Volunteer Research Advisor, NGO Alliances and Strategic Partnerships

Volunteer Research Advisor, NGO Alliances and Strategic Partnerships

This is an opportunity to work with an Ashoka Fellow. Ashoka Fellows are leading social entrepreneurs who have undergone a rigorous selection process, testing the quality of their ideas and character, to become part of the Ashoka Fellowship and Network. Ashoka Fellows address challenges by building innovative system change ideas to make and spread social impact in a world wrought with challenges. They refuse to let the ‘impossible’ stand in their way to creating a better world.

This is an unpaid, volunteer opportunity.

About The Affiliated Organization

Simplon.co is a France-based social enterprise focused on digital inclusion and skills development. The organization collaborates with governments, companies, and civil society partners to provide training in digital and technology skills for underserved populations. Simplon.co is part of a broader ecosystem of initiatives seeking to drive systemic social change through collaboration, education, and innovation.

For more information, please visit https://simplon.co

Job Description

Simplon.co is seeking research support to conduct a literature review and international benchmark of multi-stakeholder alliance models that generate system-level change. The research will focus specifically on NGO collectives, coalitions of associations, and strategic realignments between impact-driven organizations, including mergers and acquisitions. The goal is to identify different typologies of alliance models, understand success and failure factors, examine governance and financing structures, and analyze common impact indicators. The insights will be translated into a practical strategic framework that can guide the design of future alliances.

The volunteer may support with:

• Conducting a literature review on NGO alliances, coalitions, and organizational mergers within the social impact sector
• Identifying international case studies and benchmarking examples
• Synthesizing governance structures, funding models, and impact measurement approaches
• Helping develop practical tools such as a comparison matrix, checklist, risk map, or decision-making framework

This project may begin with an exploratory conversation to clarify the research scope and refine the focus of the literature review. Depending on findings and alignment, the collaboration could potentially evolve into a larger research project with external partners.

This research will help inform how impact-driven organizations structure alliances to achieve durable, system-level change. By identifying effective governance models and collaboration structures, the work will support social sector leaders in designing partnerships that are more strategic, resilient, and impactful. Please let us know today if you can help!

Volunteer Logistics

• Estimated hours required per week: 5
• The estimated duration of the project is: 1-3 months
• This position is Virtual (Remote)

Language Requirements

• English; French

Desired Skills And Experience

• Academic or professional research experience
• Familiarity with nonprofit ecosystems, social innovation, or collective impact models
• Experience conducting literature reviews or policy and organizational research
• Knowledge of NGO coalitions, network governance, or cross-sector alliances is highly desirable
• Strong synthesis and analytical skills

Key skills/competency

• Research
• Literature Review
• NGO Alliances
• Strategic Partnerships
• Social Impact
• System Change
• Data Synthesis
• Analytical Skills
• Nonprofit Ecosystems
• Collective Impact