1.    Introduction and Background

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is a global communion of 150 churches in the Lutheran tradition, representing over 78 million Christians in 99 countries. LWF strives to put faith into action within and beyond the communion. This action takes a variety of forms from theological reflection and dialogue with other churches and faiths, to deepening relationships, sharing about our faith, serving those in need through humanitarian and development action, and advocating for a more just, peaceful, and reconciled world.

The LWF Advocacy Framework is a set of thematic and programmatic guidelines that operationalize the advocacy aspects of the LWF Strategy 2025 – 2031. It supports the implementation of the LWF and LWF World Service Strategies as well as other decisions made by the LWF Thirteenth Assembly in 2023. The Advocacy Framework is neither a governance nor a policy document and therefore does not require the approval of the LWF governing bodies. 

The process of developing the LWF Advocacy Framework will largely be a revision of the current one. It will be designed as a ‘sub-strategy’ of the overall LWF 2025 – 2031 Strategy and will respond to and elaborate on the aspects of work for which advocacy action is required. No new areas of work outside of what is mandated in the strategies and LWF governance decisions will be created by the Advocacy Framework. It will set out the advocacy agenda for the thematic priorities, theological underpinning for advocacy, the local to global to local methodology, the rights-based approaches and the relevant advocacy and policy capacity strengthening for member churches, World Service Country Programs, partners and the communities they serve.  The final draft for the LWF Advocacy Framework will be approved by the General Secretary.   

2.    Process and timeframe 

• Internal coherence and consistency: The LWF Action for Justice (AFJ) unit is primarily responsible for the overall substance of the advocacy framework, including ensuring that all the relevant stakeholders are sufficiently consulted and included. The Head of Global Advocacy may request other colleagues in the Communion Office to support the work as appropriate.  
• Internal Policy and Theological Guidance:  The LWF General Secretary, the Director for Theology Mission and Justice and the Director for World Service will serve as the internal advisory board for the process. 
• Expert Advisory Group (EAG): A group of policy and advocacy experts from LWF member churches, Related Organizations and other partners have been requested by the General Secretary to serve as peer reviewers and technical advisors to the Action for Justice team for the process of developing the LWF Advocacy Framework. The LWF Council Committee for Advocacy and Public Voice (CAPV) will be informed and consulted throughout the process and in the implementation of the Advocacy Framework.

Timeframe and key milestones 

• Approval of process by the General Secretary:  September 2024 
• Outreach/establishment of the EAG: September 2024 
• Table of Content/Outline: October/November 2024
• Cross-departmental programmatic consultations: October - December 2024
• LWF Communion Office Advocacy Framework Workshop: January 2025 
• Draft(s) of the Advocacy Framework/EAG peer review: February – March 2025 
• Final Draft of the Advocacy Framework presented to Communion Office Leadership Team (COLT) - April 2025 
  Editing, design, lay-out and translation – EAG sign off – May 2025 
• Launch - June 2025 (during LWF Council meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) 

3.    Consultancy Terms of Reference (ToR)

Overall Goal

To revise the LWF Advocacy Framework in view of the new strategic direction 
of the organization as elaborated in the LWF Strategy 2025 - 2031

Objectives

Study the LWF Strategy 2025-2031 and identify the key advocacy aspects 
Study the global, regional, national and local contexts and identify relevant trends, processes and structures that LWF Advocacy should engage with.
Work closely with LWF thematic experts within the Action for Justice unit do develop the relevant chapters of the Advocacy Framework.
Present drafts to the Expert Advisory Group (EAG) and other LWF structures/stakeholders, and include their feedback and inputs in subsequent drafts.

Expected deliverable    

A well written publication - the LWF Advocacy Framework 2025 – 2031 document (approximately 20 pages) in English (AmE)

4.    Methodology and key activities

To be developed by the consultant in consultation with the relevant LWF colleagues.

5.    Qualifications and Experience of the consultant(s)

• Proven experience in advocacy work in a global Christian/Ecumenical humanitarian, development and advocacy organization.
• Proven record of developing strategies, in particular advocacy strategies.
• Experience in conducting consultations with diverse stakeholders including through online interviews, surveys etc.
• Excellent writing skills in English.   
• Knowledge of the LWF is an advantage.

6.    Request for Proposal (RfP):

Interested candidates who fulfill the above qualifications should submit the following: 
A technical and financial offer according to the present terms of reference; 

• The technical offer shall contain a summary presentation of the proposed approach, the suggested methods, and a list of key activities to be undertaken.  
• The financial offer shall contain the costs for honorarium (including taxes) based on a daily rate as well as any other costs. 
• The proposed estimated amount of time the entire assignment will take, with justification, where necessary.
• CV(s) of the consultant
• Samples of previous similar work.