Provision of Mediation Services

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a specialized agency of the United Nations based in Rome, Italy, hereby solicits proposals for the Provision of Mediation Services. 

The objective of this tender is to secure professional, impartial, and confidential mediation services for the International Fund for Agricultural Development, both at its Headquarters in Rome and across its global operational regions - Asia and the Pacific, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Near East, North Africa, Europe and Central Asia - in order to facilitate the effective prevention and early resolution of workplace disputes. The mediation services will be provided outside the framework and scope of the internal resolution process for disputes arising from administrative and disciplinary decisions. 

Specific objectives include: 

• Provide impartial, professional mediation services accessible to IFAD workforce (regular and temporary staff, consultants) and based on the facilitative/transformative approach.  

• Facilitate constructive dialogue between conflicting parties.  

• Support voluntary and mutually acceptable resolution of disputes.  

• Reduce workplace tensions and prevent escalation to formal grievance procedures.  

• Promote a positive, respectful, and inclusive working environment.  

• Build trust and strengthen organizational conflict management capacity. 

• Ensure the security, integrity and strict confidentiality of all data related to the intake and mediation exercise. 

In addition to the provision of mediation services as described below, the service provider shall contribute to the strengthening of a mediation and informal conflict resolution culture within IFAD through the delivery of awareness-raising, outreach, and capacity-building activities. The service provider will be responsible for mediation outreach and awareness-raising activities to promote understanding of existing mediation services for personnel at Headquarters and in regional offices. This will also include the design and delivery of online trainings such as informal conflict resolution workshops focused on constructive conflict resolution (CR) techniques to strengthen skills in managing workplace disputes informally. The provider may further be required to develop supporting materials, such as guidance notes, presentations, toolkits, and communication materials, to increase awareness of mediation services and promote respectful workplace practices and early dispute resolution.  

The Long- Term Agreement concluded between IFAD and the selected service provider will have an initial duration of one year. The quality and impact of the services will be reviewed at the end of the first year to determine possible options on the way forward, including the potential renewal for a further one year up to a maximum of four annual renewals. Services are expected to commence in October 2026.