A laptop on a desk, with a pair of glasses, a glasses case and a notebook
Gathering knowledge. Photo ©

Dan Dimmock, Unsplash used under license and adapted from the original.

What is the opportunity?  

The British Council’s vision for its future states that it:

'…will become anti-racist in its culture and in its practices. We will strive to give colleagues and everyone we engage with the opportunity to achieve their potential, regardless of race, ethnicity or background. We will aim to dismantle barriers across our organisation and build a more inclusive and representative workplace and leadership that embraces diversity, calls out discrimination and puts equality at its heart.'

We start from an understanding that the British Council is part of the social and economic system in which racism is embedded. Many of the ways we work and what we do are part of that structural racism. We approach this research with an intersectional lens, noting the impact of interlinked experiences of discrimination on individuals and groups.

The British Council Anti-Racism Action Plan includes the commitment to:

  • Commission an expert study to build conceptual / theoretical understanding of anti-racism as it relates to our work in cultural relations.
  • Explore the concept of decoloniality as it relates to the British Council becoming actively anti-racist in its practices. This will focus on how we can better understand how colonialism has centred and privileged knowledge and ways of knowing and working from the Global North; and how a process of decolonising cultural relations would address that.

Study objectives

  • How do we increase understanding across our global network of what it means to be anti-racist, and for our strategy and programmes to support decolonisation? How do we allow for regional variance across the geographical areas where we operate?
  • Is it possible to support UK priorities, including promoting UK prosperity and trade, while still seeking to decolonise our ways of thinking and working?
  • To what extent should our work in cultural relations seek actively to interact with the structural impacts of the UK’s colonial legacy and post-colonial policies on the people and communities we work with globally?
  • How can our work, wherever it is delivered, better include an anti-racist lens? What sort of training will be needed to enable this to happen?
  • How do we build in frameworks and systems so that our strategy, policies and programmes are more attentive to power dynamics and intersectionality?
  • How can we create more meaningful and equal partnerships in our work?

Qualifications required

  1. Demonstrable experience working on anti-racism and decolonisation in international relations, INGOs and/or international cultural or education sectors, in particular in developing strategy in anti-racism, diversity, inclusion and equality principles and practice in policy, programming and/or research
  2. A commitment to principles of anti-oppression and anti-racism
  3. Strong understanding of the UK political context, particularly around international relations and foreign policy
  4. Experience facilitating workshops for diverse and international audiences
  5. Experience facilitating workshops on anti-racism, decolonisation and intersectionality
  6. Experience in delivering internal reviews and recommendations for large international organisations
  7. Demonstrably strong analytical, writing and communication skills
  8. Offering good value for money
  9. Ability to deliver on tight time frames and meet deadlines

Outputs and deadlines:

  • deadline for clarification questions 17.00 BST, 23 July 2021
  • British Council to respond to clarification questions 17.00 BST 28 July 2021
  • deadline for submission of RFP responses by potential suppliers 23.59 BST 12 August 2021
  • interviews with shortlisted applicants 23-24 August 2021
  • final Decision anticipated 25 August 2021
  • contract start date 26 August 2021
  • first draft 22 October 2021
  • final draft delivered 10 November 2021

How to apply 

A full outline of the proposal request, the instructions for responding and evaluation criteria are available as part of the tender opportunity on our portal.

The reference code is BC/01872. 

You must register an account before you can express an interest in the tender and download the tender pack.