Please see Section 6 for application instructions.
1. Background
Global displacement is at an all-time high, driven by protracted conflict, climate-related shocks, and political instability. At the same time, progress toward gender equality has stagnated or reversed in many crisis-affected settings. Women and girls in displacement contexts face compounded barriers to accessing essential services, exercising their rights, and participating in decision-making, yet these realities remain insufficiently captured in global monitoring frameworks. There is no single, consolidated report or framework that systematically tracks outcomes for displaced women and girls across contexts and over time. Existing data are fragmented across systems, inconsistently disaggregated, and rarely synthesized into actionable insights for decision-makers
The Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) has initiated foundational work to map relevant indicators and data sources to inform a clear, evidence-based global picture of the status of displaced women and girls. The goal of this initiative is to strengthen accountability, policy influence, and programming approaches for women and girls experiencing displacement. Building on this, WRC seeks a senior consultant to lead the development of a conceptual and methodological framework for a high-level, globally relevant knowledge product to monitor the status of women and girls in displacement. This product is envisioned as an authoritative resource to inform global policy agendas, shape donor priorities, and influence humanitarian and development practice.
2. About the Women’s Refugee Commission
WRC is a leading global organization dedicated to improving the lives and protecting the rights of women, children, and youth displaced by conflict and crisis. WRC conducts groundbreaking research and advocacy to ensure that the unique needs and capacities of women and girls are recognized in humanitarian response and recovery. With a strong focus on gender equality and protection, WRC works to influence policy, build evidence, and promote effective programming that upholds the rights and dignity of displaced populations.
3. Consultancy Objective
The objective of this consultancy is to develop a concept and methodological framework for a knowledge product on the state of women and girls in displacement, ensuring it is:
- Grounded in available data and evidence systems;
- Responsive to key evidence gaps;
- Designed to inform policy, advocacy, and programming; and
- Positioned as a globally recognized, high-impact resource that shapes discourse, strengthens accountability, and drives action across humanitarian and development systems.
A central component of this work will be the development of a fit-for-purpose indicator framework, embedded within a broader conceptual and analytical approach.
4. Scope of Work and Key Activities
The consultant will lead the design of the knowledge product through the following components:
A. Knowledge Product Concept Development
- Define the purpose, audience, and use cases of the knowledge product (e.g., advocacy, policy influence, programming guidance);
- Develop a proposed structure and analytical framework (e.g., thematic domains, cross-cutting issues, narrative approach);
- Identify options for how the knowledge product could be produced and updated (e.g., annual, periodic, modular, dashboard or hybrid formats);
- Articulate how the knowledge product will add value relative to existing global monitoring efforts and reporting initiatives, and how it will be positioned as a go-to global reference point for tracking progress, identifying gaps, and informing decision-making on women and girls in displacement.
B. Indicator Framework Development
- Assess the availability, quality, and limitations of existing data relevant to displaced women and girls;
- Review and refine existing indicator mapping and metadata;
- Identify a prioritized set of indicators aligned with the report’s objectives and structure;
- Ensure indicators are feasible, meaningful, and aligned with existing global and humanitarian data systems;
- Define how indicators will be used within the knowledge product (e.g., benchmarking, trend analysis, thematic deep-dives).
C. Stakeholder Consultations and Validation
- Design and lead consultations with key stakeholders, including UN agencies, NGOs, donors, and technical experts;
- Conduct key informant interviews (KIIs) and/or facilitate group discussions;
- Use consultations to:
- Identify priority policy and programmatic questions the knowledge product should answer;
- Assess what types of evidence and formats are most useful for decision-making;
- Validate proposed indicators and thematic areas;
- Identify gaps in existing global monitoring and reporting and opportunities for differentiation.
5. Required Skills, Experience, and Qualifications
The consultant should bring a combination of senior-level technical expertise, strategic thinking, and experience engaging with global policy and data systems.
Education
- Advanced degree (Master’s or higher) in international development, gender studies, social sciences, statistics, or a related field; doctoral degree preferred.
Professional Experience
- Minimum of 10–12 years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian and/or development contexts, with a strong focus on gender equality and/or women’s rights.
- Demonstrated experience leading or contributing to the development of high-level global frameworks, flagship knowledge products, or monitoring systems intended to influence policy and practice.
- Proven track record working with global indicator frameworks (e.g., SDGs, humanitarian needs assessments, or related systems).
- Extensive experience conducting and synthesizing multi-country or global analyses, including working with both quantitative and qualitative data.
- Experience designing and leading key informant interviews, consultations, or Delphi processes with senior stakeholders (e.g., UN agencies, donors, NGOs, government counterparts).
- Strong familiarity with the humanitarian data ecosystem, including key data sources and their limitations in displacement contexts.
- Experience translating complex evidence into clear, high-impact products for policy, advocacy, and programmatic audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage complex deliverables within tight timelines.
Core Competencies
- Strategic thinker with the ability to link technical design to global influence and uptake, ensuring the knowledge product is both methodologically rigorous and positioned to shape policy, financing, and practice.
- Strong understanding of gender equality, intersectionality, and the rights of displaced populations, including how overlapping forms of discrimination (e.g., age, disability, legal status) shape access to services, protection, and opportunities.
- Demonstrated commitment to and experience applying feminist research principles, including:
- Centering the voices, experiences, and priorities of women and girls;
- Critically engaging with power dynamics in knowledge production, including whose knowledge is valued and how evidence is generated and used;
- Ensuring research and analytical approaches do not reinforce harmful norms or extractive practices.
- Experience designing and implementing participatory and inclusive research processes, including:
- Engaging local actors, women-led organizations, and affected populations in shaping research questions, validating findings, and interpreting results;
- Applying ethical, safe, and context-appropriate approaches to consultation and data collection, particularly in humanitarian settings;
- Integrating participatory approaches into global-level products in ways that meaningfully inform analysis and recommendations.
- Ability to balance technical rigor with accessibility, translating complex data into clear, compelling insights that elevate lived experiences and are actionable for diverse audiences.
- Strong facilitation and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust, navigate sensitive topics, and convene diverse stakeholders across sectors and geographies.
- Ability to operate effectively at the global policy level, engaging senior stakeholders with credibility while maintaining a grounded understanding of field realities.
- High level of professionalism, discretion, and responsiveness, with a collaborative and solutions-oriented approach.
6. Application Process
Interested candidates are invited to submit the following materials, as a single, PDF package:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) highlighting relevant experience and publications;
- Contact details for three professional references;
- A brief concept note (maximum 2 pages) outlining your proposed approach and budget. This should include:
1. An overview of the proposed methodology and key phases of work;
2. 4-5 priority considerations for developing an indicator framework;
3. How you would ensure the knowledge product can be positioned to achieve global relevance and influence across policy, funding, and programming communities; and
4. Estimated level of effort (number of working days) and total budget.
Submissions must be received by May 1, 2026 at 11:59pm EDT. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.