The Liaison Office (TLO) founded in 2003 as an Afghan non-governmental organization (NGO) that emerged from a Swisspeace pilot project (supported by the Heinrich Böll Stiftung) with the aim of improving local governance, stability, and security through systematic and institutionalized engagement with customary structures, local communities, civil society groups, and government institutions. TLO is based in Kabul, with regional offices in Paktia, Khost, Paktika, Herat, Ghazni, Farah, Samangan and Baghlan and additional field offices across Afghanistan. TLO works to achieve its objectives through key program activities: research and analysis, dialogue facilitation for peacebuilding, access to justice and governance, humanitarian assistance, third party monitoring and evaluation, and environment & natural resources management.

Background

The Climate and Environment Coordination Platform (CECOP) is a volunteer group of environmental activists, experts, and social advocates in Afghanistan, established in 2012 by 18 civil society organizations. Initially focused on overseeing sustainable natural resource extraction, CECOP now addresses broader environmental challenges, aiming to protect the environment, promote sustainable resource use, and build climate-resilient communities. Through advocacy, awareness, research, and capacity-building, CECOP envisions a safe environment and a sustainable future for Afghanistan.

As the platform continues to evolve, there is a need to revise its Constitution to ensure it aligns with current priorities, organizational goals, and best practices. This process will also involve revising the structure, criteria for membership, committees, and other operational aspects. To this end, CECOP seeks to engage a qualified consultant to lead the revision process.

Objective

The primary objective of this consultancy is to revise the Constitution of CECOP, ensuring it reflects the organization’s vision, mission, and values while addressing emerging needs and challenges. The revised Constitution should:

1. Enhance Organizational Relevance: Revise the Constitution to reflect CECOP's mission in addressing Afghanistan's environmental challenges.
2. Establish Clear Membership Criteria: Establish clear and transparent membership criteria that promote diversity and representation.
3. Strengthen Governance Structures: Develop robust governance frameworks to enhance accountability and decision-making processes.
4. Promote Stakeholder Engagement: Facilitate broad participation through workshops and consultations to incorporate diverse perspectives.
5. Foster Resilience and Sustainability: Integrate mechanisms for sustainable resource management and climate resilience aligned with national goals.
6. Ensure Adaptability and Responsiveness: Create provisions within the Constitution that allow for periodic review and adaptation, enabling CECOP to remain responsive to emerging environmental issues and changing socio-political dynamics in Afghanistan.

The consultant will also organize two workshops and facilitate online meetings to ensure broad participation and input from stakeholders.

Scope of Work

The consultant will be responsible for:

1. Initial Review and Analysis:

• Conduct a comprehensive review of the existing CECOP Constitution.
• Analyze gaps, inconsistencies, and areas for improvement.
• Benchmark against constitutions of similar organizations for best practices.

2. Stakeholder Engagement:

• Develop a stakeholder consultation plan.
• Organize and facilitate two workshops with key stakeholders to:
  • Gather input on proposed changes.
  • Discuss priorities for membership criteria and committee structures.
• Facilitate online meetings as needed to ensure inclusive participation.

3. Drafting the Revised Constitution:

• Prepare an initial draft of the revised Constitution incorporating stakeholder feedback.
• Ensure the draft includes updated sections on:
  • Membership criteria and processes.
  • Roles and responsibilities of committees.
  • Governance and decision-making frameworks and structure.
  • Mechanisms for dispute resolution and accountability.
• Share the draft for review and incorporate further feedback.

4. Finalization and Validation:

• Present the final draft to CECOP leadership and stakeholders.
• Incorporate final inputs and feedback.
• Provide a finalized version of the Constitution ready for adoption.

Deliverables

The consultant is expected to deliver:

1. Inception Report – detailing the work plan, methodology, and timeline within one week of contract signing.
2. Gap Analysis Report – summarizing findings from the initial review of the existing Constitution.
3. Workshop Reports – documenting key discussions, feedback, and recommendations from each workshop.
4. Draft Revised Constitution – incorporating stakeholder input and aligning with organizational needs.
5. Final Revised Constitution – after validation by CECOP leadership and stakeholders.
6. Summary Report – providing an overview of the revision process, key changes, and recommendations for implementation.

Duration

The consultancy is expected to be completed within one and a half month from the date of signing the contract. The timeline is as follows:

• Week 1: Submission of Inception Report.
• Week 2: Initial review, analysis, and stakeholder consultations.
• Week 3: Organizing and facilitating the first workshop and drafting the revised Constitution.
• Week 4: Organizing and facilitating the second workshop.
• Week 5: Finalization and submission of the revised Constitution.
• Week 6: Submission of the Summary Report.

Budget and Payment Terms

The consultant’s fee will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and paid in installments as follows:

1. 20% upon submission of the Inception Report.
2. 30% upon completion of the first workshop and Gap Analysis Report.
3. 50% upon approval of the Final Revised Constitution and Summary Report.

Application Process

Interested applicants should submit the following:

1. A detailed proposal outlining their approach to the consultancy, methodology, and timeline.
2. CV highlighting relevant experience.
3. Samples of similar work (if available).

The ideal consultant should have:

• A postgraduate degree in law, governance, public administration, or a related field.
• Proven experience in constitutional or policy development and organizational restructuring.
• Familiarity with environmental and climate governance structures.
• Strong facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Only short-listed candidates whose application responds to the above criteria will be contacted for the written test/interview. Interested candidates should fill the form in this link: https://forms.gle/Mb527Vc81Sut5Wcj7