Request for Consultant Services Proposal (RFP): Civil Society Capacity Strengthening Consultant

Solicitation Title: Civil Society Capacity Strengthening Consultant

Solicitation Number: APRO-BAMA-001

Date of Issue of RFP: August 27, 2024

Date Proposal Due: September 4, 2024

Submit Proposal to: [email protected]

Approximate Timeframe Consultant Agreement Issued to Successful Candidate(s): approximately October 7, 2024

Quote Validity:

The Consultant agrees to hold the prices in its offer firm for 60 days from the date specified for the receipt of offers unless another time is specified in the addendum of the RFP.

Introduction

FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in Health, Education, Nutrition, Environment, Economic Development, Civil Society, Gender, Youth, Research and Technology– creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today’s interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 60 countries, all 50 U.S. states and all U.S. territories.

FHI 360, as a subrecipient to BRAC Bangladesh under the USAID Bangladesh America Maitree Activity (Maitree), is currently seeking qualified candidates for Civil Society Strengthening Consultant. The consultant will provide technical support in designing, implementing and evaluating capacity strengthening programming to the project. The consultant will report directly to Associate Director/Technical Advisor Strategic Information, Monitoring, and Evaluation, FHI 360 Asia Pacific Regional Office.

Project Background

The Development Objective / goal of Bangladesh America Maitree Activity (Maitree) is to advance broad-based, inclusive, and more sustainable development through strong local partnerships that complement USAID/Bangladesh’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) and Development Objectives (DO). The Bangladesh CDCS overarching goal is “Bangladesh is a more Inclusive, Democratic, Prosperous, and Resilient Indo-Pacific Partner.” To contribute to the CDCS goal and DOs, Maitree will provide funding to local indigenous Bangladeshi organizations. The organizations will implement projects in development programmatic areas ranging from health; education; economic growth; agriculture and food security; environment, energy, and climate resilience; democracy, human rights, and governance; and as appropriate, cross-sectoral projects. Maitree will collaborate with USAID program teams to determine the programming areas of solicitations.

Maitree has three intermediate results (IRs) to achieve its goal:

IR 1: Established a grant-making mechanism managed by a local organization to provide funding to qualifying local recipients through a local, competitive process.

IR 2: Increased organizational capacity of recipient organizations to compete for grants and implement locally-led development interventions.

IR 3: Local organizations collaborate to build networks and develop local solutions to development problems.

Scope of Work (SOW)

• Support USAID Maitree teams in developing and implementing capacity strengthening approach/strategy.
• Support USAID Maitree teams in developing or adapting and implementing capacity strengthening interventions, courses, and trainings.
• Provide technical support to the design and conduct of special initiatives, such as reviewing concept notes and work plans, implementation reports and analysis.
• Build and bridge capacity in evidence generation, activity implementation and knowledge product generation related to localization in keeping with FHI 360 and relevant donor policies and procedures.
• In collaboration with the Technical Advisor, Organizational Development for the USAID Maitree Project, support project staff on thought leadership product development (abstracts, manuscripts, working papers, etc.).
• Contribute to APRO processes for ensuring quality of program implementation.

Deliverable/Milestone

• A workplan based on the document review and briefing to be provided by APRO and Maitree team within the first month of the assignment.
• A monthly report detailing the types of technical assistance provided to the Maitree project, including any written products where the consultant has contributed, if applicable. The report for the last month of the assignment will be considered as the final report.

Location of Work: Remote virtual work.

Travel: No travel anticipated under this consultancy

Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree or its International Equivalent in International Development, Social Sciences or Related Field.
• Ten or more years of experience providing technical quality and thought leadership support for project implementation activities, including research.
• In-depth knowledge of concepts, practices, and procedures with providing technical support for advancing the quality of written products (reports, publications).
• Published knowledge products, in peer review manuscripts is preferable.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret data, identify errors, problem solve, take corrective action and prepare reports.
• Has sensitivity to cultural and cognitive diversity and understanding of the political, contextual, and ethical issues in assigned areas.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Ability to influence and collaborate with others.
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills and demonstrated program/project management skills.
• Fluency in oral and written English

Evaluation Criteria: Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the following criteria:

Area

• Qualifications
  • Indicators:
    • At least a Master’s Degree in Social Sciences, International Development, or a related field.
  • Scale:
    • 35 (Max. Points)
• Experience
  • Indicators:
    • Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in designing, implementing and evaluating capacity strengthening programming with USAID.
    • In-depth knowledge of concepts, practices, and procedures in working with national/local CSOs, supported by USAID funding is preferrable (related to USAID grant management complexities).
    • Published knowledge products related to civil society in Asia Pacific Region, in peer review manuscripts is preferable.
    • Experience working and living in Asia-Pacific countries.
  • Scale:
    • 45 (Max. Points)
• Cost
  • Indicators:
    • Daily rate in USD
  • Scale:
    • 20 (Max. Points)

Total 100 points

FHI 360 Disclaimers

• FHI 360 may perform a background check on any selected Consultant candidates.
• FHI 360 may cancel the solicitation and not award
• FHI 360 may reject any or all responses received
• Issuance of the solicitation does not constitute an award commitment by FHI 360
• FHI 360 reserves the right to disqualify any offer based on failure of the offeror to follow solicitation instructions
• FHI 360 will not compensate any offeror for responding to solicitation
• FHI 360 reserves the right to issue award based on initial evaluation of offers without further discussion
• FHI 360 may choose to award only part of the activities in the solicitation, or issue multiple awards based on the solicitation activities
• FHI 360 reserves the right to waive minor proposal deficiencies that can be corrected prior to award determination to promote competition

FHI 360’s supplier terms and conditions can be found here while our consultant terms and conditions can be found here