Research and Data Monitoring Consultant

Research and Data Monitoring Consultant (Short-Term Consultant)

Contracting organisation : WaterAid UK

Department / Team: Global Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns (GPAC) – Global Policy Team

Assignment type: Short-term consultancy (cover assignment)

Duration: 4 months

Location: Remote / hybrid; attendance at WaterAid UK offices (20 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London) as agreed

Reports to: Research and Evidence Lead, Global Policy Team

Anticipated start date: 3rd August 2026 – 18th December 2026

Closing date for applications: 21st July 2026

1. Background WaterAid is an international non-governmental organisation working to transform lives by improving access to clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene in some of the world's poorest communities. WaterAid's Global Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns Department (GPAC) leads the organisation's efforts to influence global and national policy, grounding its advocacy in high-quality evidence and data.

The Global Policy Team within GPAC hosts the Policy Advisor – Research and Data Monitoring role, which is responsible for maintaining WaterAid's internal research and data infrastructure, providing analytical support across the federation, and convening internal knowledge-sharing processes. This function is critical to ensuring that WaterAid's policy influencing and advocacy remain credible, evidence-based and consistently aligned with the most current global WASH data.

WaterAid is seeking to commission a short-term consultant for a period of four (4) months to cover key responsibilities of the Policy Advisor – Research and Data Monitoring during a planned absence. The consultant will be expected to maintain continuity of ongoing workstreams and ensure that no critical data infrastructure, reporting or coordination commitments fall behind during the assignment period.

2. Objective The primary objective of this consultancy is to ensure continuity of WaterAid's research and data monitoring functions during the assignment period. Specifically, the consultant will:

• Manage and maintain WaterAid's internal data infrastructure (i.e. the Knowledge Research and Statistics Portal (KRSP)) by reviewing, integrating and updating key data sources and key point of contact for all KRSP related matters;
• Support the operationalisation and expansion of the newly launched statistics bank in collaboration with the IT team;
• Update internal systems with the most current JMP WASH data for schools and healthcare facilities and other key datasets as instructed;
• Deliver regular reporting on the performance and usage of the KRSP;
• Convene and facilitate WaterAid's internal quarterly research clinics to support knowledge exchange across the federation; and
• Provide research support to the Policy and Research Team and other teams across the organization, as needed.

3. Scope of Work The consultant will be responsible for the following areas of work during the four-month assignment:

3.1 Managing and maintaining the Knowledge Research and Statistics Portal

The consultant will be the main point of contact for all KRSP related matters and enquiries. This will include:

• Providing necessary training on the KRSP across the federation as per the training schedule, including ad-hoc capacity building requests
• Managing the KRSP in conjunction with the Knowledge Officer and SharePoint Manager to ensure the KRSP is up to date and functional
• Attend the regular KRSP check-ins and update the Research and Evidence Lead on ongoing technical discussions

3.2 Integration of new databases into the Statistics Bank platform

Working closely with WaterAid's IT team, the consultant will support the incorporation of reviewed and approved databases into WaterAid's newly update Statistics Bank. This will include:

• Liaising with the Research and Evidence Lead on what additional datasets are to be included in the Bank;
• Working with IT team to understand technical requirements and data ingestion processes; using the documentation manual to guide implementation and ensure consistency.
• Preparing and formatting data sources for upload into Power BI platform ensuring alignment with WaterAid’s Statistics Bank standards; and
• Testing integrated data layers to ensure accuracy and usability and documenting any issues or limitations to escalate to the internal IT support team.
• Expanding the Statistics bank database to include newly identified WASH finance data
• Maintain a record of updates and/or changes to the database and platform

3.3 Update of JMP WASH Data for Schools and Healthcare Facilities

The consultant will update WaterAid's internal data systems with the latest available JMP (Joint Monitoring Programme) WASH data for schools and healthcare facilities set to release in August 2026 and GLAAS in December 2026. This will involve:

• Accessing and extracting the most current JMP datasets for WASH in schools and healthcare facilities;
• Updating the relevant modules or data layers within WaterAid's internal systems and platforms; and
• Cross-checking updated figures for consistency with data published on WaterAid's websites and in federation-wide communications materials;
• Synthesising and disseminating the newly released data across the federation and being the main point of contact for all enquiries.

3.4 Monthly Reporting on KRSP Repositories

The consultant will produce monthly reports on the performance and usage of WaterAid's Knowledge Research and Statistics Portal (KRSP), particularly the Research and Statistics Hub. These reports will be share to the Research and Evidence Lead and relevant GPAC colleagues with actionable insight to support ongoing improvements. Each monthly report will include:

• Analytics on overall system usage, including volume and frequency of access;
• Document-level usage data, identifying which resources are most and least consulted;
• An assessment of SharePoint usage trends, with recommendations for improving uptake and engagement across teams; and
• A brief summary of any system issues, updates or maintenance actions taken during the reporting period.

3.5 Convening of Research Clinics

• The consultant will serve as the primary convener of WaterAid's internal research clinics during the assignment period. Research clinics are a key mechanism for sharing research insights, building analytical capacity and promoting evidence-informed practice across the WaterAid federation. The consultant's responsibilities will include:
• Coordinating the scheduling, agenda and facilitation of research clinic sessions, with guidance from the Research and Evidence Lead;
• Identifying and liaising with relevant speakers or contributors from within or outside WaterAid;
• Circulating pre- and post-session materials and summaries to participants in a timely manner; and
• Maintaining a record of research clinic attendance, topics covered and key takeaways.

3.6 Deliver and support research design and delivery

• The consultant will contribute to the design and commissioning of research projects that support advocacy, campaigns and media communications across the Global Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns Department. The consultant's responsibilities will include:
• Reviewing and refining Terms of Reference to ensure research objectives, methodologies, deliverables and timelines are clearly articulated;
• Supporting the commissioning and procurement of research consultants and service providers, in line with procedures;
• Monitoring the progress of commissioned research and supporting quality assurance of outputs and deliverables.

3.7 Executing additional assignments as stipulated by the Research and Evidence Lead

4. Deliverables The consultant will be expected to produce the following deliverables over the course of the four-month assignment:

Inception Note – A short 1–2 page inception note confirming understan