Consultant, Data Engineering within the Community Trust Index

Organizational Context

Strategic Alignment

• In Line With The IFRC Agenda For Renewal, The Organisation Is Accelerating The Use Of Digital Transformation And Artificial Intelligence To Strengthen Community Data Systems.
• This Consultancy Directly Supports That Agenda By:
• Reducing the time between data collection, analysis, and actionable recommendations in both emergency and programmatic contexts.
• Building analysis capacity through a fit-for-purpose technical toolbox to guarantee a minimum quality standard of CTI implementation.
• Establishing centralised, automated, and scalable systems that reflect the pace and complexity of humanitarian operations.
• Embedding community voice more deeply into strategic and operational decision-making at all levels.
• This work is directly aligned with the IFRC Strategy 2030, the IFRC CEA Strategy, and the IFRC Agenda for Renewal.

Job Purpose

Job Duties And Responsibilities

Profile 1: Data Engineer

• *Builds and maintains the technical backbone: databases, pipelines, and data collection systems.*
• ****Key Responsibilities****
• Assess existing systems (e.g. Kobo Toolbox) and recommend infrastructure architecture.
• Design a centralised, secure database suitable for low-resource and emergency contexts, including offline-compatible data collection.
• Build automated pipelines connecting data collection to analysis and visualisation layers.
• Configure access controls, data ownership, and privacy safeguards.
• Ensure integrations and interoperability with IFRC and partner systems.
• Document all systems for knowledge transfer and maintainability.

Profile 2: Data Analyst & AI Specialist

• *Turns raw data into structured, reproducible insights using AI-assisted quantitative and qualitative analysis.*
• ****Key Responsibilities****
• Build automated workflows for descriptive analysis: frequencies, trends, and trust scores.
• Apply NLP and machine learning for qualitative analysis, sentiment detection, and thematic coding.
• Enable trend monitoring across time, geography, and population groups.
• Triangulate CTI data with contextual and secondary data sources.
• Validate and quality-assure AI-generated outputs.
• Ensure analytical methods are transparent, reproducible, and well-documented.

Profile 3: Data Visualization Developer

• *Designs and custom platforms and interactive tools that make community insights accessible to diverse audiences.*
• ****Key Responsibilities****
• Build and maintain dashboards, microsites, and data portals for IFRC and National Societies.
• Design interactive tools for country-level data use and reporting.
• Develop automated visual outputs (insight briefs, summary reports) from analytical pipelines.
• Work closely with the Data Engineer on technical integration and with the Data Analyst on translating outputs into visuals.
• Ensure platforms are accessible, user-friendly, and compliant with IFRC branding and data protection standards.
• Across the three profiles, the consultancy will deliver the following:
• Centralised and Secure Data Infrastructure
• Support The Establishment Of a Centralised, Secure Database For CTI And Related Datasets, In Collaboration With The IFRC Digital Transformation Team, Including:
• Analysing existing systems (e.g. Kobo Toolbox) and recommending optimal architecture.
• Designing a database suited to low-capacity and emergency contexts, including offline-compatible data collection.
• Building and maintaining automated pipelines connecting data collection to analysis and visualisation layers.
• Configuring access controls, data ownership, and privacy safeguards.
• Supporting application interface integrations and interoperability with IFRC and partner systems.
• Ensuring system resilience, scalability, and full documentation for knowledge transfer.

Job Duties And Responsibilities (Continued)

• Standardised and Simplified Data Collection
• Support the standardisation of tools and processes for consistent community data capture, including:
• Streamlining CTI and CEA survey instruments to reduce burden while maintaining rigour.
• Integrating mandatory and optional question modules based on National Society profiles and priorities, enabling localisation while preserving index scoring mechanism.
• Designing visualisation approaches that distinguish contextual adaptations from standardised indicators.
• Developing standardised coding frameworks and taxonomies for qualitative data.
• Aligning all tools with humanitarian standards and IFRC reporting requirements.
• Automated and Real-Time Data Analysis
• Develop automated workflows to turn community data into structured, actionable insights, including:
• Building pipelines for descriptive analysis: frequencies, trends, and trust scores.
• Enabling trend monitoring across time, geography, and population groups.
• Applying AI tools for qualitative analysis, like NLP, sentiment detection, and thematic coding, with human quality assurance at each stage.
• Producing automated outputs (dashboards, summaries, insight briefs) based on existing templates and analytical notebooks.
• Supporting in-depth triangulation with contextual data, secondary analysis, and other external data sources.
• Ensuring all analytical methods are transparent, reproducible, and clearly documented.
• Digital Platforms and Data Visualisation
• Design and build custom platforms for sharing insights across the IFRC network and with partners, including:
• Building and maintaining dashboards, microsites, and data portals.
• Designing accessible, user-friendly visualisations tailored to diverse audiences – from field teams to senior leadership.
• Developing interactive tools for country-level data use and reporting.
• Generating automated visual outputs (insight briefs, summary reports) directly from analytical pipelines.
• Ensuring all platforms comply with IFRC standards on branding, data protection, and accessibility.
• Collaborating with CEA, Digital Transformation, and programme teams to ensure tools respond to operational needs.
• Producing documentation and guidance materials to support non-technical users across National Societies.
• Governance and Coordination
• The consultant will report to the IFRC CEA Lead and be technically supervised by the IFRC CEA Research Coordinator and the IM Senior Officer.
• Monthly progress updates will be submitted, along with a final report at the end of the consultancy period.

The Following Coordination Mechanisms Will Apply

• Regular check-in meetings with the CEA team.
• Collaboration with IFRC's Digital Transformation team, IM team, and regional CEA focal points.
• Participation in relevant IFRC working groups or Communities of Practice related to data and community engagement.
• All deliverables subject to review and formal sign-off by the CEA Unit and relevant IFRC technical leads.
• Time allocation
• The consultancy is expected to start on 15 May 2026 and conclude on 15 May 2027, for a total of 100 days, over a period of 12 months.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Database design and systems architecture
• + Required for: Profile 1 Data Engineer
• + Desirable for: Profile 2 Analyst & AI, Profile 3 Viz Developer
• Cloud infrastructure and application interface integrations
• + Required for: Profile 1 Data Engineer
• + Desirable for: Profile 3 Viz Developer
• + N/A for: Profile 2 Analyst & AI
• Digital data collection tools in low-resource contexts
• + Required for: Profile 1 Data Engineer
• + Desirable for: Profile 2 Analyst & AI
• + N/A for: Profile 3 Viz Developer
• AI/ML and NLP for qualitative and quantitative data
• + Required for: Profile 2 Analyst & AI
• + Desirable for: Profile 1 Data Engineer
• + N/A for: Profile 3 Viz Developer
• Quantitative and qualitative research methods applied to humanitarian sectors
• + Required for: Profile 2 Analyst & AI
• + Desirable for: Profile 1 Data Engineer, Profile 3 Viz Developer
• Data triangulation and secondary analysis
• + Required for: Profile 2 Analyst & AI
• + Desirable for: Profile 3 Viz Developer
• + N/A for: Profile 1 Data Engineer
• Custom platform and dashboard development
• + Required for: Profile 3 Viz Developer
• + Desirable for: Profile 1 Data Engineer
• + N/A for: Profile 2 Analyst & AI
• Data visualization design for non-technical audiences
• + Required for: Profile 3 Viz Developer
• + Desirable for: Profile 2 Analyst & AI
• + N/A for: Profile 1 Data Engineer
• Community engagement in humanitarian contexts
• + Desirable for: Profile 1 Data Engineer, Profile 2 Analyst & AI, Profile 3 Viz Developer
• IFRC or Red Cross/Red Crescent familiarity
• + Desirable for: Profile 1 Data Engineer, Profile 2 Analyst & AI, Profile 3 Viz Developer

Application Instructions

• Please submit your application in English only.
• Applications are welcome from consultants for one or several profiles. Applicants must clearly indicate which profile(s) they are applying for and demonstrate relevant expertise for each.
• Please include the following documents in your application:
• + Cover letter, including
• Technical proposal: methodology, workplan, and which profile(s) are covered by whom
• Financial proposal: detailed budget breakdown
• + CV(s) or organisational profile: with a clear mapping of personnel to profiles, including
• Two professional references
• + Two examples of comparable work (tools, platforms, or reports)
• ***Note***
• *The consultant will be contracted by the IFRC, and the standard contractual terms will apply.*