop a deep and systemic understanding of key challenges faced by the communities Oxfam works with, as a basis for idea generation.
- Develop and test innovative solutions to identified systemic challenges.
- Connect the most promising ideas with internal seed funding and technical support to test them.
- Support innovation capability development in Incubator Lab participants.
- Develop an evidence base and success stories to document learning and effective approaches.
- For teams that progress to the end of the Incubator Lab program will have developed a proof of concept for their idea.
- The Incubator Lab will explicitly link to the Asia Regional Strategy and key thematic areas of work in Asia.
Process
For Process and detail TOR, please go to this link https://oxfam.box.com/s/iuy259isur1tmaivjgc6vk03dnyu9img
Role of Consultant
- Initiation
- Further refine the scope for the 18 month program in liaison with Oxfam colleagues (drawing on materials used for two previous Impact@Scale Accelerator programs).
- Refine project flow and timelines.
- Content and development
- Design of training materials for Incubator Bootcamp, and Leadership Camp in consultation with Oxfam. The workshops will feature deep dive sessions on innovation methods and mindset and behaviors for innovation. Training is likely to include: stages of innovation, introduction to human-centred design, stakeholder (power/influencing) mapping, problem reframing, idea generation, lean start-up approaches (including validating assumptions), working with unusual suspects/building networks, test/experiment design, pitching and external inspiration (through speakers/visits) as well as skills for leadership for innovation.
- Develop agendas that will focus on hands on experience, providing time to explore and plan for each initiative rather than on abstract theories. It will also draw on any suitable Oxfam frameworks.
- Incubator Bootcamp
- Deliver 4 day innovation bootcamp workshop in Asia in October 2023, Location to be determined. This will include invitation of external speakers. The bootcamp will be co-facilitated by Oxfam staff.
- In advance of Incubator Bootcamp, the consultant will conduct a webinar with all participant teams to set expectations and ensure participants are prepared for the workshop.
- Remote support over 14 months
- Monthly remote check-ins by Consultant and Oxfam colleagues. This will include periodic phone/video check-ins to ensure continued follow up on the status of testing.
- Support the establishment of mentoring for Incubator Lab teams.
- Pitch Camp
- Contribute to the design of virtual pitch camp event of 4 x half days in April 2024. This will include invitation of external speakers.
- Attend 1 x half day of (virtual) Pitch Camp event as panellist to assess team pitches.
- Leadership Camp
- Deliver 4 day leadership camp in Asia in September 2024. This will include invitation of external speakers. The Leadership camp will be co-facilitated by Oxfam staff.
- Retrospective
- Participate in project team retrospective for the Incubator Lab
Oxfam will be responsible for:
- Contributing to and approving program design
- Recruitment of participants
- Coordinating communication with participants, line managers and Country Directors
- Co-facilitating for bootcamp, pitch camp and leadership camp
- Ongoing mentoring to teams
- Booking flights, accommodation and venues
- Coordinating wider communications to participants
Duration
This consultancy has been estimated at 18 days, over a 14 month period (September 2023 to October 2024).
Skills and Competencies
The specific skills and competencies we seek include:
- Experience of facilitating innovation and design processes with diverse groups.
- Experience of supporting processes around systems change.
- Experience of developing solutions related to challenges in international development.
- Experience with facilitating leadership development
- Experience working with different stakeholders such as UN, community organisations, large international NGOs, etc.
- Willingness to collaborate on session design and workshop facilitation
Payment terms
Payment will be done in 2 instalments:
- 50% upon satisfactory delivery of the bootcamp (activity 3)
- 50% at the end of the contract, upon satisfactory delivery of activities and outputs
Expression of interest
Oxfam invites the submission of an EOI from an organization or individual with the experience and skills described above. We are interested to understand the value proposition, cost and timeframe of working with you/your organization.
The EOI must include:
a) An outline of no more than 5 pages of the proposed process and key considerations including:
- Key considerations for the assignment and proposed approach;
- Proposed timeframe including earliest availability;
- Detailed financial offer/costs in Euros with requested terms of payment. It is expected that the financial offer includes a primary budget breakdown of costs (for example consulting fees, taxes, etc.). Travel cost, accommodation and food during travels will be directly paid by Oxfam.
b) CVs including contactable referees.
By applying for this consultancy, you agree that you will comply in full to the Data Protection Laws and will provide Oxfam International with reasonable assistance and cooperation to allow Oxfam International to comply with all applicable requirements under the Data Protection Laws.
It is a condition of the award of the consultancy that all entities and personnel engaged in providing the services will be subject to pre-award screening to ensure compliance with our obligations under aid diversion, counter terrorism, and anti-money laundering laws.
How to apply
How to apply:
To apply, please send your Expression of Interest to consultancy_oxfam@oxfam.org.uk by Sunday 23 July, 2023 at 23:59 Cambodia time with “Consultancy Oxfam in Asia incubator lab” as subject. Please ensure that all the documents related to your Expression of Interest are sent as attachment to your email and that all files attached clearly mention the name of the applicant.
Only completed Expression of Interest (as described above) will be considered in the selection process.
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted and invited for an interview.