Prequalification of Agencies Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Ethiopia, Tanzania, India, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria At Girl Effect

Top Line Objective: Request for proposals for full-service research agencies to pre-qualify for the Girl Effect MERL agency roster.

Who We Are

Girl Effect is an international non-profit that builds media that girls want, trust and need. From chatbots to chat shows and TV dramas to tech, our content helps adolescent girls in Africa and Asia make choices and changes in their lives.

We create safe spaces for girls, sharing facts and answering questions about health, nutrition, education, and relationships, empowering girls with the skills to negotiate and redefine what they are told is possible “for a girl”.

Our reach is 50 million and counting. And we’re using technology to reach girls at scale so every girl can choose to be in control of her body, her health, her learning and her livelihood.

Because when a girl unlocks her power to make different choices that change her life, it inspires others to do so too. She starts a ripple effect that impacts her family, community, and country.

That’s the Girl Effect.

Girl Effect MERL Roster

Girl Effect’s Evidence and Insights department is seeking proposals from qualified agencies with expertise in Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) to join our roster of pre-qualified MERL agencies. This roster will be used as the shortlist for future MERL projects. Agencies selected for the roster will be invited to submit detailed proposals for specific projects on a rolling basis.

Purpose

The purpose of this RFP is to identify and select a diverse pool of agencies with a proven track record of providing high-quality MERL services, capable of addressing the complex needs of our programs. By creating a pre-qualified roster, Girl Effect seeks to streamline the procurement process and engage agencies with the appropriate skills and experience when specific project opportunities arise.

What You’ll Do

The selected agencies will be expected to provide a variety of MERL services, including but not limited to:

• Evaluation: Conduct comprehensive and robust impact evaluations, including quantitative baseline, midline, and endline evaluations, RCTs and quasi-experimental designs.
• Monitoring: Design and implement monitoring systems, including data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Research: Undertake thorough formative research studies and literature reviews, assessments, and data analysis to inform program design and decision-making.
• Learning: Facilitate learning processes, including knowledge sharing and adaptive management. This may include content or concept testing and co-creation workshops and writer immersion sessions.

Specific tasks and deliverables will be defined on a per-project basis depending on the scope of each project and will be agreed upon in the contract for that work.

Who You Are

To be eligible for consideration, agencies must meet the following criteria:

• Experience: Proven experience in providing MERL services, particularly in Ethiopia, Tanzania, India, Kenya, South Africa and/or Nigeria.
• Technical Expertise: Demonstrated technical capacity in monitoring, evaluation, research, and/or learning methodologies.
• Thematic Expertise: In at least one of our priority thematic areas: Social and Behaviour change programming, or any of the following: SRHR, Vaccinations, Mental Heath, Economic Empowerment, Gender norms
• Team Qualifications: A team of qualified professionals with relevant MERL expertise, including staff with advanced degrees and experience in the field. And a trained group of fieldwork officers/moderators.
• References: At least three relevant references from previous clients for whom the agency has provided MERL services in the past three years.
• Compliance: Ability to comply with all legal, regulatory, and ethical standards in the countries where the services will be delivered.
• Financial Capacity: A stable financial position with the ability to handle multiple, simultaneous contracts.

Proposal Submission

Agencies interested in joining the roster should submit the following documents (15 pages max):

• Completed Roster pre-qualifying formplease complete this Google form as part of your full submission
• Overview: A brief note expressing interest and highlighting the agency’s qualifications.
• Agency Profile: An overview of the agency, including years in business, core competencies, and an outline of the agency’s experience in MERL.
• Team Composition: A list of key staff, their qualifications, and relevant experience.
• Past Performance: A list of relevant MERL projects completed in the last three years, including brief descriptions, outcomes, and client references.
• Approach and Methodology: A brief description of the agency’s approach to delivering MERL services, including your methodology, tools, and any innovative techniques used.
• Sample Work: A sample of a recent MERL report, evaluation, or research product (redacted as needed for confidentiality).
• Financial Proposal: A general pricing structure or rate card for MERL services, including any hourly or daily rates for staff.
  • The agency may also propose additional pricing options or modalities for consideration. We would welcome a discounted amount based on a frequent engagement with the agency.
  • All applicable taxes should be quoted separately.
  • If the financial proposal does not mention taxes, GE shall assume these are inclusive.

In their technical proposal, the bidder must demonstrate an understanding of the requirements described in the RFP and demonstrate how the bidder will meet the requirements of the evaluation criteria.

GE is not liable for any cost incurred during the award/contract preparation, submission, or negotiation of the award/contract. All submitted documentation and/or materials shall become and remain the property of GE.

The proposal’s VALIDITY shall be 90 days from the bid closure date.

Specific Instructions

• All agencies must first register using this Link. Then, send your proposal to the email provided below.
• Only pre-qualified agencies under this process will be invited to bid for the projects at a later stage.
• All agencies must be registered with the relevant tax authority
• Any false statement(s) by the Applicant will result in disqualification at any stage of the process.
• All applications shall be prepared in English. Information in any other language GE reserves the right for disqualification in case of non-compliance with the above requirement.
• The Applicants must respond to all questions on the link and send in their portfolio to provide complete and verifiable information with complete supporting data as advised in this document. Any failure to provide essential information or references may result in the disqualification of the Applicant.
• Clarifications (if required by GE) may be asked by email to suppliers@girleffect.org by the stated date on timelines.

Eligibility

Eligibility requirements to register on the GE Agency Database. The agency shall not be on any of the following:

• World Bank designation list: https://www.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/procurement/debarred-firms
• Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List maintained by the U.S. Treasury onhttps://sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov;
• Active exclusion on System for Award Management (SAM) (gov);
• Blacklisted by any government or multilateral banks such as the World Bank and African Development Bank;
• The Individual or Firm confirms that it has never been involved/convicted of fraud and/or corruption in its past dealings.

Expected Commitment

All prequalified consultants will be classified as preferred vendors and in the GE supplier roster for at least 2 years.

GE will sign an IDIQ/framework contract (Master Service Agreement) with successful agencies, and work will be assigned on an as-needed/ad-hoc basis.

Procurement Timeframe

• Request for proposals published: 25th February 2025
• Deadline for Questions/Clarifications: 3rd March 2025
• Deadline for responses from GE: 10th March 2025
• Proposal submission deadline: 18th March 2025

Selection Criteria

We aim to select a diverse and qualified pool of agencies for inclusion in our roster.
Within this pool, we will select multiple agencies for each country. Applicants are not required to apply for all countries to be considered, and we highly value local expertise.

Additionally, we are seeking agencies with proficiency in various methodologies. Applicants are not required to apply for all methodologies to be considered, as we are looking to select agencies with specialized skills across a range of approaches.

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance and quality of past experience
• Technical approach and methodology
• Qualifications and experience of key personnel
• Cost-effectiveness and value for money
• Demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality MERL services in a timely manner

In deciding the final selection of the agency, the technical quality of the proposal will be given a weighting of 75% based on the evaluation criteria. Only the financial proposal of those bidders who qualify technically will be opened. Only consultants who score 75% and above will be included in our pool of consultants/agency roster.

Questions/Clarifications

If you have any questions about this TOR, please email suppliers@girleffect.org by 3rd March 2025.

Ethics

• The successful agency must adhere to Girl Effect protocols and safeguarding measures during all stages of research. This will ensure all girls’ participation will be conducted safely and securely.
• Ethical approval must be submitted to the relevant ethical board to ensure the research takes place with the proper permissions.
• Consent must be obtained from girls with consent forms that clearly state that at any time, research participants are free to decide to leave the research should they feel a reason to do so.
• Care also should be taken by the successful agency to maintain the confidentiality of the information provided by the respondents during the community. Informed voluntary consent should be taken before starting from the community, and parent/caregiver consent should be obtained for a minor. If an individual refuses to participate, they should not be compelled to participate or demoralized by any means. These cases will be treated as no-response under this survey. The research team must all undergo safeguarding training per Girl Effect’s safeguarding procedures and sign the Girl Effect safeguarding policy.
• All data must be stored in password-protected electronic files and shared with Girl Effect via a secure file transfer protocol (FTP)

Tax

When developing their proposals, applicants are advised to ensure that they clearly understand their tax position regarding local jurisdiction tax legislation provisions.

Copyright

All materials/documents arising from this consultancy work shall remain the property of Girl Effect.

Disclaimer

GE reserves the right to determine the structure of the process, number of short-listed participants, the right to withdraw from the proposal process, the right to change this timetable at any time without notice and reserves the right to withdraw this tender at any time, without prior notice and without liability to compensate and/or reimburse any party. GE shall inform ONLY successful applicant(s). The process of negotiation and signing of the contract with the successful applicant(s) will follow.

Please note: We will evaluate only proposals submitted following the application process outlined in the RFP and using our specified email address (suppliers@girleffect.org).

Safeguarding

You may be required to undertake safeguarding checks. Shortlisted consultants will be assessed on our organisational values at the interview stage. The successful consultant will be expected to adhere to our safeguarding policy. We encourage you to read and understand our safeguarding policy, the executive summary of which can be found here. We have zero tolerance for violence against children, beneficiaries, and staff.

Equal Opportunities

Girl Effect Services is committed to equal opportunity regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity, or expression. We are proud to be an equal-opportunity workplace.

We are committed to building an increasingly representative organisation that works extensively with the communities we serve. To this end, due regard will be paid to procuring consultancy service organisations and individuals with diverse professional, academic and cultural backgrounds.