Terms of Reference (ToR)
1. Background
The War Child Alliance brings together member organisations under a shared Agreement that defines the principles of collaboration, roles and responsibilities of members, funding arrangements, and mechanisms for collective decision-making.
Since its adoption in November 2023 and subsequent operationalisation, the Alliance has evolved. It is recognised that the current Agreement does not fully reflect the desired and emerging operating model of the Alliance, including how members collaborate, contribute, and deliver impact collectively.
We want to focus on
Since its adoption in November 2023 and subsequent operationalisation, the Alliance has evolved. It is recognised that the current Agreement does not fully reflect the desired and emerging operating model of the Alliance, including how members collaborate, contribute, and deliver impact collectively.
We want to focus on
- roles and responsibilities
- funding and contribution model
- membership expectations
- Internal coordination
- Overall governance and decision making arrangements
The review will ensure that the Agreement supports a model that is fit for purpose, implementable across the Alliance, and maximises impact for children affected by conflict.
2. Purpose of the Assignment
The purpose of this consultancy is to review and revise the Alliance Agreement to ensure it:
- Reflects the current and desired future model of the Alliance
- Clearly defines roles, responsibilities, and expectations of members
- Establishes a sustainable and transparent contribution model
- Supports effective collaboration and decision making across members
- Is practical, implementable, and aligned with our vision for the Alliance
The consultant will act as the lead for drafting the revised Alliance Agreement, ensuring clarity, coherence, and usability of the final document.
3. Objectives
The consultant will:
- Review the current Alliance Agreement and related documentation
- Identify the desired Alliance model
- Review and propose improvements to the contribution and funding model
- Develop proposals for new governance structures
- Clarify roles, responsibilities, and expectations of Alliance Members
- Assess how collaboration between members can be strengthened
- Facilitate consultation with stakeholders across the Alliance
- Develop clear, practical recommendations for revising the Agreement
- Draft a revised Alliance Agreement aligned with agreed principles and governance recommendations
4. Scope of Work
The consultant will undertake the following activities:
4.1 Document Review
- Review the current Alliance Agreement
- Review relevant governance, financial, and operational documents
- Review any existing proposals or discussions on future Alliance structures
4.2 Stakeholder Consultation
Conduct interviews and discussions with:
- CEOs of Alliance Members
- Selected Board members of Alliance Members
- Coordination groups (e.g. Finance, HR, Comms, Fundraising)
- Relevant operational stakeholders (e.g. team leads, programme or functional leads)
The consultation will focus on:
- how the Agreement works in practice
- key challenges and gaps
- desired future model
4.3 Workshops
- Facilitate a leadership workshop (May) to identify key issues and priorities
- Governance level workshop with Board members (June)
- Facilitate a second workshop (July) to test proposed revisions
4.4 Member Consultation
- Support consultation with the wider membership
- Convene working groups on specific topics where necessary
- Present and gather feedback at the Members Assembly (end September)
4.5 Contribution Model Review
The consultant will work with the Finance leaders and CEOs to:
- Review the current financial contribution and funding model
- Assess its sustainability, fairness, and alignment with Alliance objectives
- Propose options for a revised contribution model
4.6 Drafting the Revised Agreement
The consultant will:
- Act as the lead drafter of the revised Alliance Agreement
- Translate consultation findings into clear legal/structural language
- Work with the Secretariat lead and CEO’s to refine and finalise the document
5. Deliverables
The consultant will produce:
5.1 Inception Note (May)
- Workplan
- Methodology
- Consultation approach
- Timeline
5.1 Working notes
May Workshop
June Governance Workshop
July Second workshop
June Governance Workshop
July Second workshop
5.4 Draft Recommendations (August)
- Proposed changes to the Agreement
- Contribution model options
- Rationale for revisions
5.5 Draft Revised Alliance Agreement (October)
- Full draft Agreement reflecting proposed changes
5.6 Final Report and Agreement
- Final recommendations
- Final revised Alliance Agreement
6. Timeline
The consultancy will take place between May and October, aligned with the overall project timeline:
- May: Inception and document review
- May: Leadership workshop
- June: governance workshops
- July: Second leadership workshop
- End September: Member consultation (Members Assembly)
- October: Finalisation and CEO Coordination Group approval
7. Reporting and Coordination
The consultant will report to the Project Manager and then to the Secretariat for process and to the CEO group for content.
Strategic oversight will be provided by the CEOs Group, chaired by the WCAF CEO.
Strategic oversight will be provided by the CEOs Group, chaired by the WCAF CEO.
- The consultant is responsible for developing recommendations and drafting the Agreement
- The CEOs Group is responsible for decision-making
8. Required Expertise
The consultant should demonstrate:
- Experience reviewing and drafting partnership or alliance agreements
- Experience with multi-stakeholder collaborations or networks
- Experience working in or with NGOs and complex organisational environments
- Expertise in financial/contribution models and collaboration frameworks
- Strong facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills
- Ability to translate complex inputs into clear, structured, and practical agreements