REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL – Consultancy for Strengthening the Africa Disaster Management Advisory Group (ADMAG)

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network. The secretariat supports local Red Cross and Red Crescent action in more than 191 countries, bringing together more than 16 million volunteers for the good of humanity. Together with the Norwegian Red Cross (NoRC) which are part of the IFRC, invites experienced consultants or consultancy firms to support the strengthening of the Africa Disaster Management Advisory Group (ADMAG). This consultancy is a critical initiative aimed at enhancing governance, strategic planning, and humanitarian diplomacy to reinforce disaster preparedness, response, and resilience across African National Societies (ANS). By optimizing ADMAG’s structure and engagement, this consultancy will contribute to a more coordinated and impactful disaster management approach within the Red Cross Red Crescent Network.

Purpose

The consultancy seeks to improve ADMAG’s governance framework, ensuring effective decision-making, accountability, and inclusivity. It will also refine strategic planning efforts, aligning ADMAG’s priorities with IFRC’s Preparedness & Readiness Initiative, and enhance humanitarian diplomacy and advocacy to strengthen engagement with key stakeholders. The consultant will be instrumental in fostering stronger regional collaboration, equipping ADMAG to effectively support African National Societies in disaster risk management and response.

Background.

The African Disaster Management Advisory Group (ADMAG) enhances Disaster Risk Management (DRM) among African National Societies (ANS) while aligning IFRC’s support. Through the IFRC’s 2021 Preparedness & Readiness Pan-African Initiative, it fosters communication, knowledge-sharing, and standardized tools across its 58 members. ADMAG operates through a Steering Committee, plenary forums, and specialized technical working groups on key areas such as Cash, Anticipatory Action, and Surge Capacity. In February 2025, an Extended Steering Committee Meeting in Nairobi focused on strengthening governance, strategic planning, and engagement to enhance disaster preparedness and response across Africa.

Scope of Work

The selected consultant will undertake the following key responsibilities:

• Governance: Refining ADMAG’s structure, improving decision-making and accountability, facilitating stakeholder workshops, and developing a system to track ADMAG’s collective impact.
• Planning: Aligning strategic priorities with IFRC’s Preparedness & Readiness Initiative, evaluating disaster preparedness plans, identifying gaps, and developing a roadmap for improved coordination and capacity-building.
• Humanitarian Diplomacy & Advocacy: Creating an advocacy strategy, strengthening partnerships with key stakeholders, developing communication campaigns, and ensuring African National Societies’ representation in global forums.

Eligibility Criteria

Interested consultants or firms must demonstrate:

• Proven expertise in disaster management, humanitarian diplomacy, and governance within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.
• Extensive experience working with African stakeholders, including governments, regional economic communities, and the African Union.
• Strong analytical, strategic planning, and facilitation skills with a track record of delivering impact-driven solutions.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities in both English and French.