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Terms of Reference

Research officer on the New Green Narratives Project

  1. General background

1.1 Green Forum

Green Forum Sweden is a political foundation on a mission to accelerate the transition to sustainable democratic societies by amplifying green political organizations and strengthening green principles in political systems. Since its establishment Green Forum has supported movements in Africa, Latin America, Europe as well as green Federations in Africa, America and Europe.

1.2 Context background

Narratives are powerful tools that shape our understanding of the world. They communicate values and principles paramount to transforming anthropogenic interactions with the natural world. Conversely, sustainability narratives hold a key to empowering the global society to act upon such challenges as climate breakdown and loss of biodiversity closely associated with it. The IPCC has cast unequivocal warning that without urgent cross-sectoral action, the world is likely to surpass the critical 1.5 degrees tipping point by 2035 (recent studies even forecasting the average reached by 2029). In the light of the aforementioned it is clear that existing green narratives are failing at channeling global efforts to climate-resilient development involving accelerated adaptation and mitigation measures. Urgent and transformative action going beyond mere plans and promises calls for a radically new narrative that makes action on climate breakdown personal and emotive, interweaving the cost-of-living crisis and multilateral cooperation on climate and biodiversity issues. While the majority of existing green narratives evolve predominantly around market-based and technological solutions to the planetary climate crisis, the New Green Narratives (NGN) project aims to establish a tangible “carnal” connection between the society and its climate and biodiversity surroundings, prompting indispensable consideration of the anthropogenic impact of our actions on the natural world. Consequently, the NGN project is seeking to construct a transformative narrative that highlights the economic, social and moral benefits of systematic long-term climate action. This project is designed to provide sufficient foundations for a future EU-application.

Green Forums overall project of developing innovative green narrative(s) will be inclusive of the following:

  • Systematic in-depth review of existing sustainability narratives (literature review)
  • Development and subsequent testing of qualitative instruments (methodology and pilot study)
  • Development and subsequent testing of quantitative instruments (data collection and analysis methods, protocols and tools)
  • Refining of qualitative instruments based on the results procured through the pilot study
  • Conducting of a large-scale qualitative study with key stakeholders in pre-selected geographical locations (see section 2.2.2)
  • Qualitative discourse-analysis of the data
  • Quantitative data analysis
  • Network prospective partners (academic, NGOs, INGOs, CSOs, CBOs, Political Organisations, PAOs, Think Tanks)
  • Lobby the European Institutions
  • Write up of progress reports
  • Writing up of scientific articles and public presentations
  • Delivering a credible proof-of-concept at the end of the collaboration
  • Elaboration of a program proposal based on the proof-of-concept
  • Attending relevant conferences, symposium, seminars, or events either as speaker or attendee, related to the project topic and / or for networking purposes

Within this framework, the specific assignment of the Research Officer will be described in the following section 2.

  1. Assignment
    2.1Activities for the Design phase and Scope of the contract

Green Forum is now contracting a research officer (consultant) to assist the Green Forum project manager leading the project to conduct all stages of qualitative and quantitative research on New Green Narratives including but not limited to literature review, methodology development, testing and implementation of relevant qualitative and quantitative instruments of data collection, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, conducting and analyzing interviews and focus groups, collection of field notes, presentation and writing up of reports, research articles (publications), public presentations, designing and testing a proof-of-concept.

2.2 Description of services requested

Below follows a description of the services anticipated from the research officer. The research officer will report to Green Forum and work very closely with the Program Manager at all stages of the project.

2.2.1 Literature review

The research officer will review and scope the field of science and publications related to political sciences, linguistics and narrative analysis, climate change and environmental sciences, decolonial ecology and ecofeminist literature, psychology, ethnography, anthropology and sociology, or any literature deemed relevant by the research officer for the construction of New Green Narratives. The literature list shall be submitted to Green Forum Program Manager for validation and discussion. Weekly meetings shall include report on findings and submit new proposals for further literature investigations. Preferably, the literature will concern or be of interest to the main geographical areas covered by Green Forum (see Green Forum main portfolio areas, section 2.2.2 below).

2.2.2 Development of the project and content production

The research officer will design tools and protocols for conducting qualitative research (interviews, focus groups, field notes, etc.) and analyzing quantitative data. The research officer will pilot the tools and protocols in at least 3 geographical areas:

  • Eastern Europe
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Latin America

The possibility of conducting interviews in Sweden with the aforementioned tools and protocols is a strong plus. The capacity of extending the scope to any relevant geographical area and / or topic-based area, admitting it provides an essential contribution to the project, is also considered as a plus though not mandatory for the project.

2.2.3 Presentation of preliminary proof-of-concept and findings

Based on the pilot study, the research officer will present initial findings to the Green Forum Project Manager with an aim to refine the developed instruments and methodology (development of the proof-of-concept).

2.2.4 Deliverables

Considering the tasks linked to the specific activities outlined above, the research officer is expected to produce the following deliverables:

  • Knowledge pertaining to data collected during the design phase
  • A listing and concise analysis of all the relevant literature used (or of interest) for the project
  • Qualitative and Quantitative Instruments for the data collection and analysis of New Green Narratives
  • A mid-year progress report
  • At least one scientific article of publishable standard
  • A conference proposal for results dissemination to GF Partners and / or any relevant third party
  • Any content or presentation for public dissemination (social media, audiovisuals etc.)

Reporting

  • The research officer will report to Green Forum Program Manager to report on project advancement of 2.2.1 – 2.2.3 through weekly assessment.
  • The Final report shall contain:
    • Conclusive information over sections 2.2.1 and 2.2.2.
    • The second section of the report will provide the state of advancement and the observations of the research officer over the achievement of the deliverables of sections 2.2.4.
    • a general synthesis, opinion and proposals for future development, growth inclusive of any proposed changes for the continuation of the project as potential framework for a EU-application.

Additional reporting and information can be required by Green Forum in the best interest of the success of the project.

  1. Budget

The budget for the consultancy shall not exceed 20 000 EUR excluding VAT. The budget will cover a project period of maximum 12 months. The budget does not include travel related costs. Those will be covered by Green Forum based on request and assessment of needs during the project.

3.1 Fees

The Consultant shall indicate the fees/rates to complete the assignment.

  • Payment
Period Disbursement Cost in EUR
Start of the collaboration 70% 14 000
5th month (mid-year report) 15% 3 000
End of the project (final report and program proposal) 15% 3 000

The payments will be made by bank transfer no later than 30 days after invoicing Green Forum. The payments will be disbursed in 3 installments.

 

  1. Qualifications

 The Research officer shall:

  1. Possess skills and knowledge in:
    1. Qualitative content analysis
    2. Text analysis
    3. Discourse analysis
    4. General knowledge of Linguistics
    5. Group discussions
    6. Environment and Climate change related issues

Additional skills and knowledge in the following fields will be considered a plus

  1. Grounded theory
  2. Second Language acquisition[1]
  3. Semiotics
  4. Biodiversity loss
  5. Political systems
  6. Political ecology
  7. Human Rights Based Approach
  8. Development Aid issues (Humanitarian, Social and Cultural projects, Infrastructure projects)

Highly developed interpersonal and negotiation skills will be an asset and evaluated during the interview.

  1. Have experience in:
    1. Conducting case and field studies
    2. Conducting focus groups and interviews (structured, semi-structured and unstructured)
    3. Data analysis
    4. Organising conferences and public events
    5. Project presentation and public speaking
    6. Writing up of reports
    7. Writing scientific articles
    8. Creative writing skills
    9. Defending scientific work for the scientific community (PhD preferable)
    10. Development of qualitative and quantitative instruments
    11. Collecting and synthesising a large amount of interdisciplinary data
    12. Propagating scientific work in the scholastic community
    13. Using qualitative and quantitative analysis programs (Nvivo, SPSS, etc.)

 

  1. Have interest in:
    1. decolonial ecology
    2. ecofeminist studies
    3. Green activism
    4. storytelling, mythologies, ethnic tales, indigenous and urban tales

 

  1. Language skills

Considering the initial geographical portfolio for the project (Latin America, Africa and Eastern Europe), and the requirements for international collaborations as well as for project design, application and submission, mastery of English at native or near native level, inclusive of professional and academic, is a requirement. The following languages will be considered a competitive advantage.

  • English (native or near native)
  • French
  • Spanish

Other languages present in the project portfolio include:

  • Serbian
  • Montenegrin
  • Kiswahili
  • Malagasy
  • Lingala
  • Kinyarwanda
  1. Documentation required

Interested applicants are invited to submit a budgeted proposal with a CV and a sample of their previous work.

  1. Procurement procedure

The tender is subject to an open tender procedure. The TOR is published online. The tenders will be assessed considering the following aspects.

  • The qualifications and experience of the tenderer including the qualifications described in section 4.
  • The cost for the tender
  • Interpersonal skills

 

The successful consultant will be selected by Green Forum based on interview and material provided.

 

  1. Grounds for exclusion from participation in the procurement

Candidates or tenderers will be excluded from taking part in a procurement procedure if:

  • it is bankrupt, subject to insolvency or winding-up procedures, where its assets are being administered by a liquidator or by a court, where it is in an arrangement with creditors, where its business activities are suspended, or where it is in any analogous situation arising from a similar procedure provided for under national laws or regulations;
  • it has been established by a final judgment or a final administrative decision that the candidate/tenderer is guilty of grave professional misconduct by having violated applicable laws or regulations or ethical standards of the profession to which the candidate/tenderer belongs, or by having engaged in any wrongful conduct which has an impact on its professional credibility where such conduct denotes a wrongful intent or gross negligence, including any of the following:
  1. i) fraudulently or negligently misrepresenting information required for the verification of the absence of grounds for exclusion or the fulfilment of selection criteria or in the performance of a contract;
  2. ii) entering into agreement with other economic operators with the aim of distorting competition.

iii) violating intellectual property rights.

  1. iv) attempting to influence the decision-making process of the Contracting Party during the procurement procedure; or
  2. v) attempting to obtain confidential information that may confer upon its undue advantages in the procurement procedure;
  • it has been established by a final judgement or a final administrative decision that the candidate/tenderer is in breach of its obligations relating to the payment of taxes or social security contributions in accordance with the applicable law;
  • it has been established by a final judgement that they, or persons having powers of representation, decision making control over them, is guilty of any of the following fraud, corruption, involvement in a criminal organisation, money laundering, terrorist financing, child labour (or any other forms of trafficking in human beings) or any other illegal activity detrimental to Sweden’s or Sida’s interests;
  • the tenderer has shown significant deficiencies in complying with main obligations in the performance of a contract financed by Sida or the Contracting Party, which has led to the early termination of a legal commitment or to the application of liquidated damages or other contractual penalties or which has been discovered following checks and audits or investigations; or
  • they, their subsidiary, another company belonging to the same group of companies, a consortium partner or other affiliate is found on the list of EU restrictive measures. The lists of persons, groups, entities subject to the EU restrictive measures are published on the following website: sanctionsmap.eu.

 

  1. Exclusion from award of contracts

Contracts may not be awarded to candidates or tenderers which, during the procurement procedure:

(a)are subject to a conflict of interests

(b) are guilty of misrepresentation in supplying the information required by the Contracting Party as a condition of participation in the contract procedure or a failure to supply this information or

(c) where the Contracting Party determines that there are grounds for exclusion according to Section 7.

  1. Tendering

The tender containing all required information will be submitted to Green Forum by email to the following address info@greenforum.se at the latest May 7th, 2024. Subject in the email should read “Green Narratives”.

Questions regarding the evaluation will be received via email to ludovic@greenforum.se or phone: +46705585940 before May 7th, 2024.