Consultancy: Collective Needs Analysis and Planning Following Humanitarian Coordination Transitions | Apply by 22 May 2026
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), in collaboration with ICVA and IMPACT Initiatives, has launched a consultancy aimed at strengthening how NGOs conduct needs analysis and response planning in countries where formal humanitarian coordination structures are being reduced or phased out.
This initiative responds to major changes in the global humanitarian system, where traditional coordination frameworks such as Humanitarian Needs and Response Plans (HNRPs) and Refugee Response Plans (RRPs) are no longer present in some contexts. The consultancy will produce practical guidance for NGOs navigating these post-transition environments.
Background: Changing Humanitarian Coordination Systems
The humanitarian sector is undergoing structural shifts due to increasing global needs, funding constraints, and system-wide reforms. In several countries, coordination mechanisms led by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) are being scaled back or phased out entirely.
As a result, NGOs face growing challenges in:
- Identifying and tracking humanitarian needs without formal coordination frameworks
- Conducting joint planning in the absence of HNRPs or RRPs
- Securing funding for crisis response in transition contexts
- Maintaining visibility of protection risks and vulnerable populations
- Coordinating with limited or no inter-agency planning structures
In many of these contexts, UN agencies may rely on the UNSDCF framework, but these frameworks often do not capture humanitarian needs in sufficient detail or include NGO-led response planning processes.
Objective of the Consultancy
The main objective is to develop a practical guidance note for NGOs on how to design and implement needs analysis and response planning in contexts where formal humanitarian coordination systems are no longer operational.
The consultancy will help clarify:
- What planning tools can replace HNRPs and RRPs
- How NGOs can coordinate independently or with limited UN structures
- How to ensure protection risks and crisis needs remain visible
- How to support collective fundraising and response prioritization
Key Deliverable: Practice Note
The consultant will produce a concise and operational Practice Note intended for NGO practitioners at country level.
The document will include:
1. Options for Needs Analysis and Planning
- Overview of existing tools and frameworks
- Situations where NGOs may lead planning independently
- Hybrid approaches using UNSDCF or Flash Appeal mechanisms
- Coordination alternatives in transition contexts
2. Core Elements of Effective Planning
- Essential components of a costed response plan
- Minimum standards for needs assessment
- Approaches to integrating protection risks
- Methods for estimating response costs
3. Lessons from Other Contexts
- Case studies from post-transition or low-coordination settings
- Practical examples of NGO-led planning approaches
- Lessons learned from adapting existing frameworks
4. Annex: Practical Template
- Sample structure for NGO-led needs analysis
- Suggested formats for costed response planning
- Basic guidance on data consolidation and prioritization
Scope of Work and Methodology
The consultant will engage with multiple stakeholders and draw on both desk review and interviews.
Key activities include:
- Reviewing existing humanitarian planning frameworks (HNRP, RRP, UNSDCF, Flash Appeals)
- Consulting NGO practitioners and coordination actors
- Analyzing post-transition country examples
- Synthesizing operational lessons into practical guidance
- Developing a user-friendly and accessible final document
The final output is expected to be operational, not theoretical, and usable by field-based NGO staff.
Timeline and Level of Effort
The assignment is expected to take approximately 20 working days.
It may be completed by:
- A single consultant, or
- A small team with complementary expertise
The final deliverable should be concise, practical, and easy to apply in field contexts.
Required Qualifications and Experience
Applicants should have strong experience in humanitarian coordination and planning systems.
Minimum qualifications include:
- Experience with HNRPs, RRPs, Flash Appeals, or UNSDCF processes
- Familiarity with multi-sector needs assessments (including JIAF 2.0)
- Understanding of humanitarian coordination structures and NGO roles
- Knowledge of protection mainstreaming and the Centrality of Protection
- Experience working in politically sensitive environments
- Ability to translate complex systems into practical guidance
- Experience writing operational or policy guidance documents
Preferred additional experience includes:
- Work on internal displacement response planning
- Engagement in NGO coordination mechanisms
- Experience in transition or fragile humanitarian settings
Application Process
Interested consultants must submit their application by email to:
The subject line must include:
- “Post-HNRP/RRP Analysis Consultancy”
Applicants are required to submit:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Cover note explaining relevant experience
- Financial budget (in CHF or EUR, inclusive of all costs)
- Sample of a previous guidance or policy product
- Proof of legal registration as consultant or organization
Deadline
- 22 May 2026 at 23:59 (Geneva time)
Late submissions will not be considered.
Final Note
This consultancy reflects a major shift in how humanitarian coordination is evolving in transition contexts. Through this assignment, the Norwegian Refugee Council aims to equip NGOs with practical tools to continue effective needs analysis, response planning, and advocacy even in the absence of traditional humanitarian planning frameworks.
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