Defence Online

Type of document: Contract Notice
Country: United Kingdom

1. Title: IN-COUNTRY RESEARCH: THE EVIDENCE AROUND SUPPORTING MUTUAL AID INITIATIVES WITH INTERNATIONAL FUNDING- SHORT DEADLINE
2. Awarding Authority: ALNAP, GB Email: alnap@alnap.org.
3. Contract type: Service contract
4. Description: The consultancy in brief
This consultancy is part of a global research initiative led by the awarding authority and Local to Global Protection(L2GP), aiming to generate new, community-centred evidence on the outcomes of supporting mutual aid in crisis-affected contexts. The focus is on understanding how different forms of international funding (e.g., philanthropic, pooled, flexible core funding) influence these outcomes, and what this means for scaling support responsibly and equitably.
A key aspect of this work will be to examine – not only the potential benefits of international support at scale – but also to critically explore associated risks. This includes identifying and analysing possible negative consequences—such as loss of autonomy for local actors, increased pressures toward formalisation, or the distortion of local priorities—and working collaboratively to identify strategies that can help mitigate these risks.
Case Study Countries:
Based on the initial phase of the research, the following countries have been selected for further exploration through this consultancy:
Ethiopia
Haiti
India
Palestine
Sudan
Ukraine
The selected in-country research partner will co-lead the design and implementation of a country case study, working collaboratively with ALNAP , a steering group of sclr practitioners, and other country teams. The approach will be participatory, centering local perspectives, and fostering cross-country learning.
We aim to partner with a research or learning organisation, but will also consider consultants—groups or individuals—based in and from the country of focus with expertise in humanitarian programming, mutual aid, or SCLR. Eligible candidates include learning networks, think tanks, institutions, agencies, and universities. Consortia with both global majority and minority team members are welcome.
2. About the research
This partnership is a central component of a two-year research initiative led by ALNAP and Local to Global Protection (L2GP), focused on understanding and strengthening the evidence around supporting mutual aid in crisis-affected contexts.
Background:
Communities experiencing crisis are often their own first responders, providing timely and contextually appropriate support through mutual aid networks. Despite growing recognition of the importance of these efforts, international humanitarian funding and programming have historically overlooked or under-supported such community-led responses. Recent years have seen increased calls to “localise” humanitarian action, but much of the support has been channelled to larger, formalised organisations, with limited structured analysis of how international support can best support existing mutual aid efforts.
Research Structure:
The research is structured in two phases:
Phase 1: Synthesised existing evidence on approaches that support mutual aid, identified key gaps in the evidence base, and co-developed practical learning tools with practitioners to address the gaps.
Phase 2 (this consultancy): This phase conducts primary research via country case studies to address gaps from phase 1. The studies will collect structured, community-focused data on the outcomes of supporting mutual aid and assess how funding types and other forms of support from international sources funding types affect these results. The project will also evaluate the benefits and risks of scaling support—such as loss of autonomy or local priority distortion—and collaboratively propose ways to mitigate these risks.
3. Aim and Scope
The consultancy’s aim is to co-design and implement a mixed-methods research approach for the country case study, engaging a range of stakeholders—including mutual aid groups, intermediaries, funders, affected communities and others deemed relevant to this study.
The research will:
Be co-designed with ALNAP , L2GP and other country teams, ensuring contextual relevance and comparability.
Use data collection methods approaches such as outcome harvesting, focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews (KIIs), and possibly surveys. The methodology will be discussed and agreed with each partner.
Produce a country case study report (in English and, where relevant, the national language), which will feed into a global synthesis report.
We welcome applications from local research agencies or groups as well as from organisations that have established relationships with researchers and stakeholders in the following countries:
Ethiopia
Haiti
India
Palestine
Ukraine
Sudan
The process will prioritise participatory engagement, ethical research practice, and collaborative analysis, with opportunities for cross-country dialogue and shared learning.
Activities:
A. Methodology Design:
Participate in online meetings to co-design the research approach with ALNAP and other country teams.
Develop a methodology that allows for both contextualisation and cross-country analysis.
B. Data Collection:
Collect mixed-methods data from relevant stakeholders (mutual aid groups, intermediaries, funders, communities and other relevant stakeholder categories to be agreed at the inception phase).
C. Data Analysis:
Collaboratively analyse qualitative data, using coding software where possible.
D. Learning Tool Co-design:
Contribute to adapting learning tools based on field experience.
Deliverables:
20-page country case study (English and national language, as needed). Support can be provided for the English version if needed.
2-page executive summary with recommendations.
Transcripts of all data collected and a data collection matrix
Summary matrix of data analysis.
Proposed Timeline 2026:
February: Onboarding and research co-design
March – May: Data collection
June – July: Case study write-up
August: External learning tool (produced by ALNAP with input from the country team)
A budget of between £8,000 – £10,000 is available for each country case study.
5. CPV Code(s): 85320000, 85300000, 85322000, 73000000, 73200000
6. NUTS code(s): UKI, UKI4, UKI45
7. Main site or location of works, main place of delivery or main place of performance: London, Inner London – East, Lambeth.
8. Reference attributed by awarding authority: Not provided.
9. Estimated value of requirement: A budget of between £8,000 – £10,000 is available for each country case study.
10. Applications should be sent by 12.1.2026 (00:00).
11. Address to which they must be sent: For further information regarding the above contract notice please visit:
12. Other information: Qualifications
Essential:
Experience conducting research in humanitarian contexts.
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and remotely.
Track record of delivering complex projects to deadline.
Experience with participatory and community-centred research approaches.
Significant experience with FGDs, KIIs, and mixed-methods data collection.
Established relationships with local researchers and stakeholders within the case study country.
Understanding of ethical considerations in research with vulnerable populations.
Willingness to engage in co-design and iterative learning with ALNAP , L2GP and other country teams.
Desirable:
Experience with qualitative coding software.
Experience with the in outcome harvesting methodology.
Research experience with mutual aid, community-based organisations, or sclr approaches.
Experience working with multi-cultural and multidisciplinary teams
5. Application process
Please submit a brief proposal (max 3 pages) outlining:
Your motivation and perspective on supporting mutual aid in humanitarian contexts, and your interest in this partnership.
How your previous work and organisational development relate to this research.
Your proposed approach to data collection and access across the country.
Composition and location of your team, including prior collaborative experience and who will act as lead researcher.
Consideration of access and security issues in fragile conflict affected settings.
Examples of relevant previous work and two references.
A proposed budget in GBP, detailing costs for the listed activities.
Attach CVs and links to previous work. Submit to alnap@alnap.org by midnight TBD.
Interviews will take place the week of 19 January 2026
How to apply
Applications to: alnap@alnap.org by midnight UK time, Monday 12th January 2026.
Contract period: February 2026 – June 2026
Contact for queries: Anna Louise Van der Merwe, ALNAP Mutual Aid Programme Manager (alnap@alnap.org)
Interviews: Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview on a rolling basis.
TKR-202612-EX-1863501