Request for Proposals: Humanitarian Advocacy, Government Relations and Policy Influence Training

Background

The Humanitarian Response Network (HRN) is a network of 50 Canadian humanitarian organizations committed to strengthening collective capacity, collaboration, and learning across the humanitarian sector. Hosted by Cooperation Canada, HRN works with its members to strengthen humanitarian preparedness and response through convening, collaboration, policy engagement, knowledge sharing, and capacity strengthening.

Through its Learning  Plan (2026-2029), HRN has identified continuous learning as a key priority to support members in responding to an increasingly complex humanitarian landscape. HRN’s Learning Plan is organized around Foundational Training Pathways, which strengthen core humanitarian competencies, and Thematic Training Pathways, which respond to emerging issues and evolving sector priorities.

HRN is committed to providing practical, accessible, and high-quality learning opportunities that strengthen the knowledge and skills of humanitarian professionals while fostering collaboration, peer learning, and the exchange of promising practices across the network. HRN’s learning approach is guided by the principles of connection, predictability, coherence, flexibility, learning pathways, and inclusivity. Consultants are encouraged to propose participatory, practical, and innovative approaches that respond to the diverse learning needs and experiences of HRN members.

The selected consultant(s) will:

• Design and develop the learning initiative.
• Facilitate the agreed learning sessions.
• Develop practical, accessible, and reusable participant resources.
• Incorporate humanitarian case studies and practical exercises.
• Submit a brief final report summarizing participant feedback, lessons learned, and recommendations.

Optional activities may include:

• Follow-up learning clinics.
• Participation in HRN communities of practice and/or working groups.
• Coaching or tailored support to member organizations.

The HRN welcomes proposals that prioritize participatory, experiential, relational, or community-based learning approaches and encourages proposals that draw upon diverse forms of knowledge and expertise. Proposals must be values-driven and grounded in humanitarian principles. We encourage creative and innovative learning methodologies that foster engagement, peer learning, reflection, and practical application.

Target Audience

The training is intended for humanitarian professionals from HRN member organizations, including staff working across programmatic, operational, technical, and leadership roles. Proposals should demonstrate how the learning approach will be relevant and accessible to participants with diverse levels of experience and responsibilities.

Selection Process

HRN welcomes a range of learning methodologies and formats, including webinars, workshops, learning series, and blended approaches.

Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Proposed Approach — 50%: Clarity, relevance, feasibility, creativity, and alignment with HRN’s Learning Plan principles.
• Experience and Qualifications — 20%: Demonstrated expertise in humanitarian action, professional learning, training design, facilitation, and resource development. HRN recognizes diverse forms of expertise, including lived experience, community leadership, and practice-based knowledge.
• Cost — 25%: Overall value for money and appropriateness of the proposed budget.
• Equity Considerations — 5%: Demonstrated commitment to accessibility, inclusion, diversity, and equitable collaboration.

Work Modality and Delivery

The consultant will be home-based and will work collaboratively with the HRN Manager throughout the assignment, including participation in inception, planning, delivery, and meetings.

HRN and Cooperation Canada will support participant registration, communications, virtual platforms, and logistical arrangements for online delivery. Registration must open at least six weeks before the start of online training and at least two months before the start of in-person training. Proposed timelines must allow sufficient time for registration, participant communications, accessibility arrangements, and logistical planning.

Eligibility

Applications are welcome from qualified individuals and organizations, including independent consultants, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, research groups, humanitarian organizations, and private-sector entities.

Collaborative proposals involving multiple facilitators or organizations are encouraged, provided roles and responsibilities are clearly defined. Proposals are welcome in either English or French.

HRN, hosted by Cooperation Canada, is committed to justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism, accessibility, and ethical humanitarian practice. Inclusive procurement is an important part of the selection process. HRN seeks to provide equitable opportunities for consultants and organizations from diverse backgrounds, including BIPOC-led organizations and consultants, people of diverse gender identities, persons with disabilities, and other equity-deserving groups.

All members of the selected team will be required to sign and comply with the Cooperation Canada Code of Conduct and any other applicable HRN or Cooperation Canada policies.

Proposal Guidelines

Proposals may be submitted in the format that best demonstrates the applicant’s approach and expertise. At a minimum, they must include:

• Proposed learning approach, methodology, objectives, target audience, format, and delivery model.
• Work plan and timeline.
• Relevant experience and/or examples of previous work.
• Detailed financial proposal.
• Description of how equity, accessibility, and inclusion will be integrated throughout the assignment.

Submission Process

Applicants should submit their proposal and CVs to hrncoordinator@humanitarianresponse.ca. Applications may be submitted in English or French. HRN welcomes discussions with interested applicants before submission to explore alignment with the objectives of this Request for Proposals.

Training Description and Objectives

Purpose

The Humanitarian Response Network (HRN) is seeking a consultant or consulting team to design and deliver an introductory learning initiative on humanitarian advocacy, government relations, and policy influence as part of HRN’s Thematic Training Pathway within its Capacity Strengthening and Learning Plan.

The training will be designed primarily for program staff and other humanitarian professionals whose roles are not focused on advocacy, but who would benefit from practical influencing skills in their engagement with government representatives, policymakers, partners, and other stakeholders. It should strengthen participants’ confidence and ability to communicate evidence effectively, build constructive relationships, and contribute to policy and decision-making processes that support principled humanitarian action.

While HRN has outlined an illustrative training structure below, consultants are encouraged to propose approaches that meet these objectives through accessible, practical, participatory, and scenario-based learning suitable for beginners.

As one possible approach, HRN envisions a one-day, in-person (Ottawa) interactive workshop covering:

1. An introduction to humanitarian advocacy, government relations, and policy influence, including the evolving Canadian humanitarian policy landscape.
2. Foundational influencing strategies grounded in humanitarian principles, evidence, and International Humanitarian Law.
3. Practical approaches to engaging government representatives and other partners, including stakeholder mapping, relationship building, and coalition building.
4. Strategic communications, message framing, and adapting messages to different audiences.
5. Integrating localization, gender equality, protection, and inclusion into influencing approaches.
6. Practical exercises and humanitarian case studies relevant to participants’ day-to-day work.

Objectives

• Build participants’ foundational understanding of humanitarian advocacy, government relations, and policy influence.
• Strengthen participants’ confidence and practical skills in engaging and influencing government representatives, partners, and other stakeholders.
• Help participants communicate evidence and humanitarian priorities clearly and persuasively.
• Strengthen participants’ ability to support principled humanitarian action and humanitarian access through their roles.
• Foster peer learning and the exchange of practical approaches across HRN member organizations.

Timeframe: Proposals will be accepted until September 30, 2026. The consultant will be contracted in early October, with training design and preparation beginning immediately thereafter. Registration will open at least two months before the training, with delivery scheduled for early December 2026 in Ottawa, according to the agreed workplan and HRN learning calendar.

Approximate Budget: CAD $8,000