Description
Background:
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action โ helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
In 2023/2024, Mercy Corps developed results frameworks for four outcome areas in our Pathway to Possibility (P2P) - economic opportunities, food security, water security, and good governance. When these results frameworks were developed, social inclusion results were integrated into the results frameworks. However, the logical flow of social inclusion change pathways was not fully articulated in the outcome area results frameworks and are not detailed in other documents or resources. This results in a lack of consistent understanding of the causal pathways needed to, for example, shift gender norms to promote more equitable decision making to improve household nutrition. Additionally, in Mercy Corpsโ 2025 Organizational Outcome Measurement (OOM) report, social inclusion themes were identified as a consistent gap in data collection, analysis, use and reporting.
Creating a theory of change and results framework with outcome areas around themes of shifting power, safety, wellbeing, and social behavior change will help unify some approaches, pathways and indicators across gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), adolescent and youth development, and protection technical areas. Creating a reference point will make it easier for program design teams to incorporate inclusion outcomes into their program theories of change more effectively, and to better measure the results.
Purpose / Project Description:
This project is aimed at strengthening social inclusion evidence, quality, accessibility, and use for program teams to achieve high impact programs reaching marginalized groups and prioritized participants. This builds our ability to be accountable to our organizational commitment of safety, diversity, and inclusion (SDI), which is present within our teams, operations, and programs. Currently, we are measuring social inclusion in our programs in a variety of ways, including through our program indicators, safeguarding standards, GESI minimum standards, organizational outcome dashboard, and participant reach data. However, we still face a data, analysis, and reflection deficit that inhibits our ability to fully understand how different participants benefit from program interventions in light of the challenges they face with safe, dignified access and meaningful participation. Without this information, we struggle to measure progress towards the aspirations of the SDI commitment.
Specific challenges this project will address:
Identify areas of harmony and distinction between GESI, adolescent and youth development, and protection technical areas
Identify and link key social inclusion themes that are represented across the P2P Outcome results chains and evidence and learning agendas
Better articulate how and why outcome results chains will lead to more equitable outcomes for women, men, girls, boys, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups.
Strengthen social inclusion measurement in order to better assess how our programs benefit different groups
Encourage better usage of existing data at Mercy Corps
Consultant Objectives:
The individual or team will develop a unified Social Inclusion Theory of Change (ToC), results framework, and measurement indicators and guidance such as performance indicator measurement sheets (PIRS) for priority themes not fully captured in the P2P results framework with alignment across GESI, adolescent and youth development, and protection technical areas and applicability in both humanitarian and development contexts.
Consultant Activities:
The Consultant will:
Conduct mapping of social inclusion intermediate results and existing indicators across P2P results frameworks and select program models
Review available social inclusion data across the outcome areas, Mercy Corpsโ Evidence and Learning Center, and sex and age disaggregated data from the organizational Participant Count
Conduct key informant interviews with 5-8 technical team members to understand current measurement challenges across GESI, adolescent and youth development, and protection.
Facilitate a participatory workshop with the global Social Integration and Development team to co-design a theory of change and results framework
Develop a social inclusion theory of change with key outcomes and change pathways articulated. ToC will integrate the socio-ecological model
Validate the theory of change with key stakeholders (outcome area leads, MEL team, program teams)
Map how the theory of change relates to Mercy Corpsโ evidence and learning agendas
Identify a long list of indicators to measure GESI, adolescent and youth development, and protection aligned with the TOC and results framework, mapping them to the P2P outcome results frameworks and prioritized program models
Create performance indicator reference sheet, including data collection tool and guidance for 10-15 indicators prioritized from the long list
Consultant Deliverables:
The Consultant will deliver:
Inception report/workplan with refined scope, methodology, timeline, and stakeholder engagement plan.
Key informant interview guide
Evidence synthesis brief summarizing literature review including internal/external evidence for social inclusion pathways and analysis of key informant interviews.
Facilitation materials for two-day, in-person, TOC workshop
Unified Social Inclusion Theory of Change (diagram + narrative), and results framework with change pathways.
Indicator catalog covering key domains to be determined but likely to include themes of safety, empowerment, inclusion and disability inclusion, and power shifts.
Performance indicator reference sheets including data collection tool and guidance for 10-15 prioritized indicators.
Final Package: ToC and results framework diagrams and narrative, indicator catalog, and measurement tools and guidance for 10-15 prioritized indicators.
Timeframe / Schedule:
This consultancy has an estimated LOE of 37 days, beginning in late January through July 31, 2026.
Activity
# Working Days
Timeframe
Onboarding and workplan
2
January 2026
Map social inclusion intermediate results and existing indicators across P2P results frameworks and select program models
3
January โ February
Literature review, including review social inclusion data available across outcome areas
5
February
Key informant interviews
3
February/ March
Facilitate TOC workshop with SID team (tentatively first week of March 2026)
7
March
Develop a social inclusion theory of change, identifying key outcomes and mapping change pathways, incorporating the socio-ecological model
3
March
Vet TOC with key stakeholders โ outcome area leads, MEL, program teams โ explore links to learning agendas
2
April
Catalogue of long list of indicators that align with the TOC, mapping where they fit with the P2P outcome results frameworks
5
May
Develop performance indicator reference sheets including data collection tool and guidance for 10-15 prioritized indicators
5
June
Final package of materials incorporating feedback and ready to add to internal sites
2
July
The Consultant will report to:
Sahar Alnouri, Senior Director of Social Integration and Development
The Consultant will work closely with:
Social Integration and Development team, MEL team, Outcome Area leads