Terms of Reference
Call for Research Consultant
July 5, 2024
Subject: Call for Research Consultant – Fortifying Policy Influence of Civic Actors in Nigeria
Background
The Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI) is implementing the X-Grant program for the Joinbodi Cohort which includes the following organizations: Women’s Rights Advancement & Protection Alternative (WRAPA); Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation; Agora Policy Foundation; Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC); Policy & Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC); Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI); BudgIT Foundation; African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD); Centre for Information Technology & Development (CITAD); Civil Society Legislative & Advocacy Centre (CISLAC); United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC); Connected Development Initiative (CODE); Community Life Project (CLP); HEDA Resource Centre; Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP); Social Action; Arewa Research & Development Project (ARDP); Neem Foundation; Joy Incredible Limited; Initiative for Research, Innovation, and Advocacy in Development; Brookings Institution’s Africa Growth Initiative; Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED); African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL); American University – School of International Service; Transparency and Accountability Initiative. The study exercise is part of activities of the X-Grant program supported by the MacArthur Foundation.
Since 2015, civil society and policy actors have collaborated to address issues and impact of corruption, impunity, and lack of accountability on access to and quality of public services, good governance and well-being of Nigerians. Civil society organizations within the joinbodi cohort have implemented several initiatives influencing policy practices to limit cost of corruption, improve data accessibility, enhance implementation of Administration of Criminal Justice Law and strengthen transparency and accountability in Nigeria.
Assessing the sustainability of policy changes influenced by Joinbodi cohort members through the On Nigeria program of the MacArthur Foundation is very crucial and linked to possibility of ensuring unbroken impact of program interventions and prevention of roll back of reforms and good policy practices. Also, it is imperative to identify and highlight policy recommendations proposed by cohort members over the last eight years requiring further advocacy for implementation by policy actors.
Objective
The objective of the assignment is to document policy changes and socio-economic benefits of the Joinbodi cohort interventions in Nigeria.
Scope of Work
The study to be conducted will comprehensively review specific problems identified by each cohort member, initial policy conditions, interventions implemented, post intervention policy change and socio-economic benefits of policy measures. The purpose and goal of the study is to provide knowledge resources that shares learnings and good practices for civil society organizations within and outside the Joinbodi cohort as well as policy actors to sustain, replicate and or surpass policy changes achieved in similar or other sectors.
Cohort members to be engaged in the study include Women’s Rights Advancement & Protection Alternative (WRAPA); Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation; Agora Policy Foundation; Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC); Policy & Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC); Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI); BudgIT Foundation; African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Center LSD); Centre for Information Technology & Development (CITAD); Civil Society Legislative & Advocacy Centre (CISLAC); United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC); Connected Development Initiative (CODE); Community Life Project (CLP); HEDA Resource Centre; Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP); Social Action; Arewa Research & Development Project (ARDP); Neem Foundation; Joy Incredible Limited; Initiative for Research, Innovation, and Advocacy in Development; Brookings Institution’s Africa Growth Initiative; Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED); African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL); American University – School of International Service; Transparency and Accountability Initiative.
Also, the research consultant is expected to engage relevant policy actors to validate policy changes achieved as a result of cohort member’s intervention.
Timeline and Duration of Assignment
The Consultant has a period of 8 weeks from July 8 – August 30, 2024 to deliver on the assignment.
Deliverables for the Consultancy
- Produce robust qualitative research framework to guide the delivery of the study exercise.
- Execute extensive interviews with members of the Joinbodi Cohort and relevant state/policy actors to identify and understand interventions implemented through the On-Nigeria program.
- Examine efforts of members of the Joinbodi cohort in catalyzing policy/practice changes through activities executed via the On-Nigeria program.
- Assess and document the role and contribution of relevant state/policy actors leading to the policy/practice changes.
- Produce a comprehensive research report detailing the following:
- key policy/practice changes that occurred because of interventions initiated by Joinbodi cohort members through the On-Nigeria program.
- Socio-economic benefits of policy/practice changes for citizens.
- Status of policy/practice changes that occurred because of interventions initiated by Joinbodi cohort members through the On-Nigeria program.
- Medium and long-term sustainability potential of these policy/practice changes and identify factors that may support or impede sustainability of these policy/practice changes.
- Policy recommendations proposed by Joinbodi Cohort members through their interventions over the last eight years requiring further advocacy for implementation by policy actors.
- Action points for policy and civil society actors to effectively sustain policy/practice changes and implement outstanding policy recommendations proposed by Joinbodi Cohort members.
- Present key findings from the research report at a policy dialogue.
Implementation Framework and Timeline
The consultant is expected to submit the framework (including specific timeline) for implementing the assignment alongside other requested documents in the expression of interest.
Expertise required for the Consultancy
The consultants shall have the following:
- Must possess a minimum of Ph.D in social science or related field
- Must have a minimum of fifteen years of proven experience in undertaking public-interest research- bothering on public policy, governance accountability, policy implementation, and stakeholders’ engagements on important national reforms.
- Must have significant knowledge of Nigeria’s key accountability and anti-corruption reforms, policies and practices.
- Must be familiar with the work of civil society organizations in Nigeria working towards advancing fiscal transparency, procurement, asset recovery, anti-corruption, gender justice, social inclusion, judicial transparency, freedom of information access etc
- Detail-oriented; demonstrated ability to multi-task and meet client deadlines.
The Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI) will enter into a contract with the consultant to signal the commencement of the work which will be terminated upon completion of the assignment based on a stated timeline.
Terms and Conditions
The Consultant is expected to adhere to the specified deadline and submit his/her comprehensive study report at the end of the term as identified with the scope of work provided above.
The principal contact for this assignment is the Executive Director of Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI).
Submission of Expression of Interest
The application should contain the following:
- Letter of confirmation of interest and availability indicating why s/he is the best candidate for the job.
- Proposed methodology
- Personal CV/Resume
- Submission of previous work done in related field
- Financial proposal with a breakdown of service fee and other cost that are expected to be incurred
- Implementation framework and timeline
Deadline for Submission
Applications must be submitted electronically to: info@plsinitiative.org no later than Friday July 5, 2024. Kindly note that ONLY shortlisted candidates will be contacted after the deadline.
