Right To Play is a global organization committed to improving the lives of children and youth affected by conflict, disease, and poverty. Established in 2000, Right To Play has pioneered a unique play-based approach to learning and development which focuses on quality education, life skills, health, gender equality, child protection and building peaceful communities. With programming in 16 countries, Right To Play transforms the lives of more than 2.3 million children each year, both inside and outside of the classroom. In addition to our work with children, Right To Play advocates with parents, local communities, and governments to advance the fundamental rights of all children.

Right To Play is headquartered in Toronto, Canada and in London, UK and has operations in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Our programs are facilitated by more than 600 international staff and 31,900 local teachers and coaches. For more information, please visit www.righttoplay.com.

Right To Play is seeking to procure the services of an independent Research Partner, to help inform implementation of the FIFA project in Islamabad, Pakistan, through a qualitative/quantitative outcome study.

We foresee the contract as including:

• the development of a study design;
• the development, refinement and piloting of data collection instruments;
• fieldwork administration and logistics;
• data collection, review, and cleaning; and
• data analysis and reporting.

1.    Program overview

FIFA project focused in promoting peace and conflict resolution by improving life skills and behaviors through sport and play, among children from disadvantaged and displaced families in urban slums of Islamabad. This intervention is implemented in partnership with Pehli Kiran School system - a JAQ Trust initiative for out-of-school children's education. Right To Play has worked with all 10 Pehli Kiran schools to regularly engage children in play-based experiential learning activities, trained all the teachers on the same methodology so they may continue the work beyond project end, and conducted parent awareness sessions on key topics around holistic child development.

The main purpose of the project was to inculcate social and emotional skills amongst children, to encourage greater team building, cooperation, communication for greater social cohesion. Part of the project's focus was also to create a safe space for girls' participation in play and physical activity where a ground was rehabilitated with a boundary wall, serving nearby Pehli Kiran schools. Brainstorm solutions to challenges and problems and to take action where possible.

2.    Purpose of consultancy

The primary objectives of the consultancy are as follows:

• To produce a rigorous study design;
• To review, refine and/or develop reliable and valid survey and other measurement instruments;
• To produce evidence which facilitates discussion and learning regarding program best practices among project participants, community members, Right To Play staff, partners and institutional stakeholders; and
• To produce evidence which informs organizational strategic learning and improves capacity to carry out quality program design, implementation, and monitoring for future projects.

For this purpose, Right To Play is currently seeking the services of an individual or a consultancy firm to design and implement a qualitative/quantitative outcome study that will allow the project team to assess the effectiveness and impact of the FIFA project. The Research Partner will be expected to generate strong evidence and learning, to help inform program decision-making and organizational learning.

Evaluation design:

Aim of this exercise is to collect rigorous evidence under the FIFA project; therefore, the approach for study design has been kept flexible for the researcher. Any ideas both in case of a qualitative or quantitative research will be considered, that can help in generating the robust results overall.

3.    Key deliverables

Following awarding of the contract, inception meetings and initial planning conversations, the research partner’s tasks will be as follows:

1. Prepare a short inception report outlining the measurement approaches and methodologies to be employed in executing the assignment. This should include:
   1. Workplan and schedule of activities,
   2. Description of sampling, including sampling approach and sample size,
   3. Detailed methodology of how to collect, triangulate and summarize the primary and secondary data of both quantitative and/or qualitative nature. This will include draft versions of all data collection tools in English, Urdu, and other languages as relevant,
   4. Detailed quality assurance protocols to guide data collection/entry, including spot checking protocols,
   5. Description of gender responsive approaches that will be integrated into the study,
   6. Description of data analysis processes, including use of data analysis software,
   7. Take a lead role in developing, revising, adapting, translating, and piloting various data collection tools (qualitative or quantitative) to be used for the study, including pre-testing and piloting of tools for linguistic and cultural appropriateness. The consultant will be responsible for all costs associated with planning, training, data collection, quality assurance and reporting, including travel, printing, translations, mobile devices, and training venue(s) and materials,
   8. Actively participate in regular meetings with Right To Play to consult on research plan, methodology and timeframe, discussing results and findings and agreed recommended follow-up actions,
   9. Manage the data collection processes, providing support, supervision and monitoring of data collection and storage. This includes ensuring the credibility of field data collected by interviewers,
   10. Compile a comprehensive report based on the research findings, using a Right To Play report template, and revise reports based on feedback from Right To Play,
   11. Prepare and submit final report to Right To Play’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Team, including:
       1. Copy of the final reports,
       2. Copies of raw and cleaned data sets in both Excel and statistical software formats (e.g. SPSS, Stata etc.) including any transcripts, coding frameworks, field notes, as well as annexes of processed results tables and copies of all final data collection tools used (with all levels of disaggregation, including breakdown of geographical areas),
       3. PowerPoint presentation with summary findings for formal presentation to key stakeholders,
       4. An evaluation brief document summarizing the main findings of the evaluation.

4.    Tentative timeline

Contract duration: May 2023 – June 2023.

5.    Proposed budget and payment schedule

Consultants are asked to provide a draft financial proposal along with their technical proposal for consideration. Right To Play offers competitive consultancy rates in keeping with market value and international NGO standards. Offers of over PKR 400,000 for the study will not be reviewed. The payment schedules will be as follows:

• First payment: After signing of contract agreement with Right To Play (50%)
• Final payment: Submission of final report and PowerPoint presentations approved by Right To Play (50%)
• An academic group or consultancy firm with 3-5 years of experience in the research and/or evaluation field, in quantitative and qualitative data collection, analyzing quantitative and qualitative data, and report writing,
• Experience in life skills and behavioral change measurement,
• Experience using participatory and gender-responsive techniques in data collection. Demonstrated experience in data collection with children and adolescents strongly preferred,
• Ability to abide by Right To Play’s child protection and child safeguarding policies,
• Ability to travel within Pakistan in support of the study as required,
• Existing network of local data collection firms in Pakistan to conduct data collection,
• Applicants should have a relevant degree in social sciences, international development, statistical sciences, or another related field,
• Excellent skills and experience with data analysis using statistical computing tools (Excel, SPSS, STATA, NVIVO),
• Team members with excellent working proficiency in English, Urdu and other local languages, as relevant.

6.    Qualifications

7.    Proposal application submission

Interested individuals/organizations are requested to submit proposals including the following documents:

• Cover letter
• Detailed Technical Proposal, clearly demonstrating a thorough understanding of these Terms of Reference and with specific focus addressing the purpose and objectives of the assignment, methodology to be used, and suggested sampling criteria (maximum 8 pages). Please note that the proposal should outline the approach to the entire learning study.
  • Financial Proposal: Detailed budget breakdown based on expected daily rates and initial work plan (in PKR). A fixed price must be provided for each category of deliverable, each of which will be considered a fixed price budget for that specific segment of work. The price of the sub-contract to be awarded will be an all-inclusive fixed price. No profit, fee or additional costs can be included after the award. All items and services must be clearly labeled and included in the total offered price.

Additional attachments should include:

• Initial draft of the proposed work plan,
• Capabilities Statement of the individual, organization, or group, highlighting previous experience and expertise in areas listed in the “Qualifications” section detailed above,
• CVs of all key team members who will be part of the research team, clearly stating their roles and responsibilities,
• Proposed governance structure, including management of local study teams, coordination of field work, and quality assurance process,
• One writing samples, ideally a report that the individual, organization, or group has led authorship on.

The proposals must be prepared in two separate volumes: i) Technical Proposal; and ii) Financial Proposal. Technical Proposals must not make reference to pricing data in order to be evaluated strictly on the basis of technical merit.

8.    Terms of Award

This document is a request for proposals only, and in no way obligates RTP or its donor to make any award. Please be advised that under a fixed price contract the work must be completed within the specified total price. Any expenses incurred in excess of the agreed upon amount in the sub-contract will be the responsibility of the sub-contractor and not that of RTP or its donor.  Therefore, the offeror is duly advised to provide its most competitive and realistic proposal to cover all foreseeable expenses related to provide requested goods/services. 

All deliverables produced under the future award/ sub-contract shall be considered the property of RTP. The Offeror's technical and cost proposals must remain valid for not less than 30 calendar days after the deadline specified above.  Proposals must be signed by an official authorized to bind the offeror to its provisions.

Negotiations

The offeror's most competitive proposal is requested. It is anticipated that any award issued will be made solely on the basis of an offeror’s proposal. However, the Project reserves the right to request responses to additional technical, management and cost questions which would help in negotiating and awarding a PO/sub-contract. The Project also reserves the right to conduct negotiations on technical, management, or cost issues prior to the award of a PO/sub-contract.  In the event that an agreement cannot be reached with an offeror the Project will enter into negotiations with alternate offerors for the purpose of awarding a PO/sub-contract without any obligation to previously considered offerors.

Rejection of proposals

RTP reserves the right to reject any and all proposals received, or to negotiate separately with any and all competing offerors, without explanation.

Incurring costs

RTP is not liable for any cost incurred by offerors during preparation, submission, or negotiation of an award for this RFP.  The costs are solely the responsibility of the offeror.

Modifications

RTP reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify the request, to alter the selection process, to modify or amend the specifications and scope of work specified in this RFQ.

Cancellations

RTP may cancel this RFP without any cost or obligation at any time until issuance of the award.

Right To Play is a child-centered organization. Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to the safety and protection of children in our programs.

To learn more about how we are and what we do, please visit our website at www.righttoplay.com.