Consultant for Syria-Iraq Case Study Assessment

Job Posting Organization:
Mercy Corps is a prominent global organization founded on the belief that a better world is achievable. Established to respond to disasters and hardships, it operates in over 40 countries worldwide. The organization partners with communities to implement bold solutions that help individuals overcome adversity and foster stronger communities from within. Mercy Corps emphasizes diversity within its teams, believing that varied backgrounds, perspectives, and skills enhance their effectiveness and long-term impact. The organization has developed a Crisis Analysis function to support programming in complex contexts, including regions like Syria, Iraq, and Palestine, providing timely and relevant analytical products to inform humanitarian and development responses.

Job Overview:
The consultant will lead the Syria-Iraq case study assessment as part of the 'Fragile Borderlands: Drivers of Drought Adaptation and Instability in MENA' project. This project investigates how drought-driven livelihood stress affects informal and illicit cross-border trade in fragile border regions. The consultant's role involves developing a desk review, analyzing primary data from key informant interviews (KIIs), and producing a comprehensive case study report. The assessment aims to identify socio-environmental conditions that influence cross-border trade and its implications for livelihoods and stability. The consultant will utilize a mixed-methods approach, combining geospatial analysis, policy analysis, market data, and qualitative research to generate evidence-backed assessments that inform policy briefs and other outputs.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant's responsibilities include developing a contextualized desk review for the Syria-Iraq case study, analyzing governance and access arrangements, market dynamics, and local power structures. They will conduct high-priority KIIs, synthesize evidence into a concise case study assessment, and provide technical reviews of project outcomes. Deliverables include an inception package review, hotspot/route validation, a structured desk review, optional primary data collection, systematic analysis of KII data, and a consolidated case study report. The consultant will also engage in stakeholder workshops and donor meetings to refine recommendations based on feedback.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess 5-10 years of analytical experience in a think tank, research institution, consulting firm, UN agency, or NGO, with strong field experience in Iraq and Syria. They should have expertise in political-economy analysis, governance, market analysis, and the ability to analyze socio-political dynamics. Proven experience in fragile and conflict-affected settings is essential, along with the ability to produce high-quality analytical outputs. Excellent English analytical writing skills and strong oral Arabic language skills are required.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree or equivalent experience in political science, international relations, public policy, investigative journalism, geography, environmental studies, or related fields is required for this position.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have 5-10 years of relevant analytical experience, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected settings, with a strong understanding of the socio-political landscape in Iraq and Syria. Experience in conducting applied market and livelihoods analysis is also necessary.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, with excellent analytical writing skills. Strong oral proficiency in Arabic is also required. Additional language skills may be advantageous but are not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy will last between 15 to 20 days, with the study scheduled from March to November 202

• The consultant will report to the Regional Crisis Analysis Senior Manager and will work closely with the Regional Crisis Analysis team and Technical Advisors. Interested applicants must submit their applications by 15 February 2026, including an up-to-date CV, a relevant writing sample, and a cover sheet detailing their thematic and geographic expertise, proposed day rate, availability, and relevant language skills. Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring a respectful and safe work environment.