Lead Technical Writer - GPE

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.

SCOPE OF WORK:
 

The Lead Technical Writer will be responsible for drafting a responsive Expression of Interest application for the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) in Syria. The Writer will work closely with and receive technical guidance from IRC Technical Advisors, Syria Deputy Director of Programs, and the Business Development focal point.

The Writer will be responsible for delivering a complete and responsive technical narrative (excluding annexes). To do this, the Writer will participate in any program design meetings that will take place during the period of engagement and will receive and consolidate all inputs into a competitive and compelling EOI application. The Writer may comment on or give direction to the EOI design, as long as edits remain responsive to the donor’s strategy and priorities. In developing the first draft, the Writer may reach back out to contributors for additional information to ensure the draft is sufficiently complete for a first review. Following reviews, the Writer will be responsible for incorporating revisions into a second and/or final narrative.

The Writer is not responsible for the budget development; however, he/she may review mandatory annexes to ensure consistency with the EOI narrative and, if a budget is required at this stage, will ensure narrative and budget are aligned.

RESPONSIBILITIES of the consultant will include:

Preparatory Work

• Review donor guidelines, templates and strategy documents, progress reports on past and current GPE grants, progress on the Partnership Compact for Syria, and any underlying assessments or system diagnostics (e.g., Enabling Factors Analysis), etc.
• Review existing Ministry of Education plans, including emergency education response and early recovery plans, information regarding domestic financing plans for education, and overall education sector resources.
• Review and incorporate evidence and lessons learned from the FCDO-funded ERICC initiative in Syria, including HelpDesk reports. Engage with ERICC staff as needed to incorporate these points into the EOI.
• Map the EOI against GPE strategic priorities, MoE plans and country partnership compact.
• Read proposal documents (Donor Guidance and profiles, checklists, GPE templates, and related resources) and receive briefing by IRC team.

EOI Development

• Provide clear guidance/expectations on required inputs to ensure inputs from IRC and Partner teams are responsive and in line with donor requirements.
• Adhere to the donor proposal templates and guidance.
• Ensure GPE donor priorities / themes / language are incorporated into the application.
• Ensure cross-references to existing GPE work in Syria and lessons from other GPE contexts.
• Receive and consolidate technical inputs from contributors; identify gaps and areas for follow-up; incorporate feedback from Technical Advisors.
• Write a high-quality, harmonized EOI that incorporates IRC team’s technical input. This will include ensuring draft is responsive to donor guidelines and IRC project design, as articulated in the design workshop if any.

Reviews and Finalization

• Closely collaborate reviews with IRC Technical Advisors and Syria CP staff; receive and incorporate feedback; ensure the technical design is integrated and responsive to donor requirements (raise concerns and propose solutions where alignment is lacking).
• Maintain regular communication with the Business Development Advisor to ensure timely, consistent, and responsive inputs that align to the solicitation.
• Produce a submission-ready final draft of the EOI.

TIME-FRAME and DELIVERABLES
 

The consultant shall be available approximately 8 working days between October and November 2025, with dates to be determined once the donor solicitation is advertised. The dates and breakdown of tasks will be confirmed in a consultant agreement but are recommended as:

• Hold sessions with internal IRC teams to provide an overview of GPE System Capacity Grants, clarifying requirements for the EoI and program design;
• Circulate guidance to teams on needed proposal inputs and key donor requirements;
• Prepare first draft document, in coordination with technical and country team;
• Manage reviews, consolidate feedback, and prepare second draft;
• Complete and align final submission documents;
• TBC: Provide the IRC Syria program with a set of recommendations to position itself for GPE funding.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Demonstrated experience writing successful education sector development proposals is required
• Demonstrated knowledge and past work on GPE-funded programs, and deep knowledge of GPE grant selection procedures and requirements strongly preferred.
• Experience working with a diverse range of stakeholders, organizations, and technical experts from the education sector (and related sectors such as ministries of finance/ ministries or departments of planning), with recent experience in Syria strongly preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills and demonstrated ability to write and produce drafts under deadline pressure.
• Excellent English writing skills are required.

Application Process

• A cover letter outlining suitability and relevant experience including proposed daily rate.
• CV

The consultant will be expected to maintain confidentiality regarding all information and documents shared.

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

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US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $143 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles. 

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.