Consultancy: Global Gateway and innovative finance

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.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is present in over 40 countries worldwide. Our mission is to help people whose lives are shattered by conflict and disaster — including the climate crisis — to survive, recover and gain control of their futures. By FY28, the IRC aims to reach at least 20 million people directly through high-impact, innovative and cost-effective programming, contributing to a longer-term goal of reaching 40 million people directly and indirectly per year by 2033.

A sustainable and diversified funding model is a prerequisite for realising this vision — enabling the IRC to take risks, respond at speed, and scale proven solutions. As part of this approach, and in line with growing EU and donor interest in blended finance and private capital mobilisation, the IRC is actively exploring innovative financing modalities that complement traditional ODA.

The EU's Global Gateway strategy aims to mobilise up to €300 billion in sustainable, high-quality investment in partner countries by 2027 — a target already exceeded and now scaled to €400 billion. The strategy spans priority sectors including health, education, digital, energy and transport, and is implemented through the Team Europe approach, combining EU institutions, Member State development banks, and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) such as the EIB, AFD and KfW.

The European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) serves as the primary financial instrument underpinning the Global Gateway, deploying blended finance, guarantees and investment facilitation to mobilise private capital. The Global Gateway's '360-degree approach' is designed to link infrastructure investment with governance reform, institutional capacity building and social development.

However, a persistent and acknowledged gap remains. EFSD+ and DFI-backed instruments are structurally ill-suited to reaching fragile, conflict-affected and last-mile environments, where markets are thin, institutions are weak, and populations face the greatest humanitarian need. This results in systematic underinvestment in precisely the contexts where development impact is highest and where the IRC operates.

The consultancy will develop a strategic analysis and practical roadmap outlining the role the IRC can play in ensuring the Global Gateway delivers benefits for populations in fragile contexts. The consultant will translate this into donor-ready concept notes for priority opportunities, and build internal capacity so that IRC country programmes and technical teams can engage with the Global Gateway architecture with confidence.

Deliverable 1 — Strategic Analysis and Opportunity Mapping

A written analysis that:

• Reviews IRC's programmatic expertise, Impact@Scale interventions and Strategy Action Plans against Global Gateway and EFSD+ investment priorities, identifying areas of strongest alignment.
• Identifies the geographies where there is the closest fit between IRC programme presence, client need, and Global Gateway financing opportunities — with particular attention to FCAS contexts.
• Maps the relevant institutional landscape: key decision-makers within DG INTPA, DG ECHO, the EIB, and priority EU Delegations; relevant Team Europe Initiatives; and potential consortium partners.
• Outlines a prioritised action plan for IRC to secure engagement and funding through the Global Gateway, with a 12-month horizon.

Deliverable 2 — Donor-Ready Concept Notes (3–5 notes)

Developed in close collaboration with selected IRC country programmes, the Awards Management Unit and relevant technical units, each concept note (3–5 pages) should:

• Articulate a specific, financeable intervention that demonstrates IRC's unique value in enabling Global Gateway investments to reach fragile or last-mile populations.
• Include alignment with Global Gateway thematic priorities, expected impact metrics, an indicative financial structure (including potential blended finance or guarantee instruments), and proposed partners.
• Be written in the language and register of EU investment documentation — accessible to DFI and EC audiences, not just humanitarian donors.

Deliverable 3 — Internal Capacity-Building Workshop

Design and facilitate a workshop (half-day to full-day, hybrid format) for selected IRC country programme staff, technical leads and awards management teams. The workshop should:

• Introduce the Global Gateway architecture: thematic priorities, funding modalities, EFSD+, EIB, Team Europe, and the Global Gateway Investment Hub.
• Explain the humanitarian-development-peace nexus as it applies to the Global Gateway, and where IRC's work fits within the 360-degree approach.
• Provide practical guidance on entry points, consortium-building, and the EU procurement and grant landscape relevant to humanitarian INGOs.
• Leave participants with a concise reference guide they can use in country-level engagement with EU Delegations.

The consultancy is expected to run for 30 days until end September, with an indicative phasing as follows:

• Phase 1 (Days 1–8): Inception, desk review, stakeholder interviews, and delivery of a brief inception note confirming scope and approach.
• Phase 2 (Days 9–20): Strategic analysis, opportunity mapping, and drafting of concept notes in collaboration with IRC teams.
• Phase 3 (Days 21–30): Finalisation of all deliverables, delivery of the capacity-building workshop, and a closing debrief with IRC Brussels leadership.

This consultancy requires a combination of EU institutional knowledge, humanitarian sector understanding, and practical bid development experience. The ideal candidate will bring:

Essential

• Deep familiarity with the EU Global Gateway architecture, including EFSD+, Team Europe Initiatives, the Global Gateway Investment Hub, and the role of DFIs (EIB, AFD, KfW and others) in programme delivery.
• Solid understanding of the humanitarian-development-peace nexus, and of how fragile and conflict-affected state (FCAS) contexts present specific challenges and opportunities within the Global Gateway and NDICI-Global Europe frameworks.
• Demonstrable experience working with or alongside INGOs or humanitarian agencies — understanding their operating models, programme logic, and relationship with institutional donors.
• A proven track record of developing successful funding proposals, concept notes or investment cases for EU instruments — including direct experience with DG INTPA, DG ECHO, or EIB-funded programmes.
• Established relationships within the Brussels EU ecosystem: relevant contacts within DG INTPA, EU Delegations, and/or leading DFIs.
• Strong analytical and writing skills, with the ability to translate complex financing architecture into clear, persuasive documentation accessible to both EU institutional and INGO audiences.

Highly Desirable

• Experience designing or evaluating blended finance structures, EFSD+ guarantees, or investment facilitation mechanisms in humanitarian or fragile contexts.
• Prior engagement with the Global Gateway Civil Society and Local Authorities Advisory Platform, CONCORD, or equivalent civil society coordination bodies.
• Familiarity with IRC's programmatic model, IRC's Watchlist countries, or comparable experience with a leading humanitarian INGO operating in FCAS.
• Experience facilitating multi-stakeholder workshops or capacity-building sessions on EU funding architecture for non-specialist audiences.

Given the breadth of skills required, we would consider delivery through a small sub-contracted team or named associate, provided the lead consultant retains overall accountability for all deliverables.

Professional Standards: All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.