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August 14, 2009
Request for Proposals: Evaluation of GAVI Independent Review Committees (IRCs), GAVI Alliance
Deadline for submission of proposals: 14 August 2009
Request for
proposal number: RFP-EVIRC060709
Purpose of the evaluation
This Evaluation is being commissioned by the GAVI Alliance Secretariat at the request of the Programme & Policy Committee and as recommended by the GAVI Phase 1 Evaluation. The objective of this Evaluation is to assess the appropriateness and robustness of the design, execution and decisions of the Independent Review Committees (IRCs). The learning from this evaluation will lead to possible changes to the business model as well as the joint programming for health systems strengthening being explored by GAVI, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the World Bank and the World Health Organization.
Background and context for this consultancy
The GAVI Alliance was launched in 2000 to increase immunization coverage and reverse widening global disparities in access to vaccines. Governments in donor and developing countries, UNICEF, WHO, the World Bank, non-governmental organizations, foundations, vaccine manufacturers, and public health and research institutions work together as partners in the Alliance to achieve common immunization goals, in recognition that only through a strong and united effort can higher levels of support for global immunization be generated.
The GAVI Alliance mission is to save children’s lives and protect people’s health by increasing access to immunization in poor countries. The GAVI Alliance Strategy positions GAVI’s work within the broader context of child survival and the Millennium Development Goals. The Alliance also makes a major contribution to meeting global goals outlined in the WHO/UNICEF Global Immunization Vision and Strategy (GIVS) by supporting immunization programmes and health systems in the world’s poorest countries.
Since its launch in 2000, the GAVI Alliance has engaged in an innovative grant proposal process in which an IRC reviews country proposals (i.e., proposal IRC) and makes recommendations to the GAVI Board on whether they should be approved. A second type of IRC reviews country Annual Progress Reports (i.e., monitoring IRC) and makes recommendations to the board on the continuation of GAVI support and the approval or rejection of performance rewards to countries. Please consult the GAVI website http://www.gavialliance.org and the GAVI Alliance Handbook http://www.gavialliance.org/resources/Handbook_in_English.pdf for a description of application and monitoring procedures at GAVI, including the roles of the proposal and monitoring IRCs.
Evaluation scope
This Evaluation will assess the rigor, independence, robustness, and adequacy of the IRC review process implemented since 2006, examining both the proposal and monitoring IRCs. The Evaluation will review the extent to which the design of the IRC process is fit for purpose, as well as the performance of the IRC against its terms of reference. The evaluation will cover the whole process starting from country submission of proposals (in the case of the proposal IRC) or Annual Progress Reports (in the case of the monitoring IRC) to the final IRC recommendations to the Board, including the selection of IRC members by the Secretariat. The study should include an assessment of the support that the Secretariat provides to the IRC and the pre-review process conducted by partners (WHO/UNICEF). In reviewing the process beginning with when applications are submitted to GAVI, the evaluation should build upon and make reference to earlier work that examined technical assistance to countries and preparation of applications.
Evaluation questions
The main questions to be answered by the Evaluation are as follows:
Design:
* To what extent are the design of the IRC and related
processes (e.g., terms of reference, composition, role of Secretariat
and partners, processes for reaching decisions) fit for purpose?
Execution:
* To what extent have the management of the IRC by
the Secretariat and the conduct of the pre-assessment by WHO and UNICEF
been appropriate and effective?
* To what extent has the IRC
appropriately executed its internal work processes in reaching
decisions?
Results:
* To what extent have IRC decisions
regarding country applications and Annual Progress Reports and
recommendations regarding policies been robust, independent, appropriate
and well justified?
Methodology
Firms bidding on the Evaluation are strongly encouraged to propose innovative methodological approaches in response to the evaluation questions. The study should draw extensively on existing documentation (e.g., McKinsey report on technical assistance, the ISS evaluation, the HSS tracking study and the HSS evaluation). The firm selected to conduct the evaluation should attend a sample of sessions at the IRC meetings to be convened at the GAVI Secretariat in September and October.
To ensure credibility, the Evaluation should be conducted in accordance with the following principles:
a. Independence and impartiality
b. Involvement of stakeholders
c. Transparency
d. Reference to international norms and
definitions such as the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC)
principles
Awards and evaluation criteria
The Evaluation Team may comprise an organisation or consortium of both public and private entities to cover the range of competencies required. Applications from institutions based in developing countries are strongly encouraged.
Collectively, the Evaluation team should demonstrate experience and competencies in qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods, including rigorous process evaluation, and familiarity with proposal review and monitoring processes in other global health partnerships and initiatives.
Proposal requirements
Following the issuance of the RFP, all interested contractors are invited to submit a proposal which describes:
- the evaluation framework
- a detailed description of the evaluation methodology
- detailed work plan, budget and timeline
- personnel, person-months and costs for each stage of work
- team’s experiences dealing with evaluation studies
- team composition with full CVs and break-down of the tasks assigned to each member
- statement of potential conflict of interest
Expected deliverables
- During implementation, the Evaluation team will provide monthly progress reports
- Draft report:
- To be delivered by 7 December 2009
- Final report:
- To be delivered by 18 January 2010
- Incorporating comments on the Draft Report
- PowerPoint presentation of the study
- Short summary report for public dissemination
The final report should include but not be limited to:
- A mapping of the entire process from submission of proposals to review of performance and release of monies under different windows of support at GAVI, including the role of the proposal and monitoring IRCs, audit and finance, and executive committees of the Board
- Assessment of the extent to which the design of the proposal and monitoring IRCs and related processes are fit for purpose
- Assessment of the extent to which the management of the IRC by the Secretariat and the conduct of the pre-assessment by WHO and UNICEF have been appropriate and effective
- Assessment of the extent to which the IRC has appropriately executed its internal work processes in reaching decisions
- Assessment of the extent to which IRC decisions regarding country applications and Annual Progress Reports and recommendations regarding policies have been robust, independent, appropriate and well justified
- Lessons learned from the IRC experience and recommendations
Timeline
Note: All ‘Event Dates’ shall be executed by 5PM CET.
- RFP issued 6 July 2009
- Submission of clarification questions 22 July 2009
- GAVI response to questions 28 July 2009
- Submission of proposals 14 August 2009
- Selection of the winning contractor 4 September 2009
- Monthly report Last Day of Each Month
- Submission of draft report 7 December 2009
- Submission of final report 18 January 2010
For more detailed information please follow the link to the full RFP.
Director of Research
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts, US
The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) seeks a Director Of Research. This position leads the multi-disciplinary research staff of 13 with advanced degrees in economics, public policy, statistics and law. The Director of Research is a member of the WCRI leadership team, serves as chief quality officer, chief scientist, and recruiter and mentor of the research staff. The person hired will also collaborate with WCRI program managers to develop the annual research agenda, evaluating the technical feasibility of proposed projects and projecting the resources required for project completion. The Director of Research leads research projects and assists in dissemination of WCRI findings to public officials and the public.
Education:
PhD in Economics, Statistics, Health Policy or Public Policy with very strong technical training and experience.
Applicants should have 8-15 years experience conducting relevant public policy research and leading research projects or programs within a research institution or university; deep experience applying standard and innovative research techniques to challenging public policy problems e.g., methods for selection correction or medical decision models; and experience recruiting/developing researchers. Experience with labor and/or health policy issues desirable.
WCRI is recognized worldwide as the leading public policy research organization on workers’ compensation issues,important public programs that provide heath care and income benefits to injured workers. Each year, nearly 10 percent of employed workers sustain such injuries, and the costs to employers total about $60 billion. WCRI conducts and publishes peer-reviewed studies, benchmarks system performance, analyzes trends and the impacts of reforms, and examines a wide range of labor economics and health policy issues, such as area variations in medical practice patterns, healthcare reimbursement, patient outcomes assessment, and public program evaluation. The studies, regularly used by public officials and diverse system stakeholders to improve their systems, meet high standards of publishable journal articles, while providing practical, actionable research findings. WCRI does not take positions on issues nor make recommendations.
WCRI offers competitive salary and benefits. Submit applications to Personnel, WCRI, 955 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA, 02139, or personnel@wcrinet.org. Please submit a cover letter, vita, and research paper. Equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.