Request for proposals: Human Centered Design to build Girl Networks & Girl Champions
September 2021
Who We Are
Girl Effect is an international non-profit that supports girls through adolescence, empowering them to make positive choices and reach their full potential. Founded by the Nike Foundation in 2004, Girl Effect is now an independent organisation working from nine global locations and active in over 50 countries.
Driven by in-depth insights and innovative behaviour-change techniques, Girl Effect creates media brands to deliver multi-platform content that is entertaining, informative and relevant to their everyday lives. Where possible, Girl Effect uses digital technology to reach girls at scale and works with partners to drive demand for and link to services.
Our work is supported and funded by many people and organisations, from governments and philanthropists to NGOs and corporates.
Context:
Girl Effect’s white paper identifies Girl Networks and Girl Champions as a core component of our Theory of Change (TOC). How might networks of girls through facilitated interaction and engagement with GE content deepen the impact of our content in shifting drivers – and, ultimately, behaviours.
Girl Effect is in the early stages of designing our global Girl Networks and Girl Champion model: key learning questions, the change we want to create, our design parameters and potential partnership opportunities.
Tujibebe, (TJ) GE’s youth brand in Tanzania, has been identified as an ideal testbed to pilot an approach that builds on existing best practices and learnings, whilst meeting new organisational ambitions.
Objective:
To address GE’s TOC learning objectives and contribute to Tujibebe’s behavioral outcomes, speaking about sex, body curiosities, and concerns with peers, GE is seeking a Human Centered Design (HCD) partner to build and test the tools, systems, and prototypes that equip Girl Champions, Girl Networks and partners to convene and facilitate discussions amongst girls engaging with Tujibebe content. We believe that leveraging technology will serve an essential role in equipping Girl Champions in training and performing specific duties to support networks in their communities.
The goal is to design and pilot a Girl Networks model that enables us to reach girls with less access to media or digital channels and accelerate and deepen change by guiding conversations around our content. The model will reinforce key messaging from the Tujibebe radio drama and, where appropriate, signpost to services.
In addition to contributing to Tujibebe outcomes, part of this work will include building for scale and replication, ensuring the outputs and learnings of Tanzania pilots are captured and packaged for ease of use and replication by other brands and future brands. The design of the model will need to balance Tanzania needs with the needs across our other markets. Can the work in Tanzania be replicated or easily adapted for different contexts and geos. What is the global girl champion/girl network toolkit?
Why Tanzania
Girl Networks aim to reach girls with limited or no digital access, who are likely to be a large proportion of our target audience in Tanzania and many other African countries in short to medium term.
From a measurement point of view, there is an opportunity to demonstrate the added value of networks in addition to other Tujibebe products vs the change delivered by networks alone. Media is often distributed at a community level and not national broadcast, so demonstrating the impact of exposed and unexposed groups is possible.
There is a robust network of girl practitioners and live partnerships conversations:
Girl Guides: Are keen to work with Girl Effect and leverage their extensive network of girl champions.
MSI and PSI have club networks in overlapping locations, and we have existing relationships with them globally and in-country.
Key Learning questions:
There are many assumptions, risks, barriers as well as opportunities we see in this program, and we are keen to answer some key learning questions such as, but not limited to:
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- Can Girl Networks accelerate and deepen change and reach girls with less digital access?
- Is there a role for technology to play in equipping girl champions/facilitators in convening girls together, e.g. training app, WhatsApp groups etc. (see our TEGA program)
- Is there a correlation between attendance (measured both by frequency and duration) and impact?
- How do we measure and attribute impact to GE when delivering via a partnership/existing network.
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- Can we Co-design/create our approach with young people?
- Do partners need the tools, products, and/or content that GE would build?
- How involved do partners want to be in co-creating experiences and products?
- What are the incentives or motivations for a partner to participate? Are there benefits for partners to participate? Are there risks?
- How much can we align to GE’s SBC goals vs bending to fit partner goals?
- Understand the role of Girl Networks in facilitating girls’ uptake of supply-side partner services. E.g. to what extent can we promote service uptake through networks? Will we need to identify additional local supply-side partners and accessible by girls in locations where we will run girl networks?
- Where does our duty of care end when working with partners?
Scope:
- Working closely with GE’s Head of Product/Create and the Tujibebe team, develop an approach and plan with outlined phases to build a girls network/girl champion product(s) and pilot in TZ.
- Conduct desk research and stakeholder interviews to ensure we build upon lessons learned within GE and the wider sector.
- Conduct design research to get grounded in girls’ experiences in existing networks connecting with partners, teams, and potential girl champions on the ground.
- Bring ideas to life through prototypes- building, testing and iterating in real-time with girls to learn what girls and Girl Champions need to connect to each other and with Tujibebe. Define the role that technology can play within this solution
- Pilot a finalised prototype of the solution that holistically reflects the complex needs of stakeholders and users from a desirability, sustainability and viability standpoint.
- Working with our monitor and evaluation team, evaluate the pilot and convene a team at crucial moments during and after to understand what worked, what didn’t, understand pain points, and evaluate the programme’s sustainability to inform iteration or optimisation of the model.
- Package final optimized model into a presentation and toolkit for teams and brands to adopt.
- Taking the learnings from Tanzania, and as soon as they are relevant, begin to work with the team in other geos, to validate or test the replicability of the prototype(s)
- Coordinate across all stakeholders, ensuring expertise, partners and subject matter specialists are involved at key moments throughout the program.
- Leverage the existing evidence and insights, partnerships, creative production, and technology resources within GE.
Intended Timeframe:
- Terms of reference published: Thursday 16th September
- Deadline for responses: Tuesday 5th October
- Supplier selection, contracting and briefing: Mid October
- Project commencement: End October
Timelines:
GE is eager to move quickly in hiring and hopes the hired consultant will act with equal urgency. This consultancy will include 365 days full working days level of effort (LOE) and is expected to be complete by September 30th, 2022.
Table 1: Tentative timeline (Tentative – to be refined and agreed upon with the selected agency)
- Agency Onboarding and kickoff: October
- Foundational Research: November
- Design Research: December
- Prototyping: January, February, March
- Pilot: March, April, May, June
- Monitoring and Evaluation: March, April, May, June, July
- Packaging/Tool Kitting: July, August
- Replicate/Validate: August, September
Deliverables:
- Preliminary discussions with GE, and other relevant stakeholders (to be identified with the support of GET) to ensure a mutual understanding of HCD and its applicability in girl networks and girl champions.
- Project Management: Managing the development and implementation of contractual requirements, developing and implementation of the project according to agreements, proposals reflecting, project requirements, reports reflecting work proposals, provision of leadership to project team, identifying, planning and managing project resources and progress reports
- Design Research: User-centred qualitative research, use of appropriate design probes and facilitation of research activities.
- Human-centred Design Facilitation and training: Remote or on-site training or facilitation services and material for workshops; participation in meetings, missions and knowledge-sharing events.
- The on-site pilot of approved prototype solutions
- Evaluation of prototype solutions, including effectiveness and fidelity
- Plan for full implementation, including proposed materials, budget, communications, and timelines required to achieve the desired future state.
- Develop and submit a digital and visual report on the HCD engagement process.
- Develop and submit a final draft narrative report, including design/solution proposals from engagement sessions.
- Present the lessons learned and recommendations (suggested format: PowerPoint) to GE, and relevant partners and discuss possible opportunities for HCD in planning and co-creation processes.
Who You Are:
You are:
- Proven experience in using HCD and facilitating girls engagement sessions.
- Familiar with or experienced in working in Tanzania
- Proven engagement with local institutions and youth (girls) structures.
- Excellent knowledge of social innovation and techniques
- Previous experience in consulting for an International Organization in the field of social innovation.
- Experience leading human-centered design, or stakeholder-driven, iterative design processes.
- Experience leading the design or re-design of public/girl-facing technology platforms
Proposal submissions:
Girl Effect is asking for qualified firms to submit proposals (5-10 pages) addressing the above scope and timeline that includes the following:
- Provide a list of previous experience in human-centered design projects that demonstrate the firm/individual’s ability in implementing similar projects, including a list of the individual(s) who worked on the project.
- Credentials experience, or bios of key individuals who would be involved in the engagement. (Account management structure and key personnel profiles)
- Intended approaches (methodology) to delivering on the scope of the work.
- Suggested deliverables and accompanying timelines. Proposed work plan
- Details of 3 contactable references
- Risks and mitigating measures (with risks related to ethical issues spelt out)
- Cost estimates (including a breakdown of daily rates). Technical and Financial proposals will need to be submitted as separate documents. Financial bids will not be opened until the technical evaluation and then only for those proposals deemed qualified and responsive.
Reporting
This engagement will be managed by a member of Girl Effect’s global Programmes team, who will work with the successful supplier to ensure its timely and thorough execution.
Evaluation Criteria
The criteria against which proposals will be evaluated are listed below:
Technical Evaluation Stage 1 – Desk Review
- Scope of proposed methodology including working tools /models/ techniques/approaches/ principles to be applied for (i) Human Centred Design concept (ii) facilitation technique (This should be consistent with the tasks detailed in the TOR)-15
- Evidence of experience, ability to provide high calibre deliverables and complete assigned projects promptly. 10
- Staff with relevant experience as demonstrated by their CV/bios – 10
- Evidence/experience working in Tanzania (East Africa) on Human Centred Design on areas related to the scope of the programme-5
- Evidence of a minimum of three contactable references -5
- Diversity and samples of relevant work-5
Technical Evaluation Stage 2 – Pitch/Demo/Presentation (Please note only shortlisted technical proposals that attain a minimum score of 70% will be invited to pitch)
- Clarity and attention to detail for relevant work- 10
- Ability to demonstrate reliability and professionalism of team/bidder -5
- Ability to exemplify successes around HCD products and services- 10
- Experience in the development and social impact space -5
- Financial Evaluation Max points-20
Value for money/proposed budget breakdown
GE is not liable for any cost incurred during the preparation, submission, or negotiation of the award/contract. All submitted documentation and/or materials shall become and remain the property of GE.
Tax
Applicants are advised to ensure that they clearly understand their tax position regarding local jurisdiction tax legislation provisions when developing their proposals.
Disclaimer
Girl Effect reserves the right to determine the structure of the process, number of short-listed participants, the right to withdraw from the proposal process, the right to change this timetable at any time without notice and reserves the right to withdraw this tender at any time, without prior notice and without liability to compensate and/or reimburse any party. Girl Effect shall inform the ONLY successful applicant(s). The process of negotiation and signing of the contract with the successful applicant(s) will follow.
Safeguarding
You may be required to undertake safeguarding checks. Shortlisted consultants will be assessed on our organisational values at the interview stage. The successful consultant will be expected to adhere to our safeguarding policy. We encourage you to read and understand our safeguarding policy, the executive summary of which can be found at www.girleffect.org/safeguarding. We have zero-tolerance for all forms of violence against children, beneficiaries and staff.
Equal Opportunities
Girl Effect is committed to equal opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.
We are committed to building an organization that is increasingly representative of, and works extensively with, the communities that we serve. To this end, due regard will be paid to procuring consultancy service organizations and individuals with diverse professional, academic and cultural backgrounds.
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How to Apply
To apply for this opportunity, please submit a proposal by email with the subject line “Human Centered Design to build Girl Networks & Girl ChampionsRFP ” to suppliers@girleffect.org by 5th October 2021 5:00 PM EAT.
Prospective respondents who may have questions regarding this RFP may submit their enquiries to the same address provided by 23rd September 2021 5:00 PM EAT.
