Consultancy - Understanding Development Finance Actors role in Resilience Interventions

Background: Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. Across more than 35 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Evidence consistently shows that prioritizing prevention, adaptation, and resilience in fragile and conflict‑affected contexts can reduce humanitarian needs and promote long‑term stability. Yet these lessons risk being sidelined as bilateral aid budgets tighten and donors focus on immediate life‑saving relief. There is an expectation that development finance institutions may be able to fill this gap – providing prevention, recovery, and resilience in fragile places not yet in crisis. However, challenges to operating in these settings – access, security, perceived risk, poorly functioning government institutions, and internal bureaucracy – and the particular challenges of loans/return‑seeking investment – means that this work currently makes up a small portion of DFI’s funding. Yet given rising needs and the extraordinary pressure of global ODA, there is an increasingly urgent need for DFIs, including MDBs, to increase investments in resilience in the most fragile contexts. Mercy Corps is currently implementing a project to produce key learning and recommendations around how to build resilience in fragile places, grounded in practical insights based on our experience programming in such places. While the learning and guidance will be designed to inform FCDO and their implementing partners, we are looking for ways to ensure that this learning can inform DFI/MDB action in such places. In preparation for this we are looking to deepen our understanding of how key development finance actors are, or could be, supporting effective resilience programming in fragile settings.

Purpose / Project Description: The consultancy aims to strengthen Mercy Corps’ understanding of the existing role and potential of key development actors, primarily the World Bank, African Development Bank, IFAD, and the Green Climate Fund to support resilience programming in fragile and conflict‑affected settings. We are looking for a consultant with strong expertise in this area, who can draw on previous experience and contacts from one or several of these institutions. The consultancy will be in partnership with the Policy and Advocacy team, working with colleagues to complete the objectives below.

• Key Objectives:
• Understand how key development actors are currently, or could be, supporting resilience in these contexts (including in what ways they are able to directly or indirectly provide grant‑based/highly concessional or blended support to local‑level projects in fragile settings).
• Ensure key recommendations from RAFLF products are relevant and usable for these actors.
• Product dissemination and engagement with key actors to build support for increasing the quantity and quality of adaptation and resilience‑building investments in fragile and conflict‑affected settings.

Consultant’s Responsibilities:

• Task 1: Target analysis report – Produce a concise target analysis setting out key institutions’ role in resilience programming, mechanisms, and modalities of implementation and key activities in six countries. We expect this to include desk research and strategic key informant interviews.
• Task 2: Bespoke briefing and recommendations – Using the products published under RAFLF, the consultancy will support the tailoring of key messages and recommendations to select development actor targets. This could include a written briefing, in addition to a roundtable or policy discussion.

Timeframe: The consultant should propose an outline scope of work including a time estimate of no more than 10 days. Work should be completed between January 2026 and March 2026. The Consultant will work closely with: Global Policy and Advocacy Team, including Policy Advisor and UK Director of Policy and Advocacy. Members of the IDE unit, including the Strategic Partnership teams.

Required Experience and Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise with multilateral development actors, experience with the World Bank or African Development Bank desirable.
• Strong contacts within the World Bank, African Development Bank, or other multilateral development banks.
• Skilled at conducting research and presenting analysis and findings.
• Excellent writing, analytical, and presentation skills.

Team Engagement and Effectiveness: Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work. We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

Safeguarding & Ethics: Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.