Consultant, Data Engineering within the Community Trust Index

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian network, uniting 191-member National Societies under a shared mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering. Guided by Strategy 2030, its Triple R framework, and the Agenda for Renewal, the IFRC delivers timely, locally led humanitarian action before, during, and after crises.

The IFRC's Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) approach positions people as active partners in decisions affecting their lives, emphasising participation, transparent two way communication, and systems to gather, analyse, and act on community data and feedback.

Building on a large scale feedback collection, perception surveys, and qualitative studies expanded during COVID 19, community data now informs cross cutting priorities including climate change adaptation, early warning and anticipatory action, and migration and displacement.

In 2023 the IFRC CEA team launched the Community Trust Index (CTI) as the flagship evidence based tool for measuring community trust in the Red Cross and Red Crescent. It employs a mixed methods design combining quantitative surveys with qualitative instruments across five structured phases: planning, data collection, data analysis, findings and recommendations, and action planning. Piloted across 13 countries in Africa, the Americas, Asia Pacific, and Europe, the CTI is now being scaled globally.

Strategic Alignment

In line with the IFRC Agenda for Renewal, the organisation is accelerating the use of digital transformation and artificial intelligence to strengthen community data systems. This consultancy directly supports that agenda by:

• Reducing the time between data collection, analysis, and actionable recommendations in both emergency and programme contexts.
• Building analysis capacity through a fit for purpose technical toolbox to guarantee a minimum quality standard of CTI implementation.
• Establishing centralised, automated, and scalable systems that reflect the pace and complexity of humanitarian operations.
• Embedding community voice more deeply into strategic and operational decision making at all levels.

Job Purpose

The IFRC seeks individuals or teams to design and build an integrated data system that reduces the time from community data collection to actionable insights of the Community Trust Index. The work spans three interconnected areas: data engineering, AI assisted analysis, and custom visualisation platforms.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

The work is organised into three profiles. In practice, these roles work as a unit: Profile 1 builds the infrastructure that Profile 2 analyses, and Profile 3 turns those insights into platforms that teams can use.

Profile 1: Data Engineer

Builds and maintains the technical backbone: databases, pipelines, and data collection systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Assess existing systems (e.g., Kobo Toolbox) and recommend infrastructure architecture.
• Design a centralised, secure database suitable for low resource and emergency contexts, including offline compatible data collection.
• Build automated pipelines connecting data collection to analysis and visualisation layers.
• Configure access controls, data ownership, and privacy safeguards.
• Ensure integrations and interoperability with IFRC and partner systems.
• Document all systems for knowledge transfer and maintainability.

Profile 2: Data Analyst & AI Specialist

Turns raw data into structured, reproducible insights using AI assisted quantitative and qualitative analysis.

Key Responsibilities

• Build automated workflows for descriptive analysis: frequencies, trends, and trust scores.
• Apply NLP and machine learning for qualitative analysis, sentiment detection, and thematic coding.
• Enable trend monitoring across time, geography, and population groups.
• Triangulate CTI data with contextual and secondary data sources.
• Validate and quality assure AI generated outputs.
• Ensure analytical methods are transparent, reproducible, and well documented.

Profile 3: Data Visualisation Developer

Designs and custom platforms and interactive tools that make community insights accessible to diverse audiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and maintain dashboards, microsites, and data portals for IFRC and National Societies.
• Design interactive tools for country level data use and reporting.
• Develop automated visual outputs (insight briefs, summary reports) from analytical pipelines.
• Work closely with the Data Engineer on technical integration and with the Data Analyst on translating outputs into visuals.
• Ensure platforms are accessible, user friendly, and compliant with IFRC branding and data protection standards.

Deliverables

• Centralised and secure data infrastructure for the CTI and related datasets.
• Standardised and simplified data collection tools and processes.
• Automated and real time data analysis pipelines.
• Digital platforms and visualisations for sharing insights across the IFRC network and with partners.

Governance and Coordination

The consultant will report to the IFRC CEA Lead and be technically supervised by the IFRC CEA Research Coordinator and the IM Senior Officer. Monthly progress updates will be submitted, along with a final report at the end of the consultancy period. Coordination mechanisms include regular check in meetings, collaboration with IFRC's Digital Transformation team, IM team, and regional CEA focal points, participation in relevant IFRC working groups or Communities of Practice related to data and community engagement, and formal sign off of all deliverables by the CEA Unit and relevant IFRC technical leads.

Time Allocation

The consultancy is expected to start on 15 May 2026 and conclude on 15 May 2027, for a total of 100 days over 12 months.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Database design and systems architecture
  • Required for: Profile 1 Data Engineer
  • Desirable for: Profile 2 Analyst & AI, Profile 3 Viz Developer
• Cloud infrastructure and application interface integrations
  • Required for: Profile 1 Data Engineer
  • Desirable for: Profile 3 Viz Developer
  • N/A for: Profile 2 Analyst & AI
• Digital data collection tools in low resource contexts
  • Required for: Profile 1 Data Engineer
  • Desirable for: Profile 2 Analyst & AI
  • N/A for: Profile 3 Viz Developer
• AI/ML and NLP for qualitative and quantitative data
  • Required for: Profile 2 Analyst & AI
  • Desirable for: Profile 1 Data Engineer
  • N/A for: Profile 3 Viz Developer
• Quantitative and qualitative research methods applied to humanitarian sectors
  • Required for: Profile 2 Analyst & AI
  • Desirable for: Profile 1 Data Engineer, Profile 3 Viz Developer
• Data triangulation and secondary analysis
  • Required for: Profile 2 Analyst & AI
  • Desirable for: Profile 3 Viz Developer
  • N/A for: Profile 1 Data Engineer
• Custom platform and dashboard development
  • Required for: Profile 3 Viz Developer
  • Desirable for: Profile 1 Data Engineer
  • N/A for: Profile 2 Analyst & AI
• Data visualisation design for non technical audiences
  • Required for: Profile 3 Viz Developer
  • Desirable for: Profile 2 Analyst & AI
  • N/A for: Profile 1 Data Engineer
• Community engagement in humanitarian contexts
  • Desirable for: Profile 1 Data Engineer, Profile 2 Analyst & AI, Profile 3 Viz Developer
• IFRC or Red Cross/Red Crescent familiarity
  • Desirable for: Profile 1 Data Engineer, Profile 2 Analyst & AI, Profile 3 Viz Developer