The Livelihoods and Food Security Fund (LIFT) is a multi-donor fund set up in 2009. LIFT aims to strengthen the resilience and sustainable livelihoods of poor households by helping people to reach their full economic potential. This is achieved through increasing incomes, improving the nutrition of women and children, and decreasing vulnerabilities to shocks, stresses and adverse trends.
LIFT is a significant actor in Myanmar’s development. To date, over 12 million people in 75% of Myanmar’s townships have benefitted from LIFT’s programmes. LIFT is guided by our 2019-2023 strategy that puts ‘leaving no one behind’ at the centre and in particular focuses on social inclusion and cohesion, increased support to areas affected by conflict and bringing displaced people into LIFT’s development programmes.
LIFT has received funding from altogether 15 international donors since it was established. The current donors are the UK, the EU, Australia, Switzerland, the US, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway.
Background Information – Job Specific
LIFT’s support to civil society in recent years has been delivered through:
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Thematic partnerships in LIFT’s four thematic areas where CSOs contribute to LIFT’s thematic results and ensure legacy beyond the fund;
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Strategic partnerships with national CSOs, based on their history of engagement in improving livelihoods, their common strategic goals with LIFT, their reach and their credibility among civil society;
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Small grants funds to support township level CSOs working in the livelihoods system, and to strengthen the social layer between national and village/communities levels;
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CSO Learning and Networks to support the integration and application of research and to promote the learning produced by LIFT’s civil society partners.
In 2021, LIFT also designed a Localization Window aiming at strengthening civil society organizations for their sustained provision of critical services to vulnerable communities and, at the same time, contributing to protect and maintain civic space and rights-based approaches for inclusion, gender equality, representation, accountability and efficiency.
LIFT has renewed and accelerated its commitment to localisation, seen in essence as a transfer of power from international to local actors. LIFT's overall localisation goal is to proactively contribute to a strong civil society in Myanmar, where civic engagement and development activities are locally led and sustained.
LIFT aims to progress this localisation agenda through:
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Increasing funding for local partners - in overall amount, to an increasing number of partners and in an increased number of direct contracts.
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Understanding and promoting the added value that international agencies can and should provide to civil society organisations with whom they partner.
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Reviewing and revising LIFT’s administrative processes to ensure these are beneficial and enabling for civil society partners, while still meeting donor requirements.
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Seeking to promote the sustainability of innovative programme efforts such as the strategic partnership initiatives, research, advocacy and civil society learning fora.
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Promoting increased leadership, voice and influence by LIFT’s national personnel.
LIFT is seeking specialist retainers (consultants) to provide strategic and technical support for LIFT’s Localization Strategy and conflict sensitive programming with civil society.
Objectives of the Assignment
The role of the specialist retainer/s is to work with the Fund Management Office (FMO) to progress and operationalise our localisation agenda, in a conflict-sensitive way. Strategic support starts with LIFT’s localisation goals and LIFT’s civil society strengthening approaches, and is operationalised through partnerships and programmes across the country.
The retainer will work closely with LIFT’s Civil Society Partnerships Officer, to ensure initiatives are connected and coherent. The retainer may also undertake work directly commissioned by other LIFT personnel. This will include assessing the effectiveness, impact and learning of LIFT’s efforts to support CSOs. Retainers will assist LIFT to undertake studies, organize learning events, and scoping missions for assessing the most appropriate modalities to support the Localization Strategy. S/he will participate in proposals appraising and identification of suitable CSO partners or intermediary organizations.
The retainer will also provide on-demand organisational development or other technical support as requested by LIFT strategic partners, Small Grants Fund facilitators, and any other localization initiatives. The retainer will support a revision of partnership models as needed between international and national/local organizations.
This will be a retainer contract with details defined in task notes whenever the consultant's services are required.