Humanitarian crises have intensified in recent years due to rising conflict and displacement, while humanitarian financing and resources remain constrained. Increasingly complex geopolitics have complicated humanitarian access, with international laws and norms often disregarded and political efforts to resolve conflicts less effective. This context has highlighted the importance of humanitarian diplomacy, an approach aimed at achieving humanitarian goals through state-to-state engagement and broader actor networks. Although not new, humanitarian diplomacy has gained specific attention and investment from NGOs, the UN, the Red Cross-Red Crescent Movement, and several states.
Despite this growing focus, knowledge and operational lessons remain fragmented, particularly regarding how states and humanitarian agencies can engage effectively to ensure principled humanitarian access and civilian protection. Differences in definitions, private nature of diplomatic efforts, and debates on integrating humanitarian outcomes in political spaces have limited learning and coordination across organizations. A pressing need exists to capture practical lessons from recent examples to guide both humanitarian organizations and states in supporting access in politicized and contested contexts. This learning review aims to synthesize such lessons through analysis of selected case studies.
The review seeks to capture cross-cutting lessons from past humanitarian diplomacy initiatives, identifying successful and less successful approaches to inform future efforts. It will develop actionable recommendations for NGOs, states, and international organizations, offering options, checklists, and criteria for effective humanitarian diplomacy while highlighting common risks and mitigation measures. NRC defines humanitarian diplomacy as using diplomatic engagement to achieve humanitarian goals, focusing here on state-to-state diplomacy and related humanitarian engagement.
The methodology will include an inception phase to refine scope and select six case studies, followed by desk review and stakeholder interviews at global, regional, and national levels, including NGOs, UN agencies, governments, Red Cross-Red Crescent Movement, and academic or policy experts. Analysis will consolidate lessons and recommendations, culminating in a validation workshop to finalize findings. Outputs will include case study briefs, an internal learning review, concise actionable recommendations, an external brief for stakeholders, and a presentation to share findings.
The consultancy will run from November 2025 to January 2026, over no more than 25 working days, reporting to NRC’s Head of Policy & Advocacy in Geneva. Candidates must have at least seven years of relevant experience in humanitarian response, diplomacy, or crisis management, with strong research, analysis, and communication skills, and an understanding of international humanitarian systems and actor dynamics. Consultants must adhere to high ethical standards, anti-corruption regulations, and due diligence processes. Applications are due by 08 December 2025, including CV, cover letter, rates, references, and proof of registration.
