Invitation to Tender: Developing Good Relations

The Women's Resource and Development Agency (WRDA) has been funded by the International Fund for Ireland to develop good relations work with women at a grass roots level.

A 'Good Relations' resource pack has been developed and is currently being delivered by WRDA-trained Community Facilitators to community groups across Northern Ireland. The level one resource pack has concentrated upon developing an individual understanding of the origins of sectarianism and racism and has enabled individual participants to consider their attitudes in a structured and supportive environment.

In year two of the project WRDA intends to further develop its good relations work by using a community development approach to working with women's groups. Participants will be encouraged to think collectively, in group and community terms, and to develop responses to good relations issues that are specific and relevant to their own communities.

In addition, participants will be encouraged through the programme to think about issues that they might have in common with other communities. Year three of the project is intended to bring groups together to consider joint activity.

The Women’s Resource and Development Agency is a regional organisation, established in 1983, that works to advance women’s equality and participation in society by working to bring about social, political and economic change. WRDA strategic aims and objectives for 2005-2010 include:

• Training and capacity building to develop the capacity of women from disadvantaged communities to tackle inequalities affecting them.
• To promote and advocate for women’s equality in policy and decision making.
• To tackle health inequalities affecting women, developing, sustaining and supporting health programmes based on social models of health and well being.

Terms of Reference
In order to develop the second stage of the project WRDA invites tenders for a ‘Good Relations and your community’ resource pack that will enable participants to consider the following and related topics in a three session series of workshops.

Culture, identity and community:

The programme should seek to raise awareness of the multi-dimensional and evolutionary nature of culture, with particular reference to the creation of community identity.

Culture and community issues:

Participants should be enabled to analyse community issues within the context of dynamic cultural change.

Community development and group horizons:

Participants should begin to appreciate the limitations of traditional, single identity group responses to current complex, social phenomena.

Timescale
Tenders should propose a timetable for the research, meetings with the WRDA to discuss progress and content and delivery of the final product. The deadline for delivery is 30 June 2008, to enable training of Community Facilitators to commence prior to the organization of workshops between September and December 2008.

Budget
A total of £5,000.

This will be paid in two stages:

1. On agreement of contract. £2500.
2. At end of project. £2500

Consultant Specification
The WRDA expects that the successful consultant will have an understanding of the women’s voluntary and community sector and experience in Good Relations work.

Method of Application
To apply please send the following:

• Contact details
• CV
• A brief outline of how you would undertake the work within the timeframe
• A statement detailing expertise in related areas and experience in undertaking similar projects
• A budget for the work (please note that WRDA is not obliged to accept the lowest cost proposal)
• The names of two referees for whom you have completed work of a comparable nature.

Please submit your tender by 4pm 25th April 2008