JOB DESCRIPTION

Background

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)
[MT1]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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Timeline

Activity Timeline

• Inception Phase 2 weeks (specific dates)
• Consultations & Analysis 1 week (specific dates)
• Draft Strategy 1 week (specific dates)
• Validation & Final strategy 1 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.

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

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements

Organization: International Rescue Committee