Governance Consultant

Governance Consultant

Duration: 15 Aug – 23 Dec 2026

Application Deadline: 11.08.2026

About SARD

SARD is a regional feminist oral history network working across the Arabic-speaking region to document, preserve, and activate the lived experiences, political agency, and collective memory of feminist actors, grassroots communities, and marginalized groups. Founded in Feb- 2022 by four feminist organizations; Al-Rowat for Studies and Research, Badael, Knowledge Workshop, and Women and Memory Forum. SARD is currently entering a new phase of institutional and governance development.

Purpose of the Consultancy

The consultant will accompany and facilitate SARD members through a participatory governance exploration process that enables informed collective decision-making regarding SARD's future institutional form. The consultant is expected to design and facilitate a feminist process that enables members to critically assess governance alternatives, clarify governance needs, identify institutional implications, and collectively identify the most suitable governance and institutional pathway for SARD.

Scope of Work

The consultant is expected to undertake the following:

Phase I: Governance Assessment

Review SARD's current governance arrangements, host modality, and decision-making practices. Conduct interviews and consultations with founding members. Identify strengths, limitations, governance gaps, and future institutional needs. Produce an inception note outlining the proposed methodology and workplan.

Phase II: Governance Exploration

The consultant will:

Map and present comparative governance and institutional models relevant to regional and transnational feminist networks, including case studies of governance arrangements adopted by collaborative networks, membership-based organizations, and alliances. Facilitate critical reflection on the opportunities, challenges, and implications of different governance modalities for SARD.

Phase III: Facilitation and Collective Governance Process

The consultant will:

Design and facilitate a series of participatory governance discussions with SARD members throughout the consultancy period. Facilitate one two-day in-person governance workshop to deepen collective reflection and dialogue. Guide discussions to ensure meaningful participation, shared understanding, and informed collective deliberation. Document key discussions, emerging reflections, areas of convergence, and outstanding questions throughout the process**.**

Phase IV: Institutional Roadmap

Building on the outcomes of the governance exploration and facilitation process, the consultant will:

Synthesize the findings and conclusions emerging from the governance discussions and in-person workshop. Develop a governance roadmap outlining the proposed institutional pathway, institutional arrangements, transition phases, governance milestones, and priority actions. Produce a two-page final consultancy report. Required Profile and Qualifications

Applicants should demonstrate:

Proven track record in designing and facilitating participatory and multi-stakeholder processes. Proven