RFP FY19 - 105

Consultancy: Embedding Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) into Innovation at Plan

Terms of Reference

1. Background and Rationale

1.1 Summary

Plan International is seeking a consultant to work with the Innovation and MERL teams on embedding MERL standards and processes into our innovation work. The consultant will be expected to adapt Plan International’s MERL approach and develop enabling tools that comply with Plan’s standards and policies, are an intrinsic part of all our innovation work, and are lean, cost efficient and effective.

The consultant will be qualified and experienced in Innovation, Human Centered Design research, lean data, MERL approaches and best practices – with a focus on gender, social and behaviour change, and digital.

2.2 Background and rationale for the consultancy

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected. Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 75 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

As a leader in the global movement for girls’ rights, our ambition is to take collective action so that 100 million girls learn, lead, decide and thrive. These ambitions require that we work in new ways and unleash our full creative potential. A year ago, Plan International built an Innovation Team, who have the expertise and skills to nurture creativity and help existing teams to develop innovations in the areas of programming, influencing, fundraising and operations. They provide hands-on support from the early stages of identifying a challenge statement through to the realisation of scalable impact for girls, through the application of “design thinking” methodologies.

Having completed our first year of Innovation at Plan International, we are seeking a consultant to support the team in embedding strong MERL practices into all our Innovation work.

2. Deliverables

Working closely with the Innovation and MERL teams, the consultant will develop and lead the testing of a Learning and Evaluation (L&E) approach and toolkit for Plan International’s Innovation projects and an Innovation Results Framework that are lean, cost efficient and effective.

Specific deliverables:

• Narrative of L&E approach for innovation that focuses not only on measuring outcomes but also supports the improvement of projects and ensures they remain aligned with user needs and Plan’s strategy. We want to know not just ‘does it work’ but ‘why does it work?’

• L&E framework for innovation projects across all stages (Idea, Prototype, Pilot)

• Innovation Results Framework, including dashboard to present results

• Toolkit: tracking tool for learnings and measurements, indicators, data collection methods and tools, resource requirements (including roles and responsibilities of project leads), supporting documents and any other necessary tools

3. Approach and methodology

3.1. Approach

Core Principles of the Innovation L&E approach:

• Human-centered: the people the project seeks to positively impact are at the centre of the L&E approach and related decision-making

• Lean and accessible to non-specialists

• Continuous learning: L&E is part of the DNA of every project, we learn and evolve fast

• Systematic: key metrics are consistent across all projects, as is the quality of L&E measurements.

  Key Metrics:

• Human Desirability

• Technical Feasibility

• Business Viability (operational & financial sustainability)

• Strategic Alignment

• Innovation Fund spend (i.e value for money and ROI)

• Success/Fail

  • Reach v. impact

  • How do we define impact?

  • Potential for impact at scale

• So What? (i.e what is the next step for this project?)

3.2. Methodology

The consultant’s methodology should include a desk-based review using all relevant existing documentation and best practice both within Plan International as well as from external sources. The analysis from the desk review should inform key insights and findings that are used for the development of specific deliverables.

Key internal documents include:

• MERL Approach

• MERL Policy

• MERL Standards

• MERL Process

• Programme and Influencing Quality Policy

• M&E frameworks for Plan International’s AOGDs

• Plan International’s Gender Transformative approach to programming, advocacy, and campaigning

• Innovation strategy and methods

• Innovation Fund’s criteria and process

• Plan International’s Digital Principles

• Plan’s current strategy, 100 Million Reasons

• Innovation Fund application process and project kick-off pack

4. Users, audience and activities

4.1 Users and audiences of the deliverables

Deliverables will be used by Plan International staff who have a stake in innovation projects, from Product Owners through to support staff. They will also be used by the Innovation team and Plan International leadership to assess the value offer of innovation projects individually, and the value offer of innovation as an approach to programming, influencing, fundraising and operations work and its impact in supporting the realisation of the organisation’s strategy.

4.2 Activities

The following activities are expected of the consultant:

• Onboarding and review of objectives and deliverables with Innovation and MERL team (1 day)

• Desk-based review of all relevant internal policies and standards (2 days)

• Desk-based research of internal and external best practice (3 days)

• Download and insights generation with stakeholders (3 days)

• Draft the narrative of the L&E approach for innovation, iterate it based on stakeholder input (7 days)

• Draft the L&E framework for innovation projects, iterate it based on stakeholder input (10 days)

• Draft Innovation results framework, iterate it based on stakeholder input (10 days)

• Develop indicators, iterate based on stakeholder input (15 days)

• Develop data collection tools incorporating human-centred design and innovation techniques (15 days)

• Develop tracking tool and dashboard for presenting results both at the project and innovation levels (5 days)

• Develop supporting documentation, including resource requirements, roles and responsibilities for project leads (10 days)

• Test approach, tools, and frameworks on innovation projects, and iterate (50 days)

• Write up final deliverables based on results of test and debrief Innovation and MERL teams (10 days)

The consultancy will span a maximum of 120 days over a period of 6 months between May and December 2019. This consultancy is based at Plan International’s Woking Global Hub, with flexibility to work remotely.

5. Timeline

The consultancy will be divided into three main phases:

1. Review all relevant internal documentation and best practice, and external best practice. Analyse and synthetise insights. Draft narrative of approach, seek feedback, iterate and finalise. (May-June 2019)

2. Develop an intervention logic and a results framework with indicators, tools, resource requirements and other supporting documentation. (June-August 2019)

3. Test deliverables on innovation projects, iterate and write up final deliverables (August-December 2019)

6. Standards and applicable policies

The consultant will be bound by all relevant Plan International policies and procedures. They will ensure that Plan International’s global policies for Child Protection (CPP) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) are fully embedded in their work and behaviour in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

Level of Contact with Children: The consultant is not expected to have any contact with children.

7. Selection criteria

Consultant should meet most of the following requirements:

Technical Expertise, Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Fluent in English (written, oral)

• Demonstrated experience in gender, behavioral and social norm change, and digital for social impact

• Demonstrated experience in Human Centered Design and understanding of innovation techniques

• Demonstrated in-depth understanding and experience in Monitoring and Evaluation using Lean Data approaches and techniques

• Experience in gender transformative programming or research

Desirable

• Experience working on Monitoring and Evaluation, Innovation, research, and/or programming in the Global South

• Experience working on children’s issues, especially girls’ rights

8. How to apply

Please submit the following documents

• A cover letter outlining how you meet the expected criteria, including relevant experience.

• CVs of the consultant(s) who will carry out the work.

• Two samples of previous work in Monitoring and Evaluation, Human Centred Research, or Innovation.

• A technical proposal, outlining details of their methodology and approach to this work in accordance to this TOR

• A financial proposal, with an estimation of days for the completion of all deliverables and day rate - please note that it is highly unlikely that day rates and costs will be able to be re-negotiated once the contract has been signed.

The payment is in installments monthly, and subject to Plan International’s approval of the consultant’s monthly invoice.

9. Evaluation of offers

Shortlisted applicants may be invited to discuss their proposals in more detail at Plan’s discretion. Plan International, at its sole discretion, will select the successful consultant. Plan international shall be free to:

• Accept the whole, or part only, of any submission

• Accept none of the proposals

• Republish this ToR

Plan International reserves the right to keep confidential the circumstances that have been considered for the selection of the offers.

Part of the evaluation process may include a presentation from the supplier.

Value for money is very important to Plan International, as every additional cost saving is money that we can use on our humanitarian and development work throughout the world.

Plan International may award multiple contracts and all contracts will be non-exclusive.

10. Management of the research and Plan contact name and details

The Innovation Project Lead for this project will manage this consultancy. In addition, the consultant will have a matrix reporting line to the MERL Officer. The consultant will work closely with both staff members as well as with the wider Innovation and MERL teams.

Qualified applicants are requested to submit their CV and supporting documents to procurement@plan-international.org by 31st May 2019. Only those who meet the requirements will be contacted.

For Full RFP details please email procurement@plan-international.org.

Please use ref: RFP FY19-105 MERL on all correspondence