Request for Proposal on Research Partner for Women Leadership Longitudinal Study

Oxfam is a global movement of people who are fighting inequality to end poverty and injustice. Across regions, from the local to the global, we work with people to bring change that lasts.

PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT

Research partner of study:  As part of part of Oxfam’s `Longitudinal Study’ , a research organization will be engaged to explore suitability and interest in co-leading the study. It includes methodological advice and guidance (at beginning, plus review/adaptation points during implementation), design and training agenda, support training design and delivery, data analysis, report writing and dissemination with cohort of women leaders.  

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

The Mekong Regional Water Governance Program (MRWGP) focuses on inclusive and equitable water governance, addressing climate change, water security, and social accountability. MRWGP oversees regional projects funded by DFAT and SDC, ensuring sustainable water governance across Cambodia, Thailand, Lao PDR, Vietnam and Myanmar.  The Mekong Inclusion Program 3 Water Governance and Climate Resilience Project (IP3) (2025-2029) integrate water governance and climate resilience for regional policy impact. The program aims for more sustainable and resilient livelihoods of riparian communities in the Mekong Sub-region and prioritises three interconnected End of Project Outcomes: 

• EOPO 1 - Targeted women leaders and representatives of marginalised groups supported by the Project engage with and influence water governance and climate change policy related events, platforms, and processes at local, national and regional levels. 

• EOPO 2 - Targeted government and intergovernmental organizations and non-state actors planning and decision-making processes in water governance and climate resilience include diverse groups and have policies/plans that reflect the perspectives of diverse actors supported by the Project. 

• EOPO 3 - Targeted riverine communities undertake inclusive analysis of local riverine water security including vulnerability to disaster risk and climate change and implement follow up adaptation plans. 

Background of Longitudinal Study’ Study:

The Strategic Need for `Longitudinal Study’: Throughout the Inclusion project of last two phases women leadership in water governance and climate resilient has contributed to make positive changes in different level in project location including community to national level. They also took part in the in-decision making process related daily life and societal changes. Longitudinal study is an attempt to systematically document and analyze the leadership journey of these women leaders across different communities and countries.

Women’s Leadership ‘Longitudinal Study’ will be able to harness the outcomes in a co-design, co-ownership process between the study team/researcher and the women leaders and representatives of the marginalized social groups who are the focus of the study. IP3 wants to capture the variable changes in the women leaders lives across longer time approx. 2/3 years. It will enable the team to have better insights into developmental results, causes and challenges the study participants faced. Evidence of their journey will allow IP3 to draw stronger inferences of what is working in different contexts.

Purpose of the study: To co-create an evidence-based account of women leaders’ leadership journeys across the Inclusion Project 3, tracking how they engage, influence, strengthen capacity and challenge social norms over time. The study aligns with IP3’s outcomes on women’s influence in water governance and climate resilience and will be co-owned with participants from inception to use of findings.

Outcomes of the study: An evidence-based account of at least 25 women leaders’ leadership journeys across the Inclusion Project phases, evidence of what enable them to start, how they engaged, influenced, strengthened capacity and challenged the social norms and how they overcome those challenges over time in water governance and climate resilience decision-making at community, sub-national, national and regional levels..

Proposed timeline: The study is proposed between January 2026-June 2028, which aligns with the implementation period of the IP3 as well as being strategic for engaging in key processes/interventions planned during the implementation period. The research partner will be part of the study after completion of the onboarding process in May/June 2026-February 2028.

SCOPE OF WORK

• • 1. Methodological advice and guidance of the study of Longitudinal study
    2. Online inception workshop with Oxfam and consultant on preparing for Co-design workshop
    3. Co-design workshop with research participants
    4. Report writing and validation with cohort of women leaders and other stakeholders.

KEY DELIVEABLE AND TIMELINES

Key Deliverables and Timeline of the study:

Design stage:

• 01 online inception workshop with Oxfam and consultant on preparing for Co-design workshop
• 02 Co-design workshop planning and facilitation by June-July 2026 (01 in Phenom Phen and 01 in Thailand)
• After the co-design workshop study protocol on research design and methodology by July 2026

Final research strategy including Tools to be used by women leaders for Self-reflection as part of data collection by the research participants

• 01 online Orientation on reflection tool (data collection tools) to the research participants

• 01 draft report on after completion of self-reflection/data analysis
• 01 data validation workshop facilitation by December 2026

Final Report and other engagement:

• 01 update report after 2nd round data collection by November/December 2027
• Participation in regional events where final report will be disseminated (TBD and based on available budget)
• Finalization of the report January/February 2028

Breakdown of activities of research partner:

*Sample size of Research participants: 20-25 Women leaders

*Data collection would be simple and self-reflection not complex

BUDGET AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Payment will be made by following instalment schedule:

• 1st Payment (30%) – upon signing contract (June 2026)

• 2nd Payment (40%) – After completion of deliverable (December 2026)

• 3rd payment (20%) – After confirmation of the final deliverable (November 2027)

• Final payment (10%)- After final dissemination of the report (Jan-March 2028)

Payment will be made based on the confirmed satisfaction of key deliverable submitted by the Consultant.

The payment will be made based in accordance with the agreed-on payment instalment as well as an official invoice and timesheet billed to Oxfam, detailing the number of days that consultant works for each deliverable output.

Oxfam will be responsible for 15% withholding tax for resident taxpayers or 14% withholding tax for non-resident taxpayers to the Cambodian Government from the respective net fee.

Oxfam will reimburse reasonable related cost as involve in the process deliver this work based on submitted receipt, such as transportation, accommodation in Mekong countries. Per diem will be paid in accordance with Oxfam policy. The consultant needs to get the reporting manager's approval of the budget plan prior to incurring expenses.

The payment will be made via bank transfer. Oxfam- PMU will oversee and pay for program activities, including travel, accommodation, and per diem, and related expenses in accordance with Oxfam financial policy and procedures.

 PROFILE REQUIREMENTS

The service provider/organizations should have the following competencies:

Essential criteria

• Demonstrated skills and expertise in delivering research strategy, tools and methodology development, ethical guideline, Capacity building, Knowledge generation, policy influencing on women and intersectional groups leadership
• Proven abilities to data analysis, report writing and dissemination;
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience on Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion Principles and practices, particularly in the Mekong context.

WORKING WITH US:

• Oxfam is a feminist organisation, and we offer a workplace where we all could adhere to Oxfam’s feminist principles and promote the share values as well as the promotion of gender and social justice and women's rights.
• Diversity is important for us; Oxfam is committed to maintain and promote the diverse team and strongly encouraged women, People with Disability, and individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply.
• We are looking for the people who share Oxfam 's commitment and commit to adhere to equity, diversity, gender, child safety and staff health and wellbeing principles.

Others

• Eager and required to adhere to Oxfam’s principles and values as well as the promotion of gender justice and women's rights. 
• Understanding of and commitment to adhere to equity, diversity, gender, child safety and staff health and wellbeing principles.

The details of the application process can be accessed here:

https://oxfam.box.com/s/w2bevh8insbioakrt9guir8r6ejt2ikb