Expression of Interest: Good Governance Project

IONS is looking for consultant(s) for Social Innovation Design, Facilitation, and Prototyping for our Good Governance Project. 

Impact Organizations of Nova Scotia (IONS) is excited to be partnering with the Province of Nova Scotia and the Department of Labour, Skills, and Immigration (LSI) in the Good Governance project. The project seeks to support stakeholders across LSI in re-imagining governance standards between LSI and its service agreement holders. We are working with organizations and their leaders who receive funding and deliver services through Employment Nova Scotia (ENS) and the Nova Scotia School Adult Learning programs (ALP). Participating organizations include community-learning organizations and Nova Scotia Works organizations from across Nova Scotia.  

We are seeking an experienced consultant or consultants to lead the design, facilitation, prototyping, and evaluation process for five regional design sessions using elements of human-centered design, design thinking, and social innovation approaches.  

The ideal candidate(s) will have experience in these approaches and can demonstrate a strong commitment to and experience with relational ways of working, anti-oppressive practices, non-profits, and social impact.  

IONS is continually learning how we live our values and our vision centers on building towards an equitable and just Nova Scotia. An important consideration of our work is to ensure representation for voices from diverse populations. The Community Impact Sector disproportionately employs women and members of equity-deserving groups and is more racially and gender diverse than any other sector. As a result, we are seeking evidence of cultural and diversity competencies when we engage with consultants. 

Please read about our organizational values, and our statement on Justice and Equity.

Deliverables

The five (5) regional design-lab sessions will build off evidence and insights gained from interviews survey data from primary stakeholders and secondary research completed in the first phase of the project.  The sessions will be held between late Winter and mid-spring 2024 in Cape Breton, Northern Region, South Shore, Valley, and Halifax regions of the province. This work will happen in partnership and collaboration with IONS team members with insight and contributions from LSI representatives.   

1. 1. 1. Design and coordination of five (5) in-person regional sessions with the design and implementation team. Potential for contributing to the design and facilitation of additional online educational sessions for participants to support grounding and shared understanding of concepts and ideas, prior to the regional sessions.
      2. Hosting, facilitation, and evaluation of Five (5) in-person regional sessions with the development of prototype(s) for new governance standards between LSI and their service agreement holders that includes themes and common elements emerging from the regional sessions. Potential for an online session bringing together stakeholders from across the province to validate the ideas for the prototype before implementation.   
      3. Implementation and evaluation of prototypes with voluntary participating organizations over a 4–5-month period.  
      4. Contributions to a summary report and presentation to LSI.