The IPDS Global Consultants Network is a curated network of independent consultants, consulting firms and agencies who can join the Institute on potential joint proposals and funded assignments: studies and evaluations, advisory work, communications, dialogues and training. It brings specialist expertise and regional knowledge into project teams that IPDS develops with governments, diplomatic missions, international organisations and institutions.
It is not a jobs board and not a placement service. Members are not employed by IPDS, and joining does not guarantee work. When an opportunity matches a member’s expertise, IPDS discusses it with them, and any assignment is agreed under its own contract, with its own scope, roles and terms.
The Diplomatic Insight (TDI) and the Diplomatic Insight Group (DIG) may collaborate on assignments, subject to institutional approvals. The Institute’s research remains independent: project work follows the same editorial and independence standards set out in Engage with IPDS, and IPDS declines work that would compromise them.
The network is being set up as a pilot. Its arrangements will be reviewed with the first members before the network is opened more widely.
IPDS works on a wide range of issues across regions. Consultants in the network contribute to proposals and projects in areas such as these.
Connectivity, trade and investment
Trade corridors, energy and infrastructure links between South Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf, China and Europe; market and investment briefings.
Europe and the transatlantic space
EU foreign, trade and development policy, European security, and Pakistan–Europe engagement.
Central Asia, Eurasia and the SCO
Regional cooperation, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and the politics and economics of Eurasia.
Africa, ASEAN and the Americas
South–South cooperation, the African Union, ASEAN regionalism, and relations with North and Latin America.
Multilateralism and global governance
The UN system, regional organisations, international law and the reform of global institutions.
Climate, energy and sustainable development
Climate diplomacy, energy transition, water and food security, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Women, peace and security
Women in diplomacy and leadership, inclusive peacebuilding, and the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
Youth, education and diplomatic training
Programmes for young diplomats and leaders, curriculum design, and executive education.
Public diplomacy, media and culture
Strategic communications, cultural and digital diplomacy, publications and media partnerships.
What IPDS is building
Network members would work alongside the Institute’s established platforms:
Consultants and organisations can partner with IPDS at every stage of a project.
01
Design
Concept notes, proposals and programme design for funders and partners, including joint bids and consortia.
02
Implementation
Delivering projects with IPDS: research, dialogues, events, training and communications, in Pakistan and abroad.
03
Monitoring, evaluation and learning
Baselines, third-party monitoring, evaluations and learning reviews for projects and programmes.
04
Research and analysis
Studies, surveys, political-economy and sector analysis, and country briefings.
05
Training and capacity building
Courses, workshops and curricula for diplomats, officials, institutions and young leaders.
06
Communications and outreach
Public diplomacy campaigns, media, publications, digital content and event communications.
07
Technical and policy advisory
Specialist advice on policy, trade and investment, climate, governance and institutional reform.
08
Local partnership
In-country presence, networks and languages for projects in your region, with IPDS as partner in Pakistan.
Roles on project teams
Team leaderProject manager or coordinatorTechnical lead or subject specialistResearcher or analystEvaluatorTrainer or facilitatorProposal or bid writerQuality assurance or peer reviewerCommunications or media specialistField coordinator or in-country researcher
For consulting firms and agencies
The network is open to organisations as well as individuals. Firms and agencies bring teams, systems and delivery capacity that larger projects need.
- —Consulting, research and evaluation firms; communications, media and events agencies; training providers; NGOs; and university centres.
- —Register once as an organisation, with a contact person and a capability statement or company profile.
- —IPDS can approach you to join proposals and project teams, as a subcontractor, consortium partner or local partner, depending on the project.
- —Individual experts in your organisation may also register on their own, so we can match people as well as firms.
Pitch a project or an opportunity
Members of the network help IPDS find and shape its next projects. You can bring us two kinds of pitch:
- —Your own project idea that needs an institutional partner.
- —An opportunity you have spotted: a call for proposals or a tender from a funder, government or international organisation that fits the Institute’s background and strengths.
If it fits, we develop it with you into a proposal, with IPDS as lead applicant, partner or host as the project requires, and a role for you on the team.
- —Use the optional “Pitch a project or an opportunity” part of the registration form. For an opportunity, include the link, the funder, the deadline and why IPDS is well placed. A concept note is welcome.
- —We review pitches in confidence. We answer project ideas within four weeks, and opportunities with a deadline as quickly as we can.
- —We never develop a pitch without the person who brought it. We may already be working on similar ideas ourselves or with others, so a pitch does not create an obligation on either side.
Where IPDS is strongest
The pitches most likely to succeed draw on what the Institute already does well:
Diplomatic convening and dialogue
Forums, roundtables and Track II dialogues with diplomatic missions, governments and experts, including the Islamabad Diplomacy Forum.
Diplomatic and youth training
The International Young Diplomats School, run with missions from 34 countries, and leadership programmes for young people.
Regional research
Nine centres of study covering Europe, the Americas, Africa, ASEAN, Central Asia, China and the SCO, and maintained research trackers.
Women, peace and leadership
The Centre for Women, Peace and Leadership and the Emerging Young Women Leaders Congress.
Institutional partnerships
48 partner institutions worldwide, and 63 international forums in 20 countries.
Publishing and public diplomacy
The peer-reviewed Journal of Peace and Diplomacy, policy publications, and media partnerships.
For international organisations, funders and embassies
Partner with IPDS on a project
International organisations, development partners, foundations and diplomatic missions work with IPDS as an institution rather than through the consultants network. With the network behind it, the Institute can bring together the expertise a project needs.
National partner
Lead or co-lead applicant, or implementing partner, for projects in Pakistan and the region.
Convening and dialogue
Roundtables, Track II dialogues and conferences with governments, missions and experts.
Research, monitoring and evaluation
Studies, surveys, evaluations and policy analysis, drawing on the network’s consultants and firms.
Training
Programmes for officials, diplomats, young leaders and institutions.
The network is organised around six areas. The examples are indicative; many assignments draw on more than one.
Diplomacy and Policy
- •Policy analysis and briefings for governments and missions
- •Track II dialogue design and facilitation
- •Protocol, negotiation and multilateral processes
Research and Knowledge Management
- •Studies, surveys and political-economy analysis
- •Monitoring, evaluation and learning
- •Literature reviews, data and knowledge products
Strategic Communications and Media
- •Public diplomacy and campaign design
- •Editorial, translation and publications
- •Video, digital and media training
Sustainable Development
- •Climate, energy and environment policy
- •Gender, youth and social inclusion
- •Programme design for development partners
Trade and Strategic Advisory
- •Trade, investment and connectivity analysis
- •Market and country briefings
- •Regional economic cooperation
Training and Institutional Development
- •Courses for diplomats, officials and young leaders
- •Curriculum and training-needs assessment
- •Strategy and governance support for institutions
A partner in Pakistan and the region
For proposals and projects that need a credible institutional partner with convening reach, diplomatic networks and knowledge on the ground.
A place on project teams
Be considered for the teams IPDS puts together for studies, evaluations, dialogues and training.
Joint proposals
Develop proposals with the Institute for funders and partners, drawing on its track record and networks.
A cross-regional network
Work with colleagues covering Europe, Central Asia, the Gulf, Africa, Asia and the Americas, and with the Institute’s researchers and scholars.
Profile visibility
With your consent, an approved professional profile may be published by IPDS.
IPDS cannot promise assignments or income. Opportunities depend on the projects the Institute develops and wins, and on the fit between each project and members’ expertise.
-
1
Application
Send an expression of interest with your CV through the form below.
-
2
Screening
IPDS reviews your experience and portfolio, and may ask for a short conversation and two professional references.
-
3
Onboarding
Approved members sign a short framework agreement and code of conduct, covering confidentiality, conflicts of interest and use of the IPDS name. This does not commit either side to any work.
-
4
Opportunity matching
When an opportunity fits your expertise, IPDS contacts you with the details. You decide whether to take part. Your CV is put forward in a proposal only with your agreement for that proposal.
-
5
Separate project contract
Each assignment is agreed under its own contract, which sets out the scope, deliverables, timeline and terms.
Our commitments to consultants and partners
Independent consultants and firms have told the sector what makes a fair partner. These are the commitments IPDS makes to everyone in the network.
✓We tell you the outcome
Every registration is acknowledged at once by email, and we tell you the outcome of screening within four weeks.
✓No unpaid tests
We do not ask consultants or firms to complete unpaid test assignments.
✓Your name, your consent
We put your CV or your organisation forward in a proposal only with your agreement for that proposal.
✓Proposal work agreed in advance
Roles, credit and terms for developing a proposal together are agreed in writing before the work begins.
✓Clear terms before work starts
Every assignment has a written contract setting out the scope, deliverables, fees and payment schedule, and we keep to the payment timelines we agree.
✓Credit for your work
Where the client permits, consultants and partner organisations are named on the work they deliver.
✓Pitches in confidence
Project ideas and opportunities you bring us are reviewed in confidence and never pursued without you. Ideas are answered within four weeks; opportunities with a deadline, as quickly as we can.
Work reaches the network in three ways.
Institution-originated
IPDS identifies the opportunity, leads the proposal and invites network members to join the team.
Consultant-originated
A member brings an opportunity to IPDS, and the two develop it together, with IPDS as the institutional partner.
Jointly developed
IPDS and one or more members design a proposal together from the start.
In every model, the scope, roles and compensation are agreed case by case and written into the project contract before work begins.
Consultants and experts based outside Pakistan are central to the network. We would particularly like to hear from:
- —Country and regional specialists, including researchers with in-country knowledge and languages.
- —Former diplomats and officials of governments and international organisations.
- —Evaluators, policy analysts and researchers with a record of studies for international partners.
- —Trainers, facilitators and mediators.
- —Communications, media and public diplomacy professionals.
- —Sector experts in trade, investment, energy, climate and development.
- —Consulting firms, research and evaluation companies, and communications, events and training agencies.
Much of the work can be done remotely; some assignments involve travel or in-country work. In every case we look for:
- —A relevant portfolio of completed work in one or more of the six areas.
- —Proven expertise, normally several years of professional experience.
- —Two professional references who can speak to your work.
- —A commitment to professional ethics, confidentiality and independence.
- —Availability for project-based work.
Serving government officials may apply, but will need written permission from their department before taking on any paid assignment. Scholars who would like to speak, write or review for IPDS may prefer the Scholars Network.
Safeguarding and equal opportunity
Equal opportunity
IPDS selects consultants and partners on their qualifications, experience and fit with the work. We welcome applications from people of every background, nationality, gender, age, religion, ethnicity and ability, and we particularly encourage women and experts from under-represented regions to register.
Safeguarding and integrity
Everyone who works with IPDS, including consultants and partner organisations, agrees to a code of conduct before any assignment. IPDS does not tolerate sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment, discrimination, fraud or bribery. Concerns can be raised in confidence through the IPDS contact page.
Register with the network
Registration takes about fifteen minutes. Individuals need a CV, and organisations a capability statement or company profile, as a PDF or Word file (up to 5 MB), plus a short profile and a few lines on the work you would like to do with IPDS.
