Organisation: DCAF – Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance
Lead Unit: Stratex
Type of partner: Academic institution, international organisation, or think tank
Location: Remote (with limited in-person engagement in Geneva)
Duration: 2026, starting February
Level of effort: Up to 15 working days total (paid consultancy component)
1. Background and Rationale
DCAF is implementing its One-DCAF Results Framework(1-DCAF RF), a corporate learning and accountability framework designed to capture DCAF’s contribution to long-term change in Security Sector Governance (SSG). The Framework includes 12 outcome-level indicators, grounded in principles of good governance and supported by mixed-methods and qualitative approaches to evidence generation.
Following an initial piloting phase launched in late 2025, the Framework will be implemented across DCAF programmes throughout 2026. A dedicated methodological consolidation phase is planned for late 2026, with a particular focus on strengthening the robustness, feasibility, and analytical clarity of selected indicators.
To support this process, DCAF seeks to establish a targeted technical partnership with one or two external academic institutions, international organisations, or think tanks to collaboratively refine the methodology and analytical approach for the following indicators:
- Indicator 01:
Evidence that research, knowledge and policy outputs developed are used to influence research, policy discourse and/or programmatic approaches. - Indicator 03:
Extent to which interventions contributed to the prevention of violence.
This Call for Partnership is open to institutions wishing to apply for a partnership in relation to either one or both of the 1-DCAF RF indicators. Applicants must clearly indicate in their submission whether they are applying for one indicator or for both.
These indicators address complex, contribution-based change processes that require advanced analytical framing, methodological rigor, and alignment with international good practice.
2. Purpose of the Partnership
The short-term purpose of this partnership is to strengthen the methodological foundations of Indicators 01 and 03 of the One-DCAF Results Framework by drawing on external expertise, comparative experience, and applied research practice.
Beyond the immediate partnership support, which will be framed as a consultancy, DCAF is seeking to establish a longer-term, mutually beneficial partnership at the institutional level with partner(s) that:
- Apply similar indicators or analytical approaches in their own work;
- Are interested in using, testing, and refining the One-DCAF Results Framework indicators in parallel or complementary research and programming contexts;
- Are willing to engage in knowledge exchange, joint reflection, and methodological learning over time.
The initial consultancy is therefore intended to serve as an entry point to a longer-term collaboration, rather than as a standalone or purely transactional engagement.
In this regard, DCAF aspires to identify partner organisation(s) with the potential to collaborate beyond the initial contract, including through activities such as further piloting of indicator use, participation in informal communities of practice, joint reflection on methodological advances, and—where relevant—exploration of opportunities for joint resource mobilisation and evidence generation.
These elements are aspirational in nature and will not form part of the initial contractual arrangement.
3. Scope of Work
The scope of work outlined below is indicative and will be refined jointly with DCAF at the inception of the partnership. The partner will not be expected to cover all elements exhaustively; rather, the focus will be on high-value methodological inputs.
A. Indicator 01 – Use and Influence of Knowledge and Policy Outputs
The partner will support DCAF in refining the methodological approach for capturing evidence of use of research, knowledge, and policy outputs, with a primary focus on strengthening and operationalising existing DCAF indicators, guidance, and tools, rather than developing entirely new measurement frameworks. This includes:
- Reviewing the current indicator definition, methodology and tools. Based on consultations with DCAF staff, the partner will advise on strength of existing guidance and tools and propose refinement or, where justified, targeted additions;;
- Advising on appropriate analytical frameworks to assess “use” across research, policy discourse, and programming;
- Proposing methodological options for data collection and triangulation, drawing on advanced contribution-based and qualitative approaches (e.g. document analysis, contribution analysis, outcome harvesting, stakeholder validation), as illustrative and non-prescriptive examples;
B. Indicator 03 – Contribution to the Prevention of Violence
The partner will support DCAF in strengthening the methodological framing of Indicator 03, including:
- Reviewing existing approaches used outside DCAF to measure contribution to violence prevention;
- Advising on appropriate qualitative and mixed-methods approaches to capture prevention-oriented change processes;
- Clarifying what constitutes credible evidence of contribution, including proxy indicators and contextual markers;
- Supporting alignment with good practice in security sector, conflict prevention and peacebuilding evaluation.
C. Cross-Cutting Methodological Considerations
Across both indicators, the selected partner will:
- Provide guidance on managing attribution vs. contribution challenges;
- Advise on feasibility, proportionality and resource implications of data collection;
- Provide guidance on defining clear methodological boundaries for the indicators, including recommended evidence thresholds, criteria for inclusion or exclusion, and guidance on appropriately framing and communicating findings;
- Support the integration of lessons learned from indicator use across DCAF to improve and finalise the methodology;
- Ensure alignment with the Results Framework’s cross-cutting lenses on gender equality and intersectionality;
- Highlight risks, limitations, and mitigation strategies.
4. Expected Deliverables
Upon finalization of the contract, expected deliverables may include:
- Short methodological notes or option papers for each indicator, including practical measurement guidance or tool components, as relevant for each indicator, and a light assessment of feasibility, indicative resource implications, and value-for-money considerations across different programme sizes ;
- Annotated recommendations on indicator definitions and evidence requirements;
- Input into revised indicator guidance sheets and associated tools;
- Participation in technical reflection sessions with DCAF.
Outputs are expected to be concise, practical, and directly usable by DCAF teams, while also contributing to broader methodological debates in the field.
5. Roles and Responsibilities
DCAF (Stratex)
- Provide background documentation, findings from the piloting phase, and feedback from DCAF teams;
- Convene technical discussions and validation moments;
- Integrate agreed methodological refinements into the Results Framework;
- Facilitate opportunities for longer-term methodological exchange beyond the consultancy, where relevant;
- Owns final decision-making authority on methodological refinements
External Partner(s)
- Provide independent technical expertise and analytical input;
- Engage in collaborative reflection and methodological co-development with DCAF;
- Deliver agreed outputs within the allocated level of effort;
- Where relevant, explore opportunities to apply, test, or reference the indicators in the partner’s own work, contributing to mutual learning and field-building.
5. Governance and Coordination
- The partnership will be coordinated and governed by Stratex.
- Coordination among DCAF and the selected Partners(s) will include as a minimum: inception meeting, mid-point reflection and final feedback and validation.
- The partner will work closely with the Senior Advisor, MEAL, and collaborate with designated MEAL Focal Points as appropriate. Under Indicator 01, the partner will collaborate with Research & Training (RT) and Policy Engagement (PE) MEAL Focal Points to support methodological refinement and operationalisation.
- The partner will not assume any management, coordination, or representational role on behalf of DCAF.
6. Required Qualifications and Experience
The qualifications below represent the minimum requirements for this consultancy. As part of the application, the institution, think tank, or organisation must nominate a designated focal point and submit their curriculum vitae (CV).
The nominated focal point must meet the following criteria:
- Advanced university degree (Master’s or PhD) in evaluation, social sciences, conflict studies, security studies, or a related field.
- At least 10 years of professional experience in MEAL, evaluation, or applied research in complex or fragile contexts.
- Demonstrated expertise in:
- Results frameworks and outcome-level measurement
- Impact measurement
- Qualitative and mixed-methods approaches
- Sampling and data collection design
- Strong analytical and written communication skills.
- Prior experience working with international organisations and academia
- Experience working in security sector governance-focused programmes is an asset.
- Fluency in English required; French is an asset.
The ideal partner (institution, think thank or organization) will demonstrate:
- Recognised expertise in evaluation, research uptake, policy influence, security sector, conflict prevention, or peacebuilding;
- Strong analytical and methodological capacity;
- Experience working with international organisations or governance-focused programmes;
- Ability to translate academic or policy insights into practical methodological guidance;
- Capacity to physically attend key meetings in Geneva will be an asset.
7. Level of Effort
- For each indicator the level of effort is capped at a maximum of 15 working days during 2026, under the paid consultancy component;
- Level of effort to be agreed and phased according to priorities with Stratex across 2026;
- Most work conducted remotely, with limited in-person meetings in Geneva where feasible.
8. Budget
The budget available for this partnership is in the range of CHF 15,000 to CHF 20,000 for support covering both indicators. Applicants bidding for one or both indicators should take this budget range into account.
Proposals will be assessed in line with value-for-money principles, considering the proposed level of effort, daily professional fees, demonstrated expertise, and the quality and relevance of the application put forward. The final budget allocation will be determined based on the scope of work agreed and the outcome of the selection process.
Notes on Deliverables and Payments
- Deliverables will be scaled proportionally if the partner is contracted for only one indicator.
- Payments will be made upon satisfactory completion and acceptance of each deliverable.
- The total level of effort across all deliverables will not exceed the agreed cap.
9. Ethical Standards and Compliance
The partner will be required to:
- Adhere to DCAF’s ethical standards and values.
- Complete any required declarations related to integrity, conflict of interest, and conduct, in line with DCAF policies.
- Abide by DCAF policies on data protection, confidentiality, and responsible use of sensitive information.
How to apply
Interested applicants must apply online by 31 January 2026, by submitting:
- A cover letter outlining the applicant’s motivation, interest in partnering with DCAF, and explaining why the institution/organisation/think tank is well positioned to undertake this partnership;
- The curriculum vitae (CV, 3 pages max**)** of the nominated focal point(s) for the partnership;
- The proposed daily professional rate(s) for the nominated focal point(s).
Applicants must clearly indicate whether they are applying for the partnership in relation to both indicators or only one of the two. Where an application covers both indicators, applicants may nominate two separate focal points, one for each indicator, and submit the corresponding curricula vitae.