IONS is situated in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaw people. Unceded means that the Mi’kmaq have never relinquished, sold, traded, or transferred ownership of their land to European settler colonies, yet land was taken over without their consent through various processes of settler colonialism. This territory is covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship, which the Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik people first signed with the British Crown in 1726. These Treaties did not involve the surrendering of rights to the lands and resources they had traditionally used and occupied. We are all Treaty People.

We further acknowledge that Nova Scotia is the birthplace of Black culture and heritage in Canada. People of African descent have shared these lands for over 400 years, and over 50 strong and resourceful African Nova Scotian communities exist here today.

We are committed to the struggle against systems of oppression that have resulted in profound inequities and the denial of self-determination rights. We are working actively to deepen our learning at an individual level, provide learning opportunities about anti-racism and decolonization, and to develop partnerships with organizations serving and led by underrepresented groups.

  • Capacity Building Programming RFP


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    Request for Proposals: Capacity Building Programming

    Closing date: Thursday, March 10, 2022 at 11:59PM AST.

    View the full RFP here.

    The Community Sector Council of Nova Scotia (CSCNS) is committed to the success and sustainability of a vibrant network of over 6,000 non-profit and voluntary sector organizations that collectively contribute $1.7billion in direct, indirect and spinoff benefits to the gross domestic product (GDP) of Nova Scotia. The sector contributes to our collective wellbeing by providing communities with inclusive social, cultural, health, recreational, and economic programs, and services. We connect, advocate for, and provide capacity building opportunities for nonprofits, social enterprises, and voluntary organizations across the province. Since 2020, CSCNS has undergone substantial sector engagement to identify our strategic priorities for 2020-2023. Shortly following the release of our strategic plan, COVID-19 forced major adaptations both within CSCNS and across the sector.

    In our new reality, we need to do things differently across the sector. We need new skills, mindsets, and ways of being that can help us understand and navigate the complex problems we’re facing. In early 2021, we set out to go deeper in our understanding of the sector’s current capacity needs. We designed a sector engagement process, collecting feedback and insight through an open forum, focus groups, and a capacity building survey which resulted in the development of our Learning Framework.

    As the next stage in the implementation of our Learning Framework, CSCNS is developing a library of content that will be available to staff and volunteers in the sector to help develop capacity in skills aligned with the learning themes that emerged. This first round of content will focus primarily on foundational topics and information that can be digested in a variety of ways. 

    Invitation

    We are seeking proposals from organizations, firms, or sole proprietors with experience in content development and facilitation to develop a suite of CSCNS-owned courses addressing a variety of foundational skills that can be accessed for free by anyone in the Community Impact Sector to help them work more effectively. Interested parties can submit proposals to develop one or more of the courses outlined in the scope of work. Collaborations with nonprofit organizations are encouraged where appropriate. We are specifically interested in those with experience working with impact (nonprofit and voluntary) organizations.  

    The Community Impact Sector is incredibly diverse, encompassing non-profits, social enterprises, voluntary organizations, and grassroots organizations. The sizes, missions and targeted clientele of organizations vary widely. The sector disproportionately employs women and members of underrepresented groups and is more racially and gender diverse than any other sector. As a result, we are seeking evidence of cultural and diversity competencies, and demonstrated alignment with our four learning principles from the contractors we engage. 

    We encourage submissions from individuals, organizations, and groups of organizations – in other words, we welcome creativity in approach! Submissions may include content development for one course or multiple.

    Scope of Work & Deliverables

    The successful contractors will manage the project timelines, deadlines, and budget, adjusting when necessary and with CSCNS approval. Contractors will report to the Director, Learning and Sector Development and may work with other members of the CSCNS team throughout the process. Key activities and deliverables for CSCNS Capacity Building courses include: 

    • Provide leadership, direction, and expert consultation and advice related to the development of the proposed course content.
    • Create content that is accessible to diverse people and learning styles.
    • Create training materials using current learning strategies and standards, including learner knowledge retention and reflective and interactive activities.
    • Develop and deliver a train the trainer session(s) and corresponding handbook.
    • Articulate plans and resources to support learning during the course and after to respond to individuals impacted by the learning.
    • Work with a dedicated CSCNS staff support person to ensure quality and consistency across learning while also monitoring and reporting on the progress relative to the development of this plan. 

    Each course’s curriculum will be designed to be delivered in both a self-paced asynchronous manner and uploaded to a Learning Management System (LMS), as well as in a 2–3-hour instructor-led (synchronous) manner. Curriculum should be topic-specific (found on page 5 of the RFP). The full scope of work and key deliverables for the CSCNS Capacity Building Programming can be found on page 9 of the RFP.

    Submission Information

    Proposals can be submitted electronically as a pdf file via email, with the subject line “CSCNS Capacity Building RFP” to Nicole Cammaert, Director of Learning and Sector Development at [email protected] no later than Thursday, March 10, 2022, at 11:59 pm AST. 

    Late submissions will not be considered. Questions regarding this request for proposals should also be directed to [email protected] before February 24, 2022. 

    VIEW THE FULL REFP

    CLICK HERE