GENERAL INFORMATION

Title of Consultancy: Comparative study on professional service providers

Application Closing Date: 22 October 2026.

Consultancy Start and End Date: 26 October 2026 – 30 November 2026

Location of Consultancy: Remote, no travel required.

BACKGROUND

Transparency International (TI) is the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption. Through more than 100 chapters worldwide and an international secretariat in Berlin, Germany, TI raises awareness of the damaging effects of corruption and works with partners in government, business, and civil society to develop and implement effective measures to tackle it.

Professional service providers, including lawyers, notaries, accountants, trust and company service providers, and other designated non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs), play a critical role in the architecture of global anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT). When properly regulated and supervised, they are an essential line of defence against the misuse of corporate vehicles, trusts and other financial arrangements to launder the proceeds of corruption and other predicate offences. When under-regulated or weakly supervised, they can equally become key enablers of illicit financial flows.

In 2025, the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Sevilla endorsed a Platform for Action on Professional Service Providers, bringing renewed political attention to the governance of this sector and the need for stronger international standards and comparative evidence on national practice.

TI is participating in a comparative study of how selected jurisdictions regulate professional service providers, benchmarking national frameworks against international standards and identifying good practices and gaps. The study is designed to inform follow-up advocacy and technical assistance under the FfD4 Sevilla Platform for Action on Professional Service Providers.

TI is now seeking a Research Consultant (or consultants) to support the coordination and quality-assurance of country research data, to consolidate and analyse survey-based data, to contribute to report drafting, support validation of findings, and the preparation of public dissemination materials. The assignment is to be delivered by end of November 2026.

OBJECTIVES

  • Support the coordination and quality-assurance of desk-based country research, working from an agreed comparative framework and consolidating outputs into a coherent evidence base.
  • Analyse and integrate survey findings with the consolidated country research.
  • Contribute to the drafting of the final comparative report, in close coordination with TI staff.
  • Manage the validation of draft findings.
  • Support the preparation of materials for public distribution and policy engagement.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES AND TIMELINE

The consultancy is expected to require up to 44 working days. During this period, the consultant(s) will provide the following deliverables:

  • Support the coordination and quality assurance of desk-based country research (12 days)
  • Support the analysis and cleaning, structuring of survey data and integrate if with findings from the desk-based research findings (up to 7 days)
  • Contribute to report drafting in close consultation with TI Staff (14 days)
  • Support the validation of draft findings (8 days)
  • Support the preparation of dissemination materials based on the final report (3 days)

All presentations and reports should be submitted in English, in electronic form, in accordance with the deadlines stipulated above. The consultant is responsible for editing and quality control of language. The TI Secretariat retains the sole rights with respect to all distribution, dissemination, and publication of the deliverables.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The Consultant(s) should have the following qualifications:

  • Demonstrated expertise in AML/CFT policy and practice, with particular knowledge of the regulatory and supervisory treatment of professional service providers (DNFBPs), including lawyers, notaries, accountants and trust and company service providers.
  • Strong familiarity with the FATF standards, mutual evaluation process and recent policy developments relevant to DNFBPs (notably Recommendations 22, 23, 24 and 28).
  • Familiarity with the civil society sector and, ideally, with the TI chapter model or comparable membership-based networks.
  • Familiarity with the Financing for Development (FfD4) Sevilla Platform for Action on Professional Service Providers is highly desirable.
  • Proven experience leading or coordinating cross-country comparative research on DNFBPs or closely related topics, including experience quality-assuring research and consolidating heterogeneous country inputs into a coherent whole.
  • Demonstrated experience designing and running validation processes for research findings,
  • A postgraduate degree in law, political science, economics, international relations or a related field.
  • Strong analytical and drafting skills, with demonstrated experience producing policy briefs, comparative reports or research publications for international audiences.
  • Experience designing and administering survey instruments and analysing survey data in cross-country research settings is desirable.
  • Demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality research outputs under tight deadlines, including availability for substantially full-time engagement over the assignment period.
  • Fluency in written and spoken English.

REMUNERATION AND COSTS

The Consultants should provide their estimated total fee as a lump sum or as standard daily rates.

For candidates based in the EU, EEA, UK, and Switzerland

Transparency International e.V. (Secretariat), (TI-S) is registered as a Business Entity in Germany with VAT identification number DE273612486. EU reverse charge applies. Service providers should issue invoices with zero VAT.

Candidates who are based in Germany and do not charge German VAT must confirm their small entrepreneur status.

OTHER INFORMATION (optional)

HOW TO APPLY

The application should include the following documents in English:

  • Motivation letter and Curriculum Vitae
  • One sample of relevant previous work (confidentiality guaranteed).

Please indicate “Comparative study on professional service providers” in the subject line of your email application. Applications should be sent in English by email to corruptmoneyflows@transparency.org by close of business of 22/10/2026

Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

The Transparency International Secretariat is committed to creating an inclusive work environment where diversity is valued and where there is equality of opportunity. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and therefore welcome applications from qualified candidates of all regions, countries, cultures, and backgrounds.

Selection of candidates is made on a competitive basis, and we do not discriminate based on national origin, race, colour or ethnic background, religious belief, sex, gender identity and expression or sexual orientation, marital or family status, age, or ability. We kindly ask applicants to refrain from including in their application information relating to the above as well as from attaching photos.

Data protection

When you respond to this tender and submit your application, you provide consent that Transparency International e. V. keeps your application materials for the period of ten years according to German legal requirements. Afterwards Transparency International will delete your application and any personal data included in it. If you have any questions, please reach out to dataprotection@transparency.org

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