ESPAÑOL: Términos de Referencia
PORTUGUÊS: Termos de Referência
FRANCAIS: Consultant(e) Coordinateur(trice) de la Plateforme Shandia
INDONESIAN: Kerangka Acuan (Terms of Reference)
Background
The Global Alliance of Territorial Communities (GATC) is a coalition of organizations representing Indigenous Peoples and local communities from the world's major tropical forests: the Indigenous Peoples’ Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN) in Southeast Asia; the Mesoamerican Alliance of Forest Peoples (AMPB) in Mesoamerica; the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA) in the Amazon region; the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB) in Brazil; and the Network of Indigenous and Local Populations for the Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa (REPALEAC) in the Congo Basin. Together, they carry the voice of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in 24 countries. The Alliance is governed by a Leadership Council, led by two Co-Chairs, and supported by a Secretariat, led by the Executive Secretary.
Over the last 11 years, the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities has advanced a political and institutional strategy grounded in five interconnected demands: territorial rights, Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), protection of traditional knowledge, direct funding, and protection of life- an end to the criminalization of environmental defenders. Within this framework, direct funding is understood not as an isolated financial modality but as the enabling condition that allows territorial governance systems to function, rights to be exercised, and communities to sustain the leadership, institutions, and social fabrics necessary to steward their lands, waters, and resources. To operationalize this strategy, GATC created the Shandia Platform, an ecosystem of territorial funds for Indigenous and Local Communities that provides technical accompaniment, peer-learning systems, and serves as a strong advocacy tool to ensure resources for our communities and peoples.
The present Terms of Reference are to contract a Shandia Coordinator for the GATC.
Objective of the contract
The GATC is seeking an Independent Contractor to coordinate the Shandia Platform, in accordance with its strategic goals, in collaboration with the Leadership Council, Secretariat, and Technical Team. She/he will work with the GATC member organizations and territorial funds to:
- Support the establishment and strengthening of territorial funding mechanisms governed by our peoples and communities.
- Facilitate the flow of funds to the regional and national territorial funding mechanisms and support their capacity strengthening processes.
- Facilitate a strategic and sustained dialogue with donors to increase and improve funding to our people and communities.
- Coordinate and take part in strategic advocacy processes at the global, regional, and country levels.
- Exchange experiences and good practices for ensuring transparency, accountability, flexibility, inclusion, and sustainability.
- Continue to develop simple reporting, accounting, monitoring, and evaluation systems and procedures that can be used and adapted by our institutions, as well as by donors, allies, and partner organizations.
- Monitor the status and trends of funding allocated for and received by our people and communities.
- Advise the Leadership Council, member organizations, and territorial funds on climate and biodiversity issues.
- Develop close relationships with territorial funds, IP and LC organizations.
Responsibilities
The Shandia Coordinator consultant will have responsibility for the following tasks:
- Implement the Shandia Platform strategic plan as designed by the GATC, including regional and global donor meetings; strengthening of IPs and LCs-led funding mechanisms, capacity strengthening of GATC national and sub-national member organizations, advocacy around the climate and biodiversity financial architecture and other activities for international fund mobilization;
- Plan and coordinate Shandia activities included in the annual work plan and in The People's Pledge implementation strategy, in close coordination with each member organization and Leadership Council;
- Coordinate the recruitment of Shandia-related staff;
- Elaborate on terms of reference and coordinate the contracting of consultancies needed to implement the Shandia Platform;
- Establish spaces for dialogue with donors, allies, and partners;
- Advise the Leadership Council on climate finance issues;
- Participate in Technical Team meetings and activities, providing expertise on regional and national funding mechanisms;
- Facilitate the preparation of technical and financial reports to donors who provided funding to implement the Shandia Platform;
- Report on progress and challenges to the Leadership Council and Executive Secretary on an ongoing basis;
- Provide relevant information to the GATC’s Communications Coordinator to promote the Shandia Platform;
- Ensure compliance with the agreements assumed by the Leadership Council;
- Support the Secretariat in approaching donors, cooperation agencies, and non-governmental organizations about funding for Shandia projects.
- Continue the Shandia Platform advocacy strategies in the climate and biodiversity finance arena.
- Coordinate Shandia Platform peer learning spaces.
- Organize Shandia's annual events.
Deliverables
- Give continuity to the Shandia Platform roadmap for 2026, under the Leadership Council’s guidance;
- Follow and continue to develop the multi-year strategic plan for Shandia.
- Give continuity to the Shandia Platform advocacy strategy on climate and biodiversity finance arenas.
- Develop a resource mobilization plan in conjunction with the IP and LC-led financial mechanisms associated with the platform;
- Follow the peer learning Shandia strategy, establishing strong relationships with territorial funds and member organizations.
- Follow the Shandia mechanisms for communication, exchange of experiences, and sharing of resources within and between our organizations and networks;
- Give continuity to Shandia methodologies and tools for monitoring the level of funding reaching our organizations, communities, and territories;
- Organize Shandia's annual events;
- Submit regular progress reports.
Independent Contractor Profile
The GATC is seeking a senior expert with the following requirements:
- Bachelor's degree with a graduate degree or master's degree in International Studies, Social Sciences, Business Administration, Finance, Law, Economics, or other related field;
- Minimum 5 years of post-graduate professional experience;
- Ability to coordinate multi-disciplinary projects and meetings with diverse stakeholders and interest groups, from community representatives to financiers, entrepreneurs, and government representatives;
- Demonstrated knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities’ issues and demands in international advocacy arenas, as well as their struggle for the recognition of their rights;
- Proficiency in English and a second language from the GATC (Indonesian, Spanish, French, and Portuguese).
- Minimum 5 years of experience working with organizations of Indigenous Peoples and/or local communities;
- Experience in fundraising as well as planning, monitoring, and evaluation of international projects;
- Knowledge of international negotiations regarding climate change and biodiversity, with respect to Indigenous Peoples and local communities;
- Experience living and working in an indigenous or forest community and the ability to connect culturally with IP and LC representatives, linking with Shandia's Platform;
- Work experience with international and multilateral aid agencies.
- Strong writing and communication skills.
The following elements are not requirements, but will be evaluated favorably:
- Belonging to an Indigenous or local community;
- Fluency in at least two languages is customary in the communications of the GATC: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, or Indonesian.
- Prior knowledge of the GATC agenda.
- Prior knowledge of Shandia Platform work and agenda
- Be able to start the task immediately
Contract conditions
- Be able to dedicate around 40 hours a week during the duration of the contract;
- Remote, preferably based in one of the 24 countries where the GATC has members;
- Able to travel regularly, particularly in the regions where the GATC operates;
- Familiar with remote work tools;
- Mesoamerican Alliance of Peoples and Forests, a fiscal sponsor of the GATC, will contract the independent contractor.
Independent Contractor point of contact
The independent contractor will have to report advances of the deliverables to the GATC’s Executive Secretary and the Co-Chairs of the Leadership Council
Contract duration
12-month contract, with the possibility of extension.
Expressions of interest
To apply, please submit:
- Letter of interest
- Resume
- Remuneration proposal for the consultant services fees.
These should be submitted in the format
- "Surname_FirstName_Letter"
- "Surname_FirstName_CV"
- "Surname_FirstName_Proposal"