Consultancy for Practical Integration of Nature-Based Solutions in FCA Programmes

Consultancy for Practical Integration of Nature-Based Solutions in FCA Programmes Organization Finn Church Aid Posted 5 Jun 2026 Closing date 19 Jun 2026 Terms of Reference – Consultancy for Practical Integration of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) in FCA Programmes - Field-Ready Tools and Guidance for Country Offices 1. Background Finn Church Aid (FCA) is an international NGO working across humanitarian, development, and peace-building contexts, with a strong focus on livelihoods, education, and community resilience in fragile and climate-affected settings. Finn Church Aid (FCA) is committed to systematically embedding Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) within its humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding programming. This consultancy directly supports FCA’s Humanitarian Strategy and nexus vision, emphasizing practical actions at the field level to improve livelihoods and strengthen community resilience. FCA programmes increasingly operate in contexts affected by climate risks such as floods, drought, and environmental degradation. In this context, approaches such as Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA), ecosystem restoration, and Eco-/Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), offer practical opportunities to strengthen resilience and support sustainable livelihoods, The consultancy will focus on translating these approaches into accessible, actionable guidance that can be readily applied by country offices and project teams within FCA programming. 2. Objective The objective of this consultancy is to develop and deliver clear, actionable, and field- ready guidance and tools to support the design and implementation of NbS across FCA programming. The outputs should enable SAC and country office teams to practical apply NbS with projects and country programmes, particularly in areas related to livelihoods and DRR. This includes translating NbS concepts into usable programming approaches, examples, and simple tools that can be readily adapted to different operational contexts. The guidance and tools should also consider, and where relevant be based on, donor relevancy and priorities. The guidance should remain practical for low-resource and fragile contexts and promote locally led, gender-responsive, and conflict-sensitive application. 3. Partnerships for Effective NbS Implementation Effective integration of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) within FCA programmes will require strong and practical partnerships across sectors. Collaboration with environmental organisations, government institutions, academic actors, and local communities can complement FCA’s expertise in humanitarian and development programming, particularly in areas such as ecosystem management, disaster risk reduction (DRR), and livelihoods. The consultancy will consider how such partnerships can be structured to support practical programme design and implementation, including joint planning, technical support, and adaptive learning at country level. FCA’s existing and potential collaboration with partners such as IUCN, WWF, and ACT Alliance members provides a foundation for aligning with global NbS standards while ensuring applicability within FCA’s operational contexts. 4. Fundraising for NbS Integration Fundraising is critical for the effective piloting, implementation and expansion of NbS within FCA’s programmes. To be effective, NbS approaches need to be clearly positioned within FCA’s existing programming areas, particularly livelihoods, resilience, and disaster risk reduction. Obtaining sufficient financial resources will allow FCA to broaden its impact, develop organisational capacity, and support long-term sustainability. The consultancy will support FCA in identifying and mapping relevant funding opportunities and strengthening how NbS is integrated into proposals. This includes providing practical guidance on how to frame NbS within project design, articulate its added value, and align with donor priorities related to climate resilience, ecosystem restoration, biodiversity, and sustainable livelihoods. He/she will also support country office representatives to clearly identify NbS, distinguish it from related concepts such as climate resilience and climate adaptation, and understand its links with DRR, Community-Based DRR, and related approaches. Outputs should support country offices to confidently incorporate NbS into funding proposals and engage with donors in a clear and practical way. 5. Scope of Work The consultant will deliver practical, field-oriented outputs to support the integration of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) within FCA programming. The scope of work is structured as follows: Practical Guidance and Application Develop a clear and practical definition of NbS for FCA, linked to Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA), Eco-DRR, and Community-Based DRR, with concrete project-level examples. Translate NbS concepts into simple, step-by-step guidance, visual aids, and tools that can be readily used by country programmes and project teams, adapted into simplified field handouts or community-facing formats where relevant, and framed with due consideration to donor relevancy and funding priorities. Provide practical examples and programming approaches demonstrating how NbS can be applied within livelihoods, DRR, and related sectors. Alignment and Programming Support Map and document how NbS aligns with FCA’s humanitarian vision and livelihoods programming, using selected real-world case studies (examples). Ensure all guidance aligns with IUCN NbS standards, UNDRR, and other global frameworks, with checklists for field teams to assess compliance. Clarification of practical alignment with leading institutional donors and provision of a donor mapping matrix for field use. Provide clear guidance on how NbS can be incorporated into project design and proposal development Opportunities and Context Analysis Identify key opportunities for NbS application across FCA country contexts, considering ecosystem restoration, resilience building, and livelihoods. Provide a high-level overview (not exhaustive mapping) of priority areas where NbS could be integrated within FCA programmes. Partnerships and Collaboration Identify practical partnership opportunities that can support implementation of NbS in FCA programming, particularly in livelihoods and DRR. Map potential collaboration with ACT Alliance members and other relevant actors. Fundraising and Positioning Identify and summarize key fundraising opportunities for NbS, including alignment with major donors and funding priorities. Provide simple guidance to support country offices in positioning NbS within proposals 6. Key Outputs The consultancy will deliver the following practical outputs: NbS Programming Guidance and Toolkit A concise, field-oriented guidance note supporting the design and adaptation of NbS within FCA projects and country programmes, including practical positioning for donor-relevant application and proposal development. It will include: A simple explanation of NbS and Community-Based DRR in FCA’s context Practical programming guidance and step-by-step approaches Field-based examples and short use cases Clear checklists and “dos and don’ts” for easy application by staff and partners NbS Partnerships Mapping Report A focused mapping of existing and potential NbS partnerships, including: Key organisations for collaboration (including ACT Alliance members) Practical options for partnership engagement and coordination Guidance on how to leverage partnerships to support implementation NbS Fundraising and Donor Engagement Toolkit A simple, user-friendly toolkit to support NbS fundraising, including: Mapping of relevant donors and funding opportunities Key positioning messages for NbS within FCA programming Practical guidance for integrating NbS into proposals 7. Deliverables Inception Note Short note confirming scope, approach, and structure of outputs, with a focus on practical application within FCA projects, country programmes, and sectors. FCA Nature-Based Solutions Programming Guidance and Toolkit A concise, field-oriented guidance note supporting the design and adaptation of NbS within FCA programming. It will include: - A simple explanation of NbS and Community-Based DRR in FCA’s context - Practical programming guidance and step-by-step approaches - Field-based examples and short use cases - Clear checklists and “dos and don’ts” for easy application The guidance will link NbS to ecosystem restoration, Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA), and Eco-DRR, and provide simple, usable reference material for FCA staff and partners. It will also be used to support capacity building for country office representatives through interactive sessions tailored to the developed guidance and approach. NbS Partnerships Mapping and Engagement Opportunities Report A focused mapping of existing and potential NbS partnerships, including key organisations for collaboration (including ACT Alliance members) and practical options for engagement to support implementation. NbS Fundraising and Donor Engagement Toolkit A simple, user-friendly toolkit providing guidance and donor mapping to position NbS within FCA programming, including key funding opportunities and practical tips for integrating NbS into proposals. 5. NbS Strategic Integration Note for Country Strategies A practical note to support country offices in developing strategic NbS objectives for integration into country office strategies, including suggested objective areas, positioning considerations, and examples of how NbS can be linked to livelihoods, resilience, DRR, and related programming priorities. 8. Approach The consultancy will take a practical, people-focused approach, using primarily desk work and occasional calls with SAC staff or country offices. Travel is not required. The consultant will engage with relevant teams through short consultations to ensure outputs are grounded in FCA programming contexts and responsive to field needs. Draft outputs will be shared for feedback and refined accordingly, with feedback loops helping to ensure the final tools are operationally realistic and adaptable across diverse contexts. The consultancy will conclude with remote briefings for SAC and selected field staff to introduce the final materials and support initial rollout. 9. Profile of Consultant Demonstrated Expertise in Nature-Based Solutions, EbA, Eco-DRR, and ecosystem restoration, with experience producing practical, field-oriented guidance. Strong understanding of livelihoods-based and community-centered programming, and resilience-focused focused programming, with experience delivering practical guidance and tools. Proven Ability to translate technical concepts into operational guidance, and tools for use by country teams field guides, and flyers Familiarity with humanitarian and development programming contexts and experience in working with or supporting field teams. Experience in developing user-friendly materials that support programme design, implementation, and capacity building. 10. Duration This is a short-term consultancy expected to require approximately 25–35 working days , implemented over a period of 2–3 months . The exact duration and level of effort will be agreed upon, with all key outputs, including field guides and flyers, to be delivered within the specified timeframe, including the guidance note, practical tools, and rollout materials. How to apply Please send your offers to procurement@kua.fi with the subject line " NBS Consultancy Proposal " no later than 19th of June 2026, 16:00 Finland Time . Thank you Job details Source Finn Church Aid Type Consultancy Career category Program/Project Management Years of experience 0-2 years Theme Climate Change and Environment Share Share this on Facebook Share this on X Post this on LinkedIn Share job link How to apply: Please send your offers to procurement@kua.fi with the subject line " NBS Consultancy Proposal " no later than 19th of June 2026, 16:00 Finland Time . Thank you