Organizational Capacity Assessment & Strengthening Process
Hope for Refugees International (HRI)
Assignment Period: October 22 – December 10, 2026
Honorarium: $1,200 CAD
Expression of Interest Deadline: October 9, 2026
About HRI
Hope for Refugees International (HRI) is a Black refugee-led grassroots nonprofit organization working to advance the dignity, well-being, inclusion, and opportunities of refugees, asylum seekers, and newcomers.
Our work is grounded in lived experience and focuses on helping refugees and newcomers navigate the challenges of settlement and integration while building stronger pathways to safety, belonging, stability, and community participation.
As HRI continues to grow, we recognize the importance of strengthening our internal organizational capacity, systems, leadership, and ways of working so that we can continue responding effectively and sustainably to the needs of the communities we serve.
The Opportunity
HRI is seeking an experienced Technical Facilitator to guide a participatory organizational capacity assessment and strengthening process involving our staff, board members, volunteers, and peer leaders.
The purpose of the process is to create space for members of the HRI team to collectively reflect on:
- What we are doing well as an organization;
- Where our organizational capacity gaps and challenges exist;
- What systems, structures, skills, and practices need strengthening; and
- What practical priorities HRI should pursue over the next 12–24 months.
The facilitator will help create an inclusive and constructive environment where participants can openly share their experiences and perspectives and collectively identify realistic priorities for strengthening HRI.
We are particularly interested in a participatory, strengths-based, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed approach that recognizes the knowledge, experience, and leadership already existing within the organization.
Scope of Assignment
Working closely with HRI, the Technical Facilitator will:
- Participate in a brief planning meeting with HRI leadership to understand the organization, agree on priority assessment areas, and finalize the facilitation approach.
- Prepare for and facilitate two participatory organizational capacity assessment sessions with HRI staff, board members, volunteers, and peer leaders.
- Guide discussions across key areas of organizational capacity, which may include:
- Leadership and governance;
- Programs and service delivery;
- People, volunteers, and organizational culture;
- Operations, internal systems, and coordination;
- Communications, branding, and partnerships;
- Safety, risk management, and organizational sustainability.
- Synthesize the key strengths, capacity gaps, priorities, and recommendations identified through the consultations.
- Develop a concise Organizational Capacity Assessment & Action Plan outlining key findings, priority areas for strengthening, recommended actions, responsibilities, and indicative timelines for the next 12–24 months.
This is a focused facilitation and synthesis assignment. HRI is not expecting an extensive organizational audit, strategic planning exercise, policy review, or large consultancy report.
Who We’re Looking For
We are looking for someone who brings strong facilitation skills and practical experience supporting organizational learning, capacity strengthening, nonprofit development, governance, organizational development, strategic planning, or related work.
The ideal facilitator will have:
- Experience facilitating participatory consultations, organizational assessments, planning processes, or similar engagements;
- Strong group facilitation, listening, synthesis, and communication skills;
- An ability to create inclusive spaces where people with different roles and experiences can meaningfully participate;
- An understanding of nonprofit, grassroots, community-based, or volunteer-led organizations;
- A practical and strengths-based approach to organizational capacity strengthening; and
- An interest in using their skills and expertise to strengthen organizations serving communities experiencing systemic barriers.
Experience working with Black communities, refugees and newcomers, grassroots organizations, refugee-led organizations, or organizations led by people with lived experience will be considered a strong asset.
Honorarium & Timeline
HRI has a modest honorarium of $1,200 CAD available for the assignment.
As a small refugee-led grassroots organization operating with limited financial resources, we recognize that this honorarium does not represent the full market value of the professional expertise involved.
We are therefore particularly interested in connecting with an experienced facilitator who believes in community capacity building and is willing to contribute their expertise at a reduced professional rate as part of their commitment to strengthening grassroots and refugee-led organizations.
Call opens: September 28, 2026
Expression of Interest deadline: October 9, 2026
Successful facilitator contacted: October 15, 2026
Assignment begins: From October 22, 2026
Assignment completed: By December 10, 2026
Dates for the planning meeting and two consultation sessions will be agreed upon with the selected facilitator.
How to Express Interest
We want to keep the application process simple.
Interested individuals are invited to submit:
1. A brief Expression of Interest (maximum 1–2 pages) describing:
- Your relevant experience, skills, and expertise;
- Examples of similar facilitation, organizational capacity strengthening, or nonprofit/community-based work you have undertaken;
- Your general approach to facilitating participatory and inclusive organizational conversations; and
- Why you are interested in contributing your expertise to support a grassroots refugee-led organization such as Hope for Refugees International.
2. A current résumé or CV.
Please send your Expression of Interest and résumé/CV by October 9, 2026 to:
Email subject: Expression of Interest – Technical Facilitator
Only the successful applicant will be contacted, by October 15, 2026.