Consultancy for Development of Localization Strategy (2 consultants)

## **1. Background and Rationale**

Save the Children (SC) has a strong commitment to supporting Local and National Actors (L/NAs) – including children themselves – in driving the sustainable realisation of children’s rights and has set itself an ambitious localisation agenda. It is Save the Children's belief that shifting power, including resources, capacity and ownership, to national and local actors will result in more timely, appropriate and effective outcomes for the children most impacted by inequality and discrimination and better fulfil the rights of children. Save the Children International’s Localisation Policy outlines the fundamental principles that govern the organisation's commitment to localisation. It applies to all contexts and aims to support and guide the organisation to understand and respond accordingly.

To operationalise the policy and ambition, Save the Children is engaged in several different workstreams to advance our localisation approach, from creating more equitable partnerships and reviewing our compliance requirements to revising our organisational capacity offer to local actors and granting flexible financing directly to local and national organisations, for example through Save the Children’s Humanitarian Fund. Save the Children is also committed to engaging with local and national actors and children in our process, at both country level and through our global partner feedback survey and global Children's Advisory Body.

**Our approach is based on child rights**: Our ultimate goal for localization is to more effectively fulfil the immediate and long-term rights of all children in all contexts. National and local actors, including government and civil society, have a fundamental role to play in upholding children’s rights. Civil society has a particular role in holding the duty bearers accountable to children and communities. We will work with and influence national and local actors to drive forward our commitment to inclusion, gender equality and child participation.

We will ensure that children’s rights are incorporated into all our programming and advocacy activities, including prevention, emergency planning, response, and recovery frameworks.

Save the Children is advancing its Local to Global for Impact ambition, aiming to shift power, resources, and decision-making to Local and National Actors (LNAs).

The SC global direction on localization reflected a high level of ambition and is expected to help to contextualise and shape SCI oPt CO localization strategy. The strategy development process will be guided by three principles, which are expected to help ensure the strategy is relevant, inclusive, and owned by those involved: consolidating SCI’s learning in oPt, where aspects of localization have been incorporated since SC began work in 1973; understanding the perspectives of local and national actors in West bank and Gaza, including their capacities, intentions, and future potential; and promoting participation in the strategy process, with the involvement of both SCI oPt staff and current partners as a positive step towards ownership.

**SCI oPt seeks to develop a context-specific Localization Strategy and Roadmap that:**

- **Aligns with SCI global localization commitments (Grand Bargain, Pledge for Change).**
- **Builds on internal assessments and partner engagement.**
- **Defines a clear pathway for transitioning towards locally-led programming and equitable partnerships.**

**2. Purpose**

To support SCI oPt in developing a comprehensive Localization Strategy (4–5 years) and actionable roadmap that operationalizes localization commitments across programmes, partnerships, and operating model.

For this purpose, **SCI oPt is interested in recruiting two consultants to co-lead the process along with a Localization Task Force formed of multi-department focal points from SCI oPt.**

SCI policy guidance emphasizes that localization strategies should be grounded in:

- Context analysis and ecosystem mapping.
- Evidence-based assessments and SWOT.
- Active participation of LNAs and staff.
- Clear vision, objectives, and operational roadmap.

Additionally, internal discussions highlight the importance of learning from other CO strategies and adapting best practices for oPt.

The strategy development process should primarily refer to SCI’s Localization Operating Model Guidance (2025). This guidance aims to provide SCI Country Offices with a practical roadmap to assess, plan, implement, and operationalise localization efforts across different levels and contexts. The practical guidance, guided by the 7+1 dimensions of localization, has a strong emphasis on the 'how' of localization.

**3. Objectives**

The consultancy will:

1. **Assess current localization status**
- Review existing partnership models, tools, and operating modalities.
- Analyze localization maturity across the 7+1 dimensions.
- Identify key gaps, risks, and opportunities for transition.
2. **Con