Consultancy for the Development of a Climate and Environmental Risk Toolbox for Child-centred Humanitarian Programmes

Consultancy for the Development of a Climate and Environmental Risk Toolbox for Child-centred Humanitarian Programmes

Organization: SOS Children’s Villages International

Job type: Consultancy

Career category: Programme/Project Management; Disaster Risk Reduction; Climate and Environment

Years of experience: 5–9 years

Location: Flexible / remote, with field-level validation in at least two project locations

Duration: Approximately 8–10 weeks

Languages: English required; French strongly desirable for roll-out materials

Expected start date: 13 July 2026

Application deadline: 21 June 2026

About SOS Children’s Villages International

SOS Children’s Villages International (SOS CVI) is an independent, non-governmental and non-profit international organisation working in more than 130 countries and territories to protect and care for children without parental care or at risk of losing it.

SOS CVI is increasingly engaged in humanitarian preparedness and response, with programmes focused on child protection, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), Education in Emergencies (EiE), nutrition, and multi-sectoral assistance to meet basic needs. Humanitarian programmes are led and delivered by local and national Member Associations with long-term presence on the ground.

The International Humanitarian Action unit manages this consultancy and provides coordination and technical support across the humanitarian portfolio of the SOS CV Federation. This includes coordinating humanitarian funding streams and appeals, supporting disaster preparedness, maintaining and operationalising key response systems with Member Associations, developing tools and guidance for rapid response and recovery, promoting innovation and partnerships, and facilitating international coordination and sector representation.

Background

Climate hazards, disasters and environmental risks are increasingly shaping humanitarian contexts and have a disproportionate impact on children, who are often more exposed and vulnerable to shocks, stresses and disruptions in essential services. Strengthening risk-informed and climate-resilient programming is therefore critical to safeguard children’s wellbeing and ensure continuity and sustainability of programme outcomes.

Existing tools such as the ECHO Resilience Marker, NEAT+ and other sector frameworks support environmental screening, risk categorisation, resilience analysis and donor compliance. However, these tools serve different purposes and do not fully address the operational needs of SOS CVI programme teams in translating identified climate, environmental and disaster risks into practical programme design, implementation and monitoring decisions, particularly in relation to child-related risks and child protection programming.

SOS CV Member Associations already conduct risk identification and prioritisation through disaster preparedness processes to varying degrees. There is now a need for an adapted, practical toolbox that builds on existing SOS CVI documentation and programme cycle management guidance, avoids duplication, and helps programme teams move from risk analysis to concrete programme decisions and feasible mitigation or adaptation measures.

Objective of the consultancy

The consultancy has two main objectives:

• Develop one integrated, user-friendly toolbox for SOS CV humanitarian programmes, including tools, templates, guidance and key annexes, by mapping, adapting and tailoring existing sector tools and frameworks to SOS CVI programming and local contexts.
• Support SOS CV country offices to apply the ECHO Resilience Marker more effectively, including through the development of practical guidance materials and a training package, and the delivery of 2–3 targeted trainings.

Scope of work

1. Development of a practical toolbox

The final scope, structure and level of complexity of the toolbox will be defined with SOS CVI during the inception phase. The toolbox should be designed for use at key decision points in humanitarian programme design and implementation, including project design, activity planning and periodic review.

The toolbox should support programme teams to:

• Identify climate and environmental hazards, shocks and stresses, as well as the exposure of children, communities and services, and relevant vulnerabilities, including child-specific risks.
• Build on existing risk analyses and data sources, including disaster preparedness processes and available global or national data, while avoiding duplication.
• Analyse project implications, including how identified risks may affect project feasibility and continuity, access to and quality of services, child protection risks and outcomes, delivery modalities, and the continuity and resilience of community systems and services.
• Identify project adjustments and risk mitigation measures that support continuity, “do no harm”, adaptation and the resilience of children, communities and systems.
• Generate actionable outputs, including a risk classification, indicative mitigation measures and a set of priority actions that can be integrated into programme design and implementation.

The toolbox should be practical for non-specialist staff and allow for different levels of application depending on the size, complexity and risk level of the programme. It should include guiding questions and, where feasible, short practical examples showing how identified risks can inform programme decisions in areas such as child protection, MHPSS, EiE, nutrition and cash-based support.

2. Field testing and refinement

The consultant will test the toolbox through application in three ongoing humanitarian projects, including a minimum of two projects with in-country field-level travel and engagement. Field locations will be agreed with SOS CVI during the inception phase, subject to feasibility, access and security considerations.

The consultant will facilitate the practical application of the toolbox with project teams, including risk identification, analysis of programme implications, and identification of feasible project adjustments and mitigation measures. The field testing will also include the application of the ECHO Resilience Marker, using the toolbox to support structured and evidence-based analysis of resilience considerations in programme design.

The consultant will document findings from field testing, including feedback from project-level teams, lessons related to the ECHO Resilience Marker, and recommendations for refining the toolbox. Based on these findings, the consultant will finalise the tool package and ensure that lessons from field application inform the related guidance materials and training package.

3. Communication and roll-out support

The consultant will support the preparation and initial roll-out of the toolbox, ensuring that it is user-friendly, accessible to non-specialist staff, aligned with SOS CVI internal documentation and approaches, and available in English and French.

As part of the roll-out, the consultant will support the Humanitarian Action Team in preparing and facilitating the global kick-off and product launch. This includes the development of key communication and dissemination materials, such as 1–2 PowerPoint presentations, a concise toolbox overview, and a curated set of links to relevant external resources.

Deliverables and indicative level of effort

Work package / deliverable

Indicative level of effort

Desktop review and assessment of relevant existing tools and frameworks, with a focus on the ECHO Resilience Marker, NEAT+ and CARE Resilience Marker, including a short summary of key findings and implications for SOS CVI.

3 days

Integrated, user-friendly toolbox tailored to SOS CVI humanitarian programming, including templates, guidance and key annexes.

10 days

Field testing and refinement of the toolbox through application in real project settings, including integrated application of the ECHO Resilience Marker, field travel and engagement with project teams, documentation of findings, and incorporation of lessons learned into the final toolbox.

15 days

Communication and dissemination materials for the global kick-off and product launch, including 1–2 PowerPoint presentations, a concise toolbox overview, and a curated set of links to relevant external resources.

3 days

Practical guidance materials and a training package on the application of the ECHO Resilience Marker, based on insights and lessons from field testing and including practical examples from field application.

4 days

Delivery of 2–3 targeted trainings on the application of the ECHO Resilience Marker to selected SOS CV country offices.

Integrated within the overall assignment

Total indicative level of effort

Approx. 35 days

Duration and working arrangements

The assignment is expected to be completed over approximately 8–10 weeks from contract signature, with an expected start date of 1 July 2026. For planning purposes, SOS CVI expects the assignment to require approximately 35 consultancy days in total. Applicants are requested to structure their financial offer based on the indicative work packages and level of effort below, and may propose adjustments where justified in the technical proposal.

The consultancy will be conducted primarily remotely. Field-level validation in a minimum of two project locations is expected, with the possibility to extend to a third location subject to feasibility and agreement with SOS CVI. The sequencing of activities, including toolbox development, field testing and finalisation, will be agreed during the inception phase. The final allocation of working days per deliverable or work package will be reviewed and confirmed as part of the inception report and the final consultancy agreement.

Required experience and qualifications

• Minimum five years of professional experience in humanitarian programming, disaster risk reduction (DRR), and/or climate and environmental risk integration, with demonstrated experience in integrating risk considerations into programme design and implementation.
• Familiarity with NEAT+, the ECHO Resilience Marker, and relevant environmental or resilience markers and tools, such as the UNEP/OCHA environmental screening tools and the CARE Resilience Marker.
• Experience developing practical tools, templates and guidance for programme implementation.
• Experience facilitating workshops and working with programme teams in field or operational contexts.
• Experience developing and delivering training or capacity strengthening activities.
• Strong analytical, facilitation and drafting skills.
• Experience working with international NGOs and multi-country programmes is an asset.
• Excellent written and spoken English is required; French is strongly desirable given the planned bilingual roll-out materials.

Consultancy fee and travel costs

Applicants are requested to submit a financial offer as part of their application, based on the indicative level of effort outlined above. The financial offer should include:

• Proposed number of working days per deliverable or work package.
• Proposed daily rate.
• Total consultancy fee.

The financial offer should be presented in EUR. Any proposed deviation from the indicative level of effort should be briefly justified.

Travel-related and other reimbursable costs should not be included in the consultancy fee. Any such costs will only be reimbursed based on actual expenses, subject to prior written approval by SOS CVI and in line with applicable organisational procedures and the final contract.

SOS CVI reserves the right to discuss and agree on the final number of working days, scope and budget during the contracting process. The final allocation of days per deliverable or work package will be confirmed as part of the inception report and the final consultancy agreement.

How to apply

Interested consultants are invited to submit the following documents:

• CV outlining relevant experience.
• Brief technical proposal, maximum three pages, describing the proposed approach, methodology, sequencing and how the assignment can be successfully achieved.
• Financial offer, including proposed number of working days per deliverable or work package, daily rate, total consultancy fee, and a brief justification for any proposed deviation from the indicative level of effort.
• Indicative availability for the assignment period.

Applications should be sent by email to alfhild.boehringer@sos-kd.org.

Please include the subject line: Application – Climate and Environmental Toolbox Consultancy

The deadline for applications is 21 June 2026.

Safeguarding and code of conduct

SOS Children’s Villages is committed to creating and maintaining a safe environment for children, young people and adults in the communities where it works. The selected consultant will be required to comply with SOS CVI safeguarding standards, the SOS CVI Code of Conduct for third parties, confidentiality requirements, and any security or ethical requirements applicable to the field validation process.

Data protection and confidentiality

All data, documents and information accessed or produced during the assignment must be treated as confidential and used only for the purposes of this consultancy. Final deliverables and related materials developed under the assignment will remain the property of SOS CVI unless otherwise agreed in writing.

How to apply

Applications should be sent by email to alfhild.boehringer@sos-kd.org.

Please include the subject line: Application – Climate and Environmental Toolbox Consultancy