The job
Background
The INFORM Severity Index—jointly overseen by ACAPS with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC)— requires updates to address major disruptions in the global humanitarian data ecosystem resulting from U.S. funding cuts, UN80 reform, and broader limitations in humanitarian data collection. Traditional datasets used for crisis severity analysis have become increasingly scarce. To maintain a robust evidence base, the INFORM Severity Index team is exploring novel, alternative, and non-traditional data sources that can fill critical gaps in data-poor crisis contexts.
Scope of work
The purpose of this work is to identify, assess, and test the feasibility of novel data sources that can complement or partially replace disrupted humanitarian datasets that are used in the INFORM Severity Index. The service provider will produce prototype indicators aligned with the INFORM Severity Index framework that could function within the current Severity Index model.
This work is exploratory in nature; the service provider will assess potential options, but the INFORM team will retain responsibility for final methodological changes and long-term integration.
This service provider will work closely with the Humanitarian Evaluation Service Provider and the Strategic Adaptation Service Provider as the key findings will inform the level of data gathering that is required outside of the humanitarian sector and which proxies are most needed per indicator.
Objectives
Objective 1) Identification of Novel Datasets:
Researching and short-listing non-traditional, but still highly viable datasets—including Earth Observation, mobility proxies, financial signals, and others— for integration into the INFORM Severity Index. The feasibility study will map novel sources against the Index’s three dimensions (Impact, Conditions, and Complexity) to determine their utility as proxies, supplementary indicators, or partial replacements of data that is no longer valid or reliable. Analysis will include an assessment of ethical, cost and data integrity constraints.
Objective 2) Prototype Indicator Development
Pilot testing within the Severity Index in contexts where there is a significant decline in humanitarian data collected. The testing is based on the findings of the Humanitarian Data Audit produced by the Humanitarian Evaluation Service provider and strategy for alignment with wider policy shifts in HPC identified by the Strategic Adaptation Service provider. The data exploration and testing would result in a draft methodology for alignment to the current Severity Index model, including normalisation, scaling and handling of missing data.
Note: This task focuses on exploratory prototypes, not final or publishable indicators.
Objective 3) Delivery of Integration Options
Deliver a suite of strategic options for incorporating alternative datasets into future INFORM Severity Index methodology improvements, in line with the roadmap produced by the Strategic Adaptation Service provider’s outputs. This includes immediate and phased integration opportunities, supported by a robust framework for ethical risk management. Rather than a full system redesign, this task provides validated strategic pathways refined through stakeholder consultations with INFORM and its partner network.
Your profile
This assignment requires a mid-level technical service provider with:
Proposed / Estimated Schedule of Deliverables
We expect this assignment to take no more than 30 working days in total and should take place with a period of 2 months. In your proposal, you should outline the number of days allocated to each deliverable, together with the rate and total professional fees.
DeliverableOutcomes/ Results Estimated/Max. No of DaysDeliverable 1: Novel Data Scoping & Mapping Study A structured gap–source mapping matrix, building on the Humanitarian Evaluation exercise undertaken by ACAPS.
Deliverable 2: Feasibility Assessment & Prototype Indicator Development through pilots Prototype indicator testing and feasibility assessment is delivered through pilot testing.
Documents will be produced for tracking progress and for future data science implementation. The report/ presentation or other supporting files will provide sufficient explanations and justifications on:
The exploratory research will result in a suite of products that will support the overall Severity Index roadmap, in tandem with the work produced by the other two service providers.
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Applications must be submitted before 9 February 2026. Submit your CV/Portfolio through the application form under the "CV" category and submit a proposal including budget, timelines and references under the "other" category. The total proposal (including budget and timelines) must not be more than 5 pages excluding attachments.
About Us
ACAPS believes that evidence must be at the heart of humanitarian action and together with our partners we turn data into decisions that truly matter. We cut through the noise and make sense out of chaos. We analyse complex data and provide clear insights so that decision-makers can take the best possible course of action.
We do this by:
If that sounds like you, we’d love to have you on this journey!
Background
The INFORM Severity Index—jointly overseen by ACAPS with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC)— requires updates to address major disruptions in the global humanitarian data ecosystem resulting from U.S. funding cuts, UN80 reform, and broader limitations in humanitarian data collection. Traditional datasets used for crisis severity analysis have become increasingly scarce. To maintain a robust evidence base, the INFORM Severity Index team is exploring novel, alternative, and non-traditional data sources that can fill critical gaps in data-poor crisis contexts.
Scope of work
The purpose of this work is to identify, assess, and test the feasibility of novel data sources that can complement or partially replace disrupted humanitarian datasets that are used in the INFORM Severity Index. The service provider will produce prototype indicators aligned with the INFORM Severity Index framework that could function within the current Severity Index model.
This work is exploratory in nature; the service provider will assess potential options, but the INFORM team will retain responsibility for final methodological changes and long-term integration.
This service provider will work closely with the Humanitarian Evaluation Service Provider and the Strategic Adaptation Service Provider as the key findings will inform the level of data gathering that is required outside of the humanitarian sector and which proxies are most needed per indicator.
Objectives
Objective 1) Identification of Novel Datasets:
Researching and short-listing non-traditional, but still highly viable datasets—including Earth Observation, mobility proxies, financial signals, and others— for integration into the INFORM Severity Index. The feasibility study will map novel sources against the Index’s three dimensions (Impact, Conditions, and Complexity) to determine their utility as proxies, supplementary indicators, or partial replacements of data that is no longer valid or reliable. Analysis will include an assessment of ethical, cost and data integrity constraints.
Objective 2) Prototype Indicator Development
Pilot testing within the Severity Index in contexts where there is a significant decline in humanitarian data collected. The testing is based on the findings of the Humanitarian Data Audit produced by the Humanitarian Evaluation Service provider and strategy for alignment with wider policy shifts in HPC identified by the Strategic Adaptation Service provider. The data exploration and testing would result in a draft methodology for alignment to the current Severity Index model, including normalisation, scaling and handling of missing data.
Note: This task focuses on exploratory prototypes, not final or publishable indicators.
Objective 3) Delivery of Integration Options
Deliver a suite of strategic options for incorporating alternative datasets into future INFORM Severity Index methodology improvements, in line with the roadmap produced by the Strategic Adaptation Service provider’s outputs. This includes immediate and phased integration opportunities, supported by a robust framework for ethical risk management. Rather than a full system redesign, this task provides validated strategic pathways refined through stakeholder consultations with INFORM and its partner network.
Your profile
This assignment requires a mid-level technical service provider with:
- 5–8 years of experience in data analysis, humanitarian analytics, remote sensing, or related fields
- Experience working with alternative data sources for humanitarian analysis.
- Experience with composite indicators, including the aggregation and harmonization of data from multiple heterogeneous open-source datasets
- Strong quantitative analysis skills (GIS, data cleaning, basic modelling)
- Familiarity with humanitarian data limitations and ethical considerations
- Familiarity with and knowledge of the Severity Index is preferred
- All outputs must comply with INFORM data ethics and methodological guidelines
Proposed / Estimated Schedule of Deliverables
We expect this assignment to take no more than 30 working days in total and should take place with a period of 2 months. In your proposal, you should outline the number of days allocated to each deliverable, together with the rate and total professional fees.
DeliverableOutcomes/ Results Estimated/Max. No of DaysDeliverable 1: Novel Data Scoping & Mapping Study A structured gap–source mapping matrix, building on the Humanitarian Evaluation exercise undertaken by ACAPS.
- This matrix will systematically identify existing data sources against recognized data gaps, serving as the next analytical step in strengthening the evidence base.
- The Severity Index framework,
- Data gaps identified by the Severity Index Unit, and
- Relevant humanitarian information needs.
Deliverable 2: Feasibility Assessment & Prototype Indicator Development through pilots Prototype indicator testing and feasibility assessment is delivered through pilot testing.
Documents will be produced for tracking progress and for future data science implementation. The report/ presentation or other supporting files will provide sufficient explanations and justifications on:
- Proxy creation
- Simple transformations to ensure sensitivity and robustness: normalising and scaling; aggregation; temporal alignment
- Limitations identified and reported
The exploratory research will result in a suite of products that will support the overall Severity Index roadmap, in tandem with the work produced by the other two service providers.
- Scenario-based Integration Roadmap: phased options for immediate and future potential dataset adoption
- Risk Framework: Protocols for ethical data use and risk mitigation.
- Validation Dossier: Findings from stakeholder consultation and technical buy-in.
- Final report: synthesis of findings, recommendations and integration options.
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Relevant past projects and case studies
- Technical capabilities and alignment with our project requirements
- Team composition, availability, and project management approach
- Cost-effectiveness and proposed timeline
- Client references and overall fit with our organisation
Applications must be submitted before 9 February 2026. Submit your CV/Portfolio through the application form under the "CV" category and submit a proposal including budget, timelines and references under the "other" category. The total proposal (including budget and timelines) must not be more than 5 pages excluding attachments.
About Us
ACAPS believes that evidence must be at the heart of humanitarian action and together with our partners we turn data into decisions that truly matter. We cut through the noise and make sense out of chaos. We analyse complex data and provide clear insights so that decision-makers can take the best possible course of action.
We do this by:
- Providing independent analysis that helps humanitarians make informed choices.
- Deploying experts to support assessments and analysis in crisis.
- Driving innovation to collect better, faster, and more reliable data.
If that sounds like you, we’d love to have you on this journey!