Call for Consultants

1. Background

The Bangsamoro peace process has made significant strides since 2019, following the plebiscite that
established the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The peace agreement
between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) includes
two main tracks: the Political track, which focuses on creating the autonomous region, and the
Normalization track, aimed at transforming armed conflict into political participation and integrating
combatants into civilian life.

While the Political track has progressed well, the implementation of the Normalization track, particularly
in transitional justice and reconciliation, has been slower. Despite a comprehensive report from the
Transitional Justice and Reconciliation (TJR) working group, many of the recommended actions have yet
to be adopted.

2. Rationale

In response to these gaps, and with support from forumZFD, the TJR CSO Platform was established in
September 2025 as a collaborative mechanism bringing together more than 20 civil society organizations
committed to advancing the TJR agenda in BARMM. The Platform seeks to strengthen civil society
engagement through coordinated advocacy, knowledge-sharing, joint programming, and constructive
engagement with relevant stakeholders and institutions.

As the Platform continues to grow, there is a need to strengthen its organizational structure, governance
mechanisms, coordination systems, and strategic direction to ensure meaningful participation,
accountability, and long-term sustainability. Developing a shared framework for collaboration and
clarifying the roles and responsibilities of thematic working groups will help minimize duplication of
efforts, enhance synergies among members, and improve collective impact.

This assignment therefore aims to support the organizational development of the TJR CSO Platform
through participatory, inclusive, and context-sensitive processes that foster ownership among members
and contribute to a more coherent, transparent, and locally grounded transitional justice and
peacebuilding agenda in BARMM.

3. Scope of Work

The consultant will support the design and facilitation of the organizational development and facilitation
of sessions for CSO members of the TJR Platform in BARMM, applying inclusive, participatory and context-
sensitive approaches to ensure meaningful engagement of diverse civil society actors. This includes
preparation of the workshop design and methodology, facilitation of sessions on governance and thematic
working groups structuring, initial workplan development, management and sustainability
plan in addition to monitoring and evaluation. Close coordination with forumZFD and TJR
Platform members is required throughout the process to ensure alignment with project
objectives and the broader transitional justice agenda in Bangsamoro.

Specific objectives of the assignment:

Reviewing and Facilitation

1. Review and Analysis of Existing TJR Platform Reports
   a. Review key documents, including but not limited to: organizational profiles of the CSO
   Platform and its members; Strategic planning documents; and Documentation from
   previous Platform sessions.
   (This review will serve as the basis for session design, facilitation, and the formulation of
   recommendations.)
    
2. Facilitate sessions focused on the structure, operationalization, and governance of the CSO TJR
   Platform:
   a. Through participatory, inclusive, and context-sensitive sessions and methodology, in
   close coordination with forumZFD and the TJR Platform throughout the process.
   b. Support the strengthening of the Platform’s structure and foster trust building among
   the members.
    
3. Support participants in defining the Working Groups:
   i. Facilitate clarification of roles, responsibilities, and coordination mechanisms
   among working groups; Guide the development of initial Terms of Reference
   (ToRs) for each working group.
   ii. Ensure alignment of the workplan with the CSO platform’s strategic agreed
   focus, the TJR Regional Roadmap, and the broader transitional justice and
   peacebuilding agenda in Bangsamoro.
   iii. Lead discussions on commitments, ownership and sustainability.
    
4. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Documentation and Reporting (with support from
   forumZFD staff)
   a. Consolidate workshop outputs, agreements, and next steps into a comprehensive report
   for each sessions/workshop:
   i. Key discussions, decisions, and agreements related to governance structures,
   workplan development, coordination mechanisms, and commitments;
   ii. MEL-related insights, including participant feedback, emerging challenges, good
   practices, learning reflections, and recommendations for adaptive
   implementation;
   iii. Reports of commitments and proposed mechanisms for tracking
   implementation, accountability, and learning across partner organizations.

4. Methodology and Approach

The assignment will be guided by:

• A participatory and co-creation approach, ensuring ownership among members
• Conflict-sensitive and context-responsive approaches
• Iterative validation and feedback loops

5. Roles and Coordination

The consultant will work closely with:

• Cotabato forumZFD Project team
• TJR CSO Platform Partners

forumZFDs support will include:

• ForumZFD will provide timely access to all necessary background materials, strategic documents,
  and other resources relevant to the design and facilitation of the sessions.
• Logistical and Administrative Support (assistance with travel and accommodation arrangements;
  as applicable).
• ForumZFD will actively engage in the co-creation of workshop/session content and activities,
  ensuring alignment with program goals. They will also participate in the co-facilitation of the
  sessions where appropriate.

The consultant is expected to deliver the outputs within the agreed timeframe (June-November 2026).

6. Required Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

Education

1. Advanced university degree in social sciences, organizational development, peace and conflict
   studies, political science, development studies, or a related field.

Relevant Experience

1. At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in organizational development and
   transitional justice preferably in the Mindanao or similar conflict-affected contexts;
2. Demonstrated experience in organizational and strategic planning, including organizational
   development, CSOs platform strengthening processes;
3. Strong understanding of transitional justice, peacebuilding, reconciliation processes, and conflict
   sensitivity, with the ability to translate these into practical strategies and plans;
4. Excellent facilitation, documentation, and report-writing skills in English (knowledge of local
   languages in BARMM is an asset);
5. Familiarity with the BARMM context, including key stakeholders, dynamics, and policy frameworks
   related to peacebuilding and transitional justice;
6. Ability to work collaboratively, manage time effectively, and deliver high-quality outputs under
   tight timelines.

7. Duration and Level of Effort

The total duration of the consultancy period is 6 months (approx. 20 working days in total).
Important note: Regular coordination meetings, updating sessions, and written outputs will be required
throughout the consultancy period.

8. Reporting

The consultant will report to the Project Manager in Cotabato and provide periodic progress updates
aligned with key milestones.