Terms of Reference: Community Engagement and Co-Design Partner

Ground Truth Solutions (GTS) are seeking an organisation to lead a participatory co-design process with community members, which will inform the development and direction of a broader research project. This study is part of a project implemented by GTS called “Strengthening humanitarian response efforts through community-led evidence.”

Duration: 2 months (August – September 2026)

Location: Sudan

Reports to: Programme Manager

Ground Truth Solutions (GTS) is an international, non-governmental organization dedicated to ensuring the priorities of people affected by crisis are systematically considered in humanitarian and climate action, from individual responses to systemwide humanitarian reform. Evidence and ideas gathered through rigorous research and inclusive dialogue enable crisis-affected communities to actively shape the decisions that impact their lives. Headquartered in Austria, GTS works globally as an independent advocate, collaborating closely with local partners who share our vision.

This research project aims to generate community-driven evidence on how mutual aid, national and international assistance intersect to meet community priorities, shape wellbeing and social cohesion, as well as people’s suggestions for how aid could be improved. Co-designed with community members, mutual aid actors and local leaders, and guided by a diverse advisory group, it combines participatory research with structured dialogue to turn community insight into a more effective, coherent and relevant humanitarian response.

Objectives:

1. To provide robust, dynamic and actionable data on how crisis-affected communities across Sudan are experiencing the humanitarian response, their priorities and their suggestions for how aid could be improved.
2. To ensure this research is guided by and relevant to both crisis-affected communities and local and mutual aid actors, for sustainability and uptake.
3. To translate, with humanitarian actors across the response, this data into actionable insight which drives a more effective, coherent and people-centred response.

The research will adopt a co-design process involving community members from the outset. This will ensure that research topics are relevant and accurately reflect community priorities. The locations of the research will be decided in collaboration with stakeholders and will depend on the research questions.

Ground Truth Solutions (GTS) is seeking an organisation with expertise in participatory design, community engagement, and facilitation to lead a co-design process with community members. The aim of this consultancy is to co-design with community members the themes that our upcoming research programme will focus on, particularly a quantitative survey which will be conducted in late-2026.

The organisation will design and facilitate workshops/sessions, ensure participation from diverse community members, produce detailed notes of the sessions, analyse participant contributions, and produce a report on the findings to inform the research project. The organisation shall obtain any necessary approvals for conducting the workshops/sessions.

This process will be supplemented by regular smaller participatory phases throughout the project (not part of this call for proposals at this stage).

What is the purpose of the co-design process?

The aim of this round of co-design process is to discuss with community members the issues that are important to them, so that we can ensure these themes are addressed throughout our research project. The purpose is not to develop specific questions for a survey tool.

This project has the broad theme of ‘aid’, and as such it is important for us to understand how communities define this term, how various forms of aid – mutual aid, national, and international humanitarian assistance – are intersecting to meet their priorities and impact wellbeing, the extent to which it is adapting to rapidly changing contexts, and their suggestions on how to make support more effective.

Methodology

Research questions we would like this activity to address include:

• What are the priorities and concerns of community members, and how do these vary across different groups?
• What capacities, resources, and strategies do communities already draw on to meet their needs? How could external actors better work with existing community capacities?
• How do people define and categorize different forms of support — mutual aid, national assistance, and international assistance — in their own terms?
• What do people identify as the strengths, gaps and unintended consequences of the support they receive?
• What would improvements in the support that people receive look like? What role communities expect aid providers should play in their lives?

We prefer a participatory research methodology where participants can shape the discussions according to their priorities. Applicants should suggest an approach and method(s) that they believe best suited to the task and should justify their suggestions in the application. Applicants should also justify the demographics of community members they would suggest including in their approach.

Selection of participants and geographic scope:

Applicants should suggest multiple locations and a sample size for the proposed activities for this activity within the parameters described below:

• At least one rural location
• At least one urban location/IDP camp
• Conducted in at least two states

A final decision on locations and sample size will be refined in collaboration with GTS. Applicants should bear in mind the research seeks to understand the perspectives of different populations, especially minorities, women and youth.

The following are expected as part of the collaboration between GTS and the consultant on this activity:

1. Attend orientation meeting with GTS
2. Attend weekly meetings with GTS
3. Develop work plan with GTS team
4. Design research/facilitation tools together with GTS
5. Translate research/facilitation tools
6. Identify eligible participants in collaboration with GTS
7. Conduct co-design sessions and submit detailed notes on the sessions
8. Analysis/report on key findings from the discussions
9. Revise and input on the findings presented by GTS
10. Present research findings, in collaboration with GTS, to relevant stakeholders, including participating communities

1. Summary of each activity conducted, including detailed notes from workshops/sessions, and interviews
2. Transcripts and audio recordings of interviews, focus group discussions and other methods proposed, wherever relevant
3. Analysis/report on key findings from the sessions/discussions

It is anticipated that all tasks will be completed by mid-September. A detailed work plan will be agreed upon at the beginning of the consultancy.

• A strong and proven background in qualitative research on sensitive topics and/or humanitarian action.
• Experience in conducting participatory research processes
• Familiarity with the context of Sudan, preferably with experience working with civil society organisations and humanitarian actors.
• Excellent analytical and reporting skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Sudanese Arabic.

How to apply

Interested candidates are required to apply before 26 July 2026 at the following email address: tender@groundtruthsolutions.org indicating “GTS Co-design – Sudan” in the subject line. The application must include:

• A brief cover letter and organisational profile.
• A narrative proposal outlining a proposed methodology; the deliverables and tasks; and expected number of days each task will take.
• A detailed financial proposal.
• A list of past similar experiences, as well as 1-2 examples of relevant previous work with more details.
• CVs of the main researchers/facilitators involved.

Questions concerning this consultancy can be directed to the above email addresses. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Seeking to recruit a suitable candidate as soon as possible.

Tagged as: Consultant