Call for project proposals to carry out research into coronavirus (COVID-19) impact on Ukraine
The British Embassy Kyiv is now accepting project proposals from organisations (hereinafter – the implementer) to implement the “Identifying and understanding secondary implications of COVID-19 on conflict and stability in Ukraine” project.
Background
The UK remains committed to supporting Ukraine and its people en route to democratic development, stability and prosperity. We are funding a range of peacebuilding and conflict management projects, alongside assistance to enable Ukraine to deliver key reforms and strengthen democratic institutions.
The outbreak of the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic poses additional challenges and risks for Ukraine. Understanding how people and the state could be affected as a result of emerging secondary implications of COVID-19 is crucial in order to mitigate those risks and identify implications on conflict and stability in Ukraine.
The key audience for this project is the British Embassy Kyiv who will be responding to new evidence and analysis by adapting existing conflict and stability initiatives, as well as developing new ones. The Embassy will seek to share the analysis with other donors in Ukraine and the Ukrainian government stakeholders.
Scope of Work
The project is expected to deliver the following:
Outcome:
- Greater understanding of the emerging medium to longer term secondary implications of COVID-19 on conflict and stability in Ukraine. This will enable responsive, context specific policy and programme decisions.
Outputs:
-
The implementer is expected to deliver a rolling evidence-based analysis highlighting the medium to longer term implications of COVID-19 on areas relating to conflict and stability in Ukraine. The final methodology and structure of the products will be agreed with the successful implementer. A proposed list of products includes:
- Peace and Stability Tracker – a flexible product that provides a snapshot of areas of concern, trends, risks and opportunities for greater stability. It will provide an easy to understand overview of all strands of analysis and help aid the prioritisation and focus of below analytical products
- Rolling Conflict and Stability Analysis and summary document using a mixed method approach that highlights meaningful findings that will inform recommendations on mitigating and addressing the negative secondary implications of COVID-19 on conflict and instability in Ukraine. Identifying any opportunities for future UK engagement and programming
- Deep Dives will look at priority areas in more detail. They will likely be a short (10 page) case study focussing on a certain thematic area highlighted during previous rolling analysis. It will allow a greater focus on a certain area of interest that will inform adaptation of existing programming or development of new initiatives.
Proposed table of products and delivery schedule:
| 1. | Peace and Stability Tracker | End July 2020 then updated monthly |
| 2. | First Analysis + Summary | End August 2020 |
| 3. | Rolling Analysis + Summary | November 2020 |
| 4. | Deep Dive* | December 2020 |
| 5. | Rolling Analysis + Summary | February 2021 |
| 6. | Deep Dive* | March 2021 |
Products should be produced in English with flexible budgeting for translation into Ukrainian
- details will be agreed with the successful implementer
Themes to be considered
The following themes should be addressed in project proposals with specific analytical areas to be agreed with successful implementer:
- implications of COVID-19 on conflict drivers in the east of Ukraine
- implications of COVID-19 on nationwide stability and regional resilience
- implications of COVID-19 on political stability
- gendered implications of COVID-19 in Ukraine
Requirements
To be eligible, the proposals must:
- demonstrate extensive experience in research and/or evidence based analysis in Ukraine
- propose a clear research plan that sets out appropriate data collection and analysis methods to deliver robust findings within the constraints of the operating context
- understand the specific political, economic, and historical background of Ukraine’s conflict. Identify the risks of instability and peacebuilding activity, both in the east and more broadly across the whole of Ukraine
- be legally able to carry out the activities indicated in the bid
- demonstrate sufficient operational, human resources and expert capacities (local and/or international) to deliver expected results
Timeline
The expected project start date is 01 July 2020. The project duration is nine months with the possibility to extend.
Proposal guidance
- The selected implementer must be able to receive project funding in GBP to an existing GBP account or open a GBP bank account for the project.
- Estimated budget is between £50,000 and £100,000. The final amount will be agreed with the selected implementor based on their proposal.
- Interested parties are required to submit the following documents: ,
- Potential implementers may combine efforts and submit their project proposals in consortium of several organisations (implementers). Those could be both international and local organisations.
Assessment
Proposals will be assessed against the following criteria:
| Criteria | Points |
| Methodology (clear research approach, alignment with the expected outcome and outputs, realistic delivery approach and schedule, monitoring and evaluation and complementarity with existing analysis) | 50 |
| Stringent risk matrix | 10 |
| Value for money | 10 |
| Conflict and gender sensitivity | 15 |
| Communication and visibility | 5 |
| Implementer’s background and relevant experience (a brief history and examples of similar projects undertaken) | 5 |
| Capacity to deliver (including team composition) | 10 |
| Language capabilities, with an emphasis on English language | 5 |
| Alignment of the project budget with requirements and recommendations listed in the CSSF activity-based budget (ABB) template | 30 |
| Total | 140 points |
Receipt of project proposals
- The submission deadline for bids is at 23:59 (Kyiv time) on 10 June 2020. Late submissions will not be considered. Proposals can be submitted at any time up to the indicated deadline. British Embassy Kyiv is not responsible for non-receipt. Proposals submitted before that deadline will remain unopened until then.
- When submitting, please indicate “Secondary implications of COVID-19” in the subject line of your e-mail.
- Project proposals must be submitted using the attached forms only (CSSF Project Proposal and CSSF Activity-Based Budget). Please make sure your files do not exceed 5 MB in size. They must be free from any form of virus or corrupted contents, otherwise you might not be able to submit your proposal.
- Project proposals must be submitted to the following email: CSSF.Programme@fco.gov.uk. Bidders must upload documents in standard Microsoft Office formats (Word, Excel).
- Only shortlisted bidders will be notified via email before or on 15 June 2020. The selected bidders will be asked to complete a Due Diligence Assessment (form will be sent to them) and will be invited for an online interview on 19 June 2020.
- British Embassy Kyiv seeks to finalise the contract award with the selected implementer by 01 July 2020.
Key dates
| Submission deadline for bids | 23:59 (Kyiv time) on 10 June 2020 |
| Notification of shortlisted bidders | 15 June 2020 |
| Shortlisted bidders complete Due Diligence Assessment (DDA) | By 14:00 (Kyiv time) on 18 June 2020 |
| Online interview with shortlisted bidders | 19 June 2020 |
| Project start date | 01 July 2020 |
Contacts
CSSF Programme team: CSSF.Programme@fco.gov.uk
Questions should be submitted to CSSF.Programme@fco.gov.uk by 09:00 (Kyiv time) on 02 June 2020.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please find additional information about this call in this note .
Notes
Bidding is competitive and it is likely that only one selected project will receive funding. The British Embassy Kyiv reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids without incurring any obligation to inform the affected applicant(s) of the grounds of decision making. Due to the volume of bids expected we will not be able to provide feedback on unsuccessful bids.