The Aguirre Division of JBS International is soliciting a RFP for a desktop analytical study for USAID on the impact of the economic downturn on the social systems and vulnerable population in the countries of Europe and Eurasia (E&E).
The goal of this study is to present a detailed analysis of the impact of the global fiscal crisis on vulnerable groups in the E&E region, and to document the extent to which individuals in the region have been made newly vulnerable (e.g. orphans and street children, child and adult victims of human trafficking, people with disabilities, those living below the poverty line, the unemployed, and the elderly).
The report should be generally applicable to the E&E region. However, USAID is especially interested in the countries in which the Agency maintains a presence, including: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, Georgia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Russia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Ukraine.
The deadline for proposal submission is Friday, November 13, 2009. Please submit to rtsanov@jbsinternat ional.com
Please contact me via email with any questions.
Thank you!
Rossen Tsanov
Aguirre Division of JBS International, Inc.
5515 Security Lane, Suite 800
North Bethesda, MD 20852
+1 (240) 645-4826
rtsanov@jbsinternat ional.com
Request for Proposals for Consultant Services
Report on “Effects of the Fiscal Crisis on Vulnerable Groups in the E&E Region”
October 2009
A. Introduction
The Aguirre Division of JBS International submits the following request for proposals (RFP) in order to obtain the services of a consultant qualified to produce a study entitled “Effects of the Fiscal Crisis on Vulnerable Groups in the E&E Region.”
Purpose of the Study
The goal of this study is to present a detailed analysis of the impact of the global fiscal crisis on vulnerable groups in the E&E region, and to document the extent to which individuals in the region have been made newly vulnerable. The analysis will rely on both quantitative data and qualitative data to examine the impact of the crisis on the following vulnerable groups (at a minimum): at-risk children (including orphans and street children), child and adult victims of human trafficking, people with disabilities, those living below the poverty line, the unemployed, and the elderly. As much as is feasible, the analysis will: document increases or decreases in the number of vulnerable people in these groups, articulate mechanisms via which the fiscal crisis has impacted these individuals and increased the number who can be
considered vulnerable, and make recommendations as to how programs may be designed or modified so as to best address and combat increases in any of these categories of vulnerability.
This activity is expected to stimulate timely and critical dialogue and to provide concrete resources and technical information that are necessary to develop strong programs that address the needs of these vulnerable individuals and measurably improve their lives.
Target audience(s)
The primary target audience for this activity is USAID Mission and USAID/Washington personnel and their implementers. Other audiences for this activity would comprise anyone with an interest in programmatic responses to the impacts of the fiscal crisis on vulnerable groups, including other USAID bureaus or operating units, U.S. Dept of State and other USG Agencies, NGOs that work n the region, other donors, and the
Program Office in the E&E Bureau.
B. Qualifications of the Consultant(s)
The consultant or consultants should be well-acquainted with the impacts of the fiscal crisis and should have in-depth knowledge of the practical tools and resources that are available to flesh out a fully articulated picture of how the crisis is impacting vulnerable groups. The consultants( s) will also have in-depth knowledge of the E&E region and will be familiar with how to gather data from governments and other sources in the field. Consultants must have familiarity with quantitative datasets and indicators, experience building and maintaining a dataset, understanding of economic or financial indicators, and experience analyzing and evaluating trends. Since there is no field work in conjunction with the report, the selected consultants should be familiar with and skilled at correctly and responsibly utilizing opinion surveys, and intermediary reports (from think tanks, NGOs, etc). He or she would also ideally have contacts at other donor or NGO organizations that work on issues related to the current activity that may assist in locating and gathering information and possibly, with translation. Facility with the Russian language would also be a plus.
Qualified candidates will have excellent writing skills and will be able to produce a professional document that does not need extensive editing and that is capable of communicating with both technical/specialis t and non-specialist audiences. Consultant(s) will also be able to craft a document that applies a theoretical understanding of how the fiscal crisis is impacting vulnerable groups in E&E to the generation of practical “how to” steps for Missions that need concrete action recommendations and resources to assist in program design and revision.
A report that does not provide concrete and practical applications of this type will not be viewed as useful or as fulfilling these technical directions. In this light, it would be best if at least one consultant is familiar with the types and nature of typical USAID programming in the region.
C. Description of Primary Duties
The primary duty of the consultant(s) is to produce a written Report that achieves the goals outlined in Section A above and that addresses the specific points outlined in D below.
The report should be generally applicable to the E&E region. However, USAID is especially interested in the countries in which the Agency maintains a presence, including: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, Georgia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Russia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Ukraine.
There is no field work authorized in conjunction with producing the required report. Consultants are expected to obtain information via access to data sets, publications and other printed materials, phone calls, emails, and the internet. It is expected that in writing the report, the consultant(s) will rely on and utilize professional journals and publications as applicable. If possible, the consultant(s) should strive to gain access to qualitative and quantitative reports from the region; because these may not be in English, it will be helpful if the consultant(s) have contacts in the region that can help with translation.
D. Description of Specific Duties
The required report should provide the following information, at a minimum. The consultant(s) may wish to add other information that they view as being relevant and important.
An overview of the impacts of the crisis on the region, with a special focus on the impacts on people. This overview should describe regional impacts but if some countries have been hit disproportionately hard, this should be noted. Annexes with data may be used to illustrate differential impacts across countries. If applicable, this section of the Report could also include a discussion of perceived versus real impacts.
A detailed discussion of each of the following vulnerable groups: at-risk children (including orphans and street children), child and adult victims of human trafficking, people with disabilities, those living below the poverty line, the unemployed, and the elderly. This discussion should highlight what is known about the impact of the fiscal crisis on the size and status of each group, based on qualitative and quantitative data and should describe the major pathways or mechanisms by which the group has been or is being impacted. As much as possible,
the conclusions that are drawn in these discussions should be based on data, but news reports, journal articles, etc. may also be utilized.
A discussion of any possible long-term impacts on human and social capital in the region.
Consideration of whether women or men in the region should be classified as a vulnerable group in the context of the fiscal crisis. If an analysis of the available data suggests that gender is linked with vulnerability, a section presenting the results of a gender analysis of the crisis should be included in the Report.
Alternatively, gender issues could be addressed in a sub-section of the portion of the paper that addresses each of the vulnerable groups listed in the bullet above.
Concrete and practical recommendations as to how Missions can design or revise ongoing programming so as to address the issues that are uncovered by the Report. These recommendations should include general advice as to the vulnerable groups Missions should attend to most, the types of Mission programming that should be especially attuned to addressing
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