The International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Poland, Protection Programme develops “Resilient Futures”, a trauma-informed, GBV-preventive model supporting Ukrainian veterans and their families during the reintegration on the territory of Poland.
The intervention aims to:
- Promote inclusive veteran reintegration;
- Strengthen family resilience and healthy coping mechanisms;
- Mitigate GBV and child protection risks;
- Support frontline workers in identifying early warning indicators;
- Improve institutional preparedness in Poland;
- Increase social cohesion and resilience to polarization and harmful narratives;
- Strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration among protection, social welfare, mental health, and employment actors.
To operationalize this model, IRC seeks a multi-disciplinary consultant or consultancy service to design a methodological framework, tools, and stakeholder-informed approach, grounded in both Polish and Ukrainian contexts, international protection standards and legal frameworks.
Purpose of the Consultancy
The consultancy will:
- Map services, stakeholders, and system gaps;
- Develop an evidence-based, trauma-informed methodological framework;
- Design practical tools and early warning indicators for firstline responders;
- Validate the model through stakeholder engagement;
- Prepare the groundwork for pilot implementation and scale-up;
- Develop training curriculum for first line staff;
- Provide recommendations for sustainable institutional integration and long-term ownership of the model within local systems.
Duration & Level of Effort
Estimated duration: 10-12 weeks
Reporting & Management
- The consultant will report to: IRC Protection Head of Program and Senior WPE Program Growth Manager;
- Close collaboration with WPE, CP, EE, MEAL teams;
- Frequent coordination meetings with IRC focal points will be expected throughout the consultancy period.
Required Qualifications
- Proven experience in conflict/post-conflict settings, including protection of conflict-affected communities (protection, social cohesion, reintegration, GBV prevention, MHPSS, child protection, safeguarding, or related fields);
- Excellent analytical skills, proven expertise in designing trauma-informed, survivor-centered, and protection-sensitive research, methodologies, tools, and operational frameworks for vulnerable or conflict-affected populations;
- Proven experience developing training curricula, facilitation materials, case-based learning exercisesfor adult learners and first line respondents;
- Experience working with multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms and institutional stakeholders;
- Demonstrated experience working on one or more of the following thematic areas:
- veteran reintegration;
- conflict-related trauma;
- family resilience strengthening;
- prevention of gender-based violence (GBV);
- child protection risks in conflict-affected communities;
- community stabilization and social cohesion;
- prevention of harmful narratives, stigmatization, and polarization.
- Strong understanding of the intersections between trauma exposure, militarization, family dynamics, social exclusion, economic stressors, and protection risks.
- Demonstrated knowledge of safeguarding principles, ethical engagement with vulnerable populations, confidentiality standards, and application of “do no harm” approaches in complex environments.
- Demonstrated understanding of the Polish institutional, legal, and social service landscape relevant to:
- protection services;
- municipal social welfare systems;
- mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS);
- veteran family support systems;
- labour market integration;
- local government coordination mechanisms.
- Experience working in Central and Eastern Europe and/or humanitarian-development transition settings is considered a strong asset.
- Experience working with veterans, ex-combatants, military families, or reintegration programming is considered a strong asset.
- Understanding of gender norms, social cohesion dynamics, and conflict-related stigma affecting veterans and their families in displacement contexts.
Languages
- Excellent written and spoken Polish and English required.
- Ukrainian and/or Russian language skills considered a strong asset.
Ethical & Safeguarding Considerations
- Adherence to IRC safeguarding policies, humanitarian principles.
- Confidentiality and data protection
- Ensuring safe and ethical stakeholder participation, particularly when engaging conflict-affected populations and vulnerable groups,
- Application of survivor-centered and do-no-harm approaches throughout all stages of the consultancy.
IRC welcomes applications from organizations or consultants with lived and/or professional experience related to Ukraine displacement and veteran family support and reintegration contexts.
Application submission requirements:
- CV(s)
- 1-pager concept note outlining methodology, tools examples, and stakeholder engagement approach (in Polish);
- Financial proposal with budget breakdown and level of effort;
- 2-3 examples of similar assignments (particularly protection in post-conflict settings, MHPSS, GBV prevention, veteran reintegration, or systems strengthening) with samples of publications (e.g. research reports, toolkits, training curriculas).
- Contact details for at least 2 professional references;
SCOPE OF WORK
Phase 1: Contextual Research & System Mapping
1.1 Desk Research
The consultant will conduct a comprehensive desk review covering:
Poland:
- Legal and institutional frameworks for veteran status and reintegration;
- Existing trauma-informed GBV, CP, MHPSS, and social service frameworks and referral pathways;
- Existing services and gaps (relevant to veterans & their partners/families);
- Risks diagnosis, awareness and mitigation strategies among key stakeholders;
- Labour market integration policies (relevant to veterans & their partners/families);
- Existing social cohesion challenges, stigmatization risks, and harmful narratives related to veterans, displacement, and conflict-related trauma.
Ukraine (for purpose of comparative learning):
- Persons returning from military or wartime service & their partners/families support systems;
- Reintegration models, good practices and lessons learned;
- Community-based approaches and peer networks (relevant to veterans & their partners/families);
1.2 Stakeholder Mapping
The consultant will identify and analyze key stakeholders and their roles and mandates, existing services, coordination gaps, influence and engagement potential.
Categories will include: government institutions (national level, and local), social welfare institutions and firstline responders with capacity gaps (MOPS, CUS, OIK. etc.), NGO stakeholders, informal support initiatives, veteran organizations including but not limited to national and Polish-focused, women’s rights organizations, child protection actors; employers & labour associations, mental health service providers, media actors.
Deliverables (in Polish language):
- Stakeholder Mapping Matrix + Ecosystem Analysis
- Desk Review Report (approx. 20-30 pages, in Polish) including key findings with gap analysis, best practices with risk considerations (political, social, institutional).
- Stakeholder Engagement Plan developed jointly with IRC Polska Protection Team
Phase 2: Model & Tool Development
2.1 Methodological Framework Development
The consultant will significantly contribute to designing a comprehensive framework including:
- Theory of Change;
- Intervention model (trauma informed, survivor-centered approaches);
- Service pathways and referral mechanisms with guidance;
- Escalation protocols;
- Integration across programmes (Women’s Protection and Empowerment, Child Protection, Economic Empowerment);
- Safeguarding and do-no-harm considerations integrated throughout the model;
- Guidance on culturally sensitive and gender-responsive service delivery.
2.2 Development of Tools & Early Response System
The consultant will significantly contribute to developing practical tools for frontline workers:
Core tools:
- Early warning indicators for trauma escalation, GBV risk, child protection, retraumatisation risks and response guidance;
- Guidance for trauma-informed engagement and communication with veterans and family members experiencing high stress, trauma, or social isolation.
- Referral and response protocols;
- Family-level resilience support tools;
- Peer support facilitations guidelines.
- Basic risk assessment and safety planning tools for first line responders.
Deliverables (in Polish language):
- Methodological Framework Document
- Toolkit Package (field-ready, user-friendly for first line responders under pressure environments)
Phase 3: Validation & Co-Creation of Knowledge Products
- Stakeholder Consultations
The consultant, together with IRC Polska Protection Team, will validate findings and tools by engaging stakeholders mapped during Phase 1.
Target groups: first line responders (social services, mental health practitioners, facilitators, etc.), women and youth (where appropriate) from affected communities, veteran representatives and associations, employers, local authorities and coordination bodies.
3.2 Roundtables / Validation Workshops
- Organize and facilitate 2-3 multi-sector roundtables;
- Present draft methodological framework and tools for validation;
- Facilitate cross-sector dialogue, collect feedback to feed into the refining of deliverables.
3.3 Development of the training curriculum on the tools for first line responders/ system actors
The consultant, together with IRC Polska Protection Team, will develop the training curriculum introducing developed methodology and tools.
Deliverables (in Polish language):
- Validation Report including stakeholder feedback, final programmatic recommendations, and implemented adjustments to tools and framework
- Training curriculum with resources and training scenarios.
How to apply
Please submit your application to: kamila.garnczarska@rescue.org
Application submission requirements:
- CV(s)
- 1-pager concept note outlining methodology, tools examples, and stakeholder engagement approach (in Polish);
- Financial proposal with budget breakdown and level of effort;
- 2-3 examples of similar assignments (particularly protection in post-conflict settings, MHPSS, GBV prevention, veteran reintegration, or systems strengthening) with samples of publications (e.g. research reports, toolkits, training curriculas).
- Contact details for at least 2 professional references;