Senior Capacity Strengthening Advisor

Countries: Morocco, Tunisia Organization: Spark Closing date: 7 Aug 2026 Position: Capacity Strengthening Advisor Location: Consultancy | Home-based with travel to Morocco and Tunisia Application Deadline: 07 August 2026 Duration: Approximately 60 - 75 working days during the programme inception phase (anticipated period: September–December 2026) Start Date: 01 September 2026 Consultancy Fee: Competitive daily consultancy fee to be agreed based on qualifications and relevant experience. About SPARK SPARK is an international non-governmental organisation dedicated to creating opportunities for young people in fragile and conflict-affected contexts through entrepreneurship development and higher education. By strengthening local ecosystems, supporting entrepreneurs, and building institutional capacities, SPARK contributes to inclusive economic growth and sustainable employment. About the Programme SPARK is implementing a programme that aims to strengthen women's entrepreneurship in Morocco and Tunisia by selecting, supporting and enabling In-Country implementing partners (IPs) through tailored financial and non-financial support. IPs will drive impact, addressing barriers through co-designed interventions that will support women entrepreneurs and their enabling environment. SPARK will build the capacity of these IPs to enhance gender-responsive and transformative business development services, including tailored skill-building for climate-vulnerable and informal women entrepreneurs in business management, financial literacy, and digital tools, alongside MHPSS and soft skills training. At the societal level, IPs will design and implement community sensitisation and norm-change dialogues; promote positive narrative campaigns on women’s economic participation; and establish structured networks to foster business linkages, resilience, and safety. Assignment Objective SPARK is seeking a Senior Capacity Strengthening Advisor to provide strategic and technical guidance during the inception phase of the programme and beyond, specifically for the design of the programme's capacity strengthening approach, the selection and capacity assessment of implementing partners (IPs), the co-design of tailored Capacity Development Plans, and the establishment of sustainable organisational and technical assistance, peer learning and organisational development mechanisms. Scope of Work • Lead the development of the programme's overall Capacity Strengthening Framework and facilitate its refinement with implementing partners to ensure local ownership, contextual relevance and long-term sustainability. • Lead, in consultation with the Programme Lead and SPARK senior staff, the development and enhancement of Implementing Partner selection, organisational capacity assessment and capacity development tools, ensuring they effectively identify institutional strengths, development needs and organisational readiness. • Support the selection process of implementing partners by providing technical guidance on organisational capacity and development potential and needs. • Facilitate organisational capacity assessments and work closely with selected implementing partners to analyse assessment findings and co-design tailored Capacity Development Plans that respond to their specific institutional context, priorities and maturity. • Support SPARK team with planning of training, coaching, mentoring and peer learning approaches with implementing partners to strengthen their institutional performance and enable them to deliver high-quality, gender-responsive and sustainable entrepreneurship support services. • Develop practical methodologies, tools and quality assurance mechanisms that support the implementation, monitoring and continuous refinement of organisational development interventions throughout the programme. • Support the preparation and delivery of in-country programme kick-off clinics and facilitate organisational capacity strengthening workshops and coaching sessions for SPARK staff and implementing partners. • Promote organisational learning, collaboration and knowledge exchange by facilitating peer learning, documenting lessons learned and good practices, and contributing to adaptive programme management. • Work closely with the GESI, MEL and Compliance & Subgrants Advisors to ensure that their expert advice is fully integrated in Capacity Development plans. • Support the continuous strengthening of SPARK's overall partnership approach by contributing technical advice, practical tools and lessons learned that enhance organisational capacity strengthening, partner engagement and institutional development across SPARK's programmes. Expected Deliverables and Outputs Expected deliverables and outputs will be refined and agreed at the onset of the assignment and will most likely include: • Inception Work Plan, developed in consultation with the Programme Lead and the other technical advisors at the start of the assignment. • Capacity Strengthening Framework, establishing the programme's overall approach to institutional strengthening, organisational development and partner support. • Refined organisational capacity assessment methodology and toolkit, including assessment tools, scoring framework and practical guidance for assessing implementing partners. • Enhanced partner selection, organisational assessment and capacity development tools, ensuring they are fit for purpose and aligned with the programme's institutional strengthening approach. • Tailored Capacity Development Plans, co-designed with selected implementing partners and aligned with their organisational priorities and the programme's objectives. • Technical assistance, coaching, mentoring and peer learning methodologies, including practical guidance and tools to support the implementation of institutional strengthening interventions. • Capacity strengthening workshops and coaching sessions delivered to SPARK staff and selected implementing partners. • Programme kick-off clinics supported through the preparation of technical content, facilitation materials and organisational development guidance. • Final Consultancy Report, summarising activities undertaken, deliverables completed, key findings, recommendations and proposed next steps for programme implementation. Requirements and Qualifications The successful candidate should possess: • A Master's degree in Organisational Development, International Development, Business Administration, Public Administration, Management, Economics or another relevant discipline. • At least 10 years of professional experience in organisational development and institutional capacity strengthening focused on local actors, within the context of international development programmes. • Demonstrated experience designing organisational capacity assessment methodologies and institutional strengthening frameworks. • Proven experience strengthening local NGOs, entrepreneurship support organisations, incubators, accelerators, chambers of commerce, or similar intermediary organisations. • Experience developing capacity development plans, coaching methodologies and technical assistance approaches. • Experience designing and facilitating organisational capacity strengthening initiatives. • Experience working with entrepreneurship ecosystems, MSME development or private sector development programmes. • Experience working with international donors, preferably the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union or comparable bilateral or multilateral organisations. • Experience in Morocco, Tunisia or the wider Northern Africa region is highly desirable. • Excellent facilitation, coaching, stakeholder engagement and report-writing skills. • Excellent written and spoken English. Knowledge of French and/or Arabic is considered a strong asset. How to apply Interested candidates are invited to apply through SPARK's online recruitment platform at: https://vacancy.spark-online.org/ As part of the online application, candidates will be requested to upload: • A motivation letter outlining their suitability for the assignment; • An updated Curriculum Vitae; Application deadline: 07 August 2026 Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Equal Opportunity SPARK is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse working environment. We welcome applications from qualified candidates regardless of gender, age, disability, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic. Women and candidates from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.