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STATEMENT OF WORK

GENDER AND SOCIAL INCLUSION SUPPORT FOR MULTIPLE COUNTRIES

A. Introduction

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a U.S. Government agency whose mission is to provide assistance that will support economic growth and poverty reduction in carefully selected countries that demonstrate a commitment to just and democratic governance, economic freedom, and investments in their citizenry. For more information on the MCC, please visit www.mcc.gov.

MCC recognizes that gender and social inequality can be significant constraints to economic growth and poverty reduction. MCC’s gender policy and operational guidance ensure that gender will be considered in the selection of eligible countries and integrated into the development and design of Compact or threshold programs, the assessment and implementation of projects funded by the Millennium Challenge Account, the monitoring of program results, and the evaluation of program impacts. MCC’s Gender Milestones and Operational Procedures strengthen the requirements of the Gender Policy and contribute to the MCC’s and the Country Core Team’s ability to ensure social and gender integration in projects.

To inform the programming of MCC funds, each selected country begins with a thorough analysis of their economy aimed at identifying the most serious impediments to growth and poverty reduction, called the Constraints Analysis. The analysis considers additional information that reflects specific concerns about: (i) social and gender inequalities that may characterize the economy or shape policies and institutions, and (ii) business issues that may influence contributions to private business activity and economic growth. Including these perspectives helps ensure that any conclusions about binding constraints are based on a complete understanding of the country’s economy, its growth, and how the benefits of that growth are shared.

This consultancy will support the development of inputs to and the completion of this analysis. It will also support subsequent work on ensuring that gender and social inclusion issues and analysis are well incorporated into MCC policy, guidance, and compact and threshold program work, including sectoral gender and social assessments and other due diligence, as requested and further described below.

MCC is currently developing or implementing compacts and threshold programs in countries where social and gender inequalities are significant, and particular attention in program design will be needed to ensure that project benefits reach women, the poor, and socially disadvantaged populations.

B. Country

Any MCC eligible countries

C. Scope

MCC seeks to contract at least one short‐term consultant to support MCC’s Social and Gender Inclusion staff with research, qualitative and quantitative analysis, reviews and advice in support of ensuring the appropriate integration of social and gender perspectives and data into compact or threshold development for multiple countries, upon request. Specifically, the consultant is expected to play an important role in defining the major barriers to greater gender parity and inclusion of marginalized communities within the context of identified potential and binding constraints.

Of particular concern is the need to complement our social analytic expertise with the collection and rigorous quantitative analysis of disaggregated data that reveals social inequalities at the subnational level during the Constraints Analysis process. In addition to country specific work, the consultant will provide key guidance to the GSI practice group on how to deal with important constraints involving access to quality social data within the context of the data poor environments in which MCC works.

D. Tasks and Deliverables

The consultant assignments may include the following:

Support the preliminary analysis phase of compact or threshold development through the Constraints Analysis (CA) by focusing on key poverty, social and gender inequalities, and ensuring their integration into the overall CA report. In addition to conducting desk reviews, the consultant shall collect and conduct rigorous analysis of available administrative and open data to inform the understanding of poverty, and gender and social inequality at the subnational level. This work with require close collaboration with the economists in data identification and collection, analysis and integration, and with members of MCC’s Finance, Investment and Trade (FIT) group.

Specific research tasks include:

Directing and participating in qualitative and quantitative data collection methodologies to include direct observation, group or focus group interviewing, secondary source research, and mixed method approaches.

Providing analysis of collected information that is relevant to the Constraints Analysis process and that ensures the appropriate integration of this analysis into CA output, such as statistical analysis, and geospatial analysis and mapping.

During the initial phase of compact or threshold development, the consultant(s) shall backstop the GSI staff assigned to the country team, calling in to (or attending in person when necessary) meetings and responding to queries or requests for additional information and data as needed.

Support MCC staff in providing technical inputs into later phases of compact or threshold development to further refine our understanding of the social and economic context as well as to inform project design and ensure that project interventions do not exacerbate gender and social inequality, as needed. These technical inputs will capitalize on the work and data collected by due diligence consultants during compact development.

Support the GSI practice group on additional practice-wide and agency-wide efforts to systematically incorporate and/or improve the quality of social and gender analysis in MCC policy, guidance, and compact and threshold program work. This might include development of systematic analytic frameworks to consider, weigh, and rank the importance of social issues in partner countries on the basis of MCC’s organizational priorities and constraints.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables Social and gender analysis to help inform the Constraints Analysis, delivered as both a separate paper and written input/contributions to the overall Constraints Analysis document and accompanying presentations or memos.

Inputs to social and gender sectoral assessment, focused on sectors chosen as binding constraints through the Constraints Analysis process.

Additional advisory support and outputs, as requested and mutually agreed upon.

Guidance, including the development of an analytic framework, to prioritize issues of social and gender exclusion within the Constraints Analysis process.

E. Period and Place of Performance

All work will be completed between the dates of the award through a four year period of performance.

The estimated level of effort is estimated at up to 800 hours per year. MCC anticipates this level of effort but does not guarantee this level of effort as it may increase or decrease.

The consultant shall work from his/her home office and/or any MCC eligible country.

F. Subcontracting

Consultants are authorized to subcontract data collection, data preparation, economic analysis, and related services as needed. The overall costs for subcontracting shall not exceed 25% of the consultant’s total negotiated unloaded direct labor cost.

G. Timing and Reporting All formal communication with MCC, including reports, will be submitted to the Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COR), Program Manager (PM), and other designated MCC personnel. The COR/PM for this requirement will be identified via separate correspondence.

The COR/PM will have technical responsibility for monitoring the contractor’s performance. The COR/PM will review and evaluate the contractor’s performance, and also will coordinate any communications with relevant counterparts and other donor agencies and organizations.

Any changes in the terms of the ToR will be made in writing and approved by the Contracting Officer. No representation of the COR/PM shall serve as a basis for an alteration in the general scope of this ToR or of the terms and conditions of the ToR unless confirmed in writing by the Contracting Officer. The contractor must communicate with the Contracting Officer on all matters that pertain to the Contract terms. Proceeding with the work without proper contractual coverage could result in nonpayment for that work.

H. Evaluation Criteria

Minimum of 5 years of experience in social and gender analysis and research, with a proven ability to do one or more of the following:

Prepare and produce analytical work on social and gender inequalities to inform policy and project planning.

Deploy the analytic tools of quantitative social science, such as applied statistics, geospatial analysis and mapping, and data visualization, to translate social and gender concerns into viable economic arguments or research questions.

Simplify and compare complex social contexts and problems to produce clear, systematic analysis and logical frameworks.

Demonstrated excellence in writing reports, including social and gender assessments.

Native proficiency in English and excellent speaking and writing skills.

Experience in engaging with a wide range of stakeholders in government and civil society and analyzing and communicating results.

Advanced postgraduate degree (Ph.D. preferred) in anthropology, sociology, or a related discipline (gender studies, development studies)

Desirable Criteria An advanced degree and work experience that includes quantitative social science techniques.

Prior experience working with MCC is highly desirable.

Fluency in one of MCC languages, including French, Spanish, Portuguese.

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