The Evidence Fund

Descriptions

This is a Prior Information Notice (PIN) only for Early Market Engagement (EME) for developing a programme. Publication and call for competition will be conducted at a later date subject to critical internal approvals. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is seeking to appoint a Supplier to oversee and manage The Evidence Fund, a single coordinated, research and evidence programme that delivers urgent, mid- and longer-term knowledge generation, synthesis, translation and engagement. The Evidence Fund brings together several programmes previously delivered across FCDO’s Research and Evidence Division (RED) into a single coordinated platform programme. The direct recipients of these evidence and knowledge services will be three FCDO Regional Research Hubs (for East Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa), and the Evaluation Unit, although during the contract duration there will be scope for this to expand where additional sources of demand emerge. The primary responsibility of the awarded supplier will be to manage delivery of the programme through procurement competitions for research and evaluation projects, conduct due diligence assessments on prospective sub-contracted Research Provider Pool organisations and programme manage research projects implemented by sub-contracted research organisations. The supplier will be required to deliver access to supply markets for high-quality research, evidence and evaluation products. To facilitate this, the supplier will develop, enhance and maintain a dynamic research provider pool, comprised of local and international research organisations, who can meet FCDOs’ research, evidence and evaluation needs. The supplier and its research provider pool will be required to deliver a deep understanding and knowledge of country and regional contexts, and a wide range of thematic expertise. FCDO requires that the research provider pool delivers a strong regional presence in East Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa. FCDO perceives that there is benefit to the quality of outputs that derives from local knowledge and expertise and so requires the supplier to deliver enhanced diversity of supply. The supplier will ensure that its research provider pool provides good access to local and regional supply markets and will promote equitable partnerships and strengthen the ability of local and regional research organisations to bid for and conduct FCDO research programmes. Encouraging the participation of small, niche suppliers — independently or in consortia — will be important. The supplier will also have responsibility for a number of cross-cutting activities in relation to the programme, including knowledge management and dissemination; monitoring and learning and establishing a technical assistance facility for additional administrative and programme management support to FCDO and wider-RED activities in East Africa, South Asia, and Middle East and North Africa (MENA).