Rapid Response Grant Portfolio Review Consultant

Description

Freedom House is founded on the core conviction that freedom flourishes in democratic nations where governments are accountable to their people; the rule of law prevails; and freedoms of expression, association, and belief, as well as respect for the rights of women, minority communities, and historically marginalized groups, are guaranteed. We speak out against the main threats to democracy and empower citizens to exercise their fundamental rights through a unique combination of analysis, advocacy, and direct support to frontline defenders of freedom, especially those working in closed authoritarian societies.

Freedom House is seeking a qualified consultant to conduct a review of the Human Rights Support Mechanism’s (HRSM) small granting program. Freedom House is the prime implementer on the Human Rights Support Mechanism, a mechanism funded by the United States Agency for International Development to respond to complex, sensitive, and emerging human rights issues worldwide. As part of HRSM, some funds are set aside for a Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM), which is intended to “provide targeted, short-term assistance to local actors as they respond to urgent crises or limited windows of opportunity.”

Freedom House works with other members of the PROGRESS Consortium (Internews, Search for Common Ground, and the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative, as well as other resource partners) to administer these grants in every region in the world. The mechanism has funded 55 distinct rapid response grants in the past 6 years of implementation, ranging from supporting early warning systems to combatting xenophobia. USAID has already conducted a performance evaluation of the rapid response grants from a management perspective focused on the pre-competed nature of the grants. Therefore, this review will focus on the outcomes achieved by these grants and the factors that helped or hindered the achievement of the grant’s intended outcomes.

The review is designed to compare HRSMs small granting program with the Enabling and Protecting Civic Space INSPIRES project, which also has a rapid response mechanism funded by USAID to enable and protect civic space in similarly time-sensitive contexts. Internews is the prime implementer of the Consortium with six additional partners: The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL), DevLab@Duke, PartnersGlobal, Results for Development (R4D), CIVICUS, and ZINC Network.

A. Scope of Work

The selected consultant will lead an internal learning review with the HRSM management team and project staff to achieve the following goals:

– Identify key outcomes achieved from the rapid response grants

– Identify factors related to partnerships, grant structure, or context that hindered the achievement of the project’s objectives.

– Identify factors related to partnerships, grant structure, or context that helped make the project successful

– Compare the HRSM Rapid Response Mechanism with the INSPIRES consortium’s rapid response mechanism in helping and hindering factors, as well as some preliminary explanations for variation between the two mechanisms.

This review will cover a purposive sample of 35 rapid response grants, selected because of their low level of sensitivity, similarity with the INSPIRES mechanism, year of implementation, and ability to contact the implementing teams. For each rapid response grant, the consultant will have access to short biweekly reports, as well as the ability to conduct remote key informant interviews with the program team and local partners, if available, using an interview protocol designed by the INSPIRES project.

The consultant will develop a learning review report, covering the learning goals identified above along with any recommendations for future rapid response granting mechanisms. The consultant will also work with the HRSM management team to develop a public-facing short summary of the findings appropriate for a broad audience.

The consultant will report to the HRSM learning specialist, Deanna Kolberg-Shah.

The deliverables include:

1. Preliminary Work plan (3 days)

2. Schedule for primary data collection, written informed consent protocol, and data management procedures (3 days)

3. Draft learning review report and typed summary notes from primary data collection per project (30 days)

4. Semi-Final learning review report and presentation slide deck for the USAID HRSM and INSPIRES AORS, as well as HRSM and INSPIRES management staff (5 days)

5. Draft short summary article (2 days)

6. Final learning review with feedback from USAID incorporated (1 day)

7. Final short summary article (1 day)

The total number of days expected for this consultancy is 45.

B. Qualifications

Minimum qualifications

– Experience with qualitative research methods

– Demonstrated ability to create analytical reports that evaluate project effectiveness

– Strong planning and inter-cultural communication skills

– Experience working in an international setting

– Knowledge of human rights and global challenges to achieving rights

– Excellent English-language writing skills

– Fluency in English

Preferred qualifications

– Experience in or demonstrated knowledge of international human rights promotion

– Advanced degree (Master’s/PhD) in international development, public policy, organizational development, or a related field

C. Application Instructions

Applications must be complete and must be received by January 30th, 2023

Documentation required for application:

– Resume/CV

– Biodata Form

– Relevant 3-5 page writing sample

– A 1-page capability statement that provides a short description of applicant’s capabilities that qualify them to be chosen to conduct the scope of work and available dates to conduct the work detailed in the terms of reference.

– Proposed daily rate

D. Evaluation Criteria

Freedom House will evaluate applicants using the following criteria (out of 100):

– Past Performance: Experience conducting similar reviews, demonstrated experience conducting qualitative methods-based work (50)

– Writing quality: Quality of the writing sample in terms of clarity, conciseness, and demonstrated ability to write for a general audience (35)

– Daily Rate (10)

– Ability to deliver services (5)

Please note that hiring is contingent upon USAID approval of the consultant.