Crisis Finance Research Fellow

Role: The Protracted Displacement team seeks a Crisis Finance Research Fellow to support with its policy solutions development work. During this fellowship the fellow will primarily support the team to deliver IRC’s policy agenda on ensuring fragile and conflict-affected settings (FCAS) have access to quality aid. The fellow will be tasked with a research scoping project that aims to understand the implications of aid trends towards increasing reliance on private sector instruments/investments for conflict affected communities and FCAS. Private sector investment in fragile and conflict settings is limited, due to high risks and an unconducive enabling environment. However, in the context of drastically reduced ODA budgets, several donors are emphasizing the role of the private sector and private finance in supporting resilience and development. The team wants to further explore whether there are innovative finance mechanisms with potential in fragile and conflict settings, exploring any positive examples as well as risks, especially with regard to marginalized groups. The fellow will explore these issues building on IRC’s existing engagement in the innovative finance space and IRC’s experience working in these settings, including with local private sector actors. This scoping project would include a climate finance and intersectional lens as relevant in close collaboration with colleagues.

Through this work, the fellow will have opportunities to learn about the humanitarian sector, humanitarian finance innovations and IRC innovation pilots through exposure to a wide range of colleagues across the IRC, since much of their work will involve learning from – and close collaboration with – colleagues in different parts of IRC. The fellow will also gain practical experience in applying qualitative analysis skills and developing policy solutions to global
humanitarian and development problems.

Potential deliverables: The Fellow will develop an internal policy brief summarizing the policy environment, literature review scoping and analysis on this issue with a clear definition of the problem statement and
policy recommendations/recommendations for further research. The fellow may be assigned additional research and gain exposure to other emerging and existing priorities of the P&S team.

Desired Skills:

• Excellent qualitative research skills
• Ability to think strategically, synthesize sophisticated information, and develop innovative solutions
• Excellent writing skills and the ability to translate complex material and data into coherent narratives
• Initiative and ability to work independently
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize various tasks in a fast-paced work environment
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with a multi-cultural and diverse team.
• Familiarity with humanitarian and development aid, development finance, and issues
  facing fragile and conflict-affected settings
• Commitment to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in the humanitarian field.
• Lived experience with conflict or crisis-driven displacement is an asset in this role

Requirements: Students must be a matriculated graduate or Ph.D. student at The New School. Fellows are hired as Research Associates by The New School.

Work Environment: This fellowship will work with the Protracted Displacement team at the the IRC. While this fellowship is remote, all Fellows must be physically located in the US.

Fellowship Length: This fellowship carries a maximum of 20 hours/week during the Spring 2026 semester (January 5 – May 17, 2026). Continuation into Summer 2026 is potentially available.

How to apply: The deadline to apply is October 22, 2025. Please submit one PDF document containing a cover letter, CV/resume, and two work samples (writing and/or design portfolio – 5 pages maximum per sample) to Catherine McGahan, McGahanC@newschool.edu.

Interviews will be conducted in November via Zoom.

Team: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future.  

The Airbel Impact Lab designs, tests, and scales life-changing cost-effective solutions for people affected by conflict and disaster. By applying the IRC’s deep technical expertise and field experience with a range of skills from the behavioral sciences, human-centered design, research, and multi-disciplinary problem-solving in humanitarian contexts, we work to develop breakthrough solutions that combine creativity and rigor, openness and expertise, and a desire to think afresh with the experience of a large-scale implementing organization.

Protracted Displacement team Global Policy & Solutions (P&S) at the IRC. The P&S team is a dynamic team that maximizes the power of IRC’s ideas to solve the biggest challenges facing IRC’s clients across the “arc of crisis.” From combating the drivers of conflict to meeting the needs of displaced people, the team partners with innovative problem solvers, experts and those with lived experience to identify solutions and bring them to life. We take pride in being solutions-oriented and creative. We are detailed in our goals, tactics, and messages. We lead change year over year, knowing that system change takes dedicated focus while maintaining the flexibility to respond to emerging global needs. Finally, we are collaborative. We work not only with programs, strategy, research, innovation, and communications teams across the IRC, but also externally. We are constantly seeking new ideas and perspectives from others in our sector and beyond.

Within the global P&S Department, the Protracted Displacement team works to develop actionable, scalable policy solutions to ensure official development aid (ODA), multilateral development bank finance and climate finance reach fragile and conflict-affected settings through effective delivery via partnerships with INGOs and CSOs, including women-led organizations, and via evidence-based, cost-effective interventions.