Ancp Asia Innovation Awards Evaluation

·          Short term consultancy assignment ·          Commencing February 2025, concluding June 2025   Save the Children and 54 reasons: A place where your purpose matters.
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  About the project: Save the Children Australia (SCA) and Save the Children International (SCI) have positioned innovation at the centre of their strategic approach through.
The goal is to improve the quality and reach of SCA's programs, enhance the measurement of progress, increase operational efficiency, address inequalities in access to technology, and respond to shifting donor priorities.
  In SCA's international programs division, innovation is being trailed through the ANCP portfolio (DFAT-funded annual grants program).
During the 2021-2025 ANCP four-year cycle , SCA implemented a distinct programming approach with SCA-funded awards to foster stronger collaboration, experimentation, and informed risk-taking in the Asia-Pacific, focusing on developing new business models that benefit children.
  This has led to: ·          Selection of projects via a competitive process, inviting eight Country Offices (COs) under SCI management (four per each 2-year cohort).
·          Allocation of funding for each award up to two years.
·          Investment of approximately AUD500,000 per annum per award, totalling AUD 4 million over two years.
  The first process evaluation (mid-term i.e., 2023) gathered diverse perspectives to understand the approaches, practices, systems, and processes that supported or hindered innovation efforts across four projects.
Key findings highlighted the complexity of innovation and challenges related to 1) Project Management, 2) Partnership development and maintenance, 3) Resource allocation and use, and 4) Adaptation and learning processes.
  The initial evaluation provided guiding principles for systems strengthening, which were intended to be implemented across the program cycle to support SCA's strategic drivers for transformative impact.
  A place to make a difference: Save the Children is seeking a consultant/consultancy team that can build on learnings from previous evaluation and award implementation by stress-testing the ANCP accelerator model, determining what steps are necessary to move from incubation to acceleration over the next four years.
The focus will be on: ·          Optimizing processes for innovation development and implementation ·          Identifying barriers and enablers for scaling ·          Developing guidance for transitioning to a scalable and sustainable innovation model ·          Contributing to best practices that will accelerate SCA's impact through innovation.
  In this consulting assignment you will: ·          (P1) Unveil innovation results : Systematically assess the results of eight innovation projects across both cohorts to understand their collective contribution to development outcomes.
  This includes: o    Collecting and analysing available data on results o    Identifying patterns of success and challenges across projects o    Documenting early signs of change and progress towards intended outcomes o    Capturing unintended results (both positive and negative) o    Synthesizing evidence of innovation effectiveness across different contexts.
·          (P2) Examine progress towards sustainability and scalability : Building on the process insights from the first evaluation, analyse how implementation approaches have matured through Cohort 2, with attention to: o    How process recommendations from previous evaluation have been incorporated o    Effectiveness of project management and partnership strategies o    Improvements in resource allocation and efficiency o    Refinements in adaptation and learning mechanisms o    Progress in developing pathways to scale o    Integration of innovations into existing systems and structures to ensure long-term sustainability and institutionalisation.
·          (P3) Guide transition to Accelerator Model : Drawing on the combined results and implementation learnings, provide actionable recommendations for transitioning to an accelerator model over the next four years, including: o    Establishing evidence-based criteria for selecting innovations with high potential for scale o    Designing parameters for effective pre-seed and seed funding mechanisms o    Defining clear progression criteria from incubation to acceleration o    Identifying strategies for supporting successful innovations through acceleration o    Defining approaches for strengthening the broader innovation ecosystem   For detailed information,  the full Terms of Reference are available here .
  This consultancy requires a consultant or consultancy team able to communicate technical and complex findings to non-specialist audiences (especially report writing and presentation) and an innovative and collaborative approach to evaluation design and stakeholder engagement.
In addition, they must have the following skills and experience: ·          Designing and conducting evaluations or research in the field of disruption, innovation, social enterprise, social impact, and/or alternative financing e.g., impact investing ·          Designing and conducting evaluations for complex, multi-sector projects ·          Analysing and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data ·          Leading evaluations or research in Asia or other low-income contexts   Does this sound like the place for you?
We'd love to hear from you.
To apply please send an application that includes: 1.
       A technical proposal containing: a.
       A cover letter detailing your relevant competence to undertake this consultancy, experience with the objectives and scope of this consultancy, and [optional] any additional relevant detail that may demonstrate your availability/readiness for a four-month consultancy.
b.
       A description of your technical understanding of the task, with proposed top-line methodologies including the justification for the proposed designs.
c.        Resumes of key professionals who will work on the evaluation.
Please include a table describing the role of each team member in the evaluation.
  d.        Two samples of previous similar assignments completed in whole or in large part by the lead consultant.
e.        Details of three reference clients/supervisors for whom you have provided services similar to the deliverables requested.
References will only be contacted for shortlisted applicants.
2.
       Financial proposal containing an Excel file outlining the proposed budget for the fulfilment of the expected deliverables of the consultancy work   Applications must be received no later than January 10, 2025, and can be sent to Cory Steinhauer, Director of Program Quality and Impact - ****** .
Save the Children Australia is a child-safe organisation.
All consultants are required to undergo an International / National Police Check, a Working with Children Check where necessary, and sign our Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct.
Required Skills Required Experience