Consultancy on Operational Support Mechanisms in the Eastern Partnership Region

Consultancy Title: Research Consultancy on Operational Support Mechanisms in the Eastern Partnership Region
Target Region: Eastern Partnership (EaP) Countries
Location: Digital and/or Hybrid (reporting to the team in Stockholm Sweden)
Duration: up to 10 - 12 weeks
Budget: up to 120 000 SEK including VAT
Reporting to: RFSLs International Unit
Deadline for tenders: October:59 CET

RFSL the Swedish Federation for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer and Intersex Rights is a non-profit organisation founded in 1950. RFSL works nationally and internationally to advance human rights for LGBTQI people with over 8000 members and more than 30 local branches across Sweden.

RFSLs international efforts began in 1979 when it became a member of ILGA the International Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans and Intersex Association. Since then RFSLs international work has grown steadily focusing on three main strategic areas:

• Localised support mechanisms to LGBTQI organising across various regions.

• Engaging in global advocacy primarily within the UN Human Rights and development frameworks.

• Strengthening the capacities of individual activists organisations and initiative groups.

The Eastern Partnership Region features a dynamic and evolving landscape for local development media and civic initiatives. Recent regulatory and administrative shifts have introduced new considerations for civil society and sustainability.

Supporting effective implementation across these contexts requires an adaptive approach to operational planning organisational resilience and resource coordination.

Through this consultancy RFSL seeks to evaluate administrative regulations operational infrastructure and compliance requirements across the Eastern Partnership region to ensure continuous Operational Support Mechanisms.

• Operational Mapping: Analyse regional financial and administrative frameworks institutional channels and local operational pathways affecting partner support mechanisms and programme implementations across EaP countries.

• Risk & Governance Frameworks: Identify legal financial administrative and operational risks relevant to international organisations and regional partners establishing best practices for risk mitigation and organisational resilience.

• Operational Analysis: A comprehensive overview detailing regional financial and administrative environments.

• Guidelines & Recommendations: Actionable recommendations and administrative guidance to improve RFSLs Operational Support Mechanisms in the Eastern Partnership Region.

The selected Consultant/Team will be responsible for the below tasks.

1. Submit an Inception Note including methodology analytical framework and a detailed work plan.

2. Deliver a Draft Report with initial findings and preliminary recommendations for RFSLs comments and quality assurance.

3. Submit and present a Final Report including:

• A comprehensive overview detailing regional administrative environments.

• Actionable recommendations and administrative guidance to improve RFSLs Operational Support Mechanisms in the Eastern Partnership Region.

a standalone presentation of Executive Summary.

The consultant/team will report to and coordinate closely with the designated lead at RFSLs International Unit. RFSL will provide relevant documents contacts and support as needed. Regular communication and progress updates are expected. Virtual or hybrid engagements with staff and other stakeholders may be arranged. No travel is required.

All materials produced during this consultancy will remain the property of RFSL. The consultant is expected to handle all information shared during the assignment with strict confidentiality in line with GDPR. No personal data shall be collected stored or shared beyond what is strictly necessary. All information must be securely handled and destroyed without the possibility of restoring the data or returned to RFSL at the end of the consultancy. Security-appropriate data management protocols must be applied throughout. A respective confidentiality waiver will be signed by the parties for clarity.

For this work RFSL is looking for an individual or a team with experience in financial consultancy international aid compliance standards and a passion for supporting human rights work. The following essential and desirable qualifications will be applied:

• Demonstrated experience in Law Finance Political Science International Relations or related fields.

• Demonstrated experience in international banking compliance frameworks anti-money laundering (AML) regulations legal restrictions on civil society and grant management.

• Strong analytical and writing skills with an ability to present complex issues clearly.

• Fluency in English (written and spoken).

• Be able to provide F-tax registration (if in Sweden) or VAT number (if in EU/EEA) or other equivalent according to the country of their residence.

• Knowledge of regional languages.

• Experience in conducting financial analyses in complex environments in Eastern Europe and/or the Eastern Partnership region.

• Experience in working with advising or supporting civil society and/or human rights defenders organisations and community groups.

• Not be bankrupt subject to insolvency winding-up procedures or similar legal situations.

• Not have been found guilty of grave professional misconduct including violations of laws regulations or ethical standards or conduct affecting professional credibility.

• Not having been found in a final judgment or administrative decision to be in breach of tax or social security obligations.

• Not entering into agreement with other economic operators to distort competition.

• Not attempting to influence the procurement process or Contracting Party (RFSL).

• Not have been found guilty in a final judgment of fraud corruption involvement in criminal organisations money laundering terrorist financing child labour human trafficking or any other illegal activity detrimental to Swedens or Sidas interests.

• Not have previously failed to meet key contractual obligations under a Sida-funded or Contracting Party (RFSL) project resulting in early termination penalties or findings of non-compliance through audits or investigations.

• Not be listed on EU restrictive measures ().

• Have no unresolved conflicts of interest with the Contracting Party.

Candidates must certify on honour in their tenders that they are not in any of the situations listed above.

The proposals will be reviewed through a competitive process according to the following criteria:

• Relevant experience and expertise (50%). See the required and desired qualifications listed above.

• Relevance of the proposed methodology and approach (20%)

• Cost and value for money (20%) The reasonableness and clarity of the proposed budget in relation to the scope of work.

• Availability (10%) The availability to deliver the assignments.

RFSL will assess all eligible proposals against the selection criteria in this proposal. Shortlisted candidates may be invited for an interview. RFSL reserves the right not to select any proposal if none adequately meet the requirements.

Interested candidates are invited to submit their proposals no later than 17 October 2026. 23:59 CEST.

Interested consultants/teams are invited to submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) demonstrating their qualifications and relevant experience to undertake the assignment described in this Terms of Reference.

• A brief description of the applicants organisation or profile

• Proposed budget methodology workplan and timeline.

• Relevant experience related to the assignment including

  • A detailed cost suggestion

  • Names and qualifications of key personnel (if applicable)

    • Resume. If you apply as a team please include resumes from everyone in the team

  • Contact details for further communication

• The LOI should also include information about;

  • In which country your company is registered

  • If you hold F-tax status (or an equivalent tax registration in your country)

    • If applicable please provide the organisation/company registration number and VAT number.

  • From which country the assignment will primarily be carried out

  • If you will have other clients or assignments in parallel with this engagement

  • How will you invoice for the assignment;

    • For example: Through own company

    • Through a freelance invoicing service (e.g. umbrella company)

    • Other arrangement

The LOI should not exceed 3 pages and must be submitted electronically in PDF format.

To ensure that the applicant possesses the necessary economic and financial capacity to perform the contract the submitted LOI must cover the following:

• Show that the economic operator have a certain minimum yearly turnover (not exceeding two times the estimated annual contract value except in duly justified cases linked to the nature of the purchase) including a certain minimum turnover in the area covered by the contract;

• Provide information on their annual accounts showing ratios between assets and liability; and/or

• Provide an appropriate level of professional risk indemnity insurance.

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