Consultant: Humanitarian Needs Assessment & Strategic Implementation Review

CBM Christoffel-Blindenmission Christian Blind Mission e.V. is seeking a consultant or consultancy team to support a humanitarian programme in Ukraine through two complementary assignments:

1. Humanitarian Needs Assessment
2. Strategic Implementation Review (mid-term review)

Applicants may apply for Objective 1, Objective 2, or both objectives. CBM may contract one consultant/team for both objectives or separate consultants for each assignment. The indicative assignment period is 23 October to 2 December 2026.

Background
Christian Blind Mission, together with the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine (NAPD) and Momentum Wheels for Humanity (MWH), is currently implementing humanitarian action in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Poltava oblasts from May 2026 to April 2027 funded by The European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. The action focuses on health, rehabilitation and protection, with particular attention to persons with disabilities and other groups facing heightened barriers to humanitarian assistance. Fore more information, please see: Ukraine: Restoring Access to Health

In preparation for potential continuation and adaptation of the action under the 2027 EU Humanitarian Aid funding cycle, CBM intends to commission two complementary assignments:

1. Objective 1: Humanitarian Needs Assessment
2. Objective 2: Strategic implementation review of the ongoing action [mid-term review]

Applicants may apply for Objective 1, Objective 2, or both. CBM may contract one consultant/team for both objectives or separate consultants for each assignment.

The final detailed scope and methodology will be agreed with the selected consultant(s) and will take into account ongoing consultations with the European Commission.

Objective 1: Humanitarian Needs Assessment
The assessment will provide an updated, independent and disability-inclusive analysis of current and emerging humanitarian needs relevant to CBM's response. It should examine:

• humanitarian needs, vulnerabilities and service gaps;
• barriers to accessing health, rehabilitation, protection, psychosocial, legal and related services;
• needs of persons with disabilities and other at-risk groups;
• availability, accessibility and functionality of relevant services and referral pathways;
• geographic areas and population groups experiencing significant unmet needs; and
• implications for the focus, targeting and possible adaptation or expansion of humanitarian programming in 2027.

Objective 2: Strategic Implementation Review [mid-term review]
The review will analyse implementation experience from the ongoing 2026–2027 DG ECHO-funded action and identify lessons relevant to its potential continuation or adaptation.

This is not a final evaluation, as implementation is ongoing. The review should focus on:

• continued relevance of the intervention approach;
• implementation progress and emerging results;
• accessibility, uptake and perceived usefulness of activities;
• operational strengths, bottlenecks and feasibility;
• functioning of referral, coordination and service-delivery approaches;
• components that may be continued, adapted or strengthened; and
• practical lessons for future programming.

Geographic and thematic scope
The assignment will primarily cover the current project areas in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Poltava oblasts. For the Needs Assessment, additional locations may be considered where relevant to future programming.

The main thematic areas are:

• health and rehabilitation;
• assistive technology;
• protection and psychosocial support;
• legal assistance;
• access to essential services and referral systems; and
• disability inclusion.

Expected approach
Applicants should propose an appropriate and feasible methodology for the objective(s) for which they apply. This may include document review, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, community consultations, facility visits and analysis of available project and secondary data. The approach must be participatory, conflict-sensitive, disability-inclusive and consistent with safeguarding, confidentiality and Do No Harm principles.

Required profile

Applicants should demonstrate:

• relevant experience in humanitarian needs assessments, reviews, evaluations or similar assignments;
• experience in conflict-affected settings;
• relevant expertise in health, rehabilitation, disability inclusion, protection and/or MHPSS;
• strong qualitative and/or quantitative research skills;
• excellent analytical and English report-writing skills; and
• capacity to conduct or organise data collection in Ukrainian and Russian.

Experience in Ukraine and with DG ECHO-funded programming is a strong asset.