Independent Project Management Consultancy Services
- Organisation: Center for Operational Analysis and Research
- Contract: Consultancy
- Deadline: 9 November 2026
Scope of Services
Nature of Services: Independent Project Management Consultancy Services
Place of Performance: Such location as determined by the Consultant when performing the Services subject to any location-specific requirements expressly agreed in writing for a particular assignment.
Level of Effort: Assignment-based and strictly as mutually agreed in writing for specific tasks and deliverables. No minimum number of days/hours, fixed working hours, or continuing level of effort is guaranteed or required.
Type of Contract: Services will be provided on a day-rate basis against specific project assignments, deliverables, and estimated levels of effort agreed between COAR and the Consultant.
Timeframe: The anticipated term of this consultancy is from 01 December 2026 to 31 December 2027, subject to execution of the applicable agreement. The term establishes the period during which assignments may be agreed; it does not create an obligation to provide or accept assignments, guarantee a minimum workload, or require continuous availability. Any extension shall be subject to mutual written agreement.
Primary Point of Contact: COAR's designated Senior Programs Manager, acting as the contact for agreeing assignment requirements, coordinating necessary project inputs, clarifying deliverables, addressing technical queries and reviewing completed outputs against the agreed scope. This role is for assignment coordination and does not confer authority to direct the Consultant's day-to-day working methods or exercise line-management authority over the Consultant.
Overview
This Scope of Services (SoS) outlines the Project Management Consultancy services with the Center for Operational Analysis and Research (COAR). The Consultant will provide independent professional services in relation to specifically commissioned project-management assignments. Depending on the scope of an accepted assignment, these services may include preparing project plans and coordination materials, analysing project budgets and resource requirements, identifying delivery risks and dependencies, documenting client feedback, and making recommendations concerning project implementation and delivery. The Consultant shall be responsible for the agreed consultancy outputs and coordination activities, but shall not assume general responsibility for managing COAR's personnel, organisational operations, or projects beyond the scope of an accepted assignment. The Consultant will liaise with technical, research, and support colleagues as reasonably necessary to perform the agreed Services. The Consultant may coordinate specified project inputs, communicate agreed project requirements and timelines, identify risks and constraints, and provide recommendations to COAR concerning actions that may support delivery of the relevant project scope. COAR and its personnel shall retain responsibility for organisational decisions, personnel management, and approvals falling outside the Consultant's expressly agreed authority.
Nature of the consultancy
This is an independent, non-exclusive, project-based consultancy engagement and not a position of employment with COAR. Services will be commissioned through specific assignments agreed between COAR and the Consultant, setting out the relevant scope, deliverables, estimated level of effort, timeframe and applicable day rate.
COAR does not guarantee any minimum number of assignments or consultancy days, and the Consultant will remain free to accept or decline proposed assignments and to provide services to other clients, subject to confidentiality, conflicts of interest and the timely delivery of any assignment accepted.
The Consultant will determine independently the professional approach, methods, sequencing, working time and place of performance of the Services, subject to agreed deliverables, deadlines, applicable legal, contractual, client, security, safeguarding, confidentiality and other project-specific requirements and reasonable project coordination. The Consultant will ordinarily use their own equipment and working facilities and will be responsible for their own tax, social insurance and other statutory obligations arising from the consultancy. The consultancy does not carry employee benefits.
The Consultant will coordinate their own activities and agreed project inputs but will not occupy a position within COAR’s organisational structure, exercise employment or line-management authority over COAR personnel, or have authority to bind COAR, except where expressly authorised in writing for a defined project purpose.
Fees will be payable only for Services performed under an agreed assignment and against submission of appropriate invoices. No minimum volume of work or continuing retainer is guaranteed.
About COAR
COAR is an independent social enterprise that directly supports practitioners, policymakers, and donors by facilitating humanitarian and development interventions in complex, fragile, and high-risk environments.
Objectives
• To provide independent project management services in connection with the set-up, implementation, and close-out of specifically assigned projects;
• To support the timely delivery of assigned projects within agreed budgets and in accordance with applicable contractual requirements, client expectations, and those COAR policies and standards reasonably applicable to external consultants and relevant to the delivery of the Services ;
• To provide project-level coordination of agreed resources, risks, and operational requirements to support efficient and high-quality delivery;
• To facilitate, where relevant to an agreed assignment, communication between COAR and its clients, partners, and other relevant stakeholders; and
• Where separately agreed in writing, provide defined proposal-development or business-development consultancy outputs relating to the Consultant’s professional expertise
Activities
Project Management
• Prepare and maintain project coordination materials identifying the agreed scope, deliverables, timelines, dependencies and allocation of project inputs;
• Develop and maintain project workplans and systems for assigned projects, providing relevant COAR personnel with visibility of priorities, progress, risks, and decisions and making recommendations regarding actions required to support implementation;
• Coordinate specified project inputs identified in the applicable assignment, monitor relevant dependencies and resource constraints, and notify the COAR Focal Point of material issues that may affect delivery. The Consultant may review the status of identified technical, research, and other workstreams and provide recommendations concerning their alignment with agreed project requirements, timelines, and available resources. Responsibility for allocating and managing COAR personnel remains with COAR;
• Coordinate agreed operational and logistical requirements of project implementation, including arrangements for project activities, travel, events, workshops, and other operational needs, and provide recommendations to the relevant COAR focal point where COAR action or approval is required. Any expenditure or commitment on COAR's behalf shall require prior written authorisation;
• Identify and assess implementation challenges, risks, and resource constraints, recommend potential mitigation measures, and refer matters requiring COAR decisions or action to the COAR Focal Point or other designated project contact;
• Coordinate the deliverable review process and submit materials to the persons designated by COAR for any required technical, contractual or organisational approval; and
• Support effective project handover and close-out and coordinate the maintenance of key project decisions, documentation, and records in accordance with the agreed assignment and applicable COAR requirements.
• The Consultant will determine the professional approach, sequencing, and methods used to perform the Services, subject to the agreed scope, deliverables, deadlines, contractual requirements, and reasonable coordination with COAR and relevant project stakeholders.
Financial, Administrative, and Compliance Management
• Support the development and monitoring of project operating budgets, including expenditure, resource utilisation, forecasts, and project-level financial information, and provide recommendations to the relevant COAR focal point;
• Identify the skills, specialist inputs and external resources reasonably required for delivery and provide recommendations to COAR Focal Point. Decisions concerning the engagement, allocation or management of COAR personnel shall remain exclusively with COAR.;
• Identify financial risks or significant variances and make recommendations to the relevant COAR leadership or Finance personnel regarding appropriate mitigation measures;
• Collaborate with Finance to support timely and accurate invoicing, financial reporting, and other project financial requirements limited to the project information, documentation, and coordination outputs specified in the assignment;
• Support compliance of project implementation with applicable contractual requirements and those COAR policies and procedures reasonably applicable to external consultants and necessary for the proper performance of the Services, including requirements relating to safeguarding, confidentiality, data protection, information security, security, and other applicable legal or contractual requirements; and
• Coordinate the preparation and maintenance of required financial, contractual, administrative, and compliance documentation and engage relevant COAR focal points where specialist guidance or approval is required.
Client and Partner Management
• Where expressly authorised in the applicable assignment, act as an external project coordination contact for the client, without authority to amend the contract, agree additional services, vary fees or deadlines, or otherwise bind COAR;