The global development community is undergoing a sea-change. Yet, the sharp decline in official development assistance from the Global North is not the end of global development efforts. Instead, governments in the Global South are going to have to rise to the occasion and fill the void—both in terms of resources as well as expertise—that result from the downsizing or departure of development partners from the Global North. This will require governments to redouble efforts to grow their economies, to collect more public revenues (as appropriate), and—perhaps most importantly—to make sure that government spending is directed towards their constituents’ highest priorities.
In order to achieve an “efficient and responsive public sector”, governments will increasingly have to spend their available public resources in a citizen-centric and results-oriented manner. Among others, this means that public resources shouldn’t get stuck at the central government level to fund political or bureaucratic priorities that do little to improve frontline services. In many countries, both technical and political economy obstacles will have to be overcome so that public sector resources can be redirected to fund public services at the local or facility level where services are actually delivered.
The champions that will lead the charge in the necessary public sector reforms—promoting more inclusive, efficient and responsive multilevel public sectors around the world—will increasingly be based in the Global South. The change agents are going to have to accomplish more with less.
The Local Public Sector Alliance. The Local Public Sector Alliance (LPSA) is a global professional network of advocates for inclusive and efficient decentralization and localization. Established in 2022, the Alliance seeks to promote inclusive, equitable societies and sustainable global development by enhancing the understanding of public sector decentralization and localization as complex, cross-cutting and multi-stakeholder reforms. Over the course of three years, the Alliance has grown into a global network with over 2,000 members located in 139 countries and territories, with the majority of its members based in the Global South.
LSPA purses its mission by “elevating the global debate” and “catalyzing action” on public sector decentralization and localization, by (1) advancing the global state of knowledge on decentralization and localization; (2) ensuring a more informed, interconnected global Community of Practice, where knowledge sharing takes place across countries, disciplines, institutions and sectors; and (3) engaging in convening, outreach and field building to achieve a larger, more empowered global Community of Practice, with country-level champions well-positioned to champion decentralization and localization reforms.
In order to accommodate the diversity of skills, viewpoints and interests in a field that is globally relevant, multi-disciplinary, cross-sectoral, and requires collaboration across a wide range of institutional stakeholders and civil society actors, the activities of the Alliance are led by seven Regional and Thematic Working Groups, each co-chaired by leading experts, practitioners, and thought leaders in their respective regions or fields. Through the working groups, the activities of the Alliance are largely shaped by the commitment and contributions of its members, who volunteer to share their knowledge and enthusiasm about different aspects of decentralization, local governance, and localized development with others in the global Community of Practice.
Wanted: Funding Strategy Consultant
Given the sudden change in the global development context, LPSA is at an inflection point. Its long-term ability to serve its growing member base, its impact, and the sustainability of its efforts—which is now more important than ever—will depend in large part on the Alliance’s ability to fund its core operations and to secure resources to support its members by engaging in knowledge development; knowledge sharing; and convening, outreach, and field-building.
As such, LPSA is seeking to identify a consultant to assist the Alliance by developing a funding strategy for the Local Public Sector Alliance for 2026-2030. The new funding strategy should inform the Alliance’s Board and Secretariat in updating and extending LPSA’s Strategic Plan.
The funding strategy should explore the entire range of potential funding sources, including foundations, bilateral or multilateral development organizations, as well as other potential mission-driven contributors (e.g., city government, local government associations, or civil society partners). The funding strategy should further explicitly address the challenge of funding a global (multidisciplinary, multi-stakeholder) professional network dealing with different aspects of decentralization and localization reforms (including governance; public financial management; service delivery outcomes; development impact; urbanization; conflict and fragility; climate change; and women’s empowerment) in the context of a global funding environment that is stove-piped and where development resources are often committed to specific countries or sector outcomes.
Tasks and Deliverables
Tasks. Working together with the Executive Director, the consultant is expected to contribute to the following activities:
- After consulting with LPSA’s Board of Directors, Board of Advisors, Secretariat, Working Groups, and partners, lead the development of a funding strategy for LPSA;
- Identify/refer potential donors and potential funding opportunities, if/when funding opportunities arise;
- Contribute to the facilitation of an (in person) LPSA Board/Secretariat retreat (tentatively, in October 2025) to convey the fundraising strategy in a way that will inform LPSA’s Strategic Plan 2026-2030; and
- Contribute to the communication materials in support of the funding strategy for LPSA.
Deliverables. Expected deliverables include:
- A mapping of potential donors, including identifying alignment with LPSA’s different regional and thematic (working group) efforts.
- A written funding strategy, developed in coordination with the Executive Director. Where necessary, the funding strategy should identify areas where the Alliance may need to strategically pivot or realign its organizational emphasis in line with the emerging global funding context.
- Inputs into the realization of funding opportunities, if/when specific funding opportunities arise;
- Communication materials necessary for the LPSA Board/Secretariat retreat and/or materials which could be useful for LPSA’s visibility and fundraising activities in alignment with the proposed funding strategy.
Timeline, Proposed LOE, and Reporting
Period of performance: May – December, 2025
Level of Effort (LoE): 20 days
Reporting: The consultant will report to the Executive Director.
Location: Global / hybrid.
The consultancy fee is negotiable depending on experience.
Profile / Qualifications
- Proven successful track record in fundraising for the non-profit sector
- Minimum of 5 years professional experience in funding strategy development and/or fundraising, preferably in the field of public sector governance, public finance, sustainable development, and/or related areas of international development
- Existing relationships and sound knowledge of institutional and private sector donors and funders (particularly those relevant to the mission of LPSA).
- Ability to conduct collaborative work sessions in a multicultural environment
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
Access this announcement here in PDF. Interested parties are requested to submit an expression of interest and resume to Jamie Boex (LPSA Executive Director) no later than March 28, 2025, at jamie@decentralization.net.
