USAID TIS Program RFP to Facilitate Methods to Assess Stabilization Outcomes of the TIS Program in Somalia

Request for Proposals (RFP)
 

Transition Initiatives for Stabilization (TIS)
 

Facilitate Methods to Assess Stabilization Outcomes of the TIS Program in Somalia

RFP No: TIS/DAINBO/RFP/001/2014

Title: Assessing Stabilization Outcomes
 

Issuing Office & Address for Submission of Proposals
 

DAI USAID Transition Initiatives for Stabilization (TIS)
TIS-DAI
Lavington, off Muthangari Road
1048 Braeside Drive First turn on Left
 

Email: TISProcurement@dai.com
 

Attention: TIS DAI Bid Committee
 

Closing Date for Questions: August 22, 2014 not later than 2:00 p.m. Nairobi time.
 

Closing Date for Receipt of Proposals: September 1, 2014 not later than 4:00 p.m. Nairobi time.
 

Award Date: a/o September 10, 2014
 

Contact Person for Questions regarding office location or admin details
 

Procurement team at TISProcurement@dai.com
Telephone: +254 705 116 136 | +254 731 001666
 

Anticipated Award Type: Fixed Price Purchase Order
 

Period of Performance: September 12 - November 30, 2014
 

Basis for Award: An award will be made to one organization based on:

• Technical approach (30 points), 
• Past performance (20), 
• Lowest cost for value (15), 
• Strategic partnerships for targeted areas (15 points), and 
• Key personnel (20)

Background: The Transition Initiatives for Stabilization (TIS) program is funded by USAID and responds to the complex crisis that has evolved in Somalia and the self-declared Republic of Somaliland. 

The overall program goal is to mitigate conflict, promote stability and community cohesion, and strengthen citizen-government relationships. 

TIS implements quick impact activities linked to longer-term stabilization goals. DAI, an international development organization, is currently implementing TIS in Somaliland, Puntland, Gedo, Lower Juba, Bay and Galgaduud.

The theory of change guiding the TIS program is shown below, along with the indicators to be used to mark progress toward the desired changes:


At this point, TIS and USAID want to check whether community members in the TIS areas perceive more confidence in government and more social cohesion and stability. 

We want to assess the extent of the change since the beginning of the project and to learn community members’ perceptions about changes in their own words, and so and combination of quantitative and qualitative research techniques are appropriate. 

In addition to assessing the extent of change, we are keenly interested about how community norms regarding stability and cohesion may be changing. 

To this end, we request proposals describing how data from a short survey and from FGDs on perceptions of nascent changes in public trust and social stability, as described below, will be collected and analyzed.
 

Objectives
 

Thus, the objectives are to collect and analyze data on community perceptions of recent changes in social and political norms according to TIS’ two top-level outcome indicators, as well as the sub-level indicators:

• Indicator 1: Increased public trust and confidence in nascent government
• Indicator 2: Increased dialogue and consensus based decision making between government and citizens so as to create social cohesion and political connectivity

Though the sampling and assessment design is not intended for attribution of change to the TIS program since other social and political changes and other development-oriented NGO efforts are being carried out in the TIS areas for the past few years, many of the short survey and FGD questions will focus on changes perceived since TIS efforts started in the communities.

Tasks

• Prepare a detailed work plan with data collection methodology, including informed consent process, and timeline (the short survey instrument and FGD guide will be provided – estimated average length of conducting the survey/discussion is 1-2 hours)
• Train in survey techniques and FGD facilitation/recording
• Conduct 21 data collection meetings of 8-12 people each. At the beginning of each meeting, carry out a short survey (about 20 questions with 4 possible answers that will form a scale), the FGDs with the same participants in seven locations of South Central Somalia and Puntland (see geographic focus below). The implementer will be responsible for all aspects of managing logistics and providing technical oversight and quality control of the process of conducting the short survey and FGDs. 

Strategic local partners may need to be used to reach these locations.

• Transcribe discussions and translate into English
• Analyze and document results
• Present top line findings in a power point presentation to USAID and the TIS team
• Present final report detailing methodology employed, challenges and obstacles encountered, and results on perceived social stability and government responsiveness in the TIS areas

Geographic Focus
 

FGDs will be conducted in the following areas:

• Galgaduud – The TIS areas of Adaado, Dhusamareb and Guricel
• Gedo – The TIS areas of El Wak
• Lower Juba – The TIS area of Dhobley
• Puntland – The TIS areas of Eyl and Bandarbeyla

For each of the 7 areas, 3 meetings will be conducted. 

The composition of each survey and FGD group should be proposed by the bidder factoring in age, gender, clan, socio-economic status, and other criteria.

Deliverables

Deliverables	Deadline
Detailed work plan in Gantt chart format including tasks and timeline, including field plan for the 7 locations	September 22
Description of methodology for sampling, short survey/FGD data collection, and data analysis	September 22
FGD transcripts translated into English ready for analysis, with list of key words for the analysis	October 24
Powerpoint presentation of top line findings	November 10
Draft report and copy of short survey data	November 14
Final report	November 28

Appraisal and Selection

• Technical Approach: Project design and implementation plan – 30 points
• Past Performance: 5-10 years’ experience in monitoring and evaluating donor-funded programs in Somalia– 20 points
• Lowest Cost for Value: 15 points
• Strategic Partnerships in Targets Areas: 15 Points
• Key Personnel: 20 points

Qualifications

• Team Leader with minimum 7 years’ experience conducting similar research in Somalia
• Organization has at least 5 years’ demonstrated experience working on monitoring and evaluation of donor-funded program in Somalia
• Wide network of FGD facilitators with fluency in the Somali language
• Existing local strategic partnerships in the targets areas to expedite the field work

Application Process
 

Please send to TISProcurement@dai.com:

1. Organizational profile, highlighting Somalia experience (2 pages maximum)
2. Technical proposal (6 pages maximum), including technical approach, methodology, and implementation plan
3. List of strategic partnerships and signed letters of commitment indicating their willingness and availability to conduct FGDs
4. List of key personnel and CVs
5. List of three professional references for the organization
6. Detailed budget, including number of staff and logistical expenses

Please ensure that the subject of the email for your application is “TIS Focus Group Discussions”.

Please note only short listed organizations will be contacted.