Senior Research Fellow Impact Consultant in London

• Job Details: Senior Research Fellow Impact Consultant
• Background

The Senior Research Fellows (SRF) programme is a core component of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) Research Secondment and Academic Advisory Programme (Re SAAP), which aims to strengthen access to world‑leading academic expertise to support evidence‑informed policy and programming.

The SRF programme embeds senior academics within FCDO teams to provide strategic advice, critical challenge, and technical leadership, while also strengthening connections to wider research networks and global expertise.

The Research Commissioning Centre (RCC) plays a key role in the delivery of the SRF programme, supporting recruitment, contracting, and ongoing management of the programme including identifying and onboarding SRFs, helping to expand the cohort and improve alignment with FCDO priorities.

As the programme has matured, it has demonstrated clear value in enhancing access to expertise and supporting policy engagement.

However, evidence of SRF contribution remains largely qualitative and retrospectively captured.

Programme reviews and stakeholder feedback have identified the need for a more structured and proportionate approach to evidencing impact, particularly in the context of value for money and future programme design.

Purpose

To design and deliver a practical, proportionate impact framework and tools for the SRF programme that:

• Strengthen evidence of the contribution and value of the SRF role
• Support the Annual Review, including developments to the Logframe, and strategic decision‑making
• Provide a repeatable approach for future cohorts
• Objectives
• Develop an SRF Impact Framework
• Define key domains for outcomes from the SRF programme and corresponding areas of impact (e. g. policy, capability, networks, system effects)
• Align with the existing Logframe, FCDO outcomes and Vf M expectations
• Propose opportunities for longer‑term impact measurement
• Generate Evidence of SRF Outcomes
• Conduct targeted stakeholder interviews (fellows, hosts, programme leads)
• Capture qualitative insights, including longer‑term and system‑level effects. Develop case studies to capture SRF outcomes
• Develop Practical Tools
• Case study template (core method)
• Light‑touch monitoring/logging approach, aligned to the Logframe
• Guidance for consistent application
• 4–6 high‑quality case studies
• Recommendations for embedding sustainable impact measurement
• Scope
• In Scope
• Document review (programme materials, previous reviews)
• 10–15 stakeholder interviews

• Development of

• Impact framework
• Case study methodology
• Light‑touch tools
• Drafting case studies
• Practical recommendations
• Cross‑sector engagement with other funders managing and monitoring and evaluating Fellows models
• Out of Scope
• Full programme evaluation
• Quantitative impact modelling
• Large‑scale data collection
• System‑build or digital tools
• Approach

A light‑touch, phased approach

• Phase 1 – Scoping & Design (approximately 5–6 days)
• Refine scope, framework, and approach; agree refined approach with FCDO and RCC
• Desktop review and gathering other available resources on systems for Fellow impact frameworks
• Schedule key interviews with SRF programme leadership
• Phase 2 – Evidence Gathering (approximately 10–12 days)
• Conduct interviews
• Develop initial case studies
• Phase 3 – Synthesis & Outputs (approximately 6–7 days)
• Finalise framework and tools
• Produce case studies and recommendations
• Deliverables

The consultant will produce the following

• Impact Framework (short report)
• Case Study Pack (4–6 examples)
• Monitoring Templates and Guidance

• Final Synthesis Report, including

• Key findings
• Recommendations for sustainability
• Timeline
• Start: As early as possible
• End: Mid‑October 2026

• Outputs to feed into

• Annual Review (November 2026)
• Level of Effort / Budget – 20–25 consultancy days
• Roles and Governance
• RCC
• Day‑to‑day coordination
• Quality Assurance
• FCDO Leads
• Direction and validation
• Sign‑off
• Consultant
• Delivery of all technical outputs
• Consultant Profile

The consultant will bring a combination of technical expertise, policy awareness, and the ability to develop practical tools to track outcomes. Specifically, they will demonstrate:

• Relevant experience in Monitoring, Evaluation Learning (MEL), ideally within research, policy, or donor‑funded programmes, including designing approaches to assess contribution and influence
• Strong qualitative research expertise, including conducting semi‑structured interviews, synthesising insights, and developing evidence‑based narratives and case studies
• Understanding of government and/or policy environments, with experience working with or within public sector institutions and an appreciation of how evidence informs decision‑making in practice
• Excellent synthesis and communication skills, with the ability to distil complex information into clear, concise, and actionable outputs tailored to senior stakeholders
• Experience facilitating stakeholder engagement, including working with diverse groups, navigating sensitive contexts, and drawing out meaningful insights efficiently
• A pragmatic and delivery‑oriented approach, with the ability to develop proportionate, fit‑for‑purpose tools and frameworks that can be embedded within ongoing programme delivery
• Familiarity with research funding, academic‑policy engagement, or fellowship/secondment models
• Experience working with FCDO or similar international development organisations
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