SOW.docx

Gender and Social Inclusion Early Analysis

STATEMENT OF WORK

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.

The Department of Compact Operations (DCO), Sector Operations Division (SO) is seeking a gender and social inclusion specialist to provide due diligence early analysis support within the Gender and Social Inclusion (GSI) Practice Group.

The consultant reports to the Practice Lead/Senior Director for GSI, and will be supervised by GSI Directors or Associate Directors. He/she works as part of the GSI practice group to strengthen MCC’s ability to apply current thinking, approaches, strategies, tools and practices related to gender integration and social inclusion in early analytical work, and large-scale international development programs.

MCC recognizes that addressing gender and social inequalities is critical to reducing poverty through economic growth – MCC’s core mission. For this reason, MCC's Gender Policy requires that gender issues are integrated throughout the threshold and compact cycle, from the initial country selection and assessment to the development and design of programs, project implementation, the monitoring of program results, and evaluation of program impacts (https://www.mcc.gov/resources/doc/gender-policy).

MCC’s evidence-based approach to its investments begins by developing a mutual understanding of a country’s main growth challenges with our partner governments. During the first phase of the compact or threshold program development process, MCC and the selected partner country, jointly conduct a constraints-to-growth analysis (CA). Our CA approach is based on what is known as the HRV model growth diagnostic methodology: an analytic process that identifies those constraints to private investment and entrepreneurship that appear to hold back economic growth the most. These are known as “binding constraints.” For more on the HRV model and how it has been employed at MCC, see https://www.mcc.gov/our-impact/constraints-analysis.

The CA report provides eligible countries with a clear central focus as they move into subsequent stages of the development process. During the initial phase of development countries undertake a CA to identify a very small number of binding constraints, and then complete a more in-depth assessment of the underlying causes of these constraints. Based on this preliminary analysis, country teams work to design a comprehensive program that typically includes physical investments along with complementary policy and institutional reforms tailored to address selected constraints and their root causes. MCC Constraints Analyses incorporate microeconomic, macroeconomic and sector-specific data to determine binding constraints. The report 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. The Constraints Analysis report is therefore expected to include an investigation of social and gender dimensions and to note where constraints may affect certain sectors, industries, regions, or populations more severely.

Within MCC, the process of producing a constraints analysis is a collaboration between economists in our Economic Analysis (EA) unit, members of the Gender and Social Inclusion (GSI) team, and others. GSI’s role in this process is enabled by MCC’s recognition that gender and other social inequalities can constrain economic growth, and are implicated in many of the developmental challenges our partner countries face. MCC’s gender policy and operational guidance enable GSI to advance equity considerations at each stage of Compact or Threshold development and implementation, including the CA phase. During the CA, GSI conducts an Initial Social and Gender Analysis (ISGA) that identifies and analyzes how social norms and formal and informal institutions and policies shape different peoples access to different assets (financial, physical, natural, social, political and human capitals), and how this constrains their economic opportunities. This analysis lays the groundwork for designing programs that can overcome these barriers. It may include macro policy, legal and institutional reforms that by reducing inequalities will unleash growth potential and increase social inclusion within growth-focused projects.

This initial analysis contributes to the identification of the binding constraints to growth and poverty reduction, with findings integrated into the Constraints Analysis document. Following the CA, a ‘deep dive’ into the selected binding constraints is performed by the entire country team, thus informing problem analysis, sector selection, and project concept notes and papers. This deeper look at the underlying causes of the identified constraints is called the “root cause analysis” (RCA) phase. For more on RCA, see <https://www.mcc.gov/resources/story/story-cdg-chapter-6-guidelines-for-root-cause-analysis>. Following the RCA is a key stage in this process through which the core teams within MCC partner countries submit project concept notes around which more sector and project-specific analytic engagement is organized.

GSI’s success in promoting equity during the CA and other phases of Compact or Threshold development rests on its ability to make an empirically informed and theoretically sound case about one or more of the following:

· That a particular gender or social inequality is itself a binding constraint to economic growth;

· That a particular gender or social inequality is a component of an identified binding constraint to growth;

· That a particular gender or social inequality is a root cause of identified binding constraints to growth;

· That there are economically meaningful gender and social equity implications to the choice of a particular binding constraint, including differential ability to benefit from MCC interventions or opportunities to invest in sectors with high potential for employment generation or with comparatively high labor market opportunities for women and other marginal or vulnerable groups.

· That broader features of the political economy of the country will a) pose a substantial barrier or opportunity to shifting identified constraints or b) generate equity challenges in implementation, e.g. via the exclusion of particular regions or ethnic groups from the benefits of MCC investments.

· That particular identified constraints have stronger equity implications than others, e.g. via employment creation or opportunities for small entrepreneurs, especially for poor women and promotion of women’s economic empowerment (WEE).

In collaboration with its EA colleagues, GSI is currently developing new approaches to build a case for gender equality, WEE, social inclusion within the boundaries of the CA and other analytic processes which will be tested and refined in existing and forthcoming selected countries Additionally, MCC has been working to improve its use of geospatial data and analysis to gain quicker and deeper insights during the CA phase and throughout the threshold cycle. This work will be used to assess the environmental sustainability of potential investment in priority sectors, economic growth opportunities as well as poverty and social inclusion issues, in close collaboration between GSI and EA.

B. Scope

The Gender and Social Inclusion (GSI) unit at MCC is seeking the an expert social scientist to bring high-quality quantitative and qualitative analytic expertise and evidence to bear on economic analytics tools and practices, program design, and assessment of potential program impacts to strengthen MCC’s gender and social inclusion technical approach with quantitative and economic competencies; and country Compacts and Thresholds. The ultimate goal of the contract is to help GSI better integrate gender and social inclusion into MCC’s methodological approach in growth diagnostics, decision making, and Compact/Threshold designs.

C. Country

Any MCC eligible countries.

D. Tasks

The scope of this work include the following:

· Providing input to MCC’s economic assessments tools including constraints to growth analysis (CA), cost-benefit analysis (CBA), economic rate of returns (ERR) and beneficiary analysis,

· Continue testing and refining women’s economic empowerment diagnostic tools,

· Proposing and testing new analytic approaches in at least one newly selected country to enhance current set of economic analysis and gender and social inclusion (GSI) assessment tools in collaboration with the Economic Analysis Division, and

· Helping to identify and quantify the differential impacts across gender and social lines, so that these inequalities can be:

(1) Considered and addressed in MCC’s Compact programs,

(2) Considered in MCC decision-making processes (CA, CBA, ERR), and

(3) Evaluated during the course of program implementation.

The contractor shall work with country teams and with other sectors/practice groups and departments, especially Economics and M&E teams. This technical input will include producing rigorous evidence of heterogeneous economic impacts that should be incorporated into economic analyses, program design or planning, risk reviews, program logics, and M&E frameworks.

Relevant sectors for analysis may include transport, energy, water, sanitation, agriculture, land, education, and health. Within these sectors, the contractor will help produce data relating to the identification and quantification of differential impacts by sex and other dimensions of potential disadvantage, such as income, ethnicity, and other social groups. Ultimately this work will help better incorporate gender and social inclusion inputs into constraints analysis, and calculations of costs and benefits, ERRs, as well as improve project design.

Specific tasks shall include:

· Support MCC teams to improve the analytic approaches to account for gender in the Constraint to Growth Analysis (CA).

· Support implementation of the revised analytical approach for CA in countries selected for Compact in December 2018, and the following years

· Assist in the identification and quantification of benefit and cost streams, or differential impacts on relevant social and economic groups, including across gender in at least one country.

· Identify and analyze datasets and literature, to make inputs into Cost Benefit Analyses, program logics, Economic Rates of Returns (ERRs), Beneficiary Analyses, and M&E documents. As needed, review compact specific documents related to these topics.

· Work on using evidence from MCC evaluations as well as global evaluations as an input to improve integration of gender and social inclusion considerations in MCC work.

E. Deliverables

· Support analytical work for Indonesia constraints to growth analysis (CA), and further work on CBA, ERR and BA.

· Provide technical support to analytical work in other countries – Ethiopia, Malawi and the Solomon Islands

· Support in root cause analysis, development of program logics and M&E plans for Compact development in the above mentioned four countries, and new countries as they are selected.

· Other deliverables as requested by COR/PM

· Trip report if the consultant visits countries as requested by COR/PM.

F. Conflict of Interest

The Consultant will be precluded from bidding on work and services (design, assessment, construction and supervision) to be procured by the local MCAs accountable entity or using funds advanced under a Compact in the relevant country.

G. Place and Period of Performance

All work shall 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 1,600 hours per year for a total of 8,000 hours, with an estimated 4 trips per year. MCC anticipates this level of effort but does not guarantee this level of effort as it may increase or decrease.

Consultant will perform the tasks under this contract from his/her home office, other MCC-eligible countries, in MCC offices in Washington DC as requested.

H. Subcontracting

Consultants, registered as vendors 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.

I. Timing and Reporting

All formal communication with MCC, including reports, will be submitted to the Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COR), Program Monitor (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 SoW 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 SoW or of the terms and conditions of the SoW 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.

J. Evaluation Criteria

Mandatory:

· An advanced degree (master’s or above) in social sciences (economics, sociology, geography, women’s studies, political science, public policy, etc.)

· Minimum ten (10) years of experience in poverty reduction, social inclusion and gender work in an international development context.

· Previous experience and track-record related to identifying and working with datasets and literature to conduct rigorous analysis, to make inputs into MCC forthcoming Compact and projects Cost Benefit Analyses, program logics, Economic Rates of Returns (ERRs), Beneficiary Analyses, survey instruments, questionnaires, and M&E documents

· Skills in data analysis software such as in STATA, Adept, SPSS, Microsoft Office, and ArcGIS

· Demonstrated ability to access and analyze qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method data to understand economic and social inequalities, including those based on gender and social inequalities, and knowledge of how such inequalities impact poverty reduction and economic growth

· Demonstrated expertise with internationally recognized gender, social and poverty analysis concepts, frameworks and tools, including gender-responsive design of projects, monitoring and evaluation

· Demonstrated experience in:

a. Managing and carrying out technical analysis on gender, social and poverty issues in project designs, assessments, management plans, and performance monitoring plans.

b. Developing TORs, and ensuring compliance with TORs.

· A strong track record of field work

· Writing high-quality analytical papers and reports on deadline

· Experience and ability to work with multidisciplinary teams, including constructive engagement with economists and other technical experts.

· Responsible and flexible attitude, and capacity to manage a variety of tasks with minimal supervision.

Preferred:

· Experience in growth analysis, especially using HRV models,

· Experience working with major donor organizations.

· Language fluency in either French or Spanish.

K. Other requirements:

Travel outside USA may be required. The Consultant may be requested to mobilize in a short time for travel outside USA.