Governance and Legal Framework Consultant

ABOUT START NETWORK PAKISTAN:

Start Network is a global network of more than 150 humanitarian organisations working to move funding, decision-making and trust closer to crisis-affected communities. READY Pakistan is the Start Network hub in Pakistan, bringing together over 50 local, national, and international member organisations to strengthen locally led preparedness, anticipatory action, disaster risk financing, and response. Acted, the Host Agency of the READY Pakistan Hub, invites Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from qualified individual consultants for the assignment below, to be implemented on behalf of READY Pakistan Hub of Start Network UK.

As the Hub moves towards greater autonomy, legitimacy, and accountability, it requires governance and legal arrangements that are clear, compliant with the laws of Pakistan, and aligned with Start Network hub governance expectations. A sound framework will strengthen member ownership, transparent decision-making, and risk management, and will support the Hub in receiving and managing funds directly in the future, where this is agreed by members.

OBJECTIVE:

Review READY Pakistan's existing governance and legal arrangements and develop a fit-for-purpose governance and legal framework. The framework should support the Hub's legal registration and its functioning as an accountable, locally-led entity within Start Network.

The specific objectives are to:

• Assess current governance documents, structures, and practices against Pakistani legal requirements and Start Network hub standards.
• Recommend the most suitable legal form and registration pathway for the Hub, with associated risks, costs, and timelines.
• Develop validated governance and legal instruments that promote accountability, inclusion, and locally led decision-making.
• Provide a practical roadmap for registration and ongoing statutory compliance.

INDICATIVE SCOPE OF WORK:

• Review existing governance documents (e.g., NSC terms of reference, membership criteria, due diligence system, policies) and Start Network hub requirements.
• Review applicable national and provincial legal and regulatory requirements for non-profit registration in Pakistan, and advise on the most suitable legal form.
• Develop the governance and legal framework, e.g., constitution/by-laws, governance structure, roles of the General Assembly, NSC and secretariat, decision-making, membership, and conflict-of-interest policies.
• Consult the NSC, Hub members and Start Network, and facilitate validation of the framework.
• Prepare a roadmap for registration and ongoing legal compliance.
• Review the alignment of governance arrangements and policies of READY Pakistan with Start Network policies and minimum standards, including safeguarding, anti-fraud, conflict of interest, complaints and whistleblowing, and data protection.
• Recommend financial governance, risk management, and internal control arrangements appropriate to the proposed legal form.
• Assess the implications of registration, including tax status, approvals required to receive foreign contributions, and annual reporting obligations.
• Ensure the framework promotes equitable representation of local and national members, including women-led organisations and organisations of persons with disabilities.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES (INDICATIVE):

• Inception report and workplan.
• Review and gap analysis of existing governance and legal arrangements.
• Draft governance and legal framework documents, validated with stakeholders.
• Final framework, with a registration and compliance roadmap.
• Validation workshop report capturing stakeholder feedback and how it was addressed.
• Presentation of the final framework to the NSC and, where required, the General Assembly.

PRE-QUALIFICATION NOTICE:

This summary TOR is issued only for the pre-qualification of individual consultants. Pre-qualified consultants will be contacted individually and invited to respond to a Request for Quotation (RFQ), at which stage the full and detailed TOR will be shared. No financial offer is required at this stage. Financial quotations will only be requested from pre-qualified consultants at RFQ stage.

ETHICS, SAFEGUARDING AND COMPLIANCE:

• The selected consultant will be required to sign and comply with the Acted Code of Conduct and with the policies of Acted and Start Network on safeguarding, PSEAH, child protection, anti-fraud and anti-corruption, conflict of interest and data protection.
• Acted has zero tolerance for fraud, corruption, collusion, coercion, and any form of sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment. Any attempt to influence the evaluation, including canvassing or offering gifts or favours, will result in disqualification.
• All applicants are subject to due diligence, including screening against applicable sanctions and debarment lists, before any contract is awarded.
• All data, documents, and products developed under this assignment will remain the property of Acted, Start Network, and READY Pakistan, and may not be used, published, or shared without prior written consent. The consultant will keep all information obtained during the assignment confidential.
• Personal data of applicants and of any respondents will be collected, stored, and processed in line with applicable data protection laws and the data protection policies of Acted and Start Network.

Accountability:

All Acted team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.

PSEAH Obligation:

• ACTED has a zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH) and strives to recruit those who share our values.
• All candidates will be subject to a pre-employment check that includes satisfactory references, screening, and criminal checks in line with legal requirements.
• All candidates who have been offered a position will sign and respect ACTED’s Code of Conduct and related policies as part of their work contract. All staff are expected to abide by the standards of behaviour outlined in those documents.
• Managers will have a special responsibility to foster a safe environment.
• Misconduct can lead to serious disciplinary sanctions.

For the purposes hereof, the following definitions shall be used:

Sexual exploitation: means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially, or politically from the sexual exploitation of another.

Sexual abuse: means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.

Note: “ACTED is an equal opportunity employer. Females, minorities, and candidates with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Final selection will be based on the security clearance of the candidate. Only shortlisted candidates will be called for the next step of the recruitment.”