Strategic Partnership Consultant

ActionAid

The purpose of this consultancy is to support AAAR and its partners in advancing the SPAII framework and preparing for SPAIII, ensuring alignment of plans, budgets, and partnerships with the overall Theory of Change. The ToR recognizes that 2026 is both the final year of SPAII and a steppingstone for SPAIII; thus, lessons learned from SPAII must directly inform the new application.

3. Objectives of the Consultancy

The consultant will:

• Support AAAR and its partners in finalizing the 2026 planning process (budget and workplan) across Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria ensuring quality, coherence, and alignment with SPAII s Theory of Change.
• Ensure that lessons from SPAII feed into SPAIII, positioning 2026 as a critical bridge year between the two frameworks.
• Strengthen AAAR s ability to move from country-focused work toward a coherent regional programme framework that integrates lessons from SPAII and positions AAAR strategically for SPAIII.
• Facilitate inclusive consultations with partners to identify synergies, innovation, and opportunities that elevate young women s rights, leadership, and youth-led approaches across the region. Particular emphasis will be placed on how young women s rights, leadership, and participation are embedded across the regional programme.
• Contribute substantively to shaping the SPAIII application, ensuring that regional coherence, cross-country linkages, and feminist, youth-led approaches are clearly articulated.

4. Scope of Work / Key Tasks

• Planning & Budgeting
• Support AAAR and partners in developing country-specific and regional workplans and budgets for 2026 ensuring consistency and alignment with SPAII s ToC.
• Use an integrated ToC/LFA as a starting point and create an integrated monitoring system.
• Review and harmonize partner submissions, ensuring consistency and quality, highlighting opportunities for cross-country coherence and regional value-add.
• Strategic Linkages
• Analyze regional developments and identify the needs that arise from these trends and challenges.
• Determine AAAR s unique expertise and decide on priority focus areas within the identified needs, while also identifying donors willing to fund these areas.
• Examine how the regional needs connect across countries within AAAR programming and develop an integrated regional programme under a clear Theory of Change (ToC).
• Design activities that directly contribute to and support the intended regional outcomes outlined in the ToC.
• Map and engage partners whose strengths and capacities can support the vision and outcomes articulated in the ToC.
• Ensure alignment with and linkages to existing humanitarian coordination structures and cluster mechanisms in the operational contexts to strengthen coherence, complementarity, and collective impact.
• Partner Engagement
• Facilitate workshops/consultations with existing and potential new partners to inform the 2026 plan and SPAIII proposal.
• Provide recommendations for strengthening partnerships/networks and connections between partners across borders.
• Assess how to elevate AAAR s regional profile, identify cross-country networks, and integrate Tunisia as a potential growth area.
• SPAIII Application Support
• Support the drafting of key sections of the SPAIII application in collaboration with AAAR and partner teams.
• Consolidate inputs from country teams and partners to ensure coherence; involve country teams and partners in the context/needs assessment and ToC drafting.
• Ensure that SPAIII design addresses gaps in regional strategy and coherence, and reflects a clear, region-wide Theory of Change

5. Deliverables

• Workplan & Inception Report (outlining approach, methodology, and timeline) within one to two weeks of contract signing.
• Support in developing the 2026 Country Workplans and Budgets (Jordan, Lebanon, Syria) aligned with SPAII objectives/ToC and provide guidance where necessary.
• Partner Consultation Report highlighting key outcomes, synergies, and recommendations.
• Contribution to SPAIII Application consolidated draft inputs for AAAR s submission.
• Final Report summarizing achievements, recommendations, and lessons learned.
• Regional Strategy Note a short document synthesizing lessons and outlining strategic options for AAAR to strengthen regional coherence under SPAIII.

6. Timeline & Level of Effort

• Duration: November 10 December 31, 2025 (for this year)-possibility of renewal for next year.
• Level of Effort: Estimated 35-40 working days (starting November 10 until December 31, 2025) across the assignment period (to be agreed with AAAR).
• The consultant is expected to work remotely (if based in Lebanon) or in person (if based in Jordan), with possible travel to Jordan, Lebanon, or Syria (if conditions allow).

7. Reporting & Management

• The consultant will report directly to the Humanitarian and Resilience Program Manager, AAAR.
• Regular coordination with the SPAII focal points (AAAR staff and partners) in Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.