Consultant – Evidence Synthesis: Capacity Strengthening and Learning as Strategic Investment

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.

Title: Consultant – Evidence Synthesis: Capacity Strengthening and Learning as Strategic Investment

Total number of Consultants: 1

Country Program: Global / Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action

Proposed Dates: 1 July 2027 – 31 December 2027

Duration: 6 months

Total Budget: USD 10,500.00

Location: Remote

Reporting to: IRC Senior Researcher

Background of the Project

The humanitarian child protection sector faces a critical inflection point. Chronic underfunding, compounded by sharp contractions in humanitarian assistance budgets, is placing essential prevention and response services at risk at a time when children’s protection needs are escalating in scale and complexity. Donors and decision-makers increasingly require credible, outcome-oriented, and economic evidence to justify continued investment in child protection in humanitarian action.

In response, the Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian has developed an Evidence-to-Advocacy Research Agenda to close the most urgent evidence gaps undermining the sector’s ability to advocate for sustained funding. The Research Agenda identifies three priority areas, of which this consultancy addresses Priority 3: Capacity Strengthening and Learning as Strategic Investment.

This priority recognizes that child protection is a service-delivery sector: without a trained, supported, and adequately resourced workforce, child protection services cannot function. Staffing, supervision, and learning and development (L&D) are often the first budget lines cut when funding is reduced, undermining all child protection interventions and compromising the ability to meet the Child Protection Minimum Standards (CPMS). The consequences are immediate—service quality deteriorates, protection risks increase, and frontline workers face burnout and attrition.

This consultancy will generate the foundational evidence synthesis needed to reframe workforce capacity as core humanitarian infrastructure rather than discretionary overhead, and document practical and innovative solutions to meet L&D demands with reduced resources to equip the Alliance and its members with advocacy-ready evidence products. The work will be carried out in close coordination with the Alliance’s Assessment Measurement and Evidence (AME) and Learning and Development (L&D) Working Group, which bring critical technical expertise in research methods and evidence synthesis and on workforce capacity issues and will serve as key validation bodies throughout the consultancy.

Scope of Work

This is a remote consultancy includes  a rapid literature review and key informant interviews conducted online to collect case studies. The aim of this consultancy is to lead an evidence synthesis that demonstrates the essential role of workforce capacity—including training, supervision, and technical support—in delivering effective child protection outcomes in humanitarian contexts, and to document the consequences when such investments are reduced or eliminated.

Specific Objectives

Conduct a rapid review and synthesis of published and grey literature mapping existing evidence that links capacity strengthening to improved program quality and child-level outcomes in child protection. Synthesize evidence on the consequences for children, services, and staff when workforce investments (training, supervision, L&D) are reduced or eliminated. Identify and document practical and innovative solutions reported in the literature or through case studies for meeting L&D demands with reduced resources, particularly for local NGOs and volunteer workforces. Produce an comprehensive report and evidence brief, validated by the Alliance Working Groups, that elevate workforce capacity as a strategic investment essential to delivering quality child protection services. Support the organization of online dissemination event (format tbc) to share the findings and promote capacity sharing/exchange of experiences

Methodology

The consultant is expected to employ the following methodological approach:

• Rapid Literature Review: Systematic search of academic databases (e.g., PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane) and practitioner repositories (e.g., Save the Children Resource Centre, ALNAP Library) to identify evidence linking capacity strengthening to program quality and child-level outcomes in child protection. This will include a review of existing documentation on L&D efforts within the Alliance, drawing on materials provided by the AME Working Group, the L&D Working Group, and the Secretariat.
• Narrative Synthesis and Evidence Brief: Integration and analysis of findings to develop a coherent evidence narrative linking workforce investment to child protection outcomes. The synthesis will be distilled into a concise, advocacy-ready Evidence Brief (4–6 pages) targeted at donors, senior humanitarian leadership, and inter-agency platforms.
• Preparation for Primary Data Collection: Development of interview guides, informed consent procedures, and a research protocol for conducting remote interviews with key stakeholders identified in collaboration with the Alliance's AME and L&D Working Groups.
• Case Study Development: Identification and write-up of 2–3 illustrative case studies, informed by key informant interviews, demonstrating the impact of workforce capacity investment—or its absence—on programme quality and child protection outcomes.
• Validation: Structured review of synthesis findings, the Evidence Brief, and all draft products by the Alliance AME and L&D Working Groups to ensure technical accuracy, relevance to frontline realities, and alignment with current workforce capacity priorities.

Deliverables

# 1

Deliverable Inception Note

Description Proposed search strategy, databases and sources to be consulted, inclusion and exclusion criteria, analytical framework and workplan.

Timeline Month 1

# 2

Deliverable Evidence Synthesis draft

Description Structured review and synthesis of published and grey literature linking workforce capacity to CP outcomes in the form of a draft report.

Timeline Month 3

# 3

Deliverable Discussion of identified case studies

Description Presentation of case studies informed by data collection to Alliance Secretariat, AME and L&D Working Groups for validation and discussion

Timeline Month 4

# 4

Deliverable Final clean version of evidence brief + case studies

Description Final write up of Evidence Brief inclusive of case studies

Timeline Month 5

# 4

Deliverable Presentation of all results (evidence synthesis and case studies) at online event

Description Present findings at online webinar organized by the Alliance

Timeline Month 5

Payment Rate and Schedule

The total consultancy fee is USD 10,500.00. Payments will be made upon satisfactory completion of deliverables as agreed with consultant during contracting.

Payment is contingent upon submission and acceptance of deliverables by the IRC Senior Researcher. All deliverables remain the intellectual property of the IRC and the Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action.

Reporting and Coordination

• The consultant will report directly to the IRC Senior Researcher, who serves as Co-Chair of the Alliance’ AME Working Group.
• Regular check-ins will be held on a bi-weekly or monthly basis, as agreed during inception.
• The consultant will coordinate with the AME and L&D working groups at key milestones.
• All draft deliverables will be subject to review and feedback from the AME Working Groups and the Alliance Secretariat.
• The AME and L&D Working Groups will facilitate access to internal documentation and grey literature as needed for the secondary data review, and, wherever possible, support connections with relevant stakeholders for the identification and gathering of case studies.

Requirements

Essential

• Advanced degree (Master’s or above) in social sciences, international development, child protection, public health, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in research, evidence synthesis, or program evaluation in humanitarian or development contexts.
• Demonstrated experience conducting literature reviews and evidence syntheses on social protection, child protection, or related topics.
• Strong understanding of the humanitarian child protection sector, including familiarity with the Child Protection Minimum Standards (CPMS) and the humanitarian coordination architecture.
• Proven ability to produce clear, well-written, advocacy-oriented knowledge products for non-specialist audiences (donors, senior leadership).
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Desirable

• Experience working with or knowledge of the Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action.
• Familiarity with workforce development, capacity strengthening, and learning and development approaches in humanitarian settings.
• Experience with evidence mapping or systematic review methodologies.
• Working knowledge of French or Arabic.

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit the following:

A cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining relevant experience and proposed approach to the assignment. A current CV highlighting relevant qualifications and experience. One samples of previous evidence synthesis or advocacy-oriented knowledge products. Contact details of two professional references.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Ethical Considerations

Although this consultancy is desk-based and does not involve primary data collection, the consultant is expected to adhere to the IRC’s research ethics policies and the Alliance’s ethical guidelines. The consultant must ensure the accurate and responsible use of all published and grey literature, proper attribution of sources, and the safe handling and storage of any internal documentation shared by Alliance member organizations.

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.