Request for Proposals: Shifting Perspectives on Research Impact - Middle East and East Africa Focus

The R2HC programme is seeking two individual consultants to review our Research Impact Toolkit online learning materials and content to determine priorities for additional content and guidance. This new content should reflect approaches to policy influencing and research communications tailored to the perspectives and needs of both policymakers and humanitarian practitioners in the global South, particularly in crisis-affected countries.

We are looking for two individual experts, one with knowledge of the East Africa humanitarian health policymaking context (preferably Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan, Somalia and/or Ethiopia where R2HC's research studies relating to refugees and/or internally displaced persons usually focus) and one with knowledge of the Middle East humanitarian health policymaking context (preferably with expertise relating to Jordan, Syria, and/or Lebanon). In the future we hope to commission experts to expand the review to additional regions.

The consultants will be expected to conduct the following key activities:

• Review toolkit materials/online courses, and interview selected grantees to assess needs and gaps



• Present and discuss findings (producing written report and co-producing workshop)



• Support R2HC to implement recommendations (producing an engagement guide and tools/templates for researchers)



• Support R2HC to share learning (contributing to an event session plan for our 2025 Research Forum and writing a blog or article).
  
  Elrha's R2HC programme is seeking two individual consultants to review our Research Impact Toolkit online learning materials and content to determine priorities for additional content and guidance. We are looking for two individual experts, one with knowledge of the East Africa humanitarian health policymaking context and one with knowledge of the Middle East humanitarian health policymaking context.
  
  The R2HC programme aims to improve health outcomes for people affected by humanitarian crises by strengthening the evidence base for public health interventions.


As part of the R2HC's grant-making offer, we support grantees in stakeholder engagement, knowledge translation, and research uptake through workshops, peer-learning, and guidance tools. The support package is based on the Research Impact Toolkit (RIT), created by ODI in 2018, featuring workshops on goal-setting, stakeholder engagement, and research communications. Since 2020, the RIT is available online with additional courses on social media and community engagement added in 2023. However, recent research suggests knowledge translation and research influencing approaches in the global South differ from Northern perspectives, emphasising contextual knowledge and network-building. R2HC's evaluations highlight the need for tailored support for national actors in crisis-affected countries to improve research uptake and outcomes.

The intended start date is early July 2024. We expect this work will take an approximate total of 26 days, with the contract ending in November 2024.

A budget of in the region of £10,400 for each consultant is available excluding applicable UK VAT but including any taxes that overseas suppliers may be liable for outside the UK.