Brooke is seeking expressions of interest to lead a mid-term review of our Global Disaster Risk Management Research Programme.

Location: remotely (International Applicants, and candidates can be based in any country) or from our London office UK (London)

Deadline: January 9, 2026

Job Description

Background

Brooke is an international charity dedicated to protecting and improving the lives of horses, donkeys, and mules, enabling people in the developing world to work their way out of poverty. During 2024 Brooke launched its first Global Research Strategy. The strategy sets out our vision for research and our approach to delivering that ambition. It’s an exciting new chapter, and in the coming years, we will strive to work with our collaborators to deliver strategic and impactful research that provides data and knowledge to support us in delivering our evidence-based programmes.

As part of the strategy, in collaboration with University College London we aim to deliver a three-year research programme which aims to evidence the role, health and welfare of working equids in and for disaster risk management (DRM) in six of our countries of operation: Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Nicaragua, Pakistan and Senegal.

Currently equids are invisible in national disaster preparedness plans, which means that there is little national guidance on working equid health care and welfare during DRM. Findings from this research programme will inform Brooke’s advocacy and community development work in this area.

Purpose of the consultancy

Brooke is currently seeking to develop its advocacy strategy around donkey skins and demand for ejiao in the UK. A consultant is required to undertake a scoping study to inform the development of the strategy.

To express interest

Please submit your documents to Gemma Carder, Senior Manager for Global Research, gemma.carder@thebrooke.org. Short listed candidates will be asked to deliver a 20-minute presentation to an interview panel on their proposed approach with a short Q and A session. We aim for interviews to take place during the 1st or 2nd week of February.

Introduction

Brooke is an international non-governmental organisation that aims to improve the health and welfare of working horses, donkeys and mules across the world. We achieve this by effectively engaging communities to build their capacity to improve equid welfare, strengthen local animal health systems, and through advocating with key global players to effect changes in policies and practices for the mutual benefit of both animals and the households whose livelihoods depend on them.

Background

Global Disaster Risk Management Research Programme

During 2024 Brooke launched its first Global Research Strategy. The strategy sets out our vision for research and our approach to delivering that ambition. It’s an exciting new chapter, and in the coming years, we will strive to work with our collaborators to deliver strategic and impactful research that provides data and knowledge to support us in delivering our evidence-based programmes. As part of the strategy, in collaboration with University College London we aim to deliver a three-year research programme which aims to evidence the role, health and welfare of working equids in and for disaster risk management (DRM) in six of our countries of operation: Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Nicaragua, Pakistan and Senegal. Currently equids are invisible in national disaster
preparedness plans, which means that there is little national guidance on working equid health care and welfare during DRM. Findings from this research programme will inform Brooke’s advocacy and community development work in this area.

Co-production is at the centre of the research programme. We are working closely with local stakeholders, communities, and partners to design and deliver research and interventions. While we have worked collaboratively on research in the past, this time we are taking it a step further by making joint decisions at every stage. This approach values shared knowledge and experience, helping us create solutions that are relevant,
sustainable, and impactful. By embedding co-production, we strengthen individual ownership, promote mutual learning, and ensure our work reflects the real needs and priorities of Brooke staff and partners for informed evidence-based programming.

Monitoring, evaluation, learning and accountability are embedded throughout, fostering reflection, transparency, and the timely translation of knowledge into practice. The approach is inherently non-linear, with learning, adaptation, and feedback occurring iteratively rather than following a fixed sequence. By integrating these elements, we aim to produce research that is both meaningful and immediately useful to the stakeholders it is intended to serve.

Purpose

This marks the first time in over a decade that Brooke has undertaken research spanning multiple countries. To ensure its success and maximise learning, we are commissioning a mid-term review to assess progress against key learning objectives. Insights from this review will inform adjustments to the remainder of the DRM Research Programme and guide the design and implementation of future research by Brooke and its partners.

Our learning objectives are:

1. Strengthen internal systems, tools, and capacities to manage and support a global Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach.
2. Understand how PAR can be adapted and applied within Brooke’s diverse local contexts.
3. Build research competencies among Brooke staff, partners, and community coresearchers through tailored training, and assess how this capacity supports ethical, effective, and participatory research practices.
4. Review Brooke’s capacity and protocols for ethical oversight of PAR and explore when external ethical approvals (e.g., universities or national boards) should be integrated.
5. Ensure gender-responsive and inclusive research processes and outcomes.
6. Assess the financial and non-financial costs and benefits of delivering PAR across multiple countries and identify how PAR can be resourced sustainably and efficiently in future programmes.

The outcomes of this review will also complement a final impact and process evaluation at the end of the research programme.

The consultant should employ ethical, participatory methodologies that reflect the research’s co-production approach. This should include mixed methods, such as, but not limited to, participatory workshops and key informant interviews with internal and external stakeholders. All data collection and interpretation must be inclusive and culturally appropriate, with clear protocols for informed consent and confidentiality.

The approach should prioritise collaborative learning, creating opportunities for stakeholders to reflect on findings and actively contribute to recommendations.

Mid-term review objectives:

• Adapt Current Research: Strengthen Brooke’s internal systems and processes to improve implementation of the ongoing Global DRM Research Programme.
• Inform Future Research: Generate insights and recommendations to guide the design and resourcing of future research at Brooke, in collaboration with our partners.
• Share Sector Learning: Capture and disseminate lessons learned to support external researchers and international non-governmental organisations in adopting ethical, inclusive, and participatory methodologies.

Key deliverables:

• Debrief meeting with the Senior Manager for Global Research to review findings and discuss initial insights.
• Validation workshop with key stakeholders to review findings, discuss implications, and co-create recommendations.
• Internal learning and recommendations report summarising progress, lessons learned, and actionable recommendations for the remainder of the programme.
• Learning brief (2–3 pages) highlighting practical lessons and good practices for future research programmes.

Optional

• Work with the Senior Manager for Global Research to produce an external-facing paper (content and scope to be agreed internally) highlighting major insights and contributions for the external research community.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Lead the Mid-Term Review: Design and implement an ethical, participatory evaluation approach aligned with the research’s co-production principles.
• Develop Methodology & Tools: Create data collection instruments that are inclusive, and culturally appropriate.
• Conduct Data Collection and Analysis: Engage with key stakeholders including Brooke staff, and partners using participatory methods.

• Facilitate Learning Sessions: Organise a validation workshop to share findings and co-create recommendations.
• Produce Deliverables: Prepare all agreed outputs.
• Ensure Ethical Standards: Obtain informed consent, maintain confidentiality, and adhere to Brooke’s ethical protocols.

Applicants should have:

• Proven track record in evaluation and learning reviews for multi-country research programmes.
• Strong knowledge of Participatory Action Research (PAR) or similar coproduction approaches.
• Experience with inclusive evaluation design and analysis.
• Experience working in diverse cultural contexts, ideally in low- and middleincome countries.
• Strong analytical and synthesis skills for producing actionable recommendations and accessible summaries.
• Excellent facilitation skills for participatory workshops and stakeholder engagement.

HOW TO APPLY

Potential consultants are invited to submit their bid documents by 9th January 2026.

These should include:

• A comment on these Terms of Reference, outlining your interest and proposed approach (maximum 1000 words).
• An outline work plan including the sequencing of the events/activities. We anticipate the consultancy will run for approximately 4–6 weeks, with an expected start date in February or March 2026.
• An up-to-date CV.
• An example of a similar assignment.
• A daily consulting fee and a total estimated cost based on the work plan.

Please note:

• The consultant may work remotely or from our London office.
• If working from the London office, they will need to provide their own laptop.
• We welcome international applicants, and candidates can be based in any country.
• Please submit your documents to Gemma Carder, Senior Manager for Global Research:
  gemma.carder@thebrooke.org.

Short listed candidates will be asked to deliver a 20-minute presentation to an interview panel on their proposed approach with a short Q and A session. We aim for interviews to take place during the 1st or 2nd week of February.

Please note that all data collected will remain the property of Brooke and must be provided to Brooke upon completion of the contract.

All external communications will acknowledge the consultant’s contribution.