Consultancy Assignment: Gulf Donor Engagement and Strategy Development

Geographic Focus: Palestine, Syria

Estimated Timeframe: 3-4 months

Global Communities is a leading international development and humanitarian organization with a strong presence across the Middle East, including in Palestine and Syria. We are committed to advancing sustainable, community-led solutions through partnerships that are grounded in trust, technical excellence, and local ownership.

Recognizing the increasing role of Gulf-based donors, philanthropic foundations, and sovereign funds in shaping the region’s humanitarian and development landscape, Global Communities is expanding its engagement across the Gulf to build meaningful, values-aligned partnerships. The evolving context—particularly around Gaza’s anticipated reconstruction, resilience programming in Syria, and the Vitas Group, Global Communities microfinance arm in Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine and Egypt, —presents a timely opportunity to align with Gulf donors on shared priorities.

Global Communities is seeking strategic advisory support to identify and pursue Gulf donor partnerships that align with the organization’s regional footprint and thematic priorities. These include:

• Humanitarian assistance and early recovery
• Food security and nutrition, including school feeding and food systems support
• Primary and community-based health services
• Livelihoods, youth employment, and microenterprise development
• Development finance, financial inclusion, and innovative financing mechanisms

The consultancy will support Global Communities in identifying relevant Gulf funding institutions and mechanisms; analyzing alignment between donor eligibility criteria, sector and geographical priorities and GC programming; and defining a tailored strategy for donor engagement, positioning, and access to upcoming opportunities. The consultancy should also account for Global Communities’ localization model, which includes a network of affiliated local NGOs and microfinance institutions—positioning us as a scalable and trusted implementing partner aligned with regional priorities around local ownership and sustainability.

Objectives

1. To map and analyze Gulf donor institutions, philanthropic foundations, and sovereign funds with relevance to humanitarian, recovery, and development efforts in Palestine and Syria.
2. To recommend a practical, Gulf-specific business development strategy for GC with clear pathways, timelines, and positioning guidance.
3. To facilitate initial introductions or meetings with at least 3–5 targeted Gulf donors, where feasible.

Scope of Work

The consultant/firm will be responsible for the following:

1. Donor Landscape Mapping

• Provide an updated and detailed mapping of major Gulf-based donors, including but not limited to:
  • Government entities (e.g., KSRelief, Qatar Fund for Development, UAE AID)
  • Sovereign wealth funds with development portfolios (e.g., ADIA, PIF)
  • Philanthropic foundations (e.g., Alwaleed Philanthropies, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation, Emirates Foundation)
  • Large corporate CSR donors and Islamic finance vehicles (e.g., Zakat funds)
  • Investment banks and private sector development finance institutions, where applicable
• Include insights on:
  • Funding strategies and thematic priorities (humanitarian relief, livelihoods, WASH, MSMEs, reconstruction, youth)
  • Past and current programs in Palestine and Syria
  • Current implementing partners, including performance status or any known delivery issues
  • Grant processes and eligibility requirements
  • Key contacts and decision-making pathways
• Deliverable: A comprehensive long list of Gulf-based donors with a record of funding humanitarian or development programs. The listing shall include:
• Profiles and strategic priorities:
  • Funding sectors and regional focuses
  • Grantmaking cycles and proposal processes
  • Current implementing partners.
  • Assessment of known delivery issues with implementing partners, where publicly reported or available
  • Key contacts (decision-makers where publicly available)

2. Strategic Positioning & Engagement Plan

• Based on the donor mapping, develop a shortlist of donors whose priorities align with Global Communities’ sectors and geographies.
• For the shortlisted donors, develop a tailored strategy for GC to engage Gulf donors ovethe next 12–24 months, including:
  • Recommended thematic and geographic areas for engagement
  • Alignment to GC’s eligibility and geographic/programmatic intersection
  • Estimated funding acquisition opportunity per country and sector
  • Packaging guidance for GC’s offerings (e.g., flagship programs or multi-country frameworks)
  • Recommendations on how GC can highlight and integrate its affiliates (e.g., local partners, microfinance institutions) as part of its localization strategy to better align with Gulf donor preferences and showcase community-rooted impact.
  • Risk management and compliance considerations in Gulf donor partnerships
  • High-level talking points and positioning narratives. This shall include a value proposition to each donor, highlighting the win-win opportunity when partnering with Global Communities
  • A suggested calendar of engagement windows (e.g., Ramadan giving, reconstruction pledging events)
• Deliverable: Strategic Gulf Donor Engagement Plan, including:
  • Timeline and priorities
  • Tiered donor approach
  • Shortlist of 3–5 priority donors with active/pipelined opportunities in the remainder of 2025 and beyond
  • Actionable recommendations for prepositioning and internal capacity considerations

3. Facilitation of Strategic Entry Points

• Identify and, if possible, facilitate introductions or arrange meetings with 5 top Gulf donors most aligned with GC’s mission.
• Support in the preparation for donor meetings by drafting briefs, pitch decks, or tailored concept notes.
• Identify and recommend key Gulf-based forums, philanthropic events, and regional conferences that Global Communities should consider participating in to enhance visibility and network with potential donors and partners.
• Deliverable: Donor Outreach Report, including:
  • List of introductions made
  • List of recommended events/platforms with details on timing, relevance, and participation pathways
  • Recommendations for follow-up and relationship management