Deadline: 15 June 2025
Transgender Red Umbrella (TGRU) is a regional network by and for trans and gender diverse (TGD) sex workers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. TGRU is committed to promoting the rights, dignity, and well-being of its communities through advocacy, capacity building, solidarity, and community-led leadership. As TGRU expands its reach and impact, strengthening its governance structures is vital to ensuring sustainability, legitimacy, and long-term strategic direction.
To support its continued growth, sustainability, and strategic leadership, TGRU will undertake a comprehensive Board Development Process to ensure that the board members are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and tools required for effective governance, accountability, and long-term impact.
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Purpose of the Board Development Process
TGRU seeks proposals from qualified consultants to enhance board effectiveness in line with good governance practices. The consultancy should enable the board to:
- Strengthen governance and compliance by clarifying legal responsibilities, fiduciary duties, and ethical decision-making.
- Enhance strategic planning, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives.
- Improve financial oversight, literacy, budgeting, and risk management for fiscal responsibility.
- Build fundraising and resource development capacity, including donor engagement and sustainable funding strategies.
- Foster board engagement, leadership, communication, and succession planning.
- Implement performance evaluation mechanisms to assess board effectiveness and individual contributions.
- Expand stakeholder and community relations to enhance advocacy and organizational impact.
Additionally, the process should:
- Define and refine board roles, responsibilities, and structure.
- Strengthen strategic leadership and decision-making.
- Embed transparency, accountability, and collective governance.
- Prepare the board for future growth, partnerships, and funding opportunities.
- Align governance practices with TGRU’s core values and commitment to diversity.
Duration
The board development process will be conducted from July 2025 to December 2025, following a phased and participatory approach. This timeline allows sufficient time for assessment, capacity building, and governance improvements while incorporating reflection, learning, and adaptation to ensure sustainable impact.
Scope of Work
To strengthen TGRU’s governance and enhance board effectiveness, this consultancy will implement a structured development process. The approach will assess current practices, identify capacity gaps, and establish a comprehensive strategy to refine leadership, accountability, and decision-making. Through targeted training, governance refinement, and performance evaluation, the board will be equipped to drive the organization’s mission forward while ensuring sustainable growth and impact.
Assessment & Analysis
- Evaluate the board’s current structure, roles, and functionality.
- Conduct a needs assessment to identify governance gaps.
- Review existing policies, frameworks, and practices for alignment with best practices.
Design & Planning
- Develop a Board Development Plan based on assessment findings.
- Define competencies and representation criteria (e.g., geographic, lived experience, skillset)
- Draft or refine governance documents, including the board charter, code of conduct, conflict of interest policy, and anti-discrimination and harassment policies.
- Establish clear mandates, terms of office, and selection processes.
Training & Capacity Building
- Deliver tailored sessions on governance, leadership, financial oversight, advocacy, accountability, budgeting, and trauma-informed governance.
- Strengthen board members’ understanding of roles, responsibilities, and legal obligations.
Performance & Sustainability
- Develop indicators to measure board effectiveness.
- Adapt governance models based on feedback and learning.
- Implement key governance tools (bylaws, policies).
- Establish mentorship and coaching frameworks for sustained capacity building.
- Monitor progress and impact over the year.
Roles and Responsibilities
a. TGRU Secretariat
- Oversee and coordinate the Board Development Process.
- Facilitate the active participation of Board Members.
- Provide necessary logistical and administrative support.
b. Consultant(s)
- Design and lead the board development activities in collaboration with TGRU.
- Develop relevant tools, materials, documents, policies and reports to guide the process.
- Ensure an inclusive, participatory, and safe approach throughout implementation.
c. Board Members
- Engage actively in training and planning sessions.
- Reflect on individual roles and accountability within governance.
- Contribute to shaping the future structure and strategic direction of TGRU.
Budget proposal
The budget for this consultancy should reflect the scope of work outlined, ensuring adequate resources for assessment, planning, training, and evaluation. Proposals up to 4010 (in USD) must include a detailed financial breakdown covering consultant fees, necessary materials, logistics, and any associated costs. TGRU seeks cost-effective solutions while maintaining high-quality deliverables. The final budget will be negotiated based on the consultant’s expertise, proposed methodology, and value-added services.
Deliverables
The consultant will be expected to provide the following key outputs to ensure a structured and effective board development process:
- Governance assessment report: A comprehensive evaluation of the current governance structure,
identifying strengths, gaps, and areas for improvement, supported by relevant findings and
recommendations. - Board development plan: A strategic roadmap outlining the steps for enhancing board performance,
including capacity-building initiatives, governance improvements, and leadership development strategies. - Revised or new governance policies and documents: Updated or newly developed foundational
documents such as the Board Charter, Code of Conduct, Conflict of Interest Policy, and other governance frameworks that align with best practices. - Training sessions delivered: Interactive capacity-building sessions covering governance principles,
financial oversight, strategic decision-making, stakeholder engagement, and other key competencies identified during the assessment phase. - Final report and recommendations: A detailed summary of the consultancy process, documenting key insights, actions taken, and strategic recommendations to sustain board effectiveness and governance improvements.
Confidentiality, Ethics, and Participation
All participants involved in the board development process must uphold TGRU’s core values of integrity and professionalism. This includes:
- Confidentiality: Ensuring all shared information, discussions, and documentation remain strictly
confidential, protecting sensitive data and organizational integrity. - Ethical conduct and respect: Adhering to the highest ethical standards, fostering a culture of mutual respect, inclusivity, and accountability.
Participants are expected to engage constructively, honoring TGRU’s principles throughout the consultancy.
Qualifications
TGRU seeks applications from experienced consultants or consultancy teams with a demonstrated commitment to human rights, trans leadership, and organizational development in community-led contexts. The ideal candidate(s) will meet the following criteria:
Extensive Experience in Nonprofit Governance and Development:
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in nonprofit organizational development, governance strengthening, or board capacity building.
- Proven track record of facilitating participatory governance processes and designing inclusive governance structures.
- Expertise in trans and gender diverse rights and advocacy:
- Familiarity with sex worker-led movements and intersectional approaches to human rights and justice.
Regional and Cultural Competency:
- Knowledge of political, social, and legal contexts affecting the lived realities of trans and gender diverse people and sex workers in the MENA region.
- Demonstrated ability to work sensitively and respectfully across diverse cultural, linguistic, and political environments.
Skills in Facilitation, Capacity Building, and Training:
- Strong facilitation skills with the ability to lead inclusive, trauma-informed, and interactive training
sessions. - Experience designing and delivering capacity building programs tailored to community-led governance bodies.
Policy and Documentation Expertise:
- Demonstrated ability to draft, review, and refine governance policies, board charters, codes of conduct, and related organizational documents in alignment with international best practices.
Research, Evaluation, and Strategic Planning:
- Experience conducting organizational assessments, including governance reviews, stakeholder
consultations, and gap analyses. - Strong skills in strategic thinking, planning, and performance evaluation.
Communication and Language Skills:
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Arabic.
- French proficiency is a strong asset.
Values and Approach:
- Commitment to feminist, anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and community-led approaches.
- Ability to foster safe, participatory, and empowering spaces, centering TGRU’s values of inclusion,
accountability, and solidarity.
Application Submission Process
Interested consultants must submit their applications by 15 June 2025, to anya.dahan@tgru.org with a subject line: TGRU Board Development.
Applications should include the following documents:
- Technical proposal outlining the approach, methodology, and timeline for the consultancy, including a Financial proposal detailing the budget breakdown and consultancy fees.
- CVs of Key personnel highlighting relevant expertise and experience.
- Portfolio of previous work showcasing similar projects completed.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered. For any inquiries regarding the application process, please contact marwa.bachar@tgru.org