Terms of Reference: Refugee Livelihoods Program Consultancy

Location: this opportunity is remote with a preference candidates in East Africa or able to travel to East Africa easily

Application deadline: May 26, 2025 (or until we reach a critical mass of applications)

About this opportunity

GD’s Refugee Programming

Cash and vouchers have been used at scale by many agencies to meet the basic needs of refugees. However the adequacy of these transfers has been reducing over time due to funding constraints, whilst the demand for basic needs assistance grows. In this context, GD is providing a very different model for cash transfers, intentionally providing large cash transfers (between $750 and $1,000 per household) which are designed to be transformative and reduce reliance on assistance.

There is strong evidence that large, lump sum cash payments provide a way of delivering lasting economic outcomes, as well as being more efficient, than programs that deliver smaller, more frequent payments. A large transfer allows for recipients to take care of their basic needs with a percentage of the transfer (consumption transfers), as well as allowing a significant percentage to be used for productive assets and income generating activities. Smaller transfer sizes usually only accommodate either basic needs or investments; but not both. Through this model, GiveDirectly’s refugee programming has delivered over $21.3M to more than 30,000 people in Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda. This page provides an overview of our programmes to date, supported by more specific details on ongoing programmes in Kenya and Uganda.

We are committed to using evidence to inform changes in policy and practice. As such, we are consistently building evidence on this model - this Randomised Control Trial of our Kiryandongo programme in Uganda is a foundation, and we have 2 RCTs ongoing in Nakivale (Uganda) and Nairobi (Kenya). 

Why this consultancy, and why now?

There is increasing pressure on humanitarian budgets amidst global aid cuts, creating rising demand for sustainable solutions. This calls on the humanitarian sector to understand the most cost-effective approaches for addressing refugee self-reliance. 

Against this backdrop, this consultancy aims to capitalize on GiveDirectly’s experience and evidence to:

• Position GD’s model within the wider refugee self-reliance landscape
  • How does the design differ in terms of costing, design, outcomes, feasibility/enabling environment?
  • How does the RCT evidence differ from that for others’ refugee self-reliance programmes (e.g. Inkomoko, ReBuild)?
  • What evidence is there currently on the macro-economic case for refugee economic inclusion? What gaps can GD’s research address?
  • What are the national and international forums in which GD should be promoting its work?
• Support GD to broaden the funding base for its self-reliance model 
  • Beyond Kenya and Uganda, what would the scope be for GD expanding this model?
  • What are the prospects for World Bank funding for refugee self-reliance in GD’s countries of operation?
  • What is needed for GD to demonstrate the scalability and sustainability of this model (including the macroeconomic case)?

Consultancy objectives and outputs

This consultancy, funded by the IKEA foundation, will provide policy and technical support to GiveDirectly to achieve its policy and fundraising goals. The consultant (or team) will work closely with GiveDirectly’s Policy Director. The consultancy objectives and outputs are detailed below until the end of 2025. The consultancy may be extended beyond this but the additional deliverables would need to be defined nearer the time.

• Support the design and (co)facilitation of GD-led learning and dissemination workshops (building on the evidence deliverables in Annexe 1 below), to include:
  • Design and co-facilitation of a workshop to develop a shared learning agenda on the role of large cash transfers in refugee self-reliance
  • Workshop to launch of the results of the evaluation of GD’s new arrivals programme
  • Support the organisation of a joint donor visit and roundtable to discuss the ‘Initial internal impact results’ and shape GD’s policy positioning
  • Roundtable engagement with Government (and World Bank - TBC) on GD’s role in Shirika plan

• Lead the development of learning/policy products on refugee self-reliance, including:
  • Draft up to 4 short briefs on topics of interest to catalytic donors and/or Government, e.g.: 
    • enablers and outcomes for sustainable cash-based self-reliance 
    • Links between GD’s programmes and access to financial services
    • outcomes for population groups of interest to key catalytic donors (e.g. on women for Gates, on youth for MCF)
    • Kenya: GDs’s role in the Shirika plan and Differentiated Assistance Framework
  • Q4 2025: Produce a globally-relevant policy brief (and associated blog) on cash for new arrivals (including operational challenges and lessons learned)
  • Cross-country (2026 - to be included in potential expanded Scope of Work) Develop Guidance/Principles on large cash transfers for refugee self-reliance

• Strengthen the funding pipeline for GD’s self-reliance programming:
  • Develop theory of change for GD’s self-reliance programming demonstrating the scalability and sustainability of the model
  • Provide recommendations on how to position GD’s work with specific catalytic donors (e.g. World Bank) beyond our current prospective donor base

• Support GD to develop key knowledge and learning partnerships and engage in strategic events, including:
  • Build academic/policy relationships, e.g. with ODI, Oxford Refugees Studies Institute, CGD, IGAD and ReDSS to facilitate: coordination of research agendas, joint publications, speaking slots at key events
  • Identify key national and international events at which GD should be presenting its refugee programming

Qualifications and Experience

The consultant should demonstrate the following attributes:

• Deep understanding of humanitarian and development cash assistance models, including graduation approaches, social protection linkages, and market-based interventions.
• Extensive experience with refugee response programming and policy, including durable solutions, self-reliance strategies, and engagement with host communities.
• Strong facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to convene and guide discussions with diverse actors, including refugee-led organizations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex findings into clear, actionable recommendations tailored to different audiences (e.g., implementing agencies, donors, policymakers).
• Proven ability to work with international NGOs, UN agencies, bilateral donors, and national governments in refugee-hosting contexts, with an existing professional network across humanitarian and development coordination systems.
• Regional experience in East Africa, particularly in Kenya and/or Uganda, including a working knowledge of refugee policy frameworks, regulatory environments, and operational challenges.
• Cultural sensitivity, contextual knowledge, and experience conducting ethically responsible research in displacement-affected communities.
• Ability to work independently and deliver high-quality outputs under tight deadlines, ideally with a track record of successful consultancy engagements.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply using the form below. We will ask you to submit:

• A technical proposal outlining the approach, methodology, and work plan
• A financial proposal including a detailed budget
• Examples of previous work relevant to this consultancy

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