Request for Proposals – Evaluation of the SHIFT programme in Ukraine and Türkiye/Syria

About

The Humanitarian Leadership Academy (HLA) is looking for a consultant (or a team of consultants) to conduct an evaluation of the SHIFT programme (funded by the Disasters Emergency Committee), implemented in the Ukraine and Türkiye/Syria humanitarian responses.

The evaluation will respond to multiple objectives:

1) Demonstrate the main results of the programme, also outlining areas for improvement, focusing on what has worked and why

2) Provide insights that can be useful for learning, responding to learning questions that look at if, how, why the programme has brought change

3) Provide recommendations for future SHIFT programmes.

The evaluation will play a key role in informing future programmes that adopt an Engine 2 approach,1 aiming to champion localisation, supporting local solutions and recognising diversity of actors in the humanitarian eco-system.

The deadline for this call of proposals is 19 May 2024.

SHIFT – Sustainable Humanitarian Innovation for Transformation

Funded by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), Save the Children UK is delivering two SHIFT programmes for the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal and the Türkiye/Syria Earthquake Appeal.

SHIFT is led by the HLA and delivered with the Innovation Hive, Alameda, the Collaborative Cash Delivery (CCD) Network and ACAPS.

SHIFT stands for Sustainable Humanitarian Innovation for Transformation, which is underpinned by the Engine 2 common approach, delivering a humanitarian response by:

· Fostering sustainable transformational changes to achieve system-wide impact

· Applying innovative approaches in supporting local solutions

· Focusing on progressive localisation and capacity strengthening

· Empowering diverse actors within the humanitarian eco-system.

SHIFT aims to change the status quo by putting local humanitarian actors at the center of responses to crises. To achieve this goal, the programmes focus on capacity strengthening, stronger leadership, better access to data, research production, investment in local entrepreneurship, and increased partnerships.

SHIFT encourages collaboration and sharing of knowledge between various actors involved in the humanitarian response, with the ultimate aim of strengthening civil society as a whole.

Consultant(s) specification

Essential criteria:

· Demonstrated experience of conducting multi-stakeholder evaluations in the humanitarian sector, particularly with INGOs and civil society sector.

· At least 10 years of experience in the humanitarian sector and emergencies.

· Experience of conducting evaluations on a variety of humanitarian innovations and innovative approaches.

· Demonstrable experience in delivering high quality work that is useful for organisational decision-making.

· A demonstrated high level of professionalism and an ability to work independently and in high pressure situations given tight deadlines.

· Strong interpersonal and communication skills, cultural sensitivity with international teams.

· Ability to write concisely, using simple, not jargon-based language.

· Experience of working collaboratively with international organisations on multi-stakeholder projects.

· Availability and willingness to travel if required.

Desirable criteria:

· Demonstrated experience of work in the regions and/or contexts

· Knowledge of Polish, Ukrainian and/or Turkish or Arabic are an advantage

Evaluation of SHIFT

Requirements/Objectives

As we are approaching the end of SHIFT (early 2025), the HLA is looking for a consultant – or a team of consultants – who can deliver the evaluation of the programme, both for the Ukraine and Türkiye/Syria responses. In particular, the consultant(s) will be asked to investigate the main results of SHIFT, bringing together results from the different partners (outlined above) working in each programme. We have already developed a MEL framework that can be used by the consultant(s) for framing and guiding the evaluation (available upon request). However, the consultant will be able to refine and shape the evaluation questions and methodology during the consultancy, in collaboration with the HLA’s Research and Evidence team.

The consultant(s), to the extent possible, will also be looking at if, how, why the programme has brought change in the humanitarian sector in the respective responses. We are interested in gathering insights that can add value to our learning for designing future responses, particularly around innovation and transformation. We will encourage the consultant(s) to provide recommendations for future SHIFT programmes.

The consultant(s) will work closely with the HLA’s Research and Evidence team to deliver this piece of work. It is expected that this work will take around 40 days to complete.

Deliverables

It is expected that the evaluation will include the following deliverables:

1) Brief inception report, outlining evaluation and learning questions, methodology, timeline and outputs.

2) Evaluation report, synthetising data from different sources and providing insights, lessons learnt and recommendations.

3) Learning brief, distilling the main findings and recommendations of the evaluation report, which can be used for public use.

4) Delivering presentations to relevant stakeholders, including Save the Children Leadership Teams, DEC and the wider humanitarian sector.

Timeline

It is expected that the consultancy will start in May 2024 and end in January 2025. We would prefer a phased approach, with some intensive work in May/June and in December/January, to capture insights at different stages of the programme. Please note SHIFT funding will end in February 2025 so we won’t be able to extend the contract for this consultancy beyond January 2025.

Bidder’s Proposal

Please see attached Request for Proposals – Evaluation of the SHIFT programme in Ukraine and Türkiye/Syria (RfP SHIFT Evaluation) PDF document for the tables to fill in and submit.

Please detail how the consultant(s) meet the “Statement of Requirements / Objectives” and “Consultant Specification” in a proposal (max 15 pages).

In the proposal, please ensure that you include the following information:

· Relevant experience and examples of similar work completed

· Proposed evaluation questions, approach and methodology

· Timeline

· Two references

· Consultant(s) CV with relevant experience as an Annex

· Commercial details as outlined in the tables in section 3.2

· General due diligence details as outlined in section 3.3.

The deadline for receiving proposals is Sunday 19th May, 11:59 pm GMT.

Please send your proposal along with your CV to: e.sandri@savethechildren.org.uk

• This Request for Proposal does not constitute an offer and the HLA does not bind itself to accept any proposal. The HLA reserves the right to accept a proposal in part, rather than in full.

• The HLA will be reviewing applications in real time as they are submitted, and we strongly recommend that prospective suppliers share their responses ASAP.

• Responses will be assessed based on demonstrated ability of a prospective organisation’s ability to meet the “Statement of Requirements / Objectives” and “Consultant Specification”, and incorporating a value for money approach.

Confidentiality

• Documentation in relation to this Request for Proposal and any proposals received by the HLA in response to it shall be treated as private and confidential save where the disclosure is required by law.

• Suppliers shall not:

– Release any information relating to the Request for Proposal and the proposal that they intend to make; other than with professional advisers who need to be consulted with regards to the preparation of the proposal;

– Canvass directly or indirectly with any other bidder concerning the award of the contract or directly or indirectly obtain, or attempt to obtain information;

– Canvass directly or indirectly with a member of SCUK or any other campaign coalition partners’ staff or their trustees concerning the award of the contract or directly or indirectly obtain or attempt to obtain information from said individuals.

If a supplier does not observe paragraphs 4.2.1 and 4.2.2 above, SCUK will reject their proposal and may decide not to invite the agency to bid for future work.

Contract Award/Acceptance of Proposal

At the conclusion of the evaluation process and subject to the provisos contained in these instructions, the HLA will decide to which supplier the contract will be awarded and the successful supplier will be expected to enter into a formal agreement.

The formal contract agreement will be in a form prepared by the HLA.

Address the attached PDF (RfP SHIFT Evaluation) for more details and for the forms to submit your proposal.

Please send your proposal along with your CV to: e.sandri@savethechildren.org.uk