Strategic Impact Evaluation and Learning (SIEL) programme

Closed: the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) was seeking an implementation partner by 25 August 2023 to deliver impact evaluations, follow-up studies and capacity building activities.

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
4 July 2023
Last updated
15 August 2023 — See all updates
Funds:
Closed
Sector:
Agriculture, Climate change, Disabilities, Education, Empowerment and accountability, Environment, Girls and women, Health, Humanitarian emergencies/disasters, Livelihoods, Peace and access to justice, Private sector/business, Technology, Trade, Water and sanitation
Eligible organisations:
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), UK-based non-profit organisations, Companies, Educational institutions, Humanitarian relief organisations
Value of funding:
More than £1,000,000

This opportunity closed on 25 August 2023.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is looking to partner with a leading organisation in the field to deliver impact evaluations and follow-up studies on FCDO interventions, alongside capacity building for FCDO staff on impact evaluation.

Interested organisations should submit proposals between 4 July 2023 to 25 August 2023.

What the fund will achieve

The intended outcomes of this programme are:

  • a strengthened evidence base of ‘what works’ including in the long term
  • improved efficiency and effectiveness of programmes and policies at the global level in strategic priority areas for FCDO
  • FCDO staff equipped to deploy and exploit impact evaluation to maximise value for money

The implementation partner will need to demonstrate proven expertise to:

1. Deliver impact evaluations employing randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental methods. The supplier should offer either:

  • the full spectrum of activities: design, working with in-country partners and FCDO central office, data collection, analysis and writing of impact evaluations or
  • demonstrate strong abilities in one or more parts of this chain and the ability to contract out the remainder, providing FCDO with an end-to-end service

2. Enable course correction and adaptive learning in programmes.

3. Be agile and able to harness cutting edge expertise to support the application of innovative technologies and approaches at pace in response to FCDO’s requirements.

4. Increase uptake of impact evaluation evidence including through expertise in effective communication to non-technical audiences.

5. Manage and build effective networks to support delivery of the work.

6. Carry out follow-up studies, potentially including working with the organisation that originally conducted the impact evaluation.

7. Build capacity in government agencies related to impact evaluation.

8. Carry out effective project, programme and financial management, and reporting in accordance with FCDO’s requirements.

A partner or consortium will need to be able to demonstrate that they can develop and implement multiple impact evaluations across a broad thematic spectrum, working closely with FCDO policy teams and advisors. Other core capacities will include:

  • the ability to adapt to new priorities, areas and evidence, including scale down or up depending on demand, need and available budget

  • the ability to maintain:

    a. core technical team/consortium to deliver the objectives: to provide credible, world-leading expertise and collaborate with FCDO technical leads and programme management staff and senior responsible officers

    b. flexible pool on demand: to respond to FCDO’s rapid needs and changing priorities

    c. specialist functions: for strategic uptake and lessons sharing; and capacity building of FCDO staff

How to apply

Organisations should read the call for proposals, and email the completed call for proposals response form to Jonathan.Stern@fcdo.gov.uk and David.Currie@fcdo.gov.uk.

We have also published a commonly-asked questions document, responding to questions submitted during the call for proposals period: Frequently asked questions: Strategic Impact Evaluation and Learning programme.

Background information on the fund

The Strategic Impact Evaluation and Learning (SIEL) programme will maximise the return on FCDO’s investment in knowledge by evaluating in areas where evaluation budgets currently do not reach adequately. The programme will employ a centralised process to identify and address gaps in the global evidence base relevant to FCDO’s priorities.

The programme comprises 3 components:

  • robust impact evaluations selected through a centralised process led by the SIEL implementation partner in partnership with FCDO’s Evaluation Unit (60% of budget)

  • follow-up studies to assess long-run impact where previous studies have assessed outcomes at project close (15%)

  • capacity building in FCDO on commissioning, managing, interpreting and identifying opportunities for future impact evaluation (15%)

This call for proposals is to deliver all 3 programme components. These can be delivered together by the same organisation or by a consortium of partners (the implementation partner). The implementation partner may contract-out some of the work.

The call for proposals sets the scope of work, requirements and reporting procedures for the implementation partner.

Contacts

Published 4 July 2023
Last updated 15 August 2023 + show all updates

  1. Added frequently asked questions document.

  2. First published.

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