Assist Friends of the Earth Europe to introduce a purpose, values and behaviour framework for the organisation
Deadline: 29 May 2022
Workshop date: 29 and 30 June 2022 in Houyet, the Ardennes, Belgium
Background
Friends of the Earth Europe (FoEE) campaigns at the heart of Europe for sustainable and just societies and for the protection of the environment. We are the largest grassroots environmental network in Europe, uniting 32 national organisations with thousands of local groups as part of Friends of the Earth International. Our vision is of a peaceful and sustainable world, founded on social, economic, racial, gender and environmental justice and free from all forms of domination and exploitation.
FoEE is an ASBL with a General Assembly as the ultimate decision-making body that elects the Executive Committee (ExCom) to perform whatever shall be necessary for the realisation of the objectives. The ExCom delegates powers and detailed duties to the Director and the Head of Operations.
In addition, there is also the Coordination and Management Team (CMT). Its members are the Director, Head of Operations and four Programme Coordinators. Governed by its own terms of reference, the purpose of the CMT is to enable good coordination among programmes and campaigns and other teams/functions and support the Director in strategic decision-making, the management of the FoEE office and the coordination of the FoEE Network. The CMT is accountable to the ExCom through the Director.
The organisation has 30 members of staff who are based in Brussels and work both in the office and remotely. Some of them have been at FoEE for a long time and a considerable number joined in 2021. FoEE has eight teams ranging from one to six members. The CMT has six members and the rest of staff are represented by a staff representation working with a Belgian union.
FoEE is currently in the process of making a number of changes in the organisation, such as: developing a teleworking policy, upgrading the internal cloud system for information management and collaboration, and changing the financial management system. The need to develop a purpose, values and behaviour framework also stems from a larger process in which many of these changes are taking place. More can be explained on background once consultants are chosen.
The task for the consultant
FoEE wants to develop a purpose, values and behaviour framework for the office, including values of diversity and intersectionality, a framework that clearly outlines the values and behaviours we want to embody and enact as an organisation who’s core work is for environmental and social justice, and also addresses accountability and responsibilities of each role, working together, and how decisions are taken.
Feminist leadership, according to Srilatha Batliwala in her publication “Feminist Leadership for Social Transformation – Clearing the Conceptual Cloud” (2011) could be a guiding framework, as it is in line with FoEE’s values, purpose and principles. We could envisage something similar to the feminist leadership and behavioural values developed by ActionAid. Also relevant to add is that FoEE already collectively developed a few years ago “Culture of Care” guidelines, which can be shared with the chosen consultant later.
The 29th and 30th June 2022 are already scheduled for an in person meeting in Houyet in the Ardennes near Dinant to develop this framework. The consultant will be expected to attend in person. The time available for the workshop will be approximately 1,5 days, starting on 29th June after lunch and ending on 30th June at around 16.00h.
The behavioural framework also needs an implementation plan to ensure it really becomes part of FoEE and change happens. It should cover practicing, learning, development, accountability and reflection, as these are components in ensuring successful organisational culture change. The actual format of this envisaged framework, how it will be implemented and with what timeline, should be decided by everyone together during the workshop, as much as possible, and any necessary follow-up work should be agreed. The consultant is invited to reflect on and propose a role they could play in the change process.
Please provide:
- your offer detailing a proposal for the 1.5 day workshop to develop a behavioural framework and how to develop an implementation plan
- your potential role in supporting FoEE staff to implement the change process
- your relevant experience in developing a behavioural framework any other experience you deem relevant to support your offer
- your financial offer
Please send this by email to: anke.seidler@foeeurope.org by 29th May 2022. The report from Srilatha Batliwala is available on request.
We may invite you for an online interview during 30th May – 3rd June 2022. Candidates will be notified during the 2nd week of June 2022.