Please submit all expressions of interest via email to cbrander@r4d.org and kbowman@r4d.org for review no later than 23 August 2021. The expression of interest should include a cover letter, CVs, and a budget (inclusive of requested daily rates of pay for Research Lead and Research Assistant and telecommunication needs, and any other ancillary costs (outlined below)). Please write “BMGF Boundary Orgs – Research Partner” in the subject line of your email.
Project Background
This research project, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) aims to explore ‘boundary organizations’ working in public health to improve the use of disease modeling evidence by public health stakeholders and ensure the relevance of modeled evidence for the research and policy questions on hand. Thus, we use the term ‘boundary organizations’ to describe those entities that serve as the translators or brokers of modeled evidence for health policy decision-making.
The main objective of this research project is to develop a shared understanding of what it means to be an effective boundary organization – the traits and functions that facilitate research-to-policy collaboration and exchange in public health. There are three main components to the research: 1) understanding the factors that facilitate or inhibit exchange between decision makers and modelers; 2) evaluating boundary organizations in target countries to deeply understand the challenges they face, what they are doing well, how they are learning, and where they need support; and 3) offering recommendations to inform changes to funding approaches, organizational structures and practices including evaluative thinking and learning, and country or global policies that may better enable the success of boundary organizations.
We have launched our research process with a broad landscaping exercise to gain an understanding of range and breadth of ecosystems supporting the development, uptake, and use of modeled evidence for public health. In forthcoming research phases, we plan to conduct more in-depth, structured research in four priority countries, one of which is South Africa.
Terms of Reference
South Africa is one of BMGF’s four priority countries for this research on the modeled evidence-to-health policy ecosystem. As such, R4D seeks a South Africa-based Research Partner to support our in-country research. The in-country research activities required will take place over approximately 5 months, from August through December 2021. The R4D evaluation team does not plan to travel to South Africa before or during data collection due to COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions. Thus, communication and activities with the R4D team will take place remotely via email, phone calls, and web conferences (e.g., Zoom) for instrument development, data collection training, piloting of the data collection instruments, data collection, and analysis.
The tables below summarize the estimated number of days and the relevant tasks for the Research Partner. In addition to salary costs, the detailed budget of potential providers should include ancillary costs, including communication costs for telephone calls (credits / telephone units/teleconferencing service), as all qualitative data collection will be made by phone given our current pandemic context. We expect the Research Partner to provide a summary sheet for each phone interview as well as transcripts of the conversations and the partner will only be reimbursed based on receipts for the costs incurred.
Roles and Qualifications
Below is the proposed structure of how R4D anticipates staffing roles, responsibilities, and requirements for staff involvement with the Research Partner. R4D is willing to consider alternative team arrangements (e.g., tasks broken down amongst three staff instead of two) within reason, as long as the following conditions are met: 1) the CV’s of all proposed staff are included in the expression of interest, 2) each staff member has demonstrated experience equivalent to the skills required, and 3) the expression of interest includes a clear breakdown of proposed LOE for each staff member listed in the budget.
This opportunity is only available for a team that is legally able to work in South Africa. The Research Partner is responsible for their own work authorization in country. Applicants not based in South Africa will not be considered. The organization applying as Research Partner should designate a Research Lead as well as a Research Assistant who will be supporting the activities.
Research Lead
Responsible for the overall data collection process, which includes administration of an online survey (plus phone-based follow-up where needed) and scheduling and conducting key informant interviews with approximately 25 stakeholders. The Research Lead will also be responsible for ensuring detailed transcripts of the conversations, coding those transcripts using a codebook developed in collaboration with R4D, and synthesizing findings into reports that will be shared with the R4D team. The Research Lead and Research Assistant will need to be available for activity onboarding and data collection training in advance of the data collection process.
The Research Lead’s CV must demonstrate expertise and experience in qualitative data collection, conducting key informant interviews, administration of surveys, familiarity with the South African health system and have between 5 and 7 years of experience. Familiarity with the process of using data/evidence (modeling, in particular) for decision-making in public health is preferred. Familiarity with/ network of connections to actors working in that modeling-to health policy ecosystem is highly preferred, as the Research Lead will play a key role in identifying and reaching out to respondents.
Overview of Research Lead Responsibilities and Estimated Level of Effort (LOE) requiredResearch Assistant
The role of the Research Assistant is to support the Research Lead during the qualitative data collection process. This includes taking notes and making transcriptions during the key informant interviews, and generally supporting the process of conducting KIIs however needed. The Research Assistant will also support the Research Lead with the logistics of scheduling and implementing interviews, including managing the Zoom or other teleconferencing software during the interviews and keeping track of an interview calendar and updating as interviews are secured or re-scheduled.
The Research Assistant’s CV must demonstrate experience with qualitative data collection, detailed notetaking and transcription, managing administrative tasks, timely execution activities that met predetermined deadlines, and between 2-3 years of experience. Familiarity with the process of using data/evidence (modeling, in particular) for decision-making in public health is preferred.
Overview of Research Assistant Responsibilities and Estimated Level of Effort (LOE) requiredData Collection Plan
This multi-stage research process will begin with the administration of an online survey for key stakeholders. The Research Partner will need to conduct follow-up phone calls with those participants who cannot be reached through the online survey tool. After analysis of the survey findings, the Research Partner will present those findings to a Working Group that will provide feedback on the findings and help use those findings to refine the protocol for the next research phase.
In the next research phase, the Research Partner will help finalize the protocol for key informant interviews (KIIs) based on the feedback from the Working Group. The Research Partner will then work with R4D to pilot test the data collection instrument, refine the instrument as needed, and conduct all key informant interviews (with approximately 25 stakeholders). The Research Partner will complete summary sheets and transcripts following each KII and will complete qualitative coding based on the interview transcripts (using a codebook developed in conjunction with R4D). Again, the Research Partner will help present the findings to a Working Group that will share feedback and help with interpretation of the findings/results. The Research Partner will then work with R4D to codify all findings in a report that highlights not only challenges and opportunities within the modeled evidence-to-health policy ecosystem, but also provides recommendations for how BMGF and other funders should think about investing in this space to improve the translation, uptake, and use of modeled evidence for improved public health outcomes.
We expect the data collection and analysis activities to take place between September and November 2021. Table 2 outlines the remote data collection plan.
Data Collection Plan
Results for Development (R4D) is a leading non-profit global development partner. We collaborate with change agents around the world — government officials, civil society leaders and social innovators — to create strong systems that support healthy, educated people. We help our partners move from knowing their goal to knowing how to reach it. We combine global expertise in health, education and nutrition with analytic rigor, practical support for decision-making and implementation and access to peer problem-solving networks. Together with our partners, we build self-sustaining systems that serve everyone and deliver lasting results. Then we share what we learn so others can achieve results for development, too.
We have a unique and vibrant culture at R4D. Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the heart of our work environment and help advance our mission. Diversity—of ideas, identities, perspectives and backgrounds—is vital to who we are and what we do. We seek people who embrace these values and will help reinforce them. Our work culture is collaborative, creative and entrepreneurial. We operate based on trust and respect. Teams across the organization frequently collaborate on programmatic work and support each other in continuously building a better R4D.
