Job Description

Research Consultants

About the Centre



The Centre for Disaster Protection ('the Centre') works to prevent disasters devastating lives, by helping people, countries, and organisations change how they plan and pay for disasters. We focus on disaster risk financing to help ensure that money and plans are in place before a disaster strikes, so that the poorest and most vulnerable people are better protected. We are committed to work in partnerships across sectors and geographies to drive more impactful and more equitable disaster risk finance that leaves no one behind. Specifically, through a focus on:

Delivering excellent client outcomes and promoting lasting disaster risk finance expertise. We provide clients with impartial and evidence-based advice, quality assurance and training that meets their needs and drives more effective disaster risk finance. Quality evidence and learning. We work to strengthen the evidence base for prearranged financing and document and share what shows the greatest potential to achieve system change. Impactful communications and global policy engagement. We seek to engage and influence through evidence-led policy and inclusive policy dialogue that bridges both 'local to global' and the humanitarian development climate nexus, targeting the bottlenecks key to effect transformative change of the international crisis financing architecture.

Additionally, we are focused on building effective systems and processes for people and operations that support the Centre to rapidly, yet strategically, scale and grow in a way that supports our people to do their best work through safe challenge, promoting and integrating diversity, equity and inclusion.


The Centre is funded with UK aid through the UK government. Read more about us in our updated strategy (2022-2025) and find out more at www.disasterprotection.org.



About the role



The Centre and DAI are seeking to engage multiple consultants to support and accelerate the delivery of the Centre's ambitious research workplan for the project year 2025-2026. They will support the Centre's evidence work by:

1. Conceptualising and designing new research projects, developing research methodologies, implementation plans, drafting and managing project budgets.

2. Drafting and contributing to publications including research reports, working papers, guidance and blogs

3. Support the publications process, including peer review, editing and promotion of evidence products.

4. Providing technical inputs for development and delivery of workshops and events to promote evidence products.



Strategic areas



In collaboration with the Centre's Evidence team, the consultant(s) may lead or contribute to the research projects in one or more of the following areas:

1. Transforming the International System: The Centre will continue producing research tracking progress and identifying opportunities for change in the international system, in order to scale up disaster risk finance and improve the international architecture.

2. Shaping the next generation of quality DRF: Our ambition is to produce evidence that supports providers and recipients of DRF, driving quality throughout the sector. This include research focused on understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the existing DRF toolkit, with a particular focus on DRF instruments as well as money-out (PFM) systems required for these instruments to be effective. The latter may include preparation of contingency plans, linking DRF to adaptive social protection systems and domestic transparency and accountability mechanism related to tracking disaster-related spending.

3. Signposting and understanding success: There is currently a lack of compelling case study examples demonstrating success and tangible progress in Disaster Risk Financing (DRF). We aim to address this evidence gap by uncovering authentic examples of advancement in DRF, identifying both technical and non-technical critical success factors, and examining the practical challenges and barriers that hinder effective implementation. This will be done through a rigorous, evidence-based and objective approach to ensure credibility and actionable insights.



During the assignment, the consultant(s) will report to Shakira Mustapha, Head of Evidence.



Required Skills and Competencies



Individuals are expected to work independently with occasional guidance and oversight from the project leads. Consultants should have sufficient relevant experience in:

Research experience: Experience designing and managing research projects related to public financial management, disaster risk financing, social protection or disaster risk management. Track record of producing research and evidence products to exceptional standards of rigour, quality and impact. Technical delivery: Demonstrated research skills in one or more of the following areas: mixed methods qualitative research; applied research skills including household survey design and statistical analysis. Sectoral knowledge: Demonstrated knowledge and experience in one or more of the following programmatic fields: public financial management, disaster risk financing, social protection or disaster risk management. Effective communication: Ability to communicate complex information in creative, precise and engaging written and visual formats. Language skills: Fluency in English required. French or Spanish fluency will be a plus. Flexibility and Adaptability: Readiness to respond to evolving requirements and handle tasks arising at short notice. Proven ability to work in multidisciplinary teams, as well as support the delivery of complex analytical and advisory services.


Level of Effort



The Centre is seeking multiple individual consultants to provide flexible, demand-driven support for the Evidence team. The initial level of effort expected for this role is up to 40 fee days, to be delivered between November 2025 and June 2026. There may be opportunity to extend the contract to provide further support as necessary.

Outputs and deliverables to be specified and agreed with the consultant in advance of commencing each key activity.


Application Process


Interested applicants should apply via DAI's recruitment portal. All applications must include a concise CV as well as a covering supporting statement (no more than 250 words) along with an example of relevant work.

Any questions about consultancy should be sent to: jobs_centre@disasterprotection.org (please do not send applications to this email address).

The deadline for receiving applications is

11:59 pm (UK time) on 26th October 2025

.


Fee rates and payments



Remuneration will be based on individual experience and skills while, as the Centre is a UK aid-funded project, all rates for consultants and staff are subject to controls.


Payment

Fees will be payable on actual usage of days evidenced by timesheets, subject to completion and approval of key deliverables due at the invoicing point. Any expenses will be paid on actual costs (against receipts) using an agreed invoice and timesheet template.

Correctly submitted invoices will be paid within 30 days of receipt of invoice and/or approval of relevant work (whichever is the later).


Negotiation and finalisation of commercial terms



DAI on behalf of the Centre reserves the right to negotiate on any aspects of the proposed costs and payment and is not bound to accept any offer.


DAI Eligibility Criteria

All individual(s) shortlisted will undergo an initial eligibility criteria assessment. This includes vetting of the organisations in line with terrorism checks, company history of improper conduct, any legal acts against the organisation(s) and initial vetting of proposed personnel. Where disqualification factors are discovered, the application may be rejected without notification.


Successful individual(s) will be subject to detailed vetting analysis and relevant reference checks, and, in the case of organisations, also a due diligence assessment through DAI's Management Capacity Assessment Tool (MCAT). This will include an assessment of:

Organisational details Safeguarding policies, procedures and systems Financial management policies, procedures, practises and systems Duty of care Modern Slavery policies and procedures.

Final award of contract will not be confirmed until these checks are complete.

Intellectual property



Any Foreground Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) arising out of the performance of project will belong to the Managing Agent of the Centre for the purposes of awarding to the Centre perpetual, irrevocable licence to use, sub-licence or commercially exploit such IPRs in the delivery of its mission and likewise to the Centre's funder, the UK FCDO. The Management Agent, on behalf of the Centre, will provide the Service Provider right to use such IPRs and other Centre IPRs to the extent needed to perform their obligations under this project. IPRs relating to any background intellectual property drawn upon by the Service Provider in delivery of the assignment shall remain with the Service Provider, who will provide the Centre (through its Managing Agent) and FCDO rights to use such intellectual property to the extent it is integrally required to enjoy their rights to use the results of the Project and the foreground IPRs.