Consultancy for AIM Qualitative Research & Learning Partner – Liberia

BRAC International invites proposals from qualified, locally based consultancies or research institutions in Liberia to serve as the Qualitative Research & Learning Partner for the Mastercard Foundation Accelerating Impact for Young Women (AIM) program. This role is responsible for executing a small‐scale, qualitative study focusing on the experiences of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) who participate in AIM’s second cohort. The study will explore how participants navigate income-generating activities (IGAs), their milestones in transitioning to microfinance credit products, and the enablers/barriers experienced throughout the process. The successful consultant must have a permanent physical presence in Liberia and proven experience with qualitative research, particularly in the context of livelihood programs, agriculture, and climate adaptation.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Research Design and Preparation:
  • Collaborate with the BRAC International Research & Learning team to co-develop a comprehensive research protocol and design qualitative data collection tools.
  • Produce a concise (e.g., two-page) inception report detailing key project milestones, an updated timeline, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Ethics and Compliance:
  • Secure all necessary research approvals, including Institutional Review Board (IRB) clearance and other local/national research permissions.
  • Ensure that data collection adheres to ethical standards, safeguarding protocols, and data protection regulations.
• Field Coordination and Data Collection:
  • Recruit and train interviewers with an emphasis on pairing female enumerators with female participants and male enumerators with male participants.
  • Organize and conduct in-depth qualitative interviews in five communities across three regions (anticipated areas include Gbarnga, Paynesville, and Lofa), targeting a total of 60 interviews.
  • Oversee the recording of interviews, and ensure that all audio data is transcribed verbatim and, when necessary, translated into English.
• Data Management and Reporting:
  • Manage and store collected data in compliance with the highest ethical and confidentiality standards.
  • Share qualitative data with BRAC International according to the deliverable schedule.
  • Prepare and submit a high-level final report (10–20 pages) summarizing key research findings, discussing any data collection challenges, documenting deviations from the original research plan, and offering recommendations based on the research insights.
• Coordination and Communication:
  • Maintain ongoing communication with BRAC International’s research and implementation teams throughout all project phases, ensuring that progress, challenges, and feedback are addressed in a timely manner.
  • Participate in virtual interviews and technical assessments as required during the proposal and evaluation stages.

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