Background

The evolving nature of humanitarian crises and humanitarian aid landscape demands innovative, locally driven solutions that can drive rapid and scalable responses, particularly in fragile contexts where recovery and reconstruction efforts face substantial challenges. Amid political instability, economic collapse, and strained governance systems, diaspora actors, often outside the auspices of formal aid structures, play an essential role, providing support to hard-to-reach communities, mobilizing resources quickly, flexibly, and at scale. In fact, they often surpass traditional aid flows to fragile states, with their contributions reaching up to six times the level of external aid in some instances.1 Notable for their innovation, they excel in developing adaptive infrastructures for offering financial assistance and remain engaged throughout all stages of crises, working alongside local partners to bridge acute needs with long-term recovery. Despite the scale and diversity of their financial contributions, the broader impacts of diaspora actors’ financial contribution in support of crisis, relief and recovery efforts remain largely under-researched, with its mechanisms, effects, and scalability often overlooked within the humanitarian ecosystems and broader funding landscape, including how coordination and collaboration with local actors can be effectively supported.

Afghanistan is enduring a prolonged humanitarian crisis, deeply intertwined with the economic shock and the sharp decline in Official Development Assistance (ODA) triggered by the regime change in August 2021. The Afghan diaspora, estimated at nearly 6 million individuals globally, has been a vital lifeline for Afghanistan, contributing significantly to the country’s economy, and relief and development responses. A Diaspora Emergency Action & Coordination network (DEMAC)2 mapping undertaken during the 2023 Herat Earthquake found that 38 diaspora organizations within the first three months of the crisis had mobilized more than USD 3.4 million, according to publicly available information. Initially, these funds addressed immediate needs such as food packages and temporary shelters. However, many diaspora organizations quickly transitioned to longer-term recovery initiatives, including economic recovery projects, sustainable reconstruction efforts, and expanded access to water and health services. This figure does not take into consideration funds coming from contributions from, for example, relatives, Zhakat, online collections through social media, home-town associations, adhoc charity events, donations from the private sector, philanthropy nor from institutional donors. It is therefore safe to assume that this amount is hugely underestimated in terms of diaspora actors’ full contribution in emergency and recovery efforts, and particularly underexplored in terms of the collaborative mechanisms enabling their impact on the ground.

Further examining the case of Afghan diaspora actors’ financial support towards the Herat Earthquake emergency and recovery response, this consultancy will analyze the role of the diaspora in mobilizing charitable financial support in collaboration with local actors across the crisis, relief, and recovery and reconstruction/development nexus. By reviewing the blueprint of the diaspora in the response of the Herat Response, it will explore how different funding modalities—ranging from crowdfunding and individual remittances to philanthropic contributions and private sector partnerships—interact and contribute to addressing immediate and long-term needs. Understanding the interplay between different types of diaspora actors, the funding modalities, how resources are mobilized and leveraged across various stages of the response to support local efforts, their underlying incentive structures, the associated obstacles and opportunities, and local effects on the ground, it will bring new insights into how diaspora actors serve as lifelines of support towards affected communities in situations of fragile and protracted crisis. These insights will inform efforts to strengthen collaboration between diaspora and local actors, ensuring that the humanitarian ecosystem is better geared to deliver timely, effective, scalable and sustainable support to local communities in fragile and protracted crises.

Objective of the Consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to conduct an in-depth qualitative review of diaspora actors’ role in funding local efforts in protracted and crisis-affected contexts across emergency, recovery, and reconstruction/development phases. Using the Herat Earthquake response as a case study, it will examine how the Afghan diaspora in its many forms provide charitable financial support to relief and development efforts in collaboration with local actors on the ground. Drawing on these insights, it will further identify tools, approaches, and enabling conditions that strengthen diaspora–local cooperation and highlight replicable insights and frameworks for broader application. The analysis will in turn inform synergies and cross-fertilization of efforts with other initiatives and seek to inform pilot efforts to potentially be scaled up and replicated across contexts.

Objectives and research questions

The objectives of this consultancy are to:

1. Map and define the different types of diaspora actors and funding modalities, identifying how and when they contribute to various phases of crisis response (emergency, relief, recovery, and reconstruction/development) —particularly in support of local actors.

2. Analyze the motivations, incentives, challenges, and opportunities that shape how diaspora actors mobilize and channel support, including their linkages and cooperation with local actors and the factors that enable or constrain these efforts at the different stages of response.

3. Examine how diaspora- actors through their fundraising efforts support local actors on the ground, assess the local effects and impacts of these efforts, and identify promising tools, mechanisms, and identify innovative practices with potential to be leveraged, replicated or scaled to improve the effectiveness, cooperation, scalability and sustainability of diaspora funding support to local efforts.

The research is further guided by the following research questions:

Objective 1. Mapping of diaspora funding modalities across phases of the response
• What are the types of diaspora actors engaged in mobilizing resources to local efforts in-country (e.g., individual supporting in private capacity, small, big business owners, philanthropic foundations, donations from affluent individuals, professional networks, associations, hometown associations, others)?

• What types of diaspora funding are predominantly mobilized, and through which formal/informal platforms are they channeled (e.g., including but not necessarily limited to remittances, crowdfunding, zhakat, fundraising events, social media, matching funds schemes, diaspora investment platforms, corporate or public partnerships, etc.)?

• Which types of funding are predominantly mobilized for which phases (ranging from emerging, relief, recovery and reconstruction/development) and when are certain types more effective or better suited at different stages of aid?

Objective 2: Analysis of motivations, incentives, challenges, and opportunities guiding diaspora funding support
• What are the key motivations and underlying incentives for providing financial support across the types of actors?
• What are the key barriers for providing financial support across actors (including but not limited to, the role of national and local authorities, regulatory, operational, financial and transactional barriers, risks related to formal/informal money transfers, capacity constraints, security concerns, political and institutional risks)?
• What are the key enabling factors and opportunities influencing the effectiveness, sustainability and scalability of diaspora-led funding initiatives (including, but not limited to technology, partnerships, funding mechanisms, strategies)?

Objective 3: Analysis of diaspora support to local efforts and local effects
• How do diaspora actors, through their fundraising efforts, support and collaborate with local actors on the ground, in terms of scale, reach, predictability, and sustainability?

• How do these collaboration structures impact the allocation and targeting of resources, particularly in terms of reaching the most vulnerable populations?

• To what extent and through which mechanisms are diaspora-funded local initiatives coordinated with local authorities and/or the formal humanitarian coordination system (e.g., OCHA, ACBAR, or other relevant platforms)?

• What potential unintended local effects and unintended consequences arise from diaspora fundraising support e.g. in terms of principles of equitable resource distribution, do no harm/conflict sensitivity, accountability and sustainability, or any negative effects related to gender, ethnicity, religious affiliations, or conflict dynamics?

• What innovative practices, tools, mechanisms, or successful case studies exist in the diaspora’s financial support, and how can these practices be leveraged or scaled to improve the effectiveness, cooperation, scalability and sustainability of diaspora funding support to local efforts?

Methodology and geographic scope

To gather insights, the consultant will employ qualitative methods, including key informant interviews (KIIs) and in some cases and, when possible, focus group discussions (FGDs) with diaspora actors, as well as local stakeholders such as NGOs and community representatives, as relevant. The total estimated number of KIIs will be 20-25 respondents, as per stakeholders cited above, complemented by 3 FGDs with diaspora individuals and affected communities.

The geographic scope of the research will focus on the case of Herat earthquake response. The methodology will focus on selecting a sub-set of cases, which may cover 2-3 selected districts in Herat, where diaspora actors have provided funding to support emergency and recovery efforts in Herat. The selection will further be informed by consultations, accessibility and security concerns and may also be informed by other research and sources, including a DEMAC mapping of diaspora organizations engaged in the immediate response.

As the study is designed to be replicated and applied to other contexts, the research objectives should guide the development of an analytical framework with Afghanistan Herat Earthquake response serving as a case study. This framework should enable the exploration and analysis of variations across diaspora actor typologies, against comparative factors such as financial modalities, phases of engagement (emergency, relief, recovery, reconstruction development), and geographic scope, which could be visualized in the format of a SWOT matrix).

Given the high sensitivity of the information, including private funding sources and complex political contexts, the consultant must possess a deep contextual understanding of the region and cultivate strong relationships with key informants and local data collectors, while maintaining neutrality and ensuring the secure handling of all data. Participatory approaches should be considered to contribute to a tailored approach and to ensure that experts and diaspora actors contribute to the study’s design and validation of findings.

The research will be carried out in collaboration with the DEMAC team. The consultant team will maintain regular contact with the DEMAC focal point to confirm data collection tools and validate the list of key informant interviews (KIIs) and other approaches applied, such as focus group discussions (FGD). The focal point will provide prompt feedback on drafts and input.

Research activities are expected to take place between July to October 2025, with all deliverables finalized by no later than October 15th, 2025.

Deliverables

• Expected Deliverable: Inception report including a workplan/timeline
  • Task Description:
    • A brief inception report indicating the methodology and how the objectives of the research will be achieved, detailed timeline and the support required from DEMAC. The inception report will include drafts of data collection tools and list of potential key informants.
  • Number of working days:
    • 5 working days
  • Associated Payment:
    • 30%
• Expected Deliverable: 5 pages preliminary findings document + outline for final report
  • Task Description
    • Max 5 pages document presenting preliminary findings right after the conclusion of data collection.
  • Number of working days
    • 18 working days (including data collection)
• Expected Deliverable: Validation Workshop
  • Task Description
    • Validation workshop to share preliminary findings and gather feedback from experts, including in diaspora fundraising, crowdfunding, philanthropy and other stakeholders.
  • Number of working days
    • 2,5 working days
• Expected Deliverable: Finalized report
  • Task Description
    • Max 20 – 25 pages excluding visualizations and annexes. The report will be drafted based on the findings of data analysis. The final report should be translated in English, Dari and Pasho.
  • Number of working days
    • 3 working days
• Expected Deliverable: Analysis Framework
  • Task Description
    • Framework to enable analysis to be replicated across contexts.
  • Number of working days
    • 2 working days
• Expected Deliverable: Executive brief and snapshot of key findings and recommendations
  • Task Description
    • 2-4 pager summaries on main findings and key highlights and recommendations for external audience, in English, Dari and Pashto.
  • Number of working days
    • 2 working days
  • Associated Payment
    • 70%
• Expected Deliverable: Presentation and briefing
  • Task Description
    • Online presentation of the findings during DEMAC launch for the report.
  • Number of working days
    • 0,5 working days

Payment will be provided upon completion of the deliverables according to the associated payment scheduling as seen above after validation and acceptance of the report, against each payment.

Duration, timeline, and payment

The total expected duration to complete the assignment will be no more (33 working days). The consultant shall be prepared to complete the assignment and all deliverables no later than 15th October 2025.

Proposed Composition of Team

The consultant can be either an independent or a firm, the composition of the team proposed should be reasonable against the expected deliverables.

The team should collectively demonstrate the full set of qualifications and expertise required (see below), including research design, data collection and analysis, contextual knowledge, and stakeholder engagement.

If implemented by a consultant team, it is expected to include at minimum:
• Consultant (Team Lead): Responsible for overall coordination, research design, methodology, and quality assurance of deliverables. Serves as primary liaison with DEMAC.
• Researcher(s)/Data Analyst(s): Support data collection, documentation, transcription, coding, and analysis.

• Data Collectors/Field Researcher: Based in or around Herat, as deemed feasible within the scope of the study, responsible for KIIs, survey administration (if applicable), and facilitating access to local networks.
• Interpreter/Transcriber (optional, as needed): To support the analysis of interviews conducted in local languages.

The composition and number of team members should be tailored to the methodology and proposed sample size, within the constraints of the overall budget. Consultants are encouraged to propose a cost-effective structure that maximizes value and rigor.

Eligibility, qualification, and experience required

Essential:
• The consultant must be registered as a company or legal entity.
• A minimum of 7 years of proven experience in mixed methods and qualitative research.
• Master’s degree in a relevant field (political or social sciences, migration studies, South Asian or International studies…).
• Relevant research background in diaspora, community engagement, private sector engagement, e.g., crowdfunding, innovative fundraising and philanthropy.
• Proven contextual understanding of Afghanistan and of the Afghan diaspora in the region and globally.
• Demonstrated experience of conducting research in a highly sensitive context.
• Network and access to local data collectors in Afghanistan.
• Excellent analytical, communication, interpersonal, and reporting skills.
• Proficiency in Dari and Pashto is an asset, with the ability to oversee local data collectors responsible for the data collection on the ground, as deemed feasible within the scope of the study.
• Experience in designing and facilitating participatory workshops or co-creational approaches to inform research frameworks and validation of findings.
• Proven track record of working with diverse stakeholders, including diaspora groups, private sector entities and humanitarian organizations.

Technical supervision

The consultant will collaborate closely with the DEMAC project coordinator, serving as a liaison and technical focal point for the study. It is anticipated that the consultant will maintain regular weekly contact with the DEMAC focal point. The focal point will be responsible for ensuring timely responses to drafts and inputs provided by the consultant and will report to the DEMAC Head of Programme. The research will be reviewed in close collaboration by technical experts within the DEMAC team, including an Advisor, with expertise in diaspora economic engagement, a DEMAC MEAL & Research Specialist, responsible for technical advisory support and quality assurance.

Location and support

The consultant will be home based and will be responsible for overseeing both remote/online and in-country data collection activities. As such, the consultant may be based outside the country of focus, provided they have an established network and demonstrated ability to oversee, mobilize and coordinate remote and local data collection. The Consultant will provide her/his own computer and mobile telephone.

Travel

Data collection is expected to be conducted both in-country by local data collectors and coordinated remotely by the consultant, and remotely for KIIs with diaspora actors globally. Where feasible and required for the performance of the research, the consultant may travel to support implementation. In such cases, the Consultant is expected to arrange transportation, insurance, accommodation, food and to make adequate provision in the Financial Proposal. The contracted consultants will further be responsible for obtaining the required approvals relating to the data collection. If it proves difficult to obtain necessary approvals for in-country data collection in a timely manner, the consultant should be prepared to adapt the methodology to enable remote data collection, ensuring the study can proceed effectively within the timeline ascribed.

How to Apply:

To apply, please visit DRC’s tender page where you can download the tender dossier with the specifications and requirements contained within: Consultancy for study on the role of diaspora mobilizing support to emergency and recovery efforts – Insights from the Herat Earthquake Response | DRC Danish Refugee Council