Research Consultant

DAI; City Of London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading consultancy in London is searching for multiple research consultants to accelerate the delivery of their ambitious workplan. Consultants will conceptualise research projects, draft publications, and provide technical support. Candidates should have research experience in public financial management or disaster risk financing, effective communication skills, and be adept at managing research projects. This role offers flexibility with an expected effort of up to 40 fee days from November 2025 to June 2026.

Qualifications

• Experience designing and managing research projects related to public financial management, disaster risk financing, or social protection.
• Demonstrated research skills in mixed methods qualitative research.
• Ability to communicate complex information creatively and engagingly.

Responsibilities

• Conceptualise and design research projects, develop methodologies, and manage project budgets.
• Draft and contribute to publications including research reports and blogs.
• Provide technical inputs for workshops and events promoting evidence products.

Skills

Research experience

Technical delivery

Effective communication

Flexibility and Adaptability

Job description

Research Consultants

About The Centre

The Centre for Disaster Protection 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.
• Quality evidence and learning.
• Impactful communications and global policy engagement.

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.

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:

• Conceptualising and designing new research projects, developing research methodologies, implementation plans, drafting and managing project budgets.
• Drafting and contributing to publications including research reports, working papers, guidance and blogs
• Support the publications process, including peer review, editing and promotion of evidence products.
• 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:

• 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.
• 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.
• Signposting and understanding success: There is currently a lack of compelling case study examples demonstrating success and tangible progress in Disaster Risk Financing (DRF).

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.
• 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.

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.

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.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The Centre is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates.