Yemen’s humanitarian crisis has deepened drastically since early 2025. According to the latest IPC data, by September 2025, 18.1 million people, more than half of the population, will face acute food insecurity, representing the highest prevalence since 2022 and an increase of 1 million people, including approximately 41,000 projected to face famine. Without urgent action, famine is expected to spread across 12 districts in the Governorates of Hajjah, Al Hudaydah, Sa’dah, Amran, Ad Dali’, Al Jawf, Shabwa and Marib. The cessation of U.S. humanitarian funding in 2025, previously the largest humanitarian donor to Yemen, has had a huge impact on the funding of the response in Yemen. In 2024 the HRP in Yemen was 56% funded, this dropped to 28% in 2025 and the HRP in 2026 is currently only 6% funded. In addition, the designation by the US of Ansar Allah as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) in March 2025 has further restricted humanitarian assistance in the North of Yemen as US-based NGOs have withdrawn leaving major operational gaps. The impact of these changes has been profound and further exacerbated by the UNs withdrawal from Northern Yemen following the arrest of several UN staff members at the end of 2025. According to OCHA 4W data, only ACF and five other NGOs (Première Urgence Internationale, INTERSOS, IMC, Vision Hope and Médecins du Monde) remain active primary health and nutrition actors in the North of the country. For these remaining health actors there is a need to fundamentally rethink how we coordinate and respond and there are increasing requests from donors to develop a consortium approach similar to the Yemen Cash Consortium to allow the remaining actors to respond at the scale needed in the absence of the UN. In light of this, ACF is exploring the possibility to form and lead a Yemen Health Consortium focused on responding in the North of Yemen, comprising INGOs and at least one national partner. To do this ACF is looking to engage a consultant to work closely with the ACF Country Office to meet with potential consortium partners, and develop a technical and operational framework for this consortium that can be presented to donors.

Objectives

The key objectives of this consultancy are:

1. Meet with all the health and nutrition actors remaining in the North of Yemen to map their: a. Geographic presence; b. Funding sources; c. Technical approach and key activities.

1. Work with the ACF Country Office to identify and pre-select potential consortium international and national partners.
2. Conduct a design workshop to outline the business case for the consortium and agree potential ways of working and finalise the selection of consortium partners.

4. Work with the selected consortium partners to develop a Capacity Statement for the consortium detailing the experience, capacity and added value of the consortium.

1. Work with the selected consortium partners to develop a Concept Note that can be presented to donors to position for future funding.

Timeline

An indicative timeline would be for a 7-week, in country, consultancy starting from the beginning of April:

2 weeks to meet and map health actors.

1 week to work with the County Office to pre-select partners.

2 weeks to engage with partners and run a workshop to outline the business case and agree ways of working.

2 weeks to develop a Capacity Statement and Concept Note.

*As a visa is needed to enter Yemen, this would be processed prior to the consultancy starting to ensure that at the start of April the selected consultant can travel to Yemen

Deliverables

1. Formalise the establishment of a Health Consortium in the North of Yemen through the signing of teaming agreements with partners.

2. Develop a capacity statement for the consortium detailing the experience, vision and the added value of the consortium.

3. Develop a Concept Note to position the consortium for funding.