The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
Role: Budget Lead
Programme: FCDO’s proposed ‘Refugee Support, Empowerment and Transformation (ReSET)’ Programme
Remote (working in East Africa and/or UK hours)
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a leading humanitarian and development organisation working in more than 40 countries and 26 U.S. cities to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and gain control of their future.
The IRC has worked in Uganda since 1998 supporting refugees, vulnerable host communities, and various institutions in the country notably the government, community-based organizations, civil society, and the private sector. Currently, the IRC in Uganda has a presence across five sub-regions and six refugee settlements, implementing programming in the sectors of Health, Protection and Rule of Law (PRoL), Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE), Economic Recovery and Development (ERD), and Education. IRC Uganda also implements cross-cutting programming focused on systems strengthening and accountability to affected persons, with a head office in Kampala and field offices in Lamwo, Kiryandongo, and West Nile.
Proposed FCDO Opportunity: Refugee Support, Empowerment and Transformation (ReSET)
Uganda hosts one of the largest refugee populations in Africa, requiring a sustained, coordinated, and increasingly locally-owned humanitarian and development response. To support Uganda’s transition to a more sustainable and resilient refugee response, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has initiated the proposed ‘ReSET Programme’ (anticipated start: August/September 2026) to make Uganda’s refugee response more sustainable and locally owned.
ReSET will be delivered across two pillars:
- Pillar 1 – Lifesaving Assistance: Meeting core needs through multisectoral assistance and protection for new arrivals and the most vulnerable, applying a cash-first principle.
- Pillar 2 – Self-Reliance & Resilience: Improving the self-reliance and resilience of refugees and host communities through evidence-based graduation or lump-sum cash interventions.
ReSET will be implemented across refugee settlements in Uganda in close coordination with the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), UN agencies, INGOs, national NGOs, and consortium partners. The IRC is bidding on the programme and anticipates leading or playing a key role in consortium delivery.
SCOPE OF WORK
The Budget Lead will be responsible for the preparation and finalisation of the ReSET proposal budget in standard IRC templates and the required FCDO donor submission format, in line with the timeline set by the Proposal Lead. This includes developing a budget that reflects the programme’s delivery model, cash-first approach, and multi-partner consortium structure, while demonstrating strong Value for Money (VfM) in line with FCDO requirements.
INDICATIVE TIMEFRAME AND DELIVERABLES
The consultancy will begin prior to the release of FCDO ToR release, with deliverables aligned to agreed proposal milestones. The estimated level of effort is 15–20 days. The phased breakdown is as follows:
Phase: Preliminary Phase
Description: Briefing on IRC budgeting templates and ReSET programme structure
Deliverable: -Participation in IRC Budget process briefing with the Senior Budget Lead and the programme country team budget lead.
LoE: 2 days
Phase: Capture Phase
Description: Donor intelligence, opportunity review, initial budgeting (Basis of Estimate)
Deliverable:
-Back of Envelope (BOE) Budget developed in the IRC template based on the available information with inputs from the country programme team.
- Set up and lead the weekly budget calls with the proposal team. -Use the Surplus Tool to develop a commercially viable proposal.
LoE: 3 days
Phase: Live Proposal – Initial Budget Structure
Description: Budget framework, assumptions, cost allocation, VfM narrative framing, and internal discussions
Deliverable:
- Review ITT documents from a budgetary perspective and provide recommendations to strengthen competitiveness.
-Raising clarification questions with donors for the financial proposal.
-Share the budget template with guidance to the consortium partners.
-Participation in proposal design workshops and kick off meeting. Coordination with country team for SPC calculations and providing any required information.
LoE: 4 days
Phase: Live Proposal – Partner Budget Review
Description: Reviewing consortium and partner budget submissions, adjustments, clarifications, and finalising partner budgets
Deliverable:
-Merging partners budget with IRC Budget and getting the internal budget (overall) ready for Lime & Green Reviews.
-Drafting and finalising any follow-up clarification questions for donor.
-Adjust the budget based on the feedback received from reviewers.
LoE: 5 days
Phase: Live Proposal – IRC Internal Budget Finalisation
Description: Finalising IRC’s internal budget and transferring figures into the FCDO proforma
Deliverable:
-Incorporate reviewer feedback and finalise the internal budget.
-Linking the FCDO proforma with the Internal Budget Template and getting it ready 02 days before the submission.
- Share required inputs with the team to support finalisation of the technical proposal/Commercial Narrative/VFM Framework.
- Finalising Financial & Payment Plan if required by the donor.
-Prepare and finalise a clean version of the proforma for FCDO’s submission while still keeping its linked version for IRC internal use.
LoE: 5 days
Phase: After Action Review
Description: Capturing lessons learnt on pricing and sharing them with the proposal team
Deliverable:
-Pricing Lessons Learnt and recommendations prepared and shared with the proposal lead.
LoE: 1 day
Total Estimated Max Days: 20 days
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- Relevant Bachelor’s degree in Finance or related qualification
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in budget development for local, national, or international NGOs or private sustainable development firms
- Extensive FCDO budget preparation experience and thorough understanding of proposal development processes
- Excellent oral and written communications skills and demonstrated ability to produce deliverables under deadline pressure from a diverse range of stakeholders
- Demonstrated knowledge of UK government (FCDO) regulations, procedures, and requirements strongly preferred
- Experience budgeting for multi-sector, multi-partner consortium programmes preferred
- Familiarity with FCDO ‘Value for Money’ principles and ‘Social Value’ policies preferred
- Experience developing budgets that reflect localisation and sub-grant management arrangements preferred
- Excellent English speaking/writing skills required
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.
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Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.