Consultancy for AIM Qualitative Research & Learning Partner in Liberia

Job Description

Request for Proposals: Consultancy for AIM Qualitative Research & Learning Partner in Liberia
BRAC International

Background
BRAC International (BI) is a leading non-profit
organisation with a mission to empower people and communities in situations of
poverty, illiteracy, disease, and social injustice. We design proven, scalable
solutions that equip people with the support and confidence they need to
achieve their potential. BRAC’s institutional expertise on successfully
implemented programmes is applied across 10 countries, touching the lives of
over 130 million people, where our models are adapted according to the
country’s context.

Overview
Mastercard Foundation Accelerating Impact for Young Women in Partnership with BRAC, or AIM, is a multi-faceted, seven-country program designed to equip 1.2 million adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Africa with age-appropriate entrepreneurship, employability, and life-skills training, along with the tools to start and scale their own businesses. From 2022 to 2027, the five-year, $267 million program will integrate several of BRAC’s globally recognized, evidence-based approaches, drawing from Empowerment and Livelihood for Adolescents (ELA), Ultra-Poor Graduation (UPG), microfinance and other programs. Implemented in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, and Kenya, AIM is part of the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy, which seeks to enable access to dignified and fulfilling work for 30 million young Africans, 70 percent of whom will be young women, by 2030. AIM applies a “best-of-BRAC” approach, achieving social and economic development for AGYW by drawing from several programmatic models already shown through rigorous research to achieve positive impact in a way that is both scalable and cost-effective. The goals of AIM are to:

● foster the agency and voice of AGYW to act on their aspirations

● enable AGYW to engage in sustainable livelihoods

● create an enabling environment for AGYW, including support for their engagement in advocacy

BRAC International seeks a qualitative research and learning partner in Liberia to execute a small-scale study of AIM’s second cohort. Applicants must have a physical presence in Liberia, experience studying livelihood programs, and experience working with programs focused on agriculture and climate adaptation.

The qualitative research partner will use in-depth interviews to answer questions including but not limited to:

● How do participants navigate their new IGAs post asset distribution?

● What milestones have AIM participants who have transitioned to MF achieved?

● These milestones may include joining a savings group, length of time IGA has been successfully implemented, among others.

● What are the enablers and barriers to AIM participants (18-35yo) transitioning to microfinance credit products?

● When do young women start demanding productive credit? Are there any demand, supply and/or operational barriers to transitioning AIM participants (18-35yo) to microfinance credit products?

Core responsibilities

● Co-develop a research protocol and qualitative data collection tools with the BRAC International Research & Learning team and respond to comments received from relevant programme teams.

● Apply for and receive Institutional Review Board (IRB) and any other necessary local and/or national research permissions to conduct the qualitative research.

● Actively communicate and coordinate with BRAC International research and implementation teams.

● Collect data, manage, and store data according to the highest ethical standards.

● Submit a clear and well-articulated report on research findings.

Deliverables

• Phase I - Inception report - Brief report that details the key project milestones, an updated timeline, and mitigation strategies for any challenges that may arise. (Date of Completion - Within 10 days after contract signing)
• Phase II - Ethics approval - For any research involving humanparticipants, and/or data relating to identifiable human subjects, researchersare required to complete a research ethics review and provide proof of the approval and/or exemption from the IRB that conducted the review. Documentation of approval(s)/exemption must be submitted to BRAC International to satisfythis requirement. (Date of Completion - Within six weeks of contract signing )
• Phase III - Data -Qualitative data shared with BRAC International. All audio recordings must be transcribed verbatim and if not already conducted in English transcribed to English. (Date of Completion - Within three weeks of the completion of Phase II)
• Phase IV - Final report - High-level report (10-20 pages in length) documenting any challenges experienced during data collection, relevant notes around data quality and variables (e.g., deviations from initial plans, data errors, etc.) and summary tables for all key variables. The report should highlight key learnings from the interviews/focus group discussions and all transcripts must be submitted as well. (Date of Completion - Within one month of the completion of Phase III)

Anticipatedassignment period: Within 4 months after the contract signing

I. Detailed Assignment

In addition with maintaining regular communication and coordination with BRAC International the consultant/firm shall:
1. Prepare for data collection activities

• Prepare a brief (2-page) inception report.
• Co-develop a research protocol and qualitative data collection tools with the BRAC International Research & Learning team and respond to comments received from relevant programme teams.
• Apply for Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval.
• Participate in BRAC International’s safeguarding training for research partners.

2. Train staff and conduct data collection

• Ensure that no data is collected until all necessary research permissions have been obtained.
• Recruit and train interviewers with a focus on securing female enumerators for female participants and male enumerators for male participants.
• If translation is necessary, translate and back translate data collection instruments.
• Participate in field level training/briefing on safeguarding before interacting with participants.
• Conduct data collection in five communities across three regions: likely Gbarnga, Paynesville, and Lofa. In each community, 12 interviews will be conducted for a total of 60 interviews.
• Ensure data quality. Interviews must be recorded, transcribed verbatim, and if necessary translated to English.

3. Share data and report on key findings

• Prepare data with the guidance from BRAC International.
• Share data in line with the deliverables schedule.
• Produce a report in line with the deliverables schedule.

II. Coordination, assessment, and finance

The consultant/firm will work closely with the Head of Research & Learning or any assigned person by BRAC International. The consultant/firm’s performance will be assessed along the consultancy duration particularly the quality of tools used and timely implementation of the scope and objective of the task. Other conditions like incidental liability, intellectual property, non-disclosure policy, ethical standard and data protection protocol, and
safeguarding policy will be applicable as per BRAC International’s related policies.

III. Eligibility

The research and learning partner must have a permanent, physical presence in Liberia, where the work will be completed and experience collaborating with NGO programmes on research activities. In addition, candidates must be available for virtual interviews as part of the technical evaluation assessment and must have existing capacity to meet the deadlines specified above. Institutions that cannot meet these eligibility requirements are discouraged from submitting an application.

IV. Mode of Payment of Consultation

● 10% payment after completion of Phase I

● 40% payment after completion of Phase II

● 30% payment after completion of Phase III

● 20% payment after completion of IV

Proposal assessment grid

Proposals will be assessed by a quality principle in the following manner (see table below). Proposals that
pass the technical evaluation will be assessed through a technical interview followed by a reference check to assess fit for the project. Following interviews and a reference check, shortlisted candidates will be assessed on a cost basis, with the final selection of proposal based on the best value for money.

Expertise: The research team is led by PIs with expertise in the field demonstrated by quality research outputs (e.g., peer-reviewed, publications, white papers, policy briefs). - 25%

Experience: The research team has experience conducting similar projects (e.g., qualitative studies exploring livelihoods, demand for credit, and climate adaptation). - 25%

Capacity: The research team has the capacity and bandwidth to deliver the project within the stated timeline. - 25%

Operations: The research team has the ability to manage the award and complete all necessary activities. - 25%

Application format

Your proposal package must consist of only two items:

● a single .pdf and

● a completed budget using the provided Excel attachment.

The .pdf must contain:

1. Your technical proposal using the template provided.

• There are five brief sections of the proposal. You must follow these guidelines carefully. Please do not submit a proposal in another format.
• CVs of key team members
• After you’ve completed the technical proposal template, please save it as a .pdf and attach the CVs of key project members.

In addition, you will be asked by procurement to submit:

● Copy of Trade License/Equivalent

● Copy of VAT Registration Certificate/Equivalent

● Up-to-date copy of Tax Payment Receipt

● Company Bank Information

● Vendor Screening Information

Submission process and deadline

Applications must be submitted as a single PDF accompanied by an Excel budget proposal to bi.procurements@brac.net by April 10, 2025 2:30 PM Netherlands time. For details submission related
information please find the - Request for Proposal.