Development Wellbeing Framework Adolescent and Youth Development Programs Consultancy

Position: Development of a Wellbeing Framework for Adolescent and Youth Development Programs Consultancy

Development of a Wellbeing Framework for Adolescent and Youth Development Programs Consultancy

Join to apply for the Development of a Wellbeing Framework for Adolescent and Youth Development Programs Consultancy role at Mercy Corps

Background

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, hardship, and more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action—helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Over the past 10 years, Mercy Corps has embarked on a journey to challenge and address gender inequality and social exclusion in our organization, our programs, and our sector.

Objectives

Mercy Corps aims to establish an evidence‑based, youth‑informed definition of wellbeing and a wellbeing framework to guide program design, implementation and measurement. This process will produce a unified conceptualization, results framework, measurement guidance and implementation recommendations grounded in literature, internal evidence and participatory input from young people.

The objectives will be achieved through the following elements:

• Synthesize internal and external evidence on wellbeing programming and measurement, including internal documents and datasets (e.g., outcome monitoring indicator data, program evaluations) as well as relevant external research and impact evaluations.
• Conduct participatory consultations with young people to co‑define wellbeing and framework components, following a Level 6 participation approach (adult‑initiated, shared decisions with youth) on the Ladder of Participation.
• Develop a Mercy Corps Wellbeing Framework for adolescent and youth programs that defines wellbeing, program activities, and measurement options.

The Consultant will:
Literature Review and Evidence Synthesis

• Conduct a structured literature review and evidence synthesis of Mercy Corps youth programs relevant to wellbeing (approximately 6 programs expected), including outcome indicators, sex‑ and age‑disaggregated data (SADD), program implementation documentation and evaluations.
• External academic and programmatic literature on adolescent and youth wellbeing, including in humanitarian contexts and multi‑dimensional wellbeing models.
• Existing indicators and measurement tools from Mercy Corps and other organizations to assess their relevance, feasibility and evidence strength, as well as gaps in measurement of wellbeing.

Youth Participation

• Implement youth participation processes to define youth wellbeing, engaging diverse adolescents and youth from selected programs; activities will be conducted online.
• Focus group discussions with creative methodologies (story or photo‑based methods) will explore how they define wellbeing, factors that contribute to or detract from wellbeing, and how program activities support or hinder wellbeing.
• Provide logistical support to organize these online activities, including participant identification, scheduling and facilitation.

Draft the Wellbeing Definition and Framework

• Develop a definition of wellbeing based on the review and participation insights, reflecting an intersectional lens (e.g., gender, age, disability, socioeconomic status, crisis context).
• Create a wellbeing framework illustrating how program components (safe spaces, market systems development, parental engagement) contribute to wellbeing outcomes, with guidance on activity selection by program type, age group, gender and setting.
• Develop a table mapping program activities to wellbeing dimensions, evidence strength and measurement tools, identifying gaps and priority areas.
• Review existing measurement tools and develop a menu of wellbeing indicators with guidance notes.

Finalizing the Wellbeing Framework

• Present draft definition, framework and materials in validation sessions with Mercy Corps staff (global and regional technical support teams).
• Incorporate feedback to finalize the framework and deliverables.

Deliverables

• Literature and evidence review summary report (up to 10 pages).
• Youth participation workshop materials: facilitator guides, activities, discussion prompts and visual aids.
• Youth…