Concern Worldwide is inviting applications for a remote consultancy focused on strengthening the positioning of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for climate adaptation and resilience. The consultancy will support the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance (ZCRA) and its partners in understanding global trends, identifying strategic opportunities and strengthening approaches to nature-based adaptation.
The consultancy was posted on 18 September 2026, with applications due by 30 September 2026. The assignment is expected to require approximately 10 consultancy days, delivered remotely over a four-week period during October 2026.
The opportunity is relevant to consultants and professionals with experience in climate adaptation, resilience, ecosystem-based approaches, conservation, natural resource management, disaster risk reduction and strategic positioning.
About the Concern Worldwide Consultancy
Concern Worldwide is part of the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance, a multi-sectoral partnership focused on strengthening resilience to climate hazards in rural and urban communities.
Within the Alliance, Concern leads the Nature-based Adaptation and Resilience (NbAR) theme. The theme aims to improve the quality of community-level interventions, consolidate evidence on the practicality and impact of nature-based interventions, and support scaling and influencing at national and global levels.
The selected consultant will support the Alliance by examining the global Nature-based Solutions landscape through desk research, internet research and interviews with relevant experts and personnel.
Purpose of the Assignment
The consultancy will help guide the Alliance’s positioning in the field of nature-based solutions for climate adaptation and resilience.
The assignment will examine current trends and discussions surrounding NbS and explore how different organisations are using these approaches to address climate-related risks.
Key questions include:
- What strategies and approaches are peer organisations using for NbS?
- Which NbS topics and interventions are being prioritised?
- What problems are organisations attempting to solve?
- What results and impact pathways are being pursued?
- What challenges exist in designing, implementing, documenting and scaling NbS?
- How are organisations measuring ecosystem improvements and assessing potential maladaptation and trade-offs?
- What major debates are emerging among technical experts, practitioners and thought leaders?
- Which global policy and influencing arenas could provide opportunities for engagement?
Key Responsibilities
The consultant will undertake a review of Concern and ZCRA’s existing work and strategic priorities relating to climate resilience and nature-based adaptation.
The assignment will include reviewing the strategies and programmes of peer organisations and global thought leaders, including approaches such as Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA), green infrastructure and natural resource management.
The consultant will investigate how organisations understand and communicate NbS, the objectives they pursue, the indicators they use and the processes they employ when implementing or scaling interventions.
The consultant will also identify opportunities for the Alliance’s future positioning and provide practical recommendations based on the research and interviews.
The final work is expected to identify:
- Gaps and niche areas for the Alliance
- Opportunities for technical and strategic implementation
- Potential advocacy and influencing opportunities
- Key debates within the global NbS landscape
- Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats relating to the Alliance’s NbS work
- Potential areas for future evidence generation, implementation, scaling and influence
Consultancy Deliverables
The selected consultant will conduct a desk-based review and internet research, complemented by interviews with peer organisations and technical or strategy experts.
Among the expected outputs are a mapping of different NbS strategies, identification of challenges and gaps, examples of methods for measuring effectiveness and ecosystem co-benefits, analysis of sector debates and mapping of relevant global or regional influencing arenas.
The consultant will also identify three to five potential positioning options for the Alliance and future work, evidence generation, implementation, scaling and influence. A final report will bring these findings together.
Required Experience and Expertise
Concern Worldwide is seeking applicants with relevant technical and strategic expertise in climate adaptation and resilience.
The stated requirements include:
- Experience in climate adaptation and resilience, ecosystem or nature-based adaptation, conservation and livelihood-related programming, strategy or analysis.
- Previous experience assessing, designing, implementing or developing strategies for NbS, EbA or green/grey-green infrastructure.
- Understanding of global technical, policy and academic discussions around nature-based resilience and adaptation.
- Experience in organisational assessment, analysis, strategy development or positioning.
- Strong understanding of climate adaptation, resilience and disaster risk reduction programming.
- Knowledge of conservation and natural resource management.
- Experience working with NGOs or international organisations in climate-vulnerable contexts.
- Strong analytical and report-writing skills.
Remote Work and Consultancy Duration
The consultancy will be delivered remotely. It is expected to require approximately 10 consultancy days spread across a four-week period between the beginning and end of October 2026.
The final schedule will be agreed according to the consultant’s proposed workplan, availability and Concern’s operational priorities.
The consultant will report to Felix Gossrau, Concern Worldwide Climate Resilience Technical Advisor for the ZCRA programme, with support from Seona Dillon McLoughlin, Zurich Climate Resilience Programme Coordinator.
How to Apply
Interested consultants must submit their application by Wednesday, 30 September 2026, close of business.
Applications should be sent to this email with the subject line “Concern NbS Consultancy Application” and include:
- CV
- Indicative technical proposal, including proposed timelines
- Two samples of relevant previous work
- Financial proposal, including daily rate
Concern notes that applications will be shortlisted on a rolling basis because of the urgency of the consultancy, meaning the role may be offered before the stated closing date.
Key Opportunity Details
Organisation: Concern Worldwide
Opportunity: Consultancy – Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation and Resilience
Work arrangement: Remote
Duration: Approximately 10 consultancy days over four weeks
Expected period: October 2026
Application deadline: 30 September 2026
Focus: Climate adaptation, resilience and Nature-based Solutions
Application materials: CV, technical proposal, work samples and financial proposal
Professionals with the required climate resilience, nature-based solutions and strategic analysis experience can consider preparing their application materials promptly, particularly because Concern may shortlist and appoint before the deadline.
