Call for Consultant Roster At Progress Inc.

Progress Inc. is a global research and evaluation company registered in Bangladesh, Nepal, Kenya, and the United States, with experiences in over 65 countries. It specializes in the area of research, monitoring, evaluation, and learning, with extensive experiences across the panoply of development sectors, including livelihood, gender equality and social inclusion, education, disaster risk reduction, governance, water, sanitation and hygiene, health, food security & nutrition, among others. Progress Inc. is a gender responsive and socially inclusive organization.

We are pleased to announce for the expansion of our consultant roster to support our ongoing and future projects in social research. We invite qualified and experienced professionals to apply for inclusion in our consultant roster.

Minimum Requirements

Professional Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in conducting social, economic, or public health research with a proven track record in designing and managing research projects.
• Experience working with international donors such as UN agencies, USAID, DFID, World Bank, or other major donors/INGOs.
• Experience with government agencies, especially in developing contexts like Bangladesh, with an understanding of national policies, governance, and social systems.
• Proven experience in implementing research or evaluation studies in low-resource settings and with marginalized communities.
• Strong background in designing and executing Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) frameworks.

Soft Skills:

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills; demonstrated ability to synthesize and interpret complex information from various data sources.
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills: the ability to present research findings to diverse audiences (donors, government agencies, local communities, etc.).
• Ability to work independently and as part of multidisciplinary teams, often in remote or difficult environments.
• Proven capacity to mentor and train junior staff or local partners in research methodologies, data collection, and analysis.
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, with the ability to collaborate with stakeholders at different levels (from local community members to international donors).

Educational Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in social sciences, public policy, development studies, economics, or a related field (PhD preferred, but not required for all roles).
• Specialized training in research methodologies, program evaluation, or monitoring and evaluation will be an added advantage.

Technical Skills:

• Expertise in designing research methodologies (both quantitative and qualitative), including:
  • Survey design, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and participatory research techniques.
  • Mixed methods of research and the ability to integrate qualitative and quantitative findings into comprehensive reports.
• Data collection and analysis tools:
  • Quantitative analysis tools: SPSS, STATA, R, or similar.
  • Qualitative analysis tools: NVivo, MAXQDA, ATLAS or similar.
  • Data visualization tools: Power BI, Tableau, GIS tools for mapping and visual analysis.
• Data management skills, including handling large datasets, ensuring data quality, and data cleaning.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality reports and policy briefs, with strategic recommendations based on research findings.
• Familiarity with logical frameworks (logframes), Theory of Change (ToC) models, and impact assessment tools used in development programming.

Language Proficiency:

• Fluency in English is mandatory (strong written and verbal communication skills).
• Proficiency in Bangla or other local languages is highly desirable and considered an asset.

Other Requirements:

• Familiarity with donor-specific guidelines: Knowledge of research, M&E, and reporting requirements for major international donors such as USAID, DFID, EU, and UN agencies etc.
• Experience in proposal writing, particularly for research and evaluation projects.
• Ability to manage time effectively, meet tight deadlines, and deliver high-quality outputs under pressure.
• Willingness to travel, often in difficult or remote areas.

We are seeking consultants with expertise in the following thematic areas / sub-areas:

Theme / Areas

Poverty Reduction

Social Policy Analyst, Poverty Reduction Specialist, Economist, Data Analyst (Poverty Metrics, Livelihood Development Specialist, Microfinance Consultant

Agriculture and Food Security

Agricultural Economist, Rural Development Expert, Agriculture and Sustainable Farming Consultant, Agroecologist, Agricultural Development Specialist, Agroecology and Sustainable Farming Expert, Nutrition-sensitive Agriculture Consultant, Agricultural Policy Advisor, Value Chain Development Specialist

Good Health and Well-being

Public Health Specialist, Healthcare Systems Analyst, Epidemiologist, Health Economist, Maternal and Child Health Specialist, Mental Health Specialist, Health Program Monitoring & Evaluation Expert. Health Workforce Development Specialist, Health Systems Governance Expert, Supply Chain Management Consultant (Health), Health Information Systems (HIS) Specialist, Essential Medicines Access Expert, mHealth Consultant, SRHR Expert

Quality Education

Education Policy Analyst, Curriculum Development Specialist, Early Childhood, Inclusive Education Consultant, Educational Technology Specialist, Teacher Training Expert, Education M&E Specialist, Education and communication expert.

Gender Equality and Social Inclusion, GEDSI, Reduced Inequality

Gender and Development Specialist, Women’s Empowerment Consultant, Gender-based Violence Specialist, Gender Mainstreaming Expert, Legal Consultant (Gender Equity Laws), Gender M&E Specialist, Gender Equality Specialist, Social Inclusion Consultant, LGBTQ+ Rights Advocate, Ethnic and Religious Inclusion Specialist, Gender-responsive Budgeting Expert, Income Inequality Analyst, Inequality M&E Specialist

Clean Water and Sanitation

Water Resource Management Specialist, Sanitation and Hygiene Expert, Environmental Engineer, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) Specialist, Hydrologist, Public Health Specialist (Waterborne Diseases)

Affordable and Clean Energy

Renewable Energy Consultant, Energy Policy Analyst, Sustainable Energy Systems Specialist

Energy Efficiency Expert, Off-grid Energy Solutions Specialist, Environmental Engineer (Energy Systems), Energy Access M&E Specialist

Decent Work and Economic Growth

Labour Market Analyst, Employment Policy Consultant, Economic Growth Specialist, SME Development Consultant, Workforce Development Specialist, Social Enterprise Expert, Decent Work M&E Specialist

Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Infrastructure Development Specialist, Industrial Policy Analyst, Innovation Consultant, Transport and Logistics Expert, Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Specialist, Sustainable Infrastructure Expert, M&E Specialist (Infrastructure and Innovation), GIS Expert ICT and MIS Expert

Sustainable Urban Development and Housing

Urban Development Specialist, Smart Cities Consultant, Sustainable Architecture Consultant, Housing Policy Expert, Urban Sustainability M&E Consultant, Urban Planner, Affordable Housing Consultant

Slum Upgrading Specialist, Smart Cities and Innovation Consultant, Transport Infrastructure Specialist, Public Transportation Expert

Responsible Consumption and Production

Sustainable Development Specialist, Circular Economy Consultant, Waste Management Expert, Supply Chain Sustainability Specialist, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Consultant, Resource Efficiency Specialist, Sustainable Production and Consumption M&E Expert

Climate Resilience and Environmental Sustainability

Climate Change Specialist, Environmental Policy Analyst, Climate Resilience Consultant, Carbon Management Expert, Disaster Risk Reduction Specialist, Climate Finance Specialist

Climate Adaptation Specialist, Sustainable Resource Management Consultant, Green Growth Advisor, Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Expert, Climate Action M&E Consultant, Eco system Expert.

Marine & Biodiversity

Marine Conservation Specialist, Oceanography Expert, Fisheries Management Consultant, Marine Pollution Expert, Coastal Zone Management Specialist, Marine Biodiversity Specialist,

Marine Ecosystem M&E Specialist, Biodiversity Conservation Specialist, Forestry Expert

Wildlife Management Consultant, Sustainable Land Use Specialist, Ecosystem Restoration Expert, Agroforestry Specialist, livestock expert

Peace building and Justice for Strong Institutions & Conflict Resolution

Human Rights and Legal Expert, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding Specialist, Anti-corruption Expert, Judicial Reform Consultant, Conflict Prevention Specialist, Post-Conflict Reconstruction Expert, Security Sector Reform (SSR) Consultant, DDR Specialist (Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration), Transitional Justice Consultant, Rule of Law Expert

Partnerships and Donor Relations

International Development Specialist, Global Policy Analyst, Public-Private Partnership Specialist, Development Finance Expert, Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Consultant, International Relations Expert, Partnerships M&E Specialist, Partnership Development Consultant, Donor Engagement Specialist, Public-private Partnership (PPP) Expert, Strategic Alliances Specialist, Local Government and Community Relations Expert

Humanitarian Assistance and Emergency Response

Disaster Relief Specialist, Humanitarian Logistics Expert, Migration and Refugee Support Consultant, Emergency Nutrition Specialist, Humanitarian Supply Chain Analyst, Migration and Refugee Specialist, ethnic development.

Governance and Public Administration

Democratic Governance Consultant, Anti-Corruption Specialist, Decentralization and Local Governance Expert, Public Sector Reform Consultant, Governance and Institutional Reform Specialist, Governance M&E Specialist, Public Administration Specialist

Social Protection and Safety Nets

Social Protection Specialist, Welfare Program Analyst, Child Protection Expert, Social Safety Net Consultant, Disability Rights Advocate, SBCC (Social and behaviour change communication) Expert, Child care expert, design expert

Economic Development and Private Sector Engagement

Private Sector Development Specialist, SME Development Expert, Trade and Market Access Specialist, Employment and Skills Development Consultant, Industrial Policy Advisor, Inclusive Finance Specialist, banking and financial expert, financial analyst. Socio economist expert

Youth and Adolescent Development

Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship Specialist, Adolescent Health Expert, Vocational Training and Skills Development Consultant, Youth Civic Engagement Expert, Violence Prevention and Radicalization Consultant, adolescent expert,

Elderly Care and Aging

Elderly Care Specialist, Geriatric Health Expert, Pension and Income Security Consultant, Age-friendly Infrastructure Specialist, Home-based Care Specialist

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)

M&E Specialist, Impact Evaluation Expert, Data Collection and Analysis Consultant, Real-time Monitoring Specialist, Knowledge Management Expert, Learning and Adaptive Management Specialist

Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening

Institutional Development Consultant, Capacity Building Specialist, CSO Strengthening Advisor, Organizational Development Expert, Policy Development Consultant, Training of Trainers (ToT) Expert, Organizational Capacity Assessment Expert.

Technology and Innovation for Development

ICT for Development (ICT4D) Specialist, Digital Inclusion Expert, AI and Blockchain Specialist (for development), Data Science and Predictive Analytics Consultant, Business model experts, IT Expert

Program and Project Management

Program Manager, Project Coordinator, Proposal Development Specialist, Budget and Finance Specialist, Risk Management Consultant, Stakeholder Engagement Expert, Access to finance, designer

Human Resources and Talent Development

Human Resources Consultant, Talent Development Specialist, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Expert, Staff Training and Development Consultant, Performance Management Specialist

Communications and Advocacy

Strategic Communications Consultant, Advocacy and Policy Change Expert, Media Relations Specialist, Digital Outreach Specialist, Development Storytelling and Branding Expert

Resource Mobilization and Fundraising

Resource Mobilization Specialist, Fundraising and Donor Relations Consultant

Legal and Compliance

International Development Law Specialist, Donor Compliance Consultant, Intellectual Property Management Specialist, Safeguarding and Ethics Advisor

Finance and Grant Management

Financial Planning and Budgeting Specialist, Grant Management Consultant, Audit and Compliance Specialist, Value for Money (VfM) Consultant

TVET

Curriculum Development Specialist, Instructional/Training Specialist, Workforce Development Specialist, Technical Trainer, E-Learning Specialist, Entrepreneurship Development Specialist, financial literacy expert.

Trafficking

Child trafficking prevention specialist, labour trafficking specialist, sex trafficking specialist, cyber trafficking, human trafficking expert, organ trafficking expert.