HEKS/EPER is a Swiss-based organization committed to combating poverty, injustice, and exclusion, while advocating for a life of dignity for all. Its work spans humanitarian assistance, development cooperation, and systemic change. The Uganda Country Office, established in 2019, oversees operations in Uganda and South Sudan and is currently implementing its Strategic Plan 2023–2026.

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**Purpose of the Consultancy**: HEKS/EPER (Swiss Church Aid) seeks the services of a qualified professional consultancy firm (or individual) to lead the review, update, and extension of its current Country Strategic Plan (2023-2026) for its Uganda Country Office and programs in South Sudan. The consultancy will support HEKS/EPER Uganda in assessing the existing strategic framework, identifying key lessons learned and emerging priorities, and developing a forward-looking, four-year strategic plan (2027-2030). The process will be evidence-based and participatory, ensuring alignment with HEKS/EPER’s global strategy, strengthening organizational capacity, and enhancing the sustainability and impact of programmes in Uganda and South Sudan.

**The consultancy aims to:**
a) Review, update, and extend the current Country Strategic Plan into a four-year Strategic Plan (2027–2030) for HEKS/EPER Uganda, ensuring alignment with global strategies, thematic priorities, and evolving contextual realities.
b) Strengthen HEKS/EPER’s capacity to deliver impactful programs in Uganda and South Sudan.
c) Facilitate a participatory, inclusive, and evidence-based planning process.

**The scope of work** for this assignment will look into several critical actions and tasks:
a) *Review and Evaluate*
▪ Review the HEKS/EPER Uganda Strategic Plan 2023–2026, including achievements, challenges, and lessons learned.
▪ Assess HEKS/EPER’s Country Office for operational effectiveness, institutional capacity, organizational structure, and program-financial/administrative-related systems. ▪ Review existing projects to ensure alignment with strategic plan objectives and develop a clear framework to ensure all future programs are consistently designed and implemented in line with those same objectives. ▪ Update the review of HEKS/EPER’s global strategies, thematic priorities, and operational guidelines. ▪ Conduct a targeted situation analysis of Uganda and South Sudan, focusing on HEKS/EPER’s thematic areas. ▪ Analyze current and emerging fundraising and donor engagement trends at global, regional, and country levels, focusing on HEKS/EPER’s areas of work. ▪ Update the existing stakeholder mapping and analysis, identifying potential new partners, beneficiaries, and influencers. ▪ Review and recommend improvements to institutional capacity, branding, and alignment with HEKS/EPER’s mandate.

b) *Consult and Engage*

▪ Adopt a consultative and participatory approach, engaging staff, partners, beneficiaries, and stakeholders at all levels. ▪ Facilitate meetings, workshops and consultations to identify strategic focus areas, objectives, and key result areas.

*c) Define and Develop*

▪ Develop tools and methodologies for the strategic planning process. ▪ Review and update the Risk Management Matrix, identifying emerging risks and strengthening mitigation strategies in line with the evolving context. ▪ Assess and refine strategic initiatives, and propose new ones as needed, to position HEKS/EPER as a leading implementing organization. ▪ Review and update the Results and Resources Framework to ensure coherence with the revised strategic priorities and realistic resource projections for the 2027–2030 period. ▪ Review and strengthen the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework to enhance effectiveness, learning, and adaptive management during implementation. ▪ Refine and propose strategies for achieving strategic objectives and key results, ensuring they are evidence-based and context-responsive. ▪ Review and enhance fundraising and partnership strategies, including strengthening grant acquisition approaches, diversifying funding streams, and identifying priority donor segments, funding mechanisms, and partnership opportunities with international, local, and private actors. ▪ Update and validate cost estimations for the implementation of the strategic plan, ensuring alignment with revised priorities and resource availability. ▪ Review and identify key strategic partners, strengthen existing collaborations, and propose new partnerships essential for successful implementation.

*d) Finalize and Submit* ▪ Facilitate a stakeholder validation meeting to review and refine the draft Strategic Plan. ▪ Finalize and submit the Strategic Plan 2027–2030, including all deliverables.

**Deliverables**
The consultancy will produce the following:

a) Tools and methodologies for strategic planning.

b) Inception Report, including a detailed work plan.

c) First Draft of the Strategic Plan 2027-2030 for stakeholder input.

d) Final Draft for presentation at a stakeholder validation meeting.

e) Four-year Strategic Plan (2027–2030), including: Acquisition plan; Financial projections; Risk management framework; M&E matrix; South Sudan brief Strategic Plan (as an annex to the Uganda CO’s strategy).

f) Abridged Version of the Strategic Plan.

g) PowerPoint presentation summarizing the Strategic Plan.

**Contract Duration** The consultancy will start latest in June 2026 and will cover a period of max 60 days.

**Institutional Arrangements**

a) The Consultant will report to the HEKS/EPER Uganda Country Director and coordinate directly with the Senior Management Team.

b) HEKS/EPER will provide all necessary background documents, including previous strategic plans, reports, and guidelines.

c) The Consultant will coordinate all meetings and activities under this assignment.