Gender and Social Inclusion Consultant

MAIN BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Development of War Child Gender and Social Inclusion Standards Framework War Child Alliance (WCA) is a global network of humanitarian organisations working to support children affected by conflict. Operating across multiple fragile and conflict‑affected contexts, War Child is committed to delivering high-quality, accountable, inclusive and child‑centred programming. As part of its strategic ambition and in response to donor requirements, War Child seeks to strengthen and formalise its approach to gender equality and social inclusion across both its programmes and organisational systems and culture. Although gender and social inclusion are already embedded in parts of War Child’s work, approaches remain uneven across contexts and functions. There is a need to establish a clear, practical and organisation‑wide standard to ensure consistency, quality and accountability. This assignment will support War Child to develop a Gender and Social Inclusion Standards Framework aligned with the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), War Child’s safeguarding, accountability and child protection commitments, sector best practice and standards in gender‑and‑social‑inclusion‑sensitive and responsive programming.

The purpose of this consultancy is to develop a War Child Gender and Social Inclusion Standards Framework that defines minimum standards for integrating gender and social inclusion across War Child's Evidence‑Based Methods (EBMs) and programme cycle (including emergency response), partnership strategy and engagement activities (advocacy, communications, fundraising), organisational expectations for leadership, systems and culture, clear accountabilities, tools and guidance for implementation, and alignment with CHS commitments and donor expectations. The framework should be practical, implementable and adaptable across War Child’s diverse operational contexts.

1. Diagnostic Review and Organisational Analysis

• Lead a structured review of War Child’s existing approaches to gender and social inclusion across EBMs, programmes, safeguarding, accountability and people practices.
• Analyse organisational strengths, gaps, risks and opportunities related to gender and social inclusion integration.
• Engage with key stakeholders across global, regional, country levels and relevant working groups (e.g. Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion working group) to capture diverse perspectives and operational realities.

2. External Benchmarking and Good Practice Integration

• Conduct benchmarking of relevant sector frameworks, standards and tools from peer NGOs and humanitarian actors.
• Identify applicable models and translate these into practical approaches suitable for War Child’s operating contexts.
• Ensure alignment with recognised standards, including CHS, gender‑responsive/gender‑transformative and social inclusion programming approaches.

3. Framework Design and Development

• Develop a comprehensive Gender and Social Inclusion Standards Framework covering both programme standards across the full EBM and programme cycle and organisational standards across systems, leadership and culture.
• Define clear minimum standards, principles, indicators and accountabilities.
• Integrate linkages with safeguarding, accountability mechanisms, child protection and inclusive programming.

4. CHS and Accountability Alignment

• Ensure the framework strengthens War Child’s alignment with relevant CHS commitments, particularly on participation, inclusion, needs‑based programming, complaints and feedback, staff support and organisational learning.
• Embed gender and social inclusion considerations within accountability and feedback systems, including safe and accessible complaints mechanisms.

5. Development of Practical Tools and Guidance

• Design user‑friendly tools to support implementation, such as self‑assessment or maturity tools, EBM development, programme and organisational checklists, optional gender and social inclusion marker or scoring approach, indicators and monitoring guidance.
• Develop a clear and phased implementation roadmap to support uptake across the Alliance.

6. Stakeholder Engagement and Validation

• Facilitate consultations and validation sessions with key internal stakeholders.
• Incorporate feedback to ensure the framework is relevant, practical and owned across functions and contexts.
• Support alignment across global and country‑level priorities.

7. Finalisation and Delivery

• Produce a finalised framework and accompanying tools ready for organisational adoption.
• Provide a concise executive summary and/or presentation for senior leadership and donor engagement.

• Inception Report – including methodology, workplan, stakeholder engagement approach and framework outline.
• Diagnostic and Benchmark Summary – concise analysis of current state, key gaps and relevant external practices.
• Draft Gender and Social Inclusion Standards Framework – including EBM, programme and organisational standards, guiding principles, CHS alignment and accountabilities.
• Implementation Package – including tools, checklists, indicators and a proposed rollout approach.
• Validation Workshop(s) – facilitation of internal consultation sessions and integration of feedback.
• Final Framework and Tools – revised, practical and ready for organisational adoption.
• Executive Summary / Slide Deck – for leadership and donor engagement and for staff onboarding.

Education

• We welcome candidates who can demonstrate equivalent expertise through professional experience, lived experience or non‑traditional learning pathways.
• An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Gender Studies, Social Sciences, International Development, Humanitarian Studies, Public Policy or a related field; or
• A first‑level university degree combined with significant relevant professional experience in gender equality, inclusion or humanitarian/development programming.

Experience

• Proven expertise in gender equality and inclusion in humanitarian and/or development contexts.
• Experience developing frameworks, policies or minimum standards for NGOs or UN agencies.
• Understanding of CHS, accountability and safeguarding (including PSEAH).
• Experience working in fragile or conflict‑affected contexts.

Languages

• Fluency in English is required for this role.
• Additional languages may be useful depending on stakeholder groups and organisational context, for example Arabic, Dari, French, Spanish or Ukrainian.

(Technical) Knowledge

• Strong understanding of gender equality, inclusion and intersectionality in humanitarian and/or development contexts.
• Knowledge of CHS, accountability frameworks and safeguarding/PSEAH standards.
• Familiarity with programme cycle management and quality standards in NGOs.
• Understanding of organisational systems, culture and people practices related to inclusion.