Civil Rights Defenders Seeking Consultant for Risk Management Framework

Civil Rights Defenders is seeking a Risk Management specialist who can help us develop a new Risk Management framework for the organisation.

1. About Civil Rights Defenders 

Civil Rights Defenders is a non-profit expert human rights organisation with over 40 years’ experience of supporting civil society and strengthening human rights defenders in repressive countries. We defend people’s civil and political rights and empower human rights defenders at risk in Sweden and globally. We believe a strong civil society is crucial for an independent scrutiny of government and authorities to ensure positive development. Therefore, we combine human rights lobbying and advocacy with the empowerment of our partners. Together with partners, we monitor human rights developments, demand reform, justice, and accountability. We support human rights defenders at risk by providing trainings, technical and financial assistance, networking platforms and peer support.  

Our Vision 

A world of democratic societies in which we all enjoy our civil and political rights. 

Our Mission 

Our mission is to defend civil and political rights together with local human rights defenders to increase their security, capacity, and access to justice. We work as a part of a global movement of human rights defenders and partner with those at risk. Through legal means and public advocacy, we hold states, individuals, and non-state actors accountable for human rights violations. We advocate for the norms and values of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other relevant human rights standards, as we encourage people to use these rights to promote democratic societies. 

Our HQ is in Stockholm, Sweden, and we have regional offices and stationings in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Eurasia and the Western Balkans. In total, we gather approximately 125 employees.  

2. Invitation to Tender 

Civil Rights Defenders operate in a complex risk environment with activities in several highly repressive countries, including support to local human rights defenders who are seen as direct enemies of these governments.  

In the past years, Civil Rights Defenders has experienced rapid growth in our operations. We now operate in several very complex environments, managing risks related to local and global contexts, often working together at the same time.  

As a result of our growth, as well as the increased complexity of our operations, we have for 2025 identified Risk Management as a key focal area in our ambition to further professionalise our organisation.  

Civil Rights Defenders is now seeking a Risk Management specialist who can help us develop a new Risk Management framework for the organisation. This includes:  

Risk Management Framework 

Civil Rights Defenders aims at developing a Risk Management Framework that includes both theoretical and practical applications. The Risk Management Framework should include a clear definition of how we view Risks, as well as clear processes and guidance on how we practically operationalise Risk Management. Key components of the Risk Management Framework are:  

Risk Management Policy:

Civil Rights Defenders seeks help with developing a Risk Management Policy that is clear, understandable, and practically useful for staff members across the whole organisation. The Policy must set out the process, methods and tools used to assess and manage the risks within our organisation. Civil Rights Defenders sees it as vital that our Risk Management serves as the basis for decision-making.  

Risk Assessment and Risk Analysis:  

Suggestions on the model/matrix to be used for risk identification, for instance, Risk and Consequence-analysis, ISO-standard, or Risk and Vulnerability-analysis. The consultant is expected to provide suggestions on models and templates to be used, as well as an organisation’s annual cycle of Risk Assessments, aggregated toan organisational level. 

Risk Reporting/Monitoring:  

The consultant is expected to provide suggestions on how Civil Rights Defenders should organise and structure the annual cycle of Risk Assessments, aggregated to an organisational level. The cycle should consider particularities of our operations, other organisational processes and planning so that it becomes practically useful. Further, the consultant should suggest functions responsible for the Risk Assessments.  

Risk Mitigation:  

The Consultant should provide suggestions on how Risk Mitigation is handled and distributed across the organisation, taking into account the above requested risk assessment cycle as well as organisational organogram/chart.   

Further, the consultant is expected to provide suggestions on Risk Management responsibility within the current structure of Civil Rights Defenders. Civil Rights Defenders is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation. We seek advice on how to use Risk Appetite/Acceptance in our Risk Management, adding to our ambition that Risk Management should be a vital part of our decision-making. We operate in many different contexts and environments, and a diversified Risk Appetite/Acceptance is something that we are familiar with as a concept.  

3. Profile of the Company 

The company, consultant, or organisation we are seeking must be able to demonstrate expertise and experience in similar consultancy missions regarding the Risk Management domain, preferably within the Civil Society/NGO sector, with reference to minimum two earlier clients or consultancy missions completed.  

Required skills and experience: 

• Professional company, consultant, or organisation providing expertise knowledge in Risk Management. 

• Proven experience of working with NGOs or Civil Society clients. Equally eligible is demonstrated an understanding of the specific conditions that NGOs and Civil Society operate under.  

• Proven experience of working under strict requirements of security and confidentiality.  

• Capacity to provide on-site work at Civil Rights Defenders Head Office in Stockholm, when deemed necessary during the assignment.  

• Capacity to conduct the assignment in the English language.  

• Supports Civil Rights Defenders’ vision and mission and adheres to the Code of Conduct. 

4.  Selection Criteria 

Bids received under this invitation are rated on the following criteria. The percentages indicate the weight assigned to each in the overall assessment of the bid. 

Price (30%) 

Price is, of course, an important factor in our assessment of bids. Civil Rights Defenders is a non-profit human rights organisation with limited resources, and often buys services from companies offering NGO discounts. However, we wish to encourage a healthy market where contractors are paid reasonably for their work, and our assessment will reflect this.  

Capacity and Services (40%) 

The capacity to take on assignments and the services offered are assessed together. The factors assessed include overall hybrid solution, proficiency with different platforms and tools, and knowledge of methods and frameworks. 

Security (20%) 

The company should maintain strict confidentiality regarding Civil Rights Defenders’ partners and content and respect the sensitive nature of all information provided. The company is encouraged to provide references of earlier customer engagement within the domain relevant for this invitation. The company must demonstrate how it vets their own staff members considered for this assignment. Civil Rights Defenders might undertake our own background security screening of the company and the staff members considered for the assignment. A non-disclosure agreement will be signed before the start of the assignment.  

Suitability (10%) 

We will also consider the background, environmental aspects, and previous experience of the bidders. As an organisation with a global mandate, we value diversity among our contractors. 

5. How to Submit a Bid 

Bids will be received until 14 May 2025. After assessment, Civil Rights Defenders will offer one bidder to sign agreements for the services offered in their bid. 

Please see the sections above for information on the company profile we seek and the evaluation criteria. We kindly ask you to submit at most 5 pages in response to this invitation. Your bid should at least include: 

• A short background of your company and solution. 

• Description of your expertise in Risk Management 

• A brief overview of previous similar assignments, references, and the availability of staff for the assignment.  

• Detailed proposal and price for the following services, which include below, but are not limited to: 

• Risk Management Policy: Description of how the above-described objective will be reached, estimation of number of consultancy hours needed, possible on-site meetings, workshops, etc., as well as requested resources needed from Civil Rights Defenders side.  

• Risk Assessment and Risk Analysis: Description of how the above-described objective will be reached, estimation of number of consultancy hours needed, possible on-site meetings, workshops, etc., as well as requested resources needed from Civil Rights Defenders side.  

• Risk reporting/monitoring: Description of how the above-described objective will be reached, estimation of number of consultancy hours needed, possible on-site meetings, workshops, etc., as well as requested resources needed from Civil Rights Defenders side. 

• Risk Mitigation: Description of how the above-described objective will be reached, estimation of number of consultancy hours needed, possible on-site meetings, workshops, etc., as well as requested resources needed from Civil Rights Defenders side. 

• Detailed budget on the above with breakdowns on number of hours, days, and consultants to be assigned. The budget must be written in SEK, including and excluding VAT prices.  

• We expect tenders not to exceed total budget of 250.000 SEK including VAT.   

Every qualified bid will be considered. Civil Rights Defenders does not discriminate based on race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or orientation, genetic information, age, national origin, marital status, disability status, political ideology, or any other characteristics protected by applicable law. 

Please submit your bid to security@civilrightsdefenders.org by 23:59 CET on 14 May 2025. Bids will be received in English. 

Contact

For any questions regarding the process, send an email to security@civilrightsdefenders.org (Signal available on request). 

Any information submitted will be processed under our Privacy Policy.