Job Description

Title: Consultant -  Consortium Strategy Development
Total number of Consultants: 1
Country Program: Yemen Country Program
Proposed Dates:  Asap till 20 September
Duration: 4-5 weeks Based on delivery

Background of the project  

1. Background

About the context:

In its tenth year of conflict, Yemen continues to face a worsening humanitarian crisis with more than 19.5 million people require humanitarian assistance and protection. The country’s deteriorating economy, the protracted conflict and crumbling basic services are exacerbating humanitarian needs across the country. In addition, climate shocks, increased regional tensions and chronic underfunding of critical humanitarian sectors are further worsening people’s vulnerability and suffering. While Yemenis have benefited from a reduction in hostilities stemming from the de facto continuation of the UN-brokered truce in 2022, conflict remains a key driver of needs, and development initiatives remain limited as result of funding constraints. Yemen humanitarian situation is worsening following unprecedented funding cuts, the sanctions in the DFA controlled areas and more people are projected to fall into more severe humanitarians in the second half of 2025.  Development programming is limited due to the significant number of programs falling under humanitarian assistance and limited data to inform evidence programming. With the USG suspension of funding, more people are anticipated to fall back into severe food insecurity levels in 2025 and beyond- that slides back the gains that have been made by the humanitarian and the development actors in Yemen. In the Government of Yemen controlled areas, the number of people in IPC acute food insecurity situation has increased from 4.58 million in February 2025 to 4.95 million by August same year, and it's projected to reach 5.3 million (50% of the population) by February 2026 (IPC AFI June 2025 report). 

About the consortium: 

• The Yemen Humanitarian and Development Consortium (YHDC) is a multi-agency partnership comprising of 5 international NGOs (ADRA, CARE, IRC, Mercy Corps and Relief International) working collaboratively to address the complex humanitarian and development needs in Yemen in partnership with the National civil society and the Government of Yemen. With the ongoing protracted crisis, the consortium aims to improve coordination, optimize resources, and enhance impact through joint programming and strategic alignment to Yemen context.
• Given the worsening humanitarian situation and the shrinking operational space in Yemen—including the continued conflicts, access constraints, funding shortage, and the urgent need to save lives and create pathways for recovery and development—the consortium seeks to develop a robust, forward-looking strategy to guide collective programing action over the next 3 years.

2. Purpose

• The purpose of the consultancy is to facilitate the development of a comprehensive consortium strategy that defines the collective vision, mission, strategic priorities, outlines the ways of working (governance) and a clear implementation plan.     

3. Objectives

• The objectives of this consultancy are to support the consortium members in Conducting strategy development through a consultative process with the consortium members, local actors, government entities and other stakeholders. 

4. Scope of Work / Key tasks and responsibilities 

Desk review 

• Review available data and reports that contribute to the overall understanding of the Yemen humanitarian and development needs.
• Identify gaps and opportunities the consortium could engage in 
• The consultant will ensure that strategy development is informed not only by country-level consultations but also through engagement with regional and HQ representatives from each member organization. This includes gathering insights and alignment on strategic priorities, governance models, donor engagement tactics, and opportunities for synergy with global initiatives. The process should reflect the multi-layered nature of each agency and ensure coherence between in-country needs and global positioning.
• Consultative process and strategy workshop
• Conduct context and stakeholder analysis- including the humanitarian and development gaps, local governance structures and plans, coordination among the different actors and the donors’ landscape and funding priorities
• Conduct strategy design workshop with the consortium members, local actors and other key stakeholders to identify strategic priorities, defining the common vision and the enabling environment.
• The consultant will explore opportunities for improving operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness through shared services and pooled resources among consortium members. This includes assessing the feasibility of joint functions such as procurement, logistics, finance, and MEAL systems, and recommending practical models for resource-sharing. The consultant should also assess how these shared mechanisms could support greater scale and sustainability, address donor concerns around overhead costs, and align with localization goals.
• The consultant will conduct an in-depth contextual analysis focused on Yemen’s fragility, including political instability, conflict dynamics, donor restrictions, and access challenges. Based on this analysis, the consultant will identify key risks affecting humanitarian and development programming and propose adaptive strategies for the consortium to remain flexible, responsive, and effective. These recommendations should be reflected throughout the strategy to ensure it is grounded in the realities of Yemen’s evolving context.
• The consultant will review the current state of localization across all consortium partners, mapping existing approaches, partnerships, and levels of investment in local organizations. This will include identifying strengths, gaps, and opportunities for harmonization. The consultant will then facilitate the development of a shared localization vision and practical roadmap for how the consortium can collectively advance localization over the next three years, in line with global commitments and donor expectations.
• Drafting of the strategy and the validation 
• Draft the strategy with iterative feedback loops 
• Validation and the final strategy 
• The consultant will be required to analyze and clearly articulate what makes the consortium uniquely positioned to deliver impact in Yemen. This includes assessing and showcasing the distinct technical expertise, geographic reach, operational models, and added value that each member agency contributes. The strategy should highlight how the combined capacities of the consortium result in stronger programming outcomes, more effective advocacy, and enhanced responsiveness to humanitarian and development needs. This positioning will be integral to the internal identity of the consortium and serve as the foundation for external engagement, particularly with donors.

5. Roles and Responsibilities

• Steering Committee- comprise of the 5 Country Directors 
• Provides strategic guidance and oversight support
• Reviews and approves key deliverables
• Provide overall support to the strategy development process, including review and validation of the different components, facilitation with external audience etc
• Strategy Development - Consultant
• Designs and facilitates consultations for strategy development 
• Conducts necessary desk reviews and interviews
• Drafts the different assignment components and integrates feedback
• Presents progress updates and final deliveries 
• Consortium Members
• Participate actively in strategic discussions
• Contribute data, insights, and resources
• Validate and endorse the final strategy

6. Deliverables

• Inception Report - A detailed plan outlining the approach, methodology, and timeline 
• Context situational and Stakeholder Analysis
• Draft Strategy Framework (Vision, Mission, Strategic Objectives, governance etc)
• Final Consortium Strategy Document (including Implementation Plan)
• Donor Positioning Brief – A concise, external-facing document (2–3 pages) summarizing the consortium’s strategic value, unique strengths, and collective focus areas. The brief should be tailored to engage Gulf donors, EU institutions, and key institutional donors (e.g., USAID, FCDO), and serve as a tool to support resource mobilization and relationship building.

7. Timeline

8. Reporting & Communication

• The Consultant will report to the Steering Committee. Key documents will be shared via a consortium-approved platform (e.g., SharePoint, Google Drive). Regular updates will be provided at consortium meetings and through email communications.9. Qualifications and experience:
• Minimum university master’s degree in relevant studies or the equivalent experience
• Extensive experience (at least 7 years) in developing strategies and similar consultancies with desirable results (applicants to share at least 3 previous similar assignment reports) .
• Extensive experience in humanitarian and development systems and working experience with international humanitarian organizations- proven experience in institutional donors like US, EU, UKAid, Gulf donors etc 
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills including demonstrated experience facilitating workshops and leading high-level strategy development sessions with diverse stakeholders.
• Proven and demonstrate broad knowledge of and ability to utilize best practices, appropriate methodologies and facilitation techniques o develop a strategy.
• Familiarity with donor landscape as pertaining to humanitarian and development /resilience in Yemen-US government, EU, FCDO and Gulf donors etc
• Strong organizational, interpersonal and communication skills.
• Knowledge and experience of Yemen context is desirable    

How to Apply

Qualified and Interested individuals are required to apply for this position via the IRC Career at   

 https://rescue.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/59126?c=rescue

1-    For cornerstone application guide find the link:  Cornerstone Application Guide
2-    CV, Copies of the academic and work certificates should be submitted in the system.
3.    Deadline for Applying: August 11, 2025. The system will stop receiving CVs at 12:00 A.M, August 11, 2025. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.