Consultant - Cost-Evidence- Funder

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities.

A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Title:

Consultant
- Cost-Evidence-Based Funder

Total number of Consultants:
One (1)

Country Program:
Best Use of Resources (BUR), Airbel Impact Lab, based out of USA, UK, or Kenya

Proposed Dates: 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027

Duration:
Six months; 20 hours per week; approximately 520 hours in total.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) engagesa rapidly growing pool of cost-evidence-based funders, whose allocation decisions are primarily based on rigorous impact-per-dollar analysis. Historically, humanitarian programming has not been a focus of this funder community. However, in recent years, the IRC has increasingly received cost-evidence-based funder support for a wide range of initiatives, fromconducting exploratory researchtoscaling malnutrition treatmenttoinfluencing foreign aid. As the “Solutions NGO”,cost-evidence-based fundersrepresenta values- and results-aligned opportunity to increase the reach and cost-effectiveness of IRC’s programming.

This consultancy sits within the Best Use of Resources (BUR) team and reports to the Senior Director, Cost-effectiveness. It is a time-limited engagement to support IRC’s relationships, value proposition and funding from cost-evidence-based funders, and to strengthen the BUR team’s own capability in the analysis these funders expect.

Working with the Senior Director, Cost-effectiveness, and in deep collaboration with other IRC colleagues, the Consultant will produce materials that deepen and grow a portfolio of cost-evidence-based funder relationships, translate BUR’s cost-effectiveness research and IRC’s programming into donor-facing funding opportunities, and build IRC’s thought leadership profile within the community.

In consultation with the Senior Director, Cost-effectiveness, the Consultant will determine the method and means of performing the work. The content of each deliverable will be agreed in advance with the Senior Director, Cost-effectiveness, who will review and accept deliverables.

• Drive IRC’s strategy:
  Cost-evidence-based funder strategy, developed in collaboration with BUR and External Relations (ER), with an accompanying workplan and objectives and key results (OKRs).
• Elevate IRC’s thought leadership:
  Five public-facing articles of 500 to 2,000 words, published on the "Effective Altruism Forum" or similar medium (TBD with the Senior Director, Cost-effectiveness).
• Grow IRC’s funder relationships:
  Eight cost-evidence-based funder briefs, each setting out giving criteria, high-likelihood funding opportunities, and a proposed engagement path prioritising sustained relationship management over one-off asks.

• 1 master list of highest-likelihood funding opportunities, matched to potential funders and supported with collateral below.
• 15 funding opportunity concept notes with accompanying back-of-the-envelope calculations (BOTECs) for cost-effectiveness and room…