Timeline: The consultancy will commence in February 2024 and conclude in June 2025.
Reports to: Dr Lizzie Babister, Global Shelter Cluster Focal Point for Research, hosted by Habitat for Humanity International
Deadline: Sunday 26th January. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Applicants should send the following:
Team CVs of personnel who will actually perform the work.
A technical proposal of no more than three pages explaining how they would approach the work and how they fit the team specification.
Two examples of previous relevant written work.
A budget proposal estimating the total cost for the engagement, the estimated number of days for completion and the daily rate(s). Habitat anticipates this contract will not exceed 20,000 USD.

OVERALL PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES
The overall purpose of this consultancy is to map and synthesize the available evidence which demonstrates the health outcomes of shelter and settlements in humanitarian crises. This includes the positive outcomes of improved shelter and settlements and the negative outcomes of inadequate shelter and settlements. After synthesizing existing research and datasets, the research team will present the findings for use in policy, advocacy, and practice. Through this process, they will also identify gaps in evidence to inform recommendations for new research.
The specific objectives of this consultancy are as follows:
Existing evidence concerning the links between shelter, settlements and health in humanitarian crises, including research findings and secondary data, are mapped and analyzed.
Gaps in evidence concerning the links between shelter, settlements and health in humanitarian crises are mapped.
Key quotes and figures from existing evidence that can best support policy, advocacy and practice are identified and formatted for use by humanitarian practitioners.
Recommendations are made for new research critical to the understanding of the impact of shelter and settlement support on health in humanitarian crises.

OUTLINE METHODOLOGY
The central research question is:

How does support to establish the adequate shelter and settlements of those affected by humanitarian crises have an impact on their health outcomes?

The research will be implemented by a research team comprising of individuals from academic organisations and humanitarian agencies. The research team will contribute to research activities in collaboration with a wider GSC steering group and peer review team, while taking on specific responsibility for data collection and analysis, in collaboration with Shelter and Settlements and Health practitioners.
Certain aspects of the study will be iterative and data-led. These include:
The type of evidence synthesis and protocol most appropriate to the data found.
The final format of the research findings.

ACTIVITIES AND DELIVERABLES
The activities and deliverables below outline the key tasks and outputs of the consultancy. The chosen team would be expected to collaborate with Shelter Cluster Members on the detailed design of the deliverables and the consultancy schedule.

Set Up
Attend and contribute to planning and progress meetings.
Liaise closely with the peer review group.
Set up the data storage system.

Inception
Develop the Research Framework in a report of max 10 pages including:
Background.
Literature Review.
Evidence Synthesis Protocol, describing the inclusion and exclusion criteria for data and the analytical framework.
Research Questions.
Methodology.
Ethics Plan.

Secondary Data Collection
Develop a Project Information Sheet for key informants of no more than 2 pages summarizing:
Background
Research Questions
Methodology.
Data Management Plan.
Compile an Excel database of secondary data on the health outcomes of shelter and settlements in humanitarian crises collected from sources such as humanitarian and development actors, universities, research institutes and government ministries.

Data Analysis
Develop spreadsheets with narrative explaining analysis.

Drafting
Draft paper of findings for review, max 5000 words
Draft PowerPoint Presentation of Findings. 10-15 slides.
Draft webpage of key quotes.
Draft summary paper of quotes for review.

Dissemination
Finalized paper of findings.
Finalized PowerPoint Presentation of Findings.
Finalized webpage on the GSC website containing key quotes.
Finalised summary paper of quotes.
Presentation of research at least one key shelter forum.

Debrief
Attend and Contribute to Debrief Meeting.

Essential Criteria
Qualified to Postgraduate level in medical sciences related to health (at least one key team member).
Either qualified to PhD level, or has equivalent experience in conducting qualitative research including evidence synthesis, data management, data analysis and writing up findings (at least one key team member).
Excellent track record of knowledge and experience of health and shelter and settlements programming in humanitarian crises.
Experience of and skills in working collaboratively in multi-agency teams.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, especially when communicating remotely.
Excellent skills in Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Office.
Fluent in English.
Proactive self-starters, completer finishers, problem solvers and team players.
Flexibility to work across international time zones.

Desirable
PhD related to humanitarian crises.
Affiliation to a University or Research Institute, particularly those in low or middle income countries.
Excellent track record of research and practitioner fieldwork in Health Programming in humanitarian crises.
Team includes a student or a junior consultant developing their humanitarian career.
Experience of and skills in collaborative decision-making.
Graphics skills.
Ability to work in other languages.

Please send all communications including questions and vendor proposals to: [email protected]