Call for Proposals
Sep 11, 2024
Healthy Ecosystem Pathway Strategist for the NHJ
Overview of the National Healing Journey
The National Healing Journey (NHJ) is a coalition of individuals, families, and organizations dedicated to ending intergenerational trauma within Afro-descendant communities across Canada. Our mission is to work with Black-led, Black-focused, and Black-serving organizations across the country to co-create a healthy Black ecosystem that supports the health and well-being of Afro-descendant individuals, families, and communities. The NHJ aims to unite the Afro-descendant community in the collective effort to heal the traumatic wounds associated with the enslavement experience in a post-colonial context, fostering a just, equitable, and thriving society.
Overview of the Becoming Project
The Becoming Project is a strategic multi-phase initiative under the NHJ, designed to end intergenerational trauma and promote the health of the Black ecosystem in Canada. Over the course of three years, the project will unfold across four key phases:
- Building the National Round Table: Mobilizing Black-led, Black-focused, Black-serving organizations across Canada to form a strong coalition that uses a coordinated approach to co-create a national strategy for building a healthy Black ecosystem.
- Individual & Communal Healing: Providing unhindered access to individual trauma recovery journeys and organizing an annual Truth and Reconciliation Jubilee that supports communal healing.
- National Social Awareness Campaign: Designing and implementing a national social awareness campaign focused on normalizing trauma recovery at the individual, family, and community levels. Production of the Becoming Show, a docuseries that exposes the Canadian audience to the healing journey of 7 individuals, 7 families, and 1 entire community over a 3-year period.
- Train, Monitor & Evaluate Impact: Train 151 trauma recovery specialists in every province supporting diverse but especially Afro-descendant communities with unhindered access to Afro-centric trauma recovery care. Continuous assessment of impact and refinement of strategies for sustainable change.
Consultant Role: Healthy Ecosystem Pathway Strategist (1 – 3 Year Contract)
Position Description
The NHJ seeks an innovative and experienced Healthy Ecosystem Pathway Strategist for a consulting engagement lasting 1-3 years. This consultant will be pivotal in developing and implementing strategic pathways that build and sustain a healthy Black ecosystem, ensuring the long-term well-being of Afro-descendant populations in Canada. Working collaboratively with a National Change Management & Mobilization Strategist, this role is specifically designed to address the multiple and intersecting factors that holistically contribute to a healthy ecosystem, through targeted strategies and collaborative efforts.
Key Responsibilities:
- Collaborative Strategic Pathway Development: Work in close collaboration with all participants of the National Round Table to identify and develop strategic pathways that address the social, economic, and cultural determinants critical to building a healthy Black ecosystem. Ensure that these pathways are fully integrated with the goals and activities of the Becoming Project across its four phases.
- Intersectoral Collaboration and Coordination: Facilitate collaboration among Black-led, Black-focused, and Black-serving organizations across various sectors to ensure that efforts are aligned and coordinated. This includes working with participants of the National Round Table to co-create strategies that address systemic challenges and foster a unified approach.
- Phased Implementation and Integration: Align the strategic pathways with the four phases of the Becoming Project, ensuring that each phase (Collaborative Partnerships, Planning & Implementation, The Intervention, Monitoring & Evaluation) is supported by relevant ecosystem-building initiatives. Work with National Round Table participants to integrate these pathways into ongoing activities.
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Adaptive Management: In partnership and collaboration with the Evaluation Specialist develop key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics in collaboration with National Round Table participants to monitor the health of the Black ecosystem. Lead the evaluation process to assess the effectiveness of the pathways, and work with partners to adapt and refine strategies based on data-driven insights.
- Community Engagement and Mobilization: Work collaboratively with National Round Table members to develop and implement strategies that engage Afro-descendant individuals, families, and communities. Ensure active participation in the healing and growth process, and create pathways that resonate with and are driven by the community’s needs.
- Resource Mobilization and Sustainability: Collaborate with National Round Table participants to mobilize financial and human resources necessary to support the developed pathways. Ensure that the strategies are sustainable and have a long-term impact, leveraging the collective strength of participating organizations.
- Policy Advocacy and Collective Influence: Partner with participants of the National Round Table and other stakeholders to advocate for policy changes at local, provincial, and national levels. Focus on influencing policies that support the growth and sustainability of a healthy Black ecosystem.
- Innovation and Thought Leadership: Work with National Round Table participants to identify and implement innovative solutions to address the unique challenges faced by Afro-descendant communities. Contribute to the national conversation on ecosystem building by sharing insights, best practices, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
Required Expertise:
- Pathway Development and Collaboration: Proven experience in developing strategic pathways through collaborative efforts, particularly in contexts that address complex social, economic, and cultural challenges.
- Intersectoral Collaboration: Strong background in facilitating collaboration across diverse organizations and sectors to create cohesive and coordinated strategies.
- Phased Implementation and Project Integration: Expertise in aligning strategic initiatives with phased project implementations, ensuring integration and coherence across multiple stages.
- Community Engagement and Empowerment: Experience in working with marginalized communities to engage them in participatory processes, ensuring their voices and needs are central to the strategy.
- Resource Mobilization: Demonstrated ability to secure and manage resources to support large-scale initiatives, particularly in collaborative settings.
- Policy Advocacy: Experience in influencing policy at various levels of government, with a focus on collective advocacy and impact.
- Innovation in Ecosystem Building: A track record of innovative thinking and leadership in ecosystem development, particularly through collaborative approaches.
Submission Guidelines
Interested candidates or consulting firms are invited to submit a detailed proposal by November 11, 2024. Proposals should be sent to becomingproject@nationalhealingjourney.com and must include the following components:
- Overview of the Consulting Company or Person (150 words max): Provide a summary of the company or individual, including relevant experience and expertise.
- Alignment with NHJ’s Mission, Vision, and Objectives (150 words max): Demonstrate how the consultant or consulting firm’s vision and mission align with the NHJ’s goals.
- Understanding of the Becoming Project (150 words max): Provide evidence of understanding the need for the Becoming Project and its impact.
- Capacity for Engagement (250 words max): Outline the capacity to engage the Afro-descendant population at national, provincial, and local levels.
- Understanding of Intersectionality and Partnerships (250 words max): Detail your understanding of intersectionality, intersectoral partnerships, and building healthy ecosystems in a post-enslavement and post-modern colonial society.
- Capacity to Undertake the Project (250 words max):
- Organizational and Financial Capacity: Demonstrate the ability to manage complex, large-scale projects with a particular focus on collaborative settings. Highlight your ability to effectively allocate resources, manage risks, and ensure financial stability.
- Experience with Priority Populations: Highlight experience working with Afro-descendant or similar populations.
- Project Management and Results: Provide examples of successful project management and the achievement of results.
- Innovation and Creativity (300 words max): Describe any innovative approaches or methodologies you plan to implement that will enhance the effectiveness of the project.
- Proposed Timeline and Milestones (150 words max): Provide a timeline with key milestones and reporting intervals to demonstrate how you will manage and track progress.
- References and Case Studies (150 words max): Include references and case studies from similar projects to verify your experience and effectiveness.
- Proposed Budget & Financial Stability Documentation: Submit a detailed budget for your consulting services, including justification for each line item. Explain the financial stability of the company or individual, providing evidence of the ability to manage and sustain projects of this scale.
- Partnerships and Collaboration (150 words max): If applicable, describe any partnerships or collaborations with other organizations that will enhance the proposal’s effectiveness and broaden its impact.
- Key Performance Indicators (KPIs: 150 words max): Propose KPIs that will measure the success of your work and align with the project’s goals.
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following weighted criteria:
- Relevant Experience and Expertise (30%)
- Alignment with NHJ’s Mission and Vision (15%)
- Capacity for Strategic Campaign Development and Innovation (25%)
- Capacity and Experience with Priority Populations (15%)
- Proposed Timeline and Milestones (10%)
- Proposed Budget & Financial Stability (5%)
- Clarity and Completeness of Proposal (5%)
Eligibility
Only Canadian organizations or individuals with relevant experience in the Canadian context may submit proposals under this solicitation. Individuals must be legally able to work in Canada without restrictions. may submit proposals under this solicitation.
Pre-Submission Information Session
To assist potential applicants, NHJ will host a pre-submission webinar on Wednesday, September 18th, 202 from 12:00 to 1:00 PM EST. This session is designed to clarify expectations, provide an overview of the project, answer questions, and offer guidance to ensure high-quality submissions on the submission process. Attendance is highly recommended.
Submission Deadline
The deadline for submission is November 11, 2024, at 11:59 pm EDT. Applications should be submitted to becomingproject@nationalhealingjourney.com. Late submissions will not be considered. Please allow for enough time to fully complete and submit your proposal. Applications should be submitted to becomingproject@nationalhealingjourney.com.
We look forward to receiving your proposal. Together, we aim to heal historical wounds and create lasting change within Afro-descendant communities.