A Call for Applications: Pool of International Experts on Preventing & Countering Extremism, Violent Extremism, and Terrorism

(a) Thematic Expertise: Hedayah is seeking experts with proven experience across thematic areas relevant to preventing and countering extremism, violent extremism, and terrorism (P/CEVE & CT), including but not limited to:

• • Development, implementation, and review of national strategies and action plans.
  • Strategic communications, including designing and developing alternative and counter-narrative approaches, awareness campaigns, and/or communication strategies and action plans.
  • Advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI).
  • Online safety, digital resilience, and prevention in online and gaming environments.
  • Government and security sector engagement, including law enforcement training and community policing.

• • Repatriation, disengagement, rehabilitation, and reintegration, including prison-based interventions.
  • Conflict dynamics, instability, and work in fragile or high-risk environments.

• Community resilience and prevention, including support to vulnerable families, youth, women, and children.
• Social cohesion and reconciliation.
• Engagement with religious and community actors, as well as civil society and local stakeholders.
• Psychology, behavioural insights, and trauma-informed approaches.
• Employment, livelihoods, entrepreneurship, and skills development.
• Education, including formal and non-formal.

Experts with experience in cross-cutting thematic areas such as gender-responsive programming, climate-related risks, and humanitarian contexts are also encouraged to apply.

(b) Discipline/ Functional Expertise

Discipline or functional expertise includes but is not limited to:

• Research, analysis, and reporting: primary and/or secondary qualitative and/or quantitative research; policy and strategic analysis.
• Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL).
• Program design and implementation.
• Program support, including budgeting, reporting, coordination, and financial compliance.
• Capacity building and training, including curriculum development, mentoring, and coaching.
• Media, strategic communications, and/or communications for development, including journalists specialized in extremism and terrorism reporting.
• Stakeholder engagement and partnerships.
• Clinical psychology and forensic expertise.
• Experience in sharing practical lessons and knowledge across different countries and regions.

(c) Regional Expertise:

Hedayah works globally, delivering programs and conducting research across diverse regional contexts. This requires a strong understanding of local dynamics and cultural sensitivity. Experience in one or more of the following regions, where Hedayah has been particularly active, is strongly preferred:

• Central Asia.
• South-East Asia.
• The Middle East and North Africa.
• The Western Balkans.
• East Africa, and West Africa.

Experience in additional regions or demonstrated global expertise relevant to international or cross-regional initiatives is also encouraged.

(d) Language Skills:

Hedayah’s working language is English. However, proficiency in additional languages is preferred for the effective design and delivery of initiatives in specific countries or regions. Proficiency in one or more of the following languages is highly desirable, reflecting our current portfolio of projects’ needs and operational priorities:

• English.
• Arabic.
• French.
• Russian.
• Uzbek.
• Tajik.
• Bahasa Indonesia and/or Bahasa Melayu.

Proficiency in additional languages relevant to the regions where we operate or might operate in the future is considered a strong advantage.

The detailed services will be elaborated in Section 4: Scope of Works and Services.

The scope of work and services will depend on the specific requirements of each activity or project. Generally, experts included in the pool may be requested to provide support in areas such as, but not limited to:

• Support project design and implementation.
• Development of curricula and training materials.
• Adaptation of training content and Hedayah’s resources, such as toolkits, guides, and manuals, to different national and cultural contexts.
• Design, facilitation, and delivery of training.
• Providing advisory services and program support as needed.
• Research and policy analysis.
• Stakeholder engagement, including relevant governments, partners, and civil society organizations.
• Support the post-activity evaluation and learning, including follow-up activities.
• Reporting and documentation of relevant training and activities.

a) Qualifications:

Hedayah welcomes applications from experts with a range of experience levels. Specific qualifications for each assignment will be communicated in due course. In general, applicants should meet a combination of the following requirements:

• At a minimum, applicants should hold a relevant academic background in a field related to the thematic areas of Hedayah’s work.
• Relevant professional experience, with the number of years depending on the specific requirements of each project or assignment.
• Experience designing and delivering programs, research, policy processes, or capacity-building initiatives.
• Experience in supporting program management and delivery, including budgeting, reporting, coordination, and financial compliance.
• Experience working with governments, international organizations, civil society, research institutions, or local actors.
• Experience working in diverse settings, including engagement with vulnerable individuals, interfaith communities, frontline workers, correctional facilities, and culturally diverse environments.
• Strong skills in analysis, facilitation, advisory work, research, or program support, depending on the expert’s profile and level of experience.
• Ability to deliver high-quality written and/or technical work on time.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in multicultural settings.

b) Reporting: 

The expert may submit reports as and when needed and shall maintain regular communication with Hedayah’s relevant teams for guidance, feedback, and coordination to ensure the successful execution of all project phases.

Assignments can be submitted remotely (following Hedayah’s official working hours in the UAE), on-site in Abu Dhabi, UAE, in hybrid formats, or within program countries, including high-risk environments. Depending on the specific project or initiative, experts might need to travel internationally. The safety and well-being of Hedayah’s team and consultants is a priority. All travel is subject to security assessments and appropriate safeguards. 

Interested experts are invited to submit an expression of interest in English that includes the following sections:

• An updated CV of the expert, including two professional references and relevant links to previous work.
• Current daily rate in (USD/EUR, GBP as may be applicable). Final rates are subject to assignment scope, donor rules, budget availability, and level of experience.
• Fill in the expert registration form: A Call for Applications – Fill Out the Form.

Selected experts will be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and comply with all applicable data protection and confidentiality requirements prior to undertaking any assignment.

Experts shall disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest that may arise in relation to the assignment prior to engagement and throughout the duration of the assignment.

Additional HR requirements may be requested depending on the specific assignment and will be communicated in due course. Based on the assignments, the Organization may conduct a background check, including a Security Check, in accordance with applicable law, and reserves the right to withdraw the consultancy agreement if it is not satisfied with the results of the background check.

Submission Deadline: Full expression of interest should be submitted by COB on 12 June 2026, GST to procurement@hedayah.ae. Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered