Afghanistan: Short Term Assignment for Developing methodology and tools, conducting baseline study and designing a guide for annual research on the state of enabli

Background

Civil society has long been a key factor in addressing a full range of issues in the social, cultural, religious, humanitarian and political life of Afghanistan. With the focus upon transition to Afghan leadership, civil society, particularly local and national non-governmental organizations (NGOs), have the potential to play an important and complementary role in Afghanistan in the delivery of the government’s priority programs, in supporting improved governance, in connecting the wider Afghan population to the state, and in advocating for the vulnerable and excluded.

NGOs in Afghanistan face challenges, including financial and capacity gaps and a public trust deficit, in their endeavors to play such a role effectively. The government, the international community, and civil society have been considering methods by which to support NGOs to address these challenges and realize their potential, dating back to discussions at the Conference on Enabling Environment for Effective Private Sector Contribution to Development in Afghanistan in June 2007. One of the outcomes of these considerations was the formation of a working group, with representation from international and national NGOs, key national NGO networks, and civil society professionals, to establish an organization that will enable NGOs to address these challenges.

The Afghanistan Institute for Civil Society (AICS) main objectives include:

1. To raise the credibility of the civil society sector by certifying local NGOs using locally defined and internationally recognized standards.


2. To systemize capacity building efforts by coordinating initiatives using measurable performance indicators.


3. To strengthen the role of civil society in Afghanistan’s development through policy dialogue and active engagement with the government, donors and the broader development sector.


4. To provide a channel for resources for civil society by strengthening philanthropic and corporate social responsibility efforts.

1.Rational

Given that addressing social development issues will be an important factor in enabling Afghanistan to transform into a stable, modern and forward looking state, civil society organizations (CSOs) have the potential to play a critical and complementary role in the delivery of the government’s national priority programs, supporting improved governance, connecting the wider Afghan population to the state, and in advocating for the vulnerable and excluded. The AICS enabling environment initiative contributes to creating an enabling environment for civil society. As part this initiative, AICS will conduct a study on the state of the enabling environment for CSOs in Afghanistan. The study will examine the legal, regulatory, policy, infrastructure, resources, public perception, financial sustainability and the networking environment in which CSOs operate.

The study will identify critical challenges, needs and opportunities related to conditions in which CSOs function in the country. This initiative will contribute to improving CSOs through: 1) Informing and influencing civil society related policies and programs by providing regular data on different dimensions of state of civil society to interested stakeholders, including civil society, governments, INGOs and donors; 2) Providing data-supported recommendations for improving the enabling environment for CSOs that can be used for initiating policy dialogues with relevant stakeholders; 3) Developing research methodology, indicators and baseline data to measure progress on conditions in which CSOs function over time, allowing stakeholders to understand the impact of civil society development investments in Afghanistan

The purpose of the consultancy is to establish a baseline for the current state of civil society organizations, identifying the supporting and hindering forces, and create research framework, methodology and tools for future similar research activities.

Afghanistan Institute for Civil Society (AICS) is seeking an experienced research designer and/or survey consultant or firm to develop research tools and methodology to measure the state of enabling environment for civil society in Afghanistan. AICS will use the research tools and methodology for annual research on the same subject. Also, the research findings will serve as a basis for developing and adapting national level policies to improve the state of the enabling environment for civil society. The initial data will serve as baseline to measure the progress or regress over time.

2.Objective

· Develop tools and methodology for annual research used to measure the state of enabling environment for civil society in Afghanistan.

· Conduct the first study on this subject in Afghanistan.

· Produce the first (2015) State of the Enabling Environment Report for Afghanistan.

SCOPE OF SERVICES

This assignment involves the design and administration of a study/research tool to collect information from grass-root along with thorough policy/documents review about the state of the enabling environment for civil society in Afghanistan.

The baseline data will be used as a regular point of comparison, to help the Afghanistan government, international agencies, donor community, civil society and other stakeholders to examine the conditions in which CSOs function over time. It is very important that the baseline data collection must be done carefully, and that all methods and data collection tools are well documented, so that the exact same methods and tools can be used for future data collection.

The selected consultant/firm will prepare work-plan, develop the tools and methodology, prepare report and produce the final Enabling Environment Index Guide and Research System in consultation with AICS. AICS encourages applicants to think creatively and suggest methods and tools that they deem necessary for this assignment and feasible in the context of Afghanistan – particularly considering the long-term viability of this research.

Although these are subject to further changes and improvements as well as indicators for each dimension to be created and examined, the research will likely focus on measuring mainly the following key dimensions:

· Socio-political environment

· Socio-economic environment

· Socio-cultural environment

· Legal and regulatory environment

· Organizational capacity/infrastructure

The selected consultant/firm, together with AICS, will determine key dimensions to focus on/measure, develop indicators within each dimension and provide clear definition for each dimension and indicator. All these must be done based on findings of thorough desk-review of similar research practices, meanwhile, taking into account complexities of Afghan civil society context. The selected consult/firm will develop tools and methodology that measure each dimension – and indicator – accurately

3.Deliverables

The successful consultant or firm will be required to submit the following deliverables:

· Work-plan for developing the tools and methodology as well as baseline study

· Desk-review report and research framework

· Sampling plan

· Trial of tools and methodology report

· Final tools and methodology package· Data collection and summary field report

· Data analysis summary

· Methodological report

· Draft baseline study and analytical report (State of the Enabling Environment for Civil Society in Afghanistan Report)

· Final baseline study and analytical report (State of the Enabling Environment for Civil Society in Afghanistan Report)

· Final presentation on the findings of the study · Draft Enabling Environment Index Guide and Research System

· Final Enabling Environment Index Guide and Research System

· Final presentation on the Enabling Environment Index Guide and Research System

4.Proposal requirements

Applicants must submit a proposal that will include approaches to literature review and methodology for this assignment. The proposal will also describe the design of the study tools, sampling, data collection and analysis methods and reporting procedures. The proposal must include the following descriptions.

1. Detailed description – along with rationale – of the methodology, including:

· Indication of relevant literature sources

· Research design

· Sampling method

· Data collection method

· Data analysis method and tools

· Quality control

· Final report format

1. Detailed information about the data collection staff preparation (training) and data collection in field will be supervised.


2. A detailed timeline of activities that must include each stage of the research – including literature review, development of tools and methodology, trial of study, data collection and entry, data analysis, reporting the findings and submission of the Enabling Environment Index Guide and Research System.


3. Qualification and relevant experience of the applicant.


4. A full budget in U.S. Dollars.


5. Three reference (with contact information) from past relevant experience.


6. CVs of key personnel.

5.Schedule

The assignment will be for 6 Months, from December 2015 to May 2016.