Call for tender: Consultancy, Advisor - Protection of Civilians, Humanitarian & Disarmament Policy

Norwegian People’s Aid is a humanitarian organization committed to protecting civilians, safeguarding humanitarian norms, and supporting the implementation of key disarmament treaties, including Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) and the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM). As a mine action operator, NPA integrates operational field experience with global policy and advocacy efforts to support evidence-based policy towards strengthening the protection of civilians from explosive weapons.

To scale up our humanitarian policy and advocacy work, NPA is establishing a strengthened presence in Geneva. We are now seeking two advisors to join our new Geneva-based team on a twelve-month consultancy basis.

Main Responsibilities

The advisors will be part of a small team responsible for reinforcing NPA’s policy and advocacy efforts in Geneva with a particular focus on the protection of civilians, including humanitarian disarmament (APMBC, CCM) and advancing consistent application of IHL. To achieve this, the advisors will actively engage in dialogue and build strategic partnerships with a broad group of stakeholders and be involved in strengthening NPA’s engagement with States, civil society organizations, UN agencies, and other relevant actors. Among other things, the advisors will also work on enhancing support to affected States and communities, to participate actively in relevant multilateral forums based on updated knowledge.

The advisors will be working on initiating and managing analysis and research projects enabling evidence-based arguments for policy and advocacy work with the specific focus on different weapon types and their function, effect and consequences.

Lastly, the advisors will be responsible for raising public awareness of the issues of protection of civilians and the consistent application of IHL, with particular focus on fostering public support for treaties strengthening the protection of civilians.

The advisors will be hired by the NPA Geneva Office on a consultancy contract and will work under the instructions, guidance and coordination from NPA Head office in Oslo.

Location

Geneva, Switzerland. The office will be located in the Humanitarian Hub.

We offer

• The gross monthly compensation range is 7000-9000 CHF, depending on education and demonstrated experience (13-month salary). It includes 25 vacation days.

Please note that this is a twelve-month consultancy contract with a possibility of renewal. The compensation is subject to income tax according to the post location and personal citizenship obligations, which NPA has no responsibility for and the advisors is obliged to regulate personally. Health care and insurance are also a personal responsibility.

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience

• Demonstrated experience and expertise in policy and advocacy work related to weapons’ and humanitarian issues

• Experience in working within areas related to the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention, the Convention on Cluster Munitions or other humanitarian disarmament issues, would be considered an advantage

• Higher education (preferably MA) in political science, international law, or another relevant social science field

• Strong communication and networking skills

• Written and oral proficiency in English

• Willingness to travel abroad as required, incl. mine- and cluster munition- affected countries

• Ability to start from 1 April 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter

• Valid work or residence permit allowing employment in Geneva

• Valid consultancy service registration

What you will do

• Represent NPA at APMBC, CCM, and other relevant treaty meetings, as well as other relevant formal and informal meetings.

• Participate in and organize roundtables, side events, and advocacy meetings.

• Establish and maintain networks with State delegations, relevant UN agencies and civil society actors in Geneva.

• Support relevant civil society campaigns working on the protection of civilians and humanitarian disarmament, notably those working within humanitarian mine action.

• Travel as required (for example for conferences, NPA country programmes support and/or other relevant meetings).

• Initiate and manage analysis and research projects with specific deliverables, time frame, and budget.

• Conduct outreach to media, draft op-eds, and support preparation of communication products.

Instructions for applying

We continuously strive for more diversity and inclusion across the organisation. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply.

We kindly ask you to carefully read NPA’s Code of Conduct, Safeguarding Policy, and Anti-Corruption Policy before you submit your application. If you are the selected candidate for this position, you will be asked to complete and sign a Safeguarding self-declaration as well as our Code of Conduct.

*Validity of the offer and contract depends on satisfactory medical certificate, full vaccination, valid travel visa and necessary permits for service and residency in the country of service.

Address, deadline and period of validity

Questions regarding the tender shall be directed to:

Kristina Duric, Head of Section, Policy

Email: KriDur717@npaid.org

The bid shall include your CV and cover letter reflecting the above requirements, and shall be sent via email to the following email address: tenders@npaid.org

with the following text in the subject line: «Advisor – Protection of Civilians, Humanitarian & Disarmament Policy»

Deadline: March 16 2026

Bids arriving after the deadline may be rejected. The bid shall be valid for 30 days after the tender deadline. Costs related to the development of the bid will not be refunded.

Criteria for Selection

A successful consultant will need to document a solid experience within the field of international humanitarian and disarmament law and work within the scope of protection of civilians.

NPA will score the bids with the following criteria:

• Technical/thematic expertise: 50%

• Experience: 30%

• Ability to deliver within timeline: 20%

NPA will select the bidders that overall present the most relevant bids for NPA, and maintain the right to use or cancel received bids according to circumstances.

Selection process

Bids will be opened only after the March 16 deadline. The bids will be opened and reviewed by a select committee of NPA employees, including as a minimum, one employee from a department separate from the Department for Policy and Communication. The bids will be confidential and NPA will keep all information from bidders confidential.

NPA retains the right to contact bidders first for follow-up and clarification after the bids have been opened. NPA retains the right to reject some or all of the bids received.

Other information

The bidder is responsible for the necessary registration related to payment.

Payment will be done on the basis of invoices from the consultant according to the contracts entered into and timelines agreed.

The consultant is responsible for his/her own taxes, insurances, pensions and health care and all other work-related expenses.

Any field research trips will be covered by NPA.