The Thomson Reuters Foundation has launched a global initiative to strengthen the resilience of civil society organisations (CSOs) operating in increasingly complex and restrictive environments.
This tailored, scalable, partner-led programme is designed to enhance the long-term sustainability, compliance capacity, and operational effectiveness of CSOs worldwide. To expand delivery capacity, the Foundation is now opening applications for consultants to join a pre-vetted expert pool.
About the Initiative
The programme responds to mounting pressures on civil society, including:
- Shrinking civic space
- Increasing legal and regulatory scrutiny
- Heightened compliance and risk management demands
- Declining or shifting funding streams
The service model combines:
- A structured diagnostic assessment identifying strengths and vulnerabilities
- Targeted specialist consultancy across seven business areas
- Legal support through TrustLaw, the world’s largest pro bono legal network connecting CSOs and social enterprises with free legal expertise
Support Pathways
Consultancy assignments will align with one of two pathways:
Virtual Pathway
- Fully remote delivery
- Rapid diagnostics and prioritisation
- Expert signposting
- Light-touch advisory support
Hybrid Pathway
- Longer-term engagement
- In-depth organisational assessment
- Structured advisory and implementation support
Areas of Consultancy Support
Consultants may be engaged across one or more of the following domains:
Governance
- Board effectiveness and leadership structures
- Decision-making and accountability systems
- Risk oversight and policy development
Financial Management & Fundraising
- Financial controls and reporting
- Budgeting and forecasting
- Donor compliance and cost recovery
- Revenue diversification and reserves planning
Legal & Compliance
- Regulatory readiness
- Organisational risk management
- Data protection coordination
- Navigating civic space restrictions
Communications & Marketing
- Strategic communications planning
- Brand positioning and messaging
- Donor and stakeholder engagement
- Crisis communications
Strategy & Impact
- Strategy development and refresh
- Theory of Change design
- Impact measurement and KPIs
- Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) frameworks
People & Operations
- HR systems and organisational structure
- Safeguarding and duty of care
- Operational workflows and risk controls
- Performance management systems
Digital Transformation, Cybersecurity & AI
- Digital maturity assessments
- Data governance
- Cyber risk awareness
- Responsible AI governance
- Change management for digital adoption
Sample Assignment Deliverables
Depending on pathway and organisational needs, consultants may:
- Review diagnostic findings and co-create prioritised action plans
- Deliver one-to-one advisory sessions
- Support development of core systems and frameworks
- Provide light-touch implementation support
- Track progress against agreed KPIs
Assignments typically range from 0–20 days, depending on scope.
Experience & Selection Criteria
The Foundation welcomes applications from professionals with strong technical expertise and experience supporting CSOs, NGOs, humanitarian organisations, and social enterprises.
Minimum Requirements
- 7+ years’ relevant professional experience
- Demonstrated experience working with mission-driven organisations
- Strong facilitation and advisory skills
- Ability to translate expertise into practical, implementable steps
- Clear written communication in plain language
- Comfort operating in legally or politically sensitive contexts
Preferred Qualifications
- 10+ years’ experience or recognised specialism
- Experience supporting organisations under heightened compliance scrutiny
- Capacity-building experience (training, mentoring, coaching)
- Regional expertise and language capability
- For digital specialists: experience in responsible AI governance and mission-driven digital adoption
Criteria for Legal Consultants
Essential
- Licence to practise law (any jurisdiction)
- Expertise in one or more of the following:
- Charity and non-profit law
- Commercial or corporate law
- Employment law
- Intellectual property
- Data protection/privacy
- Tax law
- Experience providing legal services to non-profits
Desirable
- 7+ years’ post-qualification experience
- Legal risk management advisory experience
- Familiarity with civic space constraints
- In-house or general counsel experience within mission-driven organisations
Contracting Model
- Consultants join a pre-approved pool
- Contracted per assignment
- Engagements are flexible and needs-based
This model ensures scalable support aligned to CSO demand across multiple regions and time zones.
Application Process
Applications must be submitted via the official questionnaire.
- Deadline: 1 March 2026, 12:00 PM (UK time)
- Applications reviewed on a rolling basis
- Submission available in English and Spanish
Strategic Impact
Through this initiative, the Foundation seeks to:
- Strengthen institutional resilience
- Improve compliance and governance systems
- Enhance operational sustainability
- Support digital and legal transformation
- Build long-term organisational capacity
Consultants selected for the pool will play a critical role in enabling civil society organisations to navigate complex regulatory landscapes, sustain funding, and deliver meaningful impact in challenging contexts.
Professionals committed to advancing civil society resilience and organisational sustainability are encouraged to apply before the stated deadline.
VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY
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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering the programme. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
