Consultancy - Mapping Canadian Private‑Sector Prospects and Talent Pools

Terms of Reference – Short Term Consultancy (40-60 days):

Mapping Canadian Private‑Sector Prospects and Talent Pools

Organisation: WUSC 

Dates: February 2026 - May 2026

Level of effort: 40 - 60 days (non-consecutive; peak activity in March) 

Location: Canada, remote 

Budget: up to $50,000

Reports to: WUSC Canadian Partnership Working Group Leads

Organisational Summary: 

WUSC is a Canadian global development organization working to catalyze positive education and economic outcomes for young people. We bring together and collaborate with a diverse network of partners (including students, volunteers, schools, governments, not-for-profits, and businesses) who share the vision of a world where every young person thrives and belongs. Together, we influence systems change and foster inclusive, youth-centered solutions. We work with all young people, with a focus on women and displaced populations. WUSC currently operates in 28 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as in Canada, with an annual budget of approximately CAD $65 million. Our global team includes over 100 staff in Canada and more than 250 staff internationally, implementing a diverse portfolio of development projects in collaboration with numerous multilateral and bilateral donors and philanthropic foundations.

Nature And Scope 

WUSC invites proposals from qualified Canadian consultants to undertake two complementary mapping exercises within the Canadian private sector:

• Support the identification and assessment of new private‑sector partnerships in Canada across sectors such as the innovation ecosystem and incubators, and technologies including IT, AI, green tech, as well as agriculture, mining, and related fields. 
• Identify and map IT‑sector talent pools in Canada to inform targeted volunteer recruitment for global development initiatives.

The Consultant will collaborate closely with WUSC’s Program Development and Project teams to deliver the following tasks:

• Undertake a comprehensive mapping of the Canadian private‑sector landscape across WUSC priority thematic areas (including green technology, agriculture, finance, IT/AI, mining, and related sub‑sectors). Identify, evaluate and validate a shortlist of 60-100 high‑fit prospective partners and produce concise partner profiles for each. Profiles should include organizational overview, strategic fit, likely engagement modalities, key contacts, risk considerations and recommended next steps (75% LOE). As part of this deliverable, the consultant should also map out key platforms, events, conferences and networking gatherings that offer strategic opportunities to build private-sector partnerships in each sector.
• Conduct a detailed mapping of the Canadian IT employment landscape to identify and characterize talent pools suitable for targeted volunteer marketing and recruitment. Deliverables should include source mapping (universities, bootcamps, corporate volunteer programs, professional associations and recruitment platforms), estimates of candidate availability and readiness, as well as recommended outreach approaches (25% LOE).
  

The consultancy comprises 40–60 non-consecutive days to be performed intermittently between February and May 31, 2026, with the majority of the effort concentrated in March (with follow‑on activities in April/May as required to finalize deliverables and discussions).

Key Deliverables

• Inception document (1–2 pages): work plan, methodology, timeline, data sources, and validation approach.
• Detailed results database including analysis for each contact.
• Presentation deck (10–12 slides): key findings and recommended next steps.
• Final report (including elements below) and handover meeting (virtual)
• Specific deliverables for each task, include:
• 
  

Canadian Partnerships: 

• Sector landscape summary (3–5 pages): trends, priorities, and entry points for each thematic area.
• Prospect database (spreadsheet): 60-100 prioritized prospects with fields: organization name, sector/subsector, rationale for fit, contact lead(s), engagement readiness indicator, suggested collaboration modalities, risk level, and next action.
• Partner profiles (60-100 concise profiles, 1 page each max): org snapshot, contacts, collaboration ideas, risks & mitigations, recommended first 2–3 engagement steps.
• Partnership model concepts (3–4 pages): recommended models, incentive structures, legal/operational considerations, and example terms of partnership.

IT Employment Landscape Mapping:

• IT Talent pool mapping (2–3 pages + appendices): candidate sources, estimated availability, typical skill levels, and onboarding considerations.

Suggested Methodology - Canadian Partnerships identification (flexible to alternative methods in your proposal): 

• Desk research: company websites, news, CSR reports, LinkedIn, company registries, industry reports.
• Engagement with intermediaries and related stakeholders (e.g. accelerators, associations), as well as internal WUSC stakeholders to understand consultancy objectives.
• Scoring & prioritization: use a simple rubric (strategic alignment, capacity to engage, willingness/readiness, geographic relevance, risk level) to rank prospects. 
• Make any necessary adjustments according to feedback received throughout the process (biweekly check-ins in the Canadian Partnerships Working Group leads)

Qualifications And Competencies

• Team lead (senior consultant): 8–10 years in private-sector partnership development, experience in the Canadian market and at least two priority sectors.
• Sector specialists (1–2): subject matter expertise across thematic areas.
• Research analyst: desk research, data compilation, database management.
• Experience with private sector networks in some of the thematic areas above is an asset.
• Talent mapping,  experience with talent sourcing, volunteer programs, and IT skills is an asset.
• Strong analytical and research skills.
• Proven ability to work productively with a variety of stakeholders to run participatory processes and meet deadlines with an emphasis on producing quality products.
• Effective interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.
• Languages Full fluency in English; French fluency is an asset.

Applications

The table below summarizes important dates for Applicants:

Key Activities                                                                                   Date

Request for Proposals Announcement                                        January 29, 2026

Applicant Question Deadline ([email protected])                February 6, 2026 COB

Closing deadline for receiving applications                                February 11, 2026 COB

Selection Process                                                                         February 20, 2026 (notification)

Inception Meeting with Selected Candidate                               February 26, 2026

Inception Report (final)                                                                 March 2, 2026

Qualified and interested parties are asked to submit the following: 

1. Cover letter of interest (2 pages maximum)
2. Brief technical proposal clearly demonstrating a thorough understanding of this ToR and including the following (5 pages maximum, not including annexes): 
   

• A Consulting Firm profile (if applicable). 
  
• Description of the capacity and qualifications of the Consultant(s) or consulting firm, including previous relevant experience.
• Description of the proposed approach, methodology
• A proposed timeframe detailing activities and a schedule/work plan
• Team composition, if applicable, qualifications and level of effort of each proposed team member, related to similar assignments, private sector networks etc.
• Curriculum Vitae(s) of all proposed Consultant(s) outlining relevant experience
• Names and contact information of three references who can be contacted regarding relevant experience
• A copy/link of a previous reports of similar work undertaken 

      3. Brief financial proposal listing Consultancy fee amount(s) and any associated associated fees or expenses with a validity period of quotation 

Only those shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Consultant must be eligible to work in Canada.

WUSC’s activities seek to balance inequities and create sustainable development around the globe; the work ethic of our staff, volunteers, representatives and partners shall correspond to the values and mission of the organization. WUSC promotes responsibility, respect, honesty, and professional excellence and we will not tolerate harassment, coercion, sexual exploitation or abuse of any form. Successful applicants will be required to undertake an enhanced criminal record check where appropriate.

WUSC is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No telephone calls, please.