A Call for Design Thinking & Advocacy Facilitation Consultant(s)
Call For Applications Recruitment of an Organizational Development & Financial Sustainability Advisor for Cameroon YMCA
10/08/2026
1. Objective of the Task
The Africa Alliance of YMCAs (AAYMCA), with support from Y-Global and Brot für die Welt, is convening “Play. Collect. Advocate.” — a 10-day, games-based innovation lab for youth advocacy taking place from 7 to 16 September 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya. The programme moves country teams from foundational concepts in design thinking and serious games, through communitybased research and deep listening, to a validated learning workplan and a final round of formal pitches to decision makers.
AAYMCA is seeking one or more consultants to design and deliver two content work packages within this programme: Design Thinking and Advocacy. The objective of this assignment is to design and facilitate the sessions that
AAYMCA is seeking one or more consultants to design and deliver two content work packages within this programme: Design Thinking and Advocacy. The objective of this assignment is to design and facilitate the sessions that
(a) establish Human-Centred Design (HCD) and Design Thinking (DT) as the foundation of serious game design, and
(b) build participants’ capacity indeep listening, structured observation, and community-based research design connected to their
advocacy challenges.
advocacy challenges.
Consultants may apply for either work package individually, though prior experience spanning both — particularly in the context of games-based or serious-games methodologies — is preferred.
Scope of work
Work Package 1: Design Thinking (“Play” Phase)
The consultant will design and facilitate the sessions that establish Design Thinking (DT) as the engine of serious game design, and support country teams as they begin applying DT principles to their own advocacy challenges.
• Day 02 (Tue 8 Sep) – DT as the Foundation of Game Design: Design Thinking masterclass with explicit, worked connections to serious game design throughout — positioning DT as the engine of the game design process, not as an abstract framework.
• Day 03 (Wed 9 Sep, morning) – The Dual Utility of Games: Morning session exploring the game as both a data-collection instrument and an impact tool, co facilitated with the AAYMCA lead. Introduces AI as a tool for impact measurement and data analysis applied to game design.
• Day 03 (Wed 9 Sep, afternoon) – Game Design Exploration: Country teams experiment with game structure — mechanics, rules, player journey, feedback loops — applied to their advocacy challenge, and identify natural data-collection moments.
Indicative learning objectives: participants can articulate how HCD/DT and games connect, analyse a serious game through a DT lens, and demonstrate basic use of AI for game impact analysis.
Work Package 2: Advocacy, Research Design & Deep Listening (“Collect” Phase)
The consultant will design and facilitate the sessions that build participants’ capacity in deep listening, structured observation, and translating community observation into a rigorous research design connected to each team’s advocacy challenge.
• Day 05 (Fri 11 Sep) – Deep Listening & Observation Skills: Research principles of deep listening and structured observation; how a game creates conditions for listening that a conventional interview cannot; moving from observation to advocacy narrative.
Delivered alongside a community-context session introducing Believers Transformation League (BTL), ahead of the Day 06 field visit to Dandora.
• Day 08 (Mon 14 Sep) – From Observation to Research Design: Structured debrief of the Dandora field visit; sharpening debrief questions into focused, answerable research questions; observation-protocol design (how a game session generates data without disrupting play); connecting research questions back to each country’s advocacy framework.
Indicative learning objectives: participants can apply structured observation and deep listening in a community context, and country teams leave with a finalised observation framework connecting their Dandora observations, research questions, and advocacy challenge.
• Day 05 (Fri 11 Sep) – Deep Listening & Observation Skills: Research principles of deep listening and structured observation; how a game creates conditions for listening that a conventional interview cannot; moving from observation to advocacy narrative.
Delivered alongside a community-context session introducing Believers Transformation League (BTL), ahead of the Day 06 field visit to Dandora.
• Day 08 (Mon 14 Sep) – From Observation to Research Design: Structured debrief of the Dandora field visit; sharpening debrief questions into focused, answerable research questions; observation-protocol design (how a game session generates data without disrupting play); connecting research questions back to each country’s advocacy framework.
Indicative learning objectives: participants can apply structured observation and deep listening in a community context, and country teams leave with a finalised observation framework connecting their Dandora observations, research questions, and advocacy challenge.
2. Implementation design/methods
The consultant(s) will:
• Design each session using participatory, experiential facilitation methods appropriate to adult, cross-cultural learning groups, in line with AAYMCA’s Human Centred Design approach.
• Share a facilitation plan/session design for AAYMCA review at least one week prior to delivery.
• Co-facilitate alongside AAYMCA staff and, for Work Package 2, alongside the community partner where relevant.
• Provide light-touch coaching to country teams during related lab/workplan sessions on the same days.
• Incorporate a closing reflection question for each session and connect it explicitly back to participants’ own advocacy challenges.
• Design each session using participatory, experiential facilitation methods appropriate to adult, cross-cultural learning groups, in line with AAYMCA’s Human Centred Design approach.
• Share a facilitation plan/session design for AAYMCA review at least one week prior to delivery.
• Co-facilitate alongside AAYMCA staff and, for Work Package 2, alongside the community partner where relevant.
• Provide light-touch coaching to country teams during related lab/workplan sessions on the same days.
• Incorporate a closing reflection question for each session and connect it explicitly back to participants’ own advocacy challenges.
3. Process and time frames
• Work Package 1 contact days: 8–9 September 2026 (2 days), plus preparation time.
• Work Package 2 contact days: 11 and 14 September 2026 (2 days), plus preparation time.
• Location: Nairobi, Kenya (in person). The Day 06 Dandora community visit (Saturday 12 September) is a compulsory reference point for Work Package 2 but is not itself a delivery day for the consultant.
• Reporting to: Lloyd Wamai, Africa Alliance of YMCAs.
• Application deadline: 15 August 2026.
• Work Package 2 contact days: 11 and 14 September 2026 (2 days), plus preparation time.
• Location: Nairobi, Kenya (in person). The Day 06 Dandora community visit (Saturday 12 September) is a compulsory reference point for Work Package 2 but is not itself a delivery day for the consultant.
• Reporting to: Lloyd Wamai, Africa Alliance of YMCAs.
• Application deadline: 15 August 2026.
4. Expected products
a. A facilitation plan/session design for each assigned session, shared with AAYMCA in advance for review.
b. Facilitation of all assigned sessions per the schedule in Section 3 (Process and Time Frame), including any supporting materials, templates, or handouts required.
c. A short written summary of key outputs, insights, and any recommended adjustments for each work package, submitted within one week of the relevant sessions.
d. Light-touch coaching support to country teams during related lab/workplan sessions on the same days, where relevant.
b. Facilitation of all assigned sessions per the schedule in Section 3 (Process and Time Frame), including any supporting materials, templates, or handouts required.
c. A short written summary of key outputs, insights, and any recommended adjustments for each work package, submitted within one week of the relevant sessions.
d. Light-touch coaching support to country teams during related lab/workplan sessions on the same days, where relevant.
5. Key qualifications of the Consultants
Demonstrated experience designing and facilitating Design Thinking / Human-Centred Design processes with adult, cross-cultural groups.
• Demonstrated experience in advocacy, community research methods, and/or qualitative/participatory research design (e.g. structured observation, deep listening, ethnographic approaches).
• Experience with serious games, games-based learning, or games-for-change methodologies— consultants who can work across both Design Thinking and Advocacy, especially where that experience intersects with games, are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Prior experience facilitating multi-day workshops in an African context, ideally with youthserving or civil-society organisations.
• Strong facilitation and cross-cultural communication skills; comfort co-facilitating alongside AAYMCA staff and other consultants.
• Familiarity with using AI tools for data analysis or impact measurement is an advantage for Work Package 1.
• Previous experience working with the YMCA movement (nationally, regionally, or globally) is a distinct advantage.
Applications may be submitted by an individual consultant or by a lead consultant working with associates. Where a team is proposed, the lead consultant should be clearly identified, as they will be AAYMCA’s primary point of contact and accountable for delivery.
• Demonstrated experience in advocacy, community research methods, and/or qualitative/participatory research design (e.g. structured observation, deep listening, ethnographic approaches).
• Experience with serious games, games-based learning, or games-for-change methodologies— consultants who can work across both Design Thinking and Advocacy, especially where that experience intersects with games, are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Prior experience facilitating multi-day workshops in an African context, ideally with youthserving or civil-society organisations.
• Strong facilitation and cross-cultural communication skills; comfort co-facilitating alongside AAYMCA staff and other consultants.
• Familiarity with using AI tools for data analysis or impact measurement is an advantage for Work Package 1.
• Previous experience working with the YMCA movement (nationally, regionally, or globally) is a distinct advantage.
Applications may be submitted by an individual consultant or by a lead consultant working with associates. Where a team is proposed, the lead consultant should be clearly identified, as they will be AAYMCA’s primary point of contact and accountable for delivery.
6. Content of the evaluator’s offer
Interested consultants should submit an application comprising:
• A brief expression of interest (maximum 2 pages) outlining relevant experience against the scope in Section 2 (Scope of Work), the work package(s) applied for, and the proposed approach.
• The CV of the lead consultant (required), including examples of comparable past assignments — with references to work involving Design Thinking, /research methods, and/or serious games where applicable.
• Contact details and availability for the dates listed in Section 3 (Process and Time Frame).
• A daily rate or indicative fee proposal for the work package(s) applied for.
• A brief expression of interest (maximum 2 pages) outlining relevant experience against the scope in Section 2 (Scope of Work), the work package(s) applied for, and the proposed approach.
• The CV of the lead consultant (required), including examples of comparable past assignments — with references to work involving Design Thinking, /research methods, and/or serious games where applicable.
• Contact details and availability for the dates listed in Section 3 (Process and Time Frame).
• A daily rate or indicative fee proposal for the work package(s) applied for.
Deadline: 22 August 2026
Send applications to: lloyd@africaymca.org
Please use the subject line “EOI – Design Thinking/Advocacy Consultant – [Your Name]” and
indicate clearly which work package(s) you are applying for.
Applications received after the deadline, or that do not include the lead consultant’s CV, may not be considered. AAYMCA reserves the right to shortlist, interview, and contract one or more consultants across either or both work packages, and to contact applicants for clarification prior to a final decision.
