Consultancy – Terms of Reference (TOR)

Bridging Principles and Practice: Local NGO strategies for sustaining humanitarian action in Yemen

Research consultancy: Bridging principles and practice: Local NGO strategies for sustaining humanitarian action in Yemen

  • Duration: Up to 25 Working Days
  • Date: November–February 2025
  • Location: Remote
  • Apply by:  22nd November CoB 

1. Background     

Founded in 1962, the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA) is a global network of over 180 nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) active in 170 countries, operating at global, regional, national and local levels, whose mission is to make humanitarian action more principled and effective by working collectively and independently to influence policy and practice. As an NGO network, ICVA brings together civil society organisations from around the world and acts as a bridge connecting them to the UN, governments, and regional organisations.

2. The Yemen Locally Led Initiative

This study is part of a joint ICVA – International Rescue Committee (IRC) Yemen project aimed at strengthening the leadership, learning, and sustainability of local civil society organisations (CSO) in Yemen. Building on ICVA’s 2023 study, ‘ , the initiative seeks to address key capacity and coordination gaps among Yemeni local actors and NGO Fora.

The project supports Yemeni local NGOs (LNGOs) to deliver principled and effective humanitarian action, through tailored capacity sharing activities such as peer workshops, advocacy research, and national dialogues.     

3. Context    

Yemen remains one of the world’s most complex humanitarian contexts. Local NGOs (LNGOs) continue to operate amid volatile security conditions, restricted humanitarian access, and limited funding. Despite these challenges, Yemeni LNGOs remain on the frontline of the response, delivering essential services to displaced communities, marginalised groups, and persons with disabilities.

These organisations demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and commitment to humanitarian principles and community response, despite the challenging operational context. However, the convergence of reduced donor funding, staff risks, and operational restrictions has raised pressing questions about organisational sustainability and the future of locally led humanitarian action.              

Understanding how Yemeni LNGOs navigate these constraints is critical for designing donor support, partnership models and relevant capacity strengthening initiatives that sustain their role as central actors in Yemen’s aid architecture.    

4. Objectives

This consultancy will generate evidence and analysis that supports advocacy and policy engagement by local actors and their partners. By documenting the strategies, leadership practices, and adaptive measures used by Yemeni LNGOs, the research will inform more effective and sustainable support mechanisms from donors, UN agencies, humanitarian coordination bodies, and local actors themselves. It will also enable more informed decision-making on funding, partnership models, and support mechanisms. In doing so, it will not only strengthen the sustainability of Yemeni LNGOs but also enhance their recognition as key actors in the humanitarian system, ensuring that local voices are central to shaping programming, policy, and funding in Yemen’s complex aid landscape.

5. Specifically, the study will:

  1. Explore the barriers Yemeni LNGOs experience in programming while providing marginalised populations, including people with disabilities.
  2. Examine the strategies Yemeni LNGOs use to sustain operations amid shrinking donor support and access constraints.
  3. Analyse how organisational leadership, internal capacities, and partnerships contribute to resilience, effectiveness, and accountability to affected populations.
  4. Explore how LNGOs uphold humanitarian principles in practice while engaging with authorities, communities, and donors.
  5. Identify lessons, good practices, and actionable recommendations to enhance sustainability and impact through collaboration for local actors, and contribute to sector-wide knowledge on local resilience and principled action.    

The findings will directly inform ICVA and IRC’s ongoing locally-led agenda and serve as an advocacy tool for the Yemen LNGOs, to support more inclusive and equitable humanitarian partnerships in Yemen.

6. Suggested Research Questions

  1. What pressures and constraints do Yemeni LNGOs specifically face compared to international NGOs, e.g. access restrictions, donor conditionalities, engagement, staff risks, social or gender norms?
  2. How do Yemeni LNGOs sustain their operations within a constrained operational and funding environment?
    • What internal capacities, governance, and leadership practices support organisational resilience?
    • How do LNGOs navigate engagement with communities, authorities, and donors while maintaining principled action?
    • What adaptive strategies and partnership models enable LNGOs to maintain effectiveness and accountability to affected populations?
  3. How do LNGOs operationalise humanitarian principles in practice, particularly in reaching marginalised groups, including persons with disabilities?
  4. What lessons can inform donors, UN agencies, and other humanitarian actors in supporting local NGOs more effectively?

7. Scope of Consultancy

The Consultant will develop an appropriate research methodology aligned with the TOR objectives, ensuring participatory engagement with Yemeni LNGOs throughout the process. The methodology is expected to include:

  • Literature review of existing studies, policies, and reports on Yemen’s localisation landscape
  • Development of analytical framework, interview questions, and discussion guides
  • Key informant interviews, and/or online focus group discussions with local NGOs, NGO Fora representatives, donors and coordination bodies
  • Analysis of data and mapping of LNGOs’ and their strategies
  • Production of a report with findings, analysis, and recommendations
  • Preparation of a PowerPoint presentation summarising key insights for ICVA, IRC, and representatives from the Local NGO network in Yemen

All activities must adhere to ethical research standards, consider the safety and security of staff and partners, and data protection and confidentiality principles.

8. Engagement with ICVA

The Consultant will report to the ICVA Regional MENA Coordinator, and work closely with the ICVA Focal point in Yemen and ICVA’s Policy & Advocacy team.

9. Roles and Responsibilities

ICVA will:

  • Facilitate access to key stakeholders and documents
  • Provide strategic guidance and feedback at key stages
  • Review and validate the draft and final deliverables
  • Support with the final layout and design of the report

The consultant will:

  • Lead the design, data collection, analysis and reporting processes. Manage research logistics and ensure the timely delivery of all outputs
  • Ensure adherence to ethical research standards and transparency
  • Ensure all consultancy-related costs in the financial proposal, including internet costs, and communication, are adhered to
  • Ensure compliance with legal, data protection, tax or other regulations in their country of registration
  • Submit the deliverables listed below as per the agreed timeline

10. Deliverables

  1. Inception Report: Including workplan, detailed methodology, analytical framework, and interview guides
  2. Desk review summary with key references linked to the research
  3. Informant Interviews (KIIs) and/or Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) summary notes
  4. Draft research report (up to 20 pages) for review. Comments to be incorporated in second and, if needed, third version to be endorsed by ICVA
  5. PowerPoint Presentation and validation event
  6. Final research report with actionable recommendations (up to 20 pages), in addition to all attached annexes. The final report should be written according to ICVA’s standard Template and be written in the English Language. 

11. Competencies

This consultancy is open to individuals or firms with proven experience in research, policy, or advocacy in humanitarian and conflict-affected contexts.    

Essential competencies include:

  • Strong existing networks and knowledge of local civil society and NGOs in Yemen
  • Experience advocating with marginalised groups in conflict settings
  • Excellent research and analytical skills
  • Excellent presentation and communication skills
  • Experience with organisational sustainability strategies, donor engagement, or adaptive strategies in complex crises
  • Fluency in English, both written and verbal, with exceptionally strong writing and editing skills
  • Culturally sensitive, and able and interested in working with a multi-ethnic team

12.  Desirable skills:

  • Advanced degree in relevant field preferred
  • Fluency in Arabic

13.  How to apply

If you have the required expertise and skills, please apply by sending an application in English, to icvamena@icvanetwork.org

Please include:         

  1. Cover letter outlining relevant experience and skills against qualifications listed.
  2. CV of the proposed consultant and a company profile in case of a consultancy firm.

Note: Key personnel whose CVs are submitted in the proposal will undertake the assignment and work directly with ICVA. Any attempt to replace or substitute consultancy personnel will be treated as a breach of the agreement.

  1. Brief technical proposal detailing the methodology for the policy briefing and a work plan.
  2. Financial proposal demonstrating the budget inclusive of all expected expenses and total costs.

Applications that fail to include one or more of these elements will not be considered.       

14. Evaluation and award of Consultancy    

ICVA will evaluate the proposals and award the assignment based on technical and financial soundness and feasibility. ICVA reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal received without giving reasons and is not bound to accept the lowest, the highest, or any bidder.

References checks will be conducted prior to an offer being accepted.

The payment rate and schedule will be determined between ICVA and the selected consultant based on the financial proposal.

The final deadline for application is CoB 22nd November 2025

Note: Throughout the work, the consultant must be registered in accordance with legal requirements in their country of residence and must be able to submit documentation that proves that she/he is meeting all legal obligations for the consultancy, including full compliance with ICVA regulations, including the Safeguarding Policy.

Applicants from all countries are encouraged to apply. Consultants must be legally registered on a freelance contract in their country of residence.

ICVA’s selection process includes rigorous background checks and reflects our organisational integrity and commitment to make humanitarian action more principled and effective.