(Consultancy) Request for Proposal: Desk Review Consultant for Anticipatory Action Research

GSD says; United States; Remote; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A forward-thinking humanitarian organization is seeking a consultancy firm to enhance disaster preparedness and response efforts in Central America and the Caribbean. This role involves conducting thorough desk reviews, analyzing existing frameworks, and providing actionable recommendations for improving anticipatory action systems. The consultancy aims to support local authorities in building resilience against crises through effective disaster management strategies. If you have extensive experience in emergency preparedness and a passion for making a difference in vulnerable regions, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• 8-10 years of experience in emergency preparedness and disaster risk management.
• Advanced university degree in disaster risk management or related fields.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive reviews of Anticipatory Action frameworks.
• Identify key actors and gaps in disaster management systems.

Skills

Emergency Preparedness

Disaster Risk Management

Policy Analysis

Stakeholder Engagement

Spanish Speaking

Education

Master's Degree in Relevant Field

Tools

Forecast Systems

Early Warning Systems

Job description

Application Process:

Interested candidates can apply to this consultancy by providing a technical and financial proposal/offer by midnight on May 15th, 2025 US EST:

• Narrative proposal with a plan to undertake the assignment
• Financial offer including all costs (including any taxes, fees, or other costs)
• Applicant’s CV (or CV of lead facilitator of a firm), and CVs of any proposed subcontractors, if applicable
• Contact information for 3 professional references with the ability to comment on similar projects

Applications should be submitted via the GSD website. Any questions can be directed to Becker Rosales at [e-mail], CC Dr. Morad Malek [e-mail] with the subject line, “Proposal: Anticipatory Action Pilot Consultancy.”

Country: US

Organization: Global Support and Development (GSD)

Location: Remote

Type: External Consultancy

Years of Experience: 8+

Duration: Up to 30 days in three months from the contract award date

Application Deadline:Midnight May 15th, 2025 US EST

Introduction:

Global Support and Development (GSD) is a humanitarian organization whose mission is to

work with regional, national, and local authorities and key actors across the Caribbean, Central America, and the South Pacific for resilience to crises through rapid response, disaster preparedness, and climate adaptation.

Since its founding in 2015, GSD has supported disaster preparedness and response in GSD Priority Countries, ensuring our support is locally led, impactful, and ideally sustainable.

As GSD continues to deepen its impact in its area of operation (AOO) and define its offerings to its partners, it is starting to explore the possibility of supporting Anticipatory Action (AA) efforts in Central America and the Caribbean through a two-year Anticipatory Action pilot program.

The first phase of the pilot program entails understanding the existing systems, capacities, and anticipation action frameworks in GSD’s AOO (Central America and the Caribbean) while identifying the capabilities needed within GSD to support key actors in partner countries.

GSD seeks a consultancy firm to conduct a desk review to analyze minimum standards and ideal measures important for AA, understand existing AA frameworks in our AOO, learnings to date, conduct a mapping of key actors and better understand the key capacities authorities and auxiliaries have in place to support AA with a specific focus on Honduras, Panama, and Dominican Republic.

Objective:

The primary objective of this consultancy is to:

• Conduct a comprehensive review of the Anticipatory Action (AA) frameworks in GSD's AOO, and understand how they are integrated in disaster management systems at the national level and as available to sub national and community level; this includes identifying the key building blocks necessary for a well-functioning AA system.
• Identify key actors working in AA in our AOO - understanding who is doing what where, for how long, highlighting key achievements.
• In identifying the key actors in AA, provide recommendations on who GSD could start to work with in Central America and possibly the Caribbean, prioritizing key actors in terms of AA readiness.
• Identify gaps and areas of opportunity in the AA space where GSD can support in the region, and
• Provide tangible recommendations for GSD to pursue a pilot based on learnings from the desk review and with adequate partners.
• Map the current and future funding of AA over the next two years (pilot period), with an illustration of the existing gap analysis.

Scope of Work

The consultant will undertake the following tasks over a three-month period:

Desk Review, KIIs and Analysis:

• Conduct research into the problem statement and high-level attempts to address it via secondary data review. Based on this information and the TOR, develop an inception report per an agreed template with GSD that details the problem statement, the scope (and identifying what is out of scope), recommend methodology, and an overall research workplan, including a timeline.
• Conduct a thorough desk review of the scope of the problem statement described and the AA frameworks present in the Caribbean and Central America region; this should be followed by an analysis of gaps and areas of opportunity where GSD can support in its priority countries.
• Present an overview of key players and decision-makers leading AA work in GSD priority countries, including the main key findings over the past five years and recommendations
• With key personnel from the GSD partnership team, conduct some key informant interviews, supplementing available literature in order to obtain a firm understanding of who is doing what, where, to what level of success, key gaps and challenges, and obtain stakeholder recommendations (beyond putting more money into the system).GSD will provide concurrence on all key informants to be interviewed in advance.

Deliverables:

• Inception Report: using an agreed outline (the consultant can suggest) which details AA systems and triggers, scope of the work, methodology, work plan, and timeline.
• Zero Draft Report
• Draft One Report, including at least one case study
• Final Report, including a maximum six-page executive summary summarizing the consultancy work, including findings, recommendations, and next steps.
• PowerPoint Presentation: Prepare and deliver a 30-minute PowerPoint presentation illustrating key components of the report (draft 1 and final version)

Duration and Timeline:

The consultancy is for up to 30 days over a three-month period from the contract award date (but could be delivered sooner). Key milestones and deadlines will be established in collaboration with GSD at the outset of the consultancy.

Consultant Qualifications and Experience:

The consultant should have the following qualifications:

• Advanced university degree (Master's or higher) in the relevant field, including but not limited to disaster risk management, climate change, international development, international relations, environmental science, or related disciplines.
• Eight to 10 years of experience in emergency preparedness, disaster risk management/coordination, early warning, or related field with a focus on international disaster risk management
• Demonstrated experience conducting desk reviews and assessments, such as policy analysis and program impact assessments
• Proven ability to synthesize extensive data sets, like research papers, reports, and evaluations, into applicable steps
• Demonstrated understanding of GSD’s areas of operation
• Knowledge of Anticipatory Action Frameworks, inclusive of tools like forecast systems, trigger mechanisms, pre-agreed financing, and operational protocols; knowledge of early warning systems in disaster risk managementin the LAC region is desired
• Experience working with humanitarian organizations in climate-vulnerable areas where anticipatory actions are critical
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Spanish speaking is required

Consultancy Management:

The consultant will report directly to the Anticipatory Action Program Pilot Manager and work with the Director of Portfolios where needed.