Aden, 'Adan, Yemen
1 day ago
Consortium Strategy Development Consultant
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Background

In its tenth year of conflict, Yemen continues to face aworsening humanitarian crisis with more than 19.5 million people requirehumanitarian assistance and protection. The country’s deteriorating economy,the protracted conflict and crumbling basic services are exacerbatinghumanitarian needs across the country. In addition, climate shocks, increasedregional tensions and chronic underfunding of critical humanitarian sectors arefurther worsening people’s vulnerability and suffering. While Yemenis have benefitedfrom a reduction in hostilities stemming from the de facto continuation of theUN-brokered truce in 2022, conflict remains a key driver of needs, anddevelopment initiatives remain limited as result of funding constraints. Yemenhumanitarian situation is worsening following unprecedented funding cuts, thesanctions in the DFA controlled areas and more people are projected to fallinto more severe humanitarians in the second half of 2025.

Development programming is limited due to the significantnumber of programs falling under humanitarian assistance and limited data toinform evidence programming. With the USG suspension of funding, more peopleare anticipated to fall back into severe food insecurity levels in 2025 andbeyond- that slides back the gains that have been made by the humanitarian andthe development actors in Yemen. In the Government of Yemen controlled areas,the number of people in IPC acute food insecurity situation has increased from4.58 million in February 2025 to 4.95 million by August same year, and it'sprojected to reach 5.3 million (50% of the population) by February 2026 (IPCAFI June 2025 report).

About the consortium:

The Yemen Humanitarian and Development Consortium (YHDC)[MT1]is a multi-agency partnership comprising of 5 international NGOs (ADRA,CARE, IRC, Mercy Corps and Relief International) working collaboratively toaddress the complex humanitarian and development needs in Yemen in partnershipwith the National civil society and the Government of Yemen. With the ongoingprotracted crisis, the consortium aims to improve coordination, optimizeresources, and enhance impact through joint programming and strategic alignmentto Yemen context.

Given the worsening humanitarian situation and the shrinkingoperational space in Yemen—including the continued conflicts, accessconstraints, funding shortage, and the urgent need to save lives and createpathways for recovery and development—the consortium seeks to develop a robust,forward-looking strategy to guide collective programing action over the next 3years.

Purpose

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

Objectives

The objectives of this consultancy are to support theconsortium members in Conducting strategy development through a consultativeprocess with the consortium members, local actors, government entities andother stakeholders.

Scope of Work / Key tasksand responsibilities

Desk reviewReview available data and reports that contribute to theoverall understanding of the Yemen humanitarian and development needs.Identify gaps and opportunities the consortium could engage inThe consultant will ensure that strategy development isinformed not only by country-level consultations but also through engagementwith regional and HQ representatives from each member organization. Thisincludes gathering insights and alignment on strategic priorities, governancemodels, donor engagement tactics, and opportunities for synergy with globalinitiatives. The process should reflect the multi-layered nature of each agencyand ensure coherence between in-country needs and global positioning.

Consultative process andstrategy workshop

Conduct context andstakeholder analysis- including the humanitarian and development gaps, localgovernance structures and plans, coordination among the different actors andthe donors’ landscape and funding prioritiesConduct 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 improvingoperational efficiency and cost-effectiveness through shared services andpooled resources among consortium members. This includes assessing thefeasibility of joint functions such as procurement, logistics, finance, andMEAL systems, and recommending practical models for resource-sharing. Theconsultant should also assess how these shared mechanisms could support greaterscale and sustainability, address donor concerns around overhead costs, and alignwith localization goals.The consultant will conduct an in-depth contextual analysisfocused on Yemen’s fragility, including political instability, conflictdynamics, donor restrictions, and access challenges. Based on this analysis,the consultant will identify key risks affecting humanitarian and developmentprogramming and propose adaptive strategies for the consortium to remainflexible, responsive, and effective. These recommendations should be reflectedthroughout the strategy to ensure it is grounded in the realities of Yemen’sevolving context.The consultant will review the current state of localizationacross all consortium partners, mapping existing approaches, partnerships, andlevels of investment in local organizations. This will include identifyingstrengths, gaps, and opportunities for harmonization. The consultant will thenfacilitate the development of a shared localization vision and practicalroadmap for how the consortium can collectively advance localization over thenext three years, in line with global commitments and donor expectations.

Drafting of the strategyand the validation

Draft the strategy withiterative feedback loopsValidation and the final strategyThe consultant will be required to analyze and clearlyarticulate what makes the consortium uniquely positioned to deliver impact inYemen. This includes assessing and showcasing the distinct technical expertise,geographic reach, operational models, and added value that each member agencycontributes. The strategy should highlight how the combined capacities of theconsortium result in stronger programming outcomes, more effective advocacy,and enhanced responsiveness to humanitarian and development needs. Thispositioning will be integral to the internal identity of the consortium andserve as the foundation for external engagement, particularly with donors.

Roles and Responsibilities

Steering Committee-comprise of the 5 Country DirectorsProvides strategic guidance and oversight supportReviews and approves key deliverablesProvide overall support to the strategy development process,including review and validation of the different components, facilitation withexternal audience etcStrategy Development - ConsultantDesigns and facilitates consultations for strategy developmentConducts necessary desk reviews and interviewsDrafts the different assignment components and integratesfeedbackPresents progress updates and final deliveriesConsortium MembersParticipate actively in strategic discussionsContribute data, insights, and resourcesValidate and endorse the final strategy

Deliverables

Inception Report - Adetailed plan outlining the approach, methodology, and timelineContext situational and Stakeholder AnalysisDraft Strategy Framework (Vision, Mission, StrategicObjectives, governance etc)Final Consortium Strategy Document (including ImplementationPlan)Donor Positioning Brief – A concise, external-facing document(2–3 pages) summarizing the consortium’s strategic value, unique strengths, andcollective focus areas. The brief should be tailored to engage Gulf donors, EUinstitutions, and key institutional donors (e.g., USAID, FCDO), and serve as atool to support resource mobilization and relationship building.

Timeline

\tActivity\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTimeline

Inception Phase\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2 weeks (specific dates)Consultations & Analysis\t\t\t\t\t\t1 week (specific dates)Draft Strategy\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1 week (specific dates)Validation & Final strategy\t\t\t\t\t1 week (specific dates)

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.

Qualificationsand experience:

Minimum universitymaster’s degree in relevant studies or the equivalent experience.Extensive experience (at least 7 years) in developingstrategies and similar consultancies with desirable results (applicants toshare at least 3 previous similar assignment reports).Extensive experience in humanitarian and development systemsand working experience with international humanitarian organizations- provenexperience in institutional donors like US, EU, UKAid, Gulf donors etc.Excellent interpersonal communication skills includingdemonstrated experience facilitating workshops and leading high-level strategydevelopment sessions with diverse stakeholders.Proven and demonstrate broad knowledge of and ability toutilize best practices, appropriate methodologies and facilitation techniques odevelop a strategy.Familiarity with donor landscape as pertaining tohumanitarian and development /resilience in Yemen-US government, EU, FCDO andGulf donors etcStrong organizational, interpersonal and communication skills.Knowledge and experience of Yemen context is desirable
Standard of Professional Conduct:The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.
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