ACT Alliance is currently seeking proposals from consultants for a review of its humanitarian Appeal Mechanism.  The full Terms of Reference can be found here.

Duration: 12 weeks, July-September 2026

Objectives:

The review will aim to:

1. Assess the relevance and strategic added value of the ACT Appeal Mechanism within the current humanitarian and funding environment and clarifying its role within ACT’s wider humanitarian architecture and the Global Strategy.

2. Assess alignment of the mechanism with ACT’s core values and humanitarian policy, purpose, and humanitarian commitments, reviewing the current design, ACT’s identity as a forum-centred alliance, localisation commitments and accountability to affected people.

3. Review stakeholder engagement, analysing how different stakeholders engage with the mechanism, and identify potential opportunities to enhance impact. Analyse funding, resource mobilisation, and financing dynamics, examining trends, engagement, requirements and flexibility, including how these factors affect member-led response, localisation, accountability and power dynamics.

4. Assess the effectiveness, eƯiciency, quality and usability of the appeal mechanism and associated tools, reviewing their appropriateness and support of timely, quality, accountable and inclusive humanitarian response.

Methodology:

The selected consultancy is expected to develop a detailed methodology in the inception report. The methodology should be participatory, evidence-based, and proportionate to the scope of the assignment. At minimum, the methodology should include:

1. Document review of relevant ACT policies, appeal guidance, appeal documents, budgets, reports, evaluations, monitoring reports, templates, governance documents, and relevant external standards.

2. Analysis of appeal data for the review period, including number of appeals, regional distribution, duration, budget size, funding levels, revisions, reporting compliance, and evaluations (data to be provided by ACT Secretariat).

3. Key informant interviews, with a diverse range of stakeholders (30-40), including requesting members, funding members, ACT Forum representatives, regional representatives, Secretariat staff, governance representatives and selected external stakeholders where relevant.

4. Focus group discussions or consultation workshops (online), with ACT members to test emerging findings and gather collective reflections.

5. Online survey, to gather broader feedback from ACT members, stakeholders and humanitarian practitioners.

6. Validation and sensemaking, with ACT stakeholders to discuss emerging findings and test the practicality of recommendations before finalising the report.

The methodology should ensure regional balance, inclusion of both funding and requesting members and attention to national member perspectives.

Deliverables:

The reviewer will be expected to produce the following deliverables:

1. Inception report, Including refined review questions, methodology, sampling strategy, stakeholder list, workplan, data collection tools, analytical framework, and limitations.

2. Data collection tools, interview guides, survey questionnaire, focus group guides and document review matrix.

3. Emerging findings presentation and validation session, including a concise presentation of preliminary findings and a facilitated discussion with ACT stakeholders to test the analysis and inform the final recommendations.

4. Draft review report for feedback, including evidence-based findings and practical recommendations.

5. Final review report of approximately 30–40 pages, excluding annexes, and should including prioritised recommendations by timeframe, responsible actor, level of effort and whether they require policy, governance, operational, financial, or tool-related changes.

6. Final presentation, summarising key findings, conclusions, and recommendations for ACT leadership and relevant stakeholders.

Reviewer Profile:

The assignment requires an experienced consultant or team of consultants with the following qualifications:

• At least 10 years of experience in humanitarian action, humanitarian coordination, evaluation, organisational review, or humanitarian financing, of which 5 at strategic/leadership roles.
• Demonstrated experience reviewing humanitarian mechanisms, pooled funds, appeal systems, emergency response frameworks or network-based humanitarian coordination systems.
• Strong understanding of humanitarian standards, including CHS, accountability to affected people, localisation, participation, safeguarding, and inclusion.
• Experience working with faith-based, membership-based or network organisations.
• Strong mixed-methods research and evaluation skills, including qualitative interviewing, survey design, document review, and financial/portfolio analysis.
• Ability to analyse governance, decision-making, power dynamics, funding flows, and operational systems.
• Excellent analytical writing skills in English. Working knowledge of Spanish or French is appreciated.
• Ability to produce practical, strategic, and usable recommendations for both leadership and practitioners.
• Ability to work independently, sensitively, and diplomatically with diverse stakeholders.

Application Deadline: June 26, 2026, 17h00 CEST

Proposal requirements:

Proposals should be submitted by email to ioakeim.vravas@actalliance.org no later than Friday 26th of June 5pm CET Questions or requests for clarification may be submitted to ioakeim.vravas@actalliance.org until 26th of June 2026.

Interested candidates should submit:

• A technical proposal outlining understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, workplan, and approach to stakeholder engagement.
• A financial proposal, including daily rate and estimated number of days.
• CV (s) of the proposed reviewer or team members.
• One example of similar reviews, evaluations, or organisational analyses.
• Contact details for two references.