Call for expression of interest for Individual Consultants for USAID Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Support Activity (MEASURE) evaluation, assessment, and research support in 2025

Expression of Interest No. C-03/24

Issuance Date: December 23, 2024

Closing date/time: 30 days after publishing, January 21, 2025

Background:

USAID/BiH’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Support Activity (MEASURE) is a five-year Activity launched in October 2024, and implemented by Social Solutions International, Inc. MEASURE provides USAID/BiH and its implementing partners with on-demand monitoring, evaluation, assessment, and research support.

Call for applications:

We are looking for expressions of interest from consultants with subject-matter expertise in one or more of the following key areas:

Media development – in areas such as improving business management, digital security, and audience reach, with a focus on digital media.
Human rights – with the focus on people with disabilities, victims of trafficking, LGBTQI+, and gender based violence; status and sustainability of CSOs providing assistance to vulnerable groups; and women and disadvantaged groups’ social and economic empowerment.
Diaspora engagement – including strategies for building connections between local governments and diaspora, facilitation of local and diaspora private sector investments, and knowledge sharing practices between diaspora and BiH.
Local governance – improving public service delivery, local governance systems and financing, public and public-private partnerships, equal access to public services for vulnerable groups, digitization of services, strengthening sustainable local development, and citizen oversight in local communities.
(Geo)political affairs in BiH – political and economic structure of BiH, social norms (formal and informal) influencing the behaviors and relationships of key actors, political developments from 2020 to present, and non-democratic influences.
Environment and biodiversity – the current status of biodiversity, threats, conservation needs, value identification, and society’s responses and current and planned actions.
Donor mapping – with focus of international donors, their strategies for BiH, and intervention areas.
Program evaluation – in accordance with USAID standards (https://www.usaid.gov/evaluation), including experience designing, leading, or supporting data analysis in the evaluation process.

General scope of work to be performed:

Selected consultants will work on some or all of the following tasks:

contributing to development of a research work plan;
providing subject-matter orientation training to members of the research team;
conducting a literature review / desk research;
developing data collection instruments;
conducting data collection (i.e., through key informant interviews, focus group discussions, surveys, and other techniques);
performing quantitative and/or qualitative data analysis;
preparing and/or delivering presentations of research findings;
preparing research reports;
drafting answers to comments received on the draft research report;
preparing the final research report; and
addressing comments and finalizing the research report.

The selected consultants will work independently or as part of a MEASURE research team. MEASURE staff will support and supervise the research teams.

The contract of each individual consultant involved in the research will determine their precise scope of work, deliverables, and reporting requirements. The consultants will be required to produce deliverables that meet high quality standards and strict deadlines in each phase of the research.

General timeframe for performance of work:

Work in the above listed areas is expected to begin during 2025, with the exact timing depending on receipt of an official task order from USAID/BiH. Short-listed candidates will be contacted regarding next steps in the selection process as soon as the task order request is received.

Formal requirements:

Education:

Master’s Degree (at a minimum) in social sciences, international relations, information and communication technologies (ICT), economics, law, human rights, biology, journalism, monitoring, evaluation, and learning, or a related subject-matter field.

Experience:

For consultants - subject-matter experts: the candidate should have a minimum of five (5) years of work experience in the sector(s) relevant for the particular research in BiH and proven recognition of subject-matter expertise and research skills.
For consultants - program evaluation experts: the candidate should have experience in a minimum of two (2) evaluations and/or assessments conducted for USG agencies (including evaluation of local policies/programs conducted with support of USG funds), preferably as a lead/co-lead.
For all consultants - The candidates must have a proven record of effective data collection with high-ranking government officials, relevant business sector representatives, media, and/or non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations. The consultants need to possess an ability to work independently with minimal supervision, effectively and collaboratively in a team context or as a team leaders, and have excellent organization and planning skills.
The candidates must be fluent in one of the official languages of BiH and in English, with the ability to produce well-written reports and demonstrated analytical and communication skills in each language.

In addition:

BiH citizenship is required.
The candidates should have a sound understanding of and firm commitment to USAID’s Mission, Vision, and Values.
A response to this Call for Expression of Interest (EOI) does not automatically ensure that any candidate will be selected to participate in future procurement actions.
Interested candidates must provide full, accurate, and complete information as required by this EOI. If at any time MEASURE determines that an offeror has provided false statements in the response, MEASURE may reject the response without further consideration.
MEASURE reserves the right to require compliance with additional conditions when issuing the final solicitation documents if an offeror is pre-selected.

Application process:

This call is open for 30 days from the issuance date of this announcement. Early applications are preferred, as some tasks could be initiated before the deadline.

In this phase, interested consultants should submit their application packages, which will include:

Curriculum Vitae (CV) not exceeding two pages of length
Reference list with three references (name, phone, e-mail)
Two pieces of written work in English authored by the applicant, which demonstrate the consultant’s methodological approach, analytical and drafting skill, and/or relevant subject-matter expertise. These can be provided as attachments with the application or as links to documents.

Application packages should be submitted to contacts@measurebih.com.

Depending on the type of consultancy that is being applied for, the title of e-mail should read:

"Consultant service offer -” and note "subject-matter” or "program evaluation” expert. Applicants may submit separate applications for both subject-matter expert and program evaluation positions.

If shortlisted, candidates will have to submit additional documents and information. This request does not represent a commitment on behalf of either MEASURE or USAID. MEASURE will not be liable for any costs associated with the preparation of a proposal in response to this request. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted and invited for an interview.

MEASURE retains the right to cancel the procurement for candidates in any phase and without obligation to offer justification at any stage before the contract is signed.

No telephone or e-mail inquiries, please.

Disclaimer and protection clauses:

This EOI is not intended to result in the direct issuance of a contract
MEASURE may cancel this request for EOI.
MEASURE may reject any or all responses
MEASURE reserves the right to disqualify any offer based on the offerors failure to follow EOI instructions
MEASURE will not compensate offerors for response to this EOI
MEASURE may choose to award only part of the activities in the EOI, or issue multiple awards based on this EOI activities
MEASURE may request short-listed offerors to pass a second or third round of oral presentation or provide a written submission in response to a more specific and detailed statement of work.

HOME ABOUT US M&E RESOURCES EVALUATIONS ASSESMENTS, SURVEYS AND OTHER STUDIES M&E CAPACITY BUILDING DATA

This web site is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The contents of the page are the sole responsibility of the editor and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.”

This web site is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of the page are the sole responsibility of the editor and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.”