Background

• USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (USAID/OTI) Ethiopia Support Program (ESP) aims to deliver fast and adaptable support that helps the Government of Ethiopia and civil society advance democratic reforms and enhance citizen engagement in the governance processes. Dexis Consulting Group (Dexis) is USAID/OTI’s implementing partner in providing this assistance through ESP. Dexis Consulting Group (Dexis) is USAID/OTI’s implementing partner in providing this assistance.
• To support the advancement of democracy in Ethiopia, ESP is engaged in various election related activities, many of which aim to support the participation of women in the upcoming national election. The team is seeking a vendor to provide an assessment of perceptions surrounding women voters in the election in Addis Ababa, Amhara, and Oromia to help shape program strategy and to share with and inform other organizations working in the same space ahead of the upcoming June 2021 General Elections.

Scope of Work

• The vendor will conduct exploratory research and draft an approximately seven-to-ten-page analysis report, focused perceptions of women voters in the upcoming election. The document will help ESP better support the participation of women voters in the elections through identifying the main hindrances and potential areas of intervention.
• The vendor will first conduct a desk review to learn about the program, create a one- page exploratory research plan, and develop a simple data collection tool (or tools if needed). The vendor will then collect data, with the support of two research assistants working on the ground in each area of interest, through series of Key Informant Interview (KII), aimed at defining the complex multilayered issues, political landscape and challenges that women encounter in relation to their political rights, as well as what steps ESP can take to support women’s participation in the upcoming election. The final report deliverable will include 1) an assessment of the participation of women voters in the upcoming election; 2) key issues affecting women voters in election; and 3) potential areas for intervention, in line with ESP’s program objectives.

Tasks & Responsibilities:

• The vendor is expected to collaborate closely with the Senior Research and Partnership Advisor from the Dexis team for the duration of the assignment. It is important to keep the tasks below focused on what is most relevant to the USAID/OTI Ethiopia Support Program.
• Develop a program- specific knowledge base. The vendor will spend the first two days of the assignment conducting a desk review based on documents provided by Dexis to better understand ESP, with a special focus on its objectives and strategic goals, and possible/preferred areas of intervention. The vendor will also participate in a kickoff call with the ESP team to discuss the scope. By the end of this process, the vendor will accumulate the knowledge required to develop a contextual analysis that is relevant to the program’s specific needs. It is critical to first understand the program before doing analysis.
• Develop a one- page research plan summary/ methodology for feedback: The structure will be agreed between Dexis and the vendor but will at a minimum cover specific research questions and include the data collection tool(s) as an annex.
•  Develop a list of Key informant interview (KII) candidates. The vendor will draw upon her/his own networks to create a list of possible KIIs, which will be shared with ESP for feedback and additional suggestions. The aim here should be to get as many women participants as possible from the area where they will be collecting data. To understand everyday women’s perception on the election, the vendor may be required to prepare questionnaire and undertake surveys. KIIs will be a combination of high- level conversations and community- level conversations in locations of interest. Respondents can include government officials, political leaders, community leaders, women association leaders, civil society organizations, women political party leaders/members and everyday women. A diverse pool of women should be represented (i.e., minorities, religious, ethnic, and political affiliation). There should be enough information about each KII on the list to demonstrate that a range of perspectives is being covered and diversity is being achieved.
• Conduct KIIs and gather qualitative/perceptions data. In collaboration with ESP, develop a list of questions that can guide interviews once a list of interviewees is agreed upon. Aim for 35 KIIs and sample of 120-200 survey respondents? A mix of in-person and remote interviewing techniques is permitted. In- person interviews will be conducted in accordance with local government public regulations aimed at mitigating the spread of COVID-19.
• Assessment report.  Develop a seven-to-ten-page report, that includes a section summarizing key findings in bullet points. The illustrative timeline and questions below will be finalized as a collaboration between the vendor and ESP. We understand that time constraints will not permit a fully comprehensive analysis, but major elements/ trends/ actors should be covered.
• Preliminary Research Questions: What key contemporary political dynamics are shaping women’s role as voters? How do women understand the election and their role as voters in the upcoming election? Do women think their participation in the election important? What factors determine if/how women’s vote? would having a clear gender policy a determinant to their vote? What are women’s take on the different political parties and their candidates? What are women’s take on women candidates? Do women candidates affect their vote either positively or negatively?

Deliverables:

• Kick-off call with OTI/Dexis team.
• Conduct a desk review and interview three to six ESP team members.
• Develop a one-page research plan summary/methodology for feedback.
• Submit a list of potential KII candidates for feedback as an annex to the research plan.
• Conduct a minimum of 35 KIIs for each area of interest.
• Gather perceptions-based data from a sample of 120- 200 people.
• Submit interview notes (transcriptions) from each KII.
• Draft 5 to 7- page Women’s Perception on election assessment report. 

Timeline: April 2021 to May 2021

Job Requirements

Selection Criteria: 

• Experience in doing similar surveys.
• Experience working on gender issues.
• Extensive existing infrastructure to collect large number of surveys in a conflict sensitive way.
• COVID-19 protocols that are in compliance with GOE.
• They should be legally registered and shall present renewed consultancy license
• They should have VAT and TIN registration certificate
• They should be able to provide organizational profile and the CVs of individuals who are going to take part in this consultancy service;

If you are passionate about this opportunity, apply now!

How to Apply

Interested applicant should submit their technical and financial proposals separately in one folder by the name of the company or individual who apply for the assignment through the following email address sasaminew@dexisonline.com and copy to fbirru@dexisonline.com and malemayehu@dexisonline.com on Saturday April 3,2021 from 11:00 Am to 11:30 Am. Those who are not applied on time will be disqualified.

Only those applicants who meet the above criteria will be contacted for interview.

Dexis is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, pregnancy, disability, age, genetic information, military service, veteran status, ethnicity, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, childbirth and related medical conditions, including lactation, or any other protected class under applicable law.

Dexis is not obligated to make an award based on this solicitation.