Contract Type: Consultancy

Contract Duration: From Mid August 2026 to 30 November 2026

Deadline to Submit a Candidacy: 7 August 2026, 11:59 PM CEST

CGIAR is seeking an experienced individual consultant or firm (hereafter “Consultant”) to provide targeted and time-bound coordination and facilitation support on stakeholder engagement as part of the development of CGIAR’s 2040 Strategy. The Consultant will work under the oversight of the CGIAR Strategy Task Team and its Work Stream 5 on Stakeholder Engagement to ensure strong stakeholder ownership of, commitment to, and support for the Strategy.

Background and context

CGIAR has embarked on a process to develop a comprehensive Strategy to 2040. Guided by the overarching question: “What do we want CGIAR to become?”; the proposed CGIAR Strategy drives clarity and alignment on CGIAR’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities to the year 2040. The Strategy aims to reposition CGIAR for greater relevance, effectiveness, and impact in a changing global context; and articulate CGIAR’s forward-looking value proposition and comparative advantage. The CGIAR Strategy is developed under the oversight of the CGIAR Board, the leadership of the CGIAR Executive Managing Director, and the guidance of CGIAR’s partnership-wide Global Leadership Team (GLT). A CGIAR Strategy Task Team, comprising representatives of all CGIAR Centers and the CGIAR System Organization, is responsible for the development of the Strategy through a transparent and inclusive co-design process.

In support of its Work Stream 5 on Stakeholder Engagement, the CGIAR Strategy Task Team seeks the Consultant to contribute towards an inclusive identification of stakeholder priorities, expectations, and perceptions; a deeper understanding of CGIAR’s real and perceived strategic positioning and comparative advantage; areas of convergence and divergence across different stakeholders and stakeholder groups; and a preliminary identification of continent- and region-specific interests that can inform future regional/continental strategies to operationalize the overarching CGIAR 2040 Strategy.

Requirements

Scope of Work

Working under the oversight and guidance of the CGIAR Strategy Task Team and its Work Stream 5 on Stakeholder Engagement, the Consultant will:

• Stakeholder engagement planning: refine the Task Team’s stakeholder engagement plan, including stakeholder mapping and engagement methods.

• Stakeholder survey: design, implement, and analyze and summarize the results of a broad-based stakeholder survey in support of the CGIAR Strategy.

• Key stakeholder interviews: conduct 50–60 semi-structured key stakeholder interviews (CGIAR leadership, Board members, Council members, partners) and analyze and summarize relevant insights.

• Consultation meetings: organize, facilitate, and capture the outcomes of targeted virtual and in-person stakeholder meetings.

• Final report: across the key responsibilities above, prepare a final report that translates findings into actionable, strategic insights as an input to the Task Team’s Synthesis Report (by early October 2026).

Deliverables

• Refined stakeholder engagement plan, including stakeholder mapping and engagement methods.

• Stakeholder survey instrument, implementation, and analysis with summary of results.

• Summary of key insights from 50–60 semi-structured stakeholder interviews.

• Outcomes of targeted virtual and in-person consultation meetings.

• Final report translating findings into actionable, strategic insights as an input to the Task Team’s Synthesis Report (by early October 2026).

Timeline

The process to develop the CGIAR Strategy to 2040 is set out in the following broad phases:

• June–early November 2026: analytical work and stakeholder engagement culminating in a Synthesis Report by the Strategy Task Team and broad-based Stakeholder Workshop in early November.

• November 2026–January 2027: stakeholder review and iteration of a complete draft Strategy.

• January–February 2027: CGIAR Leadership and governance-level reviews and decision-making on an intended final version of the Strategy.

• March 2027: Launch, roll-out.

Consultant Profile

The Consultant will demonstrate strong experience and expertise in the following areas:

• Multistakeholder engagement design, planning, and delivery in an international science, innovation, and/or development setting.

• Convening and facilitation.

• Quantitative and qualitative survey design and analysis.

• Strategic communication and diplomacy.

• Strategy design and development.

A deep understanding of and familiarity with CGIAR’s stakeholder environment and work on science and innovations to transform food, land, and water systems is desirable.

Evaluation Criteria

• Quality and relevance of experience and expertise.

• Value for money.

• Ability to deliver within the proposed timeline.

To Submit a Proposal

Candidates will submit:

• A short profile (for individuals) or company profile (for firms) demonstrating relevant experience and qualifications.

• A concise technical proposal outlining approach and delivery steps within the proposed timeframe.

• A simple budget proposal outlining the proposed number of working days and the Consultant’s daily rate, with costs broken down by deliverable.

Benefits

All applications must be submitted online by clicking the 'Apply' button below before 11:59 PM CET on 07 August 2026.

If you require assistance or face challenges in submitting your application, please email smo-bidding@cgiar.org with the position title in the subject line. Applications submitted through smo-bidding@cgiar.org will NOT be accepted.

Please ensure your resume and cover letter are in English and does not contain your marital status, age, or photograph. Documents provided in a language other than English will not be considered.

CGIAR is committed to fair, safe, and inclusive workplaces. We believe that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. We offer a multi-cultural, multi-color, multi-generational, and multi-disciplinary, collegial working environment. We consciously create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and commitment to gender equity. We, therefore, encourage applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, and gender identities.

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. 

We look forward to hearing from you!