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Consultancy Mapping of Non-Traditional (Gulf) Donors and Partners for Humanitarian Action

The global humanitarian funding landscape has shifted markedly. Constrained budgets among traditional OECD DAC donors, competing crises, and reductions in several long standing bilateral aid programmes have widened the gap between assessed needs and available financing. In parallel, a group of well-resourced, increasingly institutionalized donors based in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states ( Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman) has expanded its share of global humanitarian and development assistance and its visibility on the international stage.

Organizations accustomed to OECD-DAC funding modalities often lack the structured intelligence needed to engage Gulf donors effectively who funds what, through which instrument, on what cycle, and through which person or office.

This consultancy will close that gap by producing a comprehensive, verified and operationally usable mapping of Gulf based donors and partners relevant to Caritas Switzerland’s humanitarian portfolio, together with a practical engagement and contact plan. The immediate priority is to identify and unlock direct grant funding for Caritas Switzerland’s programmes in the Middle East Programme (MEP) crisis contexts where Gulf giving is most concentrated (Syria, Iraq, Iran, Palestine and Lebanon) while building a foundation for broader, longer-term partnerships.

A defining distinction for a direct funding strategy.Gulf donors differ sharply in how they disburse. Some grant directly to external international and local NGOs; others fund only through their own Red Crescent societies or affiliated charities; and the sovereign development funds largely lend government to government for infrastructure. Establishing, for each actor, whether a direct grant pathway to an external implementer exists is therefore central to this assignment not an afterthought.

Your duties

Conduct a comprehensive mapping of Gulf-based donors and partners relevant to humanitarian action, including governmental, semi-governmental, philanthropic, faith-based, and multilateral institutions across GCC countries.
Profile each donor, including mandate, sectoral priorities, geographic focus, funding instruments, eligibility criteria, partnership requirements, funding cycles, and due diligence expectations. - Identify and verify donor focal points, institutional entry points, registration mechanisms, and engagement channels.
Assess whether each donor provides direct funding to international NGOs and document the pathway for accessing grants.
Analyze alignment between donor priorities and Caritas Switzerland's humanitarian portfolio in Syria, Iraq, Iran, Palestine, and Lebanon.
Develop a prioritized donor engagement and contact plan, including tailored value propositions, outreach sequencing, and relationship-building recommendations.
Produce a searchable donor mapping database, analytical report, engagement strategy, positioning brief, and present findings to Caritas Switzerland staff.

Our requirements

Advanced university degree in international development, international relations, humanitarian affairs, political economy, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
Minimum 7 years of experience in humanitarian/development resource mobilization, donor relations, partnerships, or business development.
At least 5 years of demonstrated experience engaging Gulf donor institutions, with evidence of successful funding or partnership development.
Previous residence and professional experience in the GCC region (minimum 3 years) with strong knowledge of Gulf donor ecosystems.
Existing network and access to Gulf donor institutions, Red Crescent societies, and regional humanitarian forums.
Proven experience conducting donor mapping, landscape assessments, or resource mobilization strategies.
Excellent analytical, research, report writing, and stakeholder engagement skills.
Fluency in English is required; Arabic is essential for engagement with Gulf donors.
Experience working with humanitarian organizations and familiarity with MENA crisis contexts (Syria, Iraq, Iran, Palestine, and Lebanon) is highly desirable.
Ability to work independently, manage multiple deliverables, and complete the assignment within the agreed timeline (25–35 working days over 7–8 weeks). g

Your place of work will be Home based with remote engagement; optional mission to (Riyadh / Doha / Abu Dhabi) . The job will include short work assignments abroad.
Starting date: Last week of July 2026

Caritas Switzerland is a leading aid organization in the field of development cooperation and humanitarian aid. Our ultimate aim is poverty alleviation. Our International Cooperation programmes focus on income generation, global warming and migration. We are active in some 20 countries. Over the coming years, Caritas Switzerland wants to expand its commitment to disadvantaged people. Join us with a commitment to help us bring about a more caring society, as

For full application details, including methodology, evaluation questions, and annexes, please consult the complete ToR here: Terms of Reference. For further information please contact: Mr Wael Darwish, Regional Director of Middle East Programme (MEP), Mail: wdarwish@caritas.ch.

Thank you for your interest. We look forward to receiving your job application by 21.07.2026 latest through our web portal.

Caritas Switzerland, Adligenswilerstrasse 15, 6002 Lucerne
www.caritas.ch

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