Consultant - Cost-Evidence-Based Funder

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Title:  Consultant - Cost-Evidence-Based Funder 

Total number of Consultants: One (1) 

Country Program: Best Use of Resources (BUR), Airbel Impact Lab, based out of USA, UK, or Kenya 

Proposed Dates: 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027 

Duration: Six months; 20 hours per week; approximately 520 hours in total.  

Background of the project  

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) engages a rapidly growing pool of cost-evidence-based funders, whose allocation decisions are primarily based on rigorous impact-per-dollar analysis. Historically, humanitarian programming has not been a focus of this funder community. However, in recent years, the IRC has increasingly received cost-evidence-based funder support for a wide range of initiatives, from conducting exploratory research to scaling malnutrition treatment to influencing foreign aid. As the “Solutions NGO”, cost-evidence-based funders represent a values- and results-aligned opportunity to increase the reach and cost-effectiveness of IRC’s programming.

This consultancy sits within the Best Use of Resources (BUR) team and reports to the Senior Director, Cost-effectiveness. It is a time-limited engagement to support IRC’s relationships, value proposition and funding from cost-evidence-based funders, and to strengthen the BUR team’s own capability in the analysis these funders expect.

Scope of work 

Working with the Senior Director, Cost-effectiveness, and in deep collaboration with other IRC colleagues, the Consultant will produce materials that deepen and grow a portfolio of cost-evidence-based funder relationships, translate BUR’s cost-effectiveness research and IRC’s programming into donor-facing funding opportunities, and build IRC’s thought leadership profile within the community. 

In consultation with the Senior Director, Cost-effectiveness, the Consultant will determine the method and means of performing the work. The content of each deliverable will be agreed in advance with the Senior Director, Cost-effectiveness, who will review and accept deliverables.

Deliverables

Drive IRC’s strategy: Cost-evidence-based funder strategy, developed in collaboration with BUR and External Relations (ER), with an accompanying workplan and objectives and key results (OKRs).

Elevate IRC’s thought leadership: Five public-facing articles of 500 to 2,000 words, published on the Effective Altruism Forum or similar medium (TBD with the Senior Director, Cost-effectiveness).

Grow IRC’s funder relationships: Eight cost-evidence-based funder briefs, each setting out giving criteria, high-likelihood funding opportunities, and a proposed engagement path prioritising sustained relationship management over one-off asks.

Identify and secure highly cost-effective funding opportunities:

• 1 master list of highest-likelihood funding opportunities, matched to potential funders and supported with collateral below.

• 15 funding opportunity concept notes with accompanying back-of-the-envelope calculations (BOTECs) for cost-effectiveness and room for more funding (“absorptive capacity”).

Build capability within the BUR team: Lead review sessions and provide written feedback for ~5-10 BOTECs produced by BUR team members.

Payment Rate and Schedule:

• Based on a rate of US$90 per hour, IRC shall compensate the consultant up to a maximum amount of US$64,800.

• The consultant shall submit monthly invoices. Payments shall be made within thirty (30) calendar days of the IRC’s receipt and approval of the consultant’s invoice(s) and successful completion of the consultant’s deliverables. The consultant agrees and acknowledges that IRC reserves the right to withhold final payment until all deliverables are received and approved by IRC.

• Presumptive draft schedule:

Deliverable1 Cost-evidence-based funder strategy 

Month 1 

Deliverable 5 public-facing articles 

Month 1-5 (~5 per month) 

Deliverable 8 cost-evidence-based funder briefs 

Month 2 

Deliverable 1 master list of highest-likelihood funding opportunities 

Month 3-6 (ongoing) 

Deliverable 15 funding opportunity concept notes 

Month 3-6 (~5 per month) 

Deliverable 5-10 BUR BOTEC reviews 

Month 1-6 (ongoing) 

Fees are all-inclusive. IRC does not pay per diem expenses, benefits, or insurance. No expenses are reimbursable under this TOR unless separately agreed in writing in advance.

Requirements:

• 8+ years of cost-evidence-based funding or fundraising experience, including demonstrated success disbursing or securing multi-year $5+ million grants. Strong preference for 3+ years of work experience in low- or middle-income countries.

• Strong quantitative skills, including the ability to build, interpret and defend a cost-effectiveness analysis or BOTEC in a donor conversation. Strong preference for candidates with experience (a) analyzing humanitarian programming in Fragile and Conflict-affected Situations and (b) building and using AI tools to support analysis.

• Excellent writing and communication skills, including the ability to write for both technical and lay audiences, fluency in cost-evidence-based funder terminology (for example tractability, room for more funding, fungibility), and adherence to cost-evidence-based funder values of high reasoning transparency, truth-seeking and humility.

• Demonstrated ability to work as a strategic, proactive thinker who can design and prioritise their own workplan.

• High attention to detail, including for project and knowledge management.

• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects and multiple stakeholders in a large organization to efficiently drive progress.

• The ability to be flexible and work well under pressure, dealing with competing priorities, in a fast-paced team environment.

• Fluent in English; French a plus.

Professional Standards: All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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