The Grand Bargain was negotiated between the 15 biggest donors and 15 biggest aid organisations in 2016 in response to the UN’s High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing report Too Important to Fail: Addressing the Humanitarian Financing Gap. The Bargain includes a set of specific commitments for donors and aid organisations to make humanitarian assistance more effective and efficient. The number of Signatories has grown to 68 and now includes Local and National Actors alongside donors, UN agencies, the ICRC/IFRC and INGOs. It is the most inclusive platform of the humanitarian community. Its current iteration, the Grand Bargain 3.0, complemented by its Implementation Agenda, has been agreed until 2026. It thereby contributes to addressing the increasing funding gap between humanitarian needs and available humanitarian funding. Since its inception, annual independent reports have measured progress of the Grand Bargain Signatories against the initial commitments from 2016.
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), on behalf of the Grand Bargain Ambassadors, is seeking an external consultant to write a Think-Piece that will provide a strategic foresight perspective on the humanitarian system, as well as an analysis of key reform proposals and additional transformations that may be required. This paper will inform reflections on the future of the Grand Bargain process and its platform.
The Think-Piece will assess the current international humanitarian system, specifically in humanitarian financing, leveraging existing research. It will aim to foresee the impact of strategic decisions and evaluate the relevance of ongoing reform efforts and proposals in the sector in the medium to long term. This should include the 2016 High-Level Panel’s recommendations on addressing the humanitarian financing gap. Based on this analysis, the paper will also identify additional systemic transformations that may be required to allow the international system to better address the needs of people affected by crisis.
For more details on the scope of work, expected deliverables, and requirements, please refer to the Terms of Reference (ToR), in the attachment. The Think-Piece is expected to be published by early-June 2025.
How to apply
Consultants that meet the requirements and qualifications outlined in the Terms of References are invited to submit a complete application by 24 March 2025, 23:59 CET to the email address Grand Bargain Secretariat gbsecretariat@un.org. The bid application should be titled ‘Grand Bargain - Think-Piece’ and include the following information as part of their application:
- Cover letter, including a short motivation for this consultancy including rough outline on how to approach the Think-Piece
- (Link to) Curriculum Vitae / LinkedIn Profile
- Links to past research papers or similar publications demonstrating experience in conducting comparable research and analysis.
- Rates: daily consultancy rate in CHF or EUR, inclusive of all costs, VAT and charges.
- Proof of registration as a consultant/sole trader/proprietor or a company in country of residence as required.
Please note: All service providers/consultants working with NRC should maintain high standards on ethical issues, respect and apply basic human and social rights, ensure non-exploitation of child labour, and give fair working conditions to their staff. NRC reserves the right to reject quotations provided by suppliers not meeting these standards. Consultants doing business with NRC will be screened on anti-corruption due diligence before NRC confirms a contract.
Please find the full Terms of Reference and application process here:
