Proximity International, LLC, is an applied research and monitoring services firm specializing in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis in remote-access and hard-to-reach areas. A US-headquartered and Middle East-based firm, Proximity works to meet the needs of international and local stakeholders for reliable, high-quality and timely monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and research services.
Proximity specializes in network management and qualitative and quantitative data collection in hard-to- reach areas, including high-risk and insecure settings.
As an independent research, monitoring and evaluation firm, they work closely with client partners to address information and knowledge gaps in all areas of operation, from third party monitoring and activity verification, to program evaluation, form needs assessments to security and risk analysis, as well as atmospheric reporting, perceptions surveying, and special interest research.
Additionally, Proximity provides a number of support services designed to improve the operational capacity of partners, including capacity building training, workshop facilitation, and knowledge management support.
To date, Proximity has worked in a wide range of humanitarian and development sectors, including: civil society programming, media, community security and justice, food security and livelihoods, health, WASH, shelter, agriculture and protection.
All field-based monitoring and research activities are carried out by Proximity’s own network of field monitors, who are individually recruited, vetted, and trained by the organization. Proximity places a strong emphasis on data and analytic quality, and therefore includes built-in mechanisms for verifying data quality, integrity and rigor.
By working directly at project implementation sites, Proximity remains innovative, flexible, and highly adaptive to the contexts in which it operates. Proximity leverages the use of technology, such as mobile data collection platforms, to work quickly and efficiently.
Due to the nature and contexts of its work, Proximity maintains a flexible and rapid-response work ethic. This means that Proximity is experienced and capable in mobilizing short-term technical assistance teams in the Middle East (both experts and field monitors) rapidly, and is able to work quickly and efficiently to deliver programs within realistic parameters. Such flexibility allows Proximity to deal quickly with contingency factors as they arise throughout the independent monitoring cycle, without compromising output quality.
