Inuit Qaujisarnirmut Pilirijjutit (IQP) Evaluation – Request for Proposals
Inuit Qaujisarnirmut Pilirijjutit (IQP) Evaluation - Request for Proposals
ArcticNet is requesting proposals from qualified individual(s) and/or organizations to conduct an evaluation of the Inuit Qaujisarnirmut Pilirijjutit (IQP; ‘the program’). IQP is the first and only Inuit-led, governed and directed research program in the world. It is a pan-Canadian Arctic research program funding 21 projects across the four regions of Inuit Nunangat. The program is hosted by ArcticNet Networks of Centers of Excellence (NCE) and led by the four Inuit regions (the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Nunavut, Nunavik and Nunatsiavut) as well as Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) and the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) through the Inuit Research Management Committee (IRMC).
Purpose/Objectives/Rationale
The IQP evaluation is needed to ensure that the program continues to:
- Make funding more accessible for Inuit to produce applied research with tangible results relevant to and usable by the four Inuit regions;
- Support Inuit self-determination in research;
- Respect and give voice to Inuit and Inuit knowledge holders;
- Produce actionable results that benefit Inuit, families and communities.
A comprehensive evaluation is needed to provide insights into the strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement within the IQP program (from its onset in July 2020 to its closing in March 2024). Ultimately, the evaluation will inform the IRMC and ArcticNet’s decision making. It will also inform program management processes as it relates to future IQP funding cycles.
Submission Guidelines:
- Proposals must be submitted by 5:00pm EST on Friday, 15th of March 2024
- Proposals are to be submitted by email to:
- Aisha Sada, Program Officer, Northern-Led Research. Email: asada@uottawa.ca
Scope/General Responsibilities
Refer to Terms of Reference for detailed scope and responsibilities.
The consultant(s) will:
- Work with IQP program staff, and the IRMC;
- Collect and review the necessary data;
- Implement evaluation with the approved methodology;
- Write and submit an evaluation report encompassing a comprehensive examination the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, and sustainability of the program.
Timeline
The project is intended to commence in March 2024 and conclude in July of 2024. Please note that the dates are subject to change but will remain roughly within a four-month timeline from project initiation to completion.
Award of Contract: March 26th, 2024
Submission of evaluation methodology: April 19th, 2024
Submission of preliminary report (first draft): May 24th, 2024
Submission of report (final draft) and summary document: July 7th, 2024
Proposal
Proposal should include:
- Proposed activities, cost estimates and timeline for project components (e.g., rates number of hours expected on tasks);
- Two examples of previous work;
- Resume of individual(s) who will work on the project;
- A list of references of organizations or individuals for whom the consultant has performed similar or relevant work.
Proponent(s)
We are seeking:
- An experienced evaluator or a team with proven track record of designing and implementing evaluation projects and producing actionable evaluation reports;
- Experience working with Inuit communities and Inuit organizations.
Proposal Evaluation
Selection Criteria:
- Detailed proposal with activities, cost, and timeline;
- Experience working with Inuit and familiarity with Inuit Nunangat;
- Experience evaluating research programs;
- Evidence of high-quality report writing;
- Strong references.
Terms of Reference
Section 1: Deliverables
- A Final report covering the topics in Section 2, Scope of the Evaluation and Section 3. Evaluation Questions [1]
- Proposed Methodology submitted by April 19th, 2024
- A first draft/preliminary report will be submitted as a Word document by May 24th, 2024
- A final draft will be submitted, addressing any IRMC comments provided on the draft version, as a PDF by July 7th, 2024
- 1–2-page summary of report to be submitted by July 7th, 2024;
- Schedule and attend biweekly or monthly meetings with program staff and IRMC as needed.
Section 2: Scope of the evaluation
The scope of the evaluation will encompass a comprehensive examination of various aspects of the IQP to provide a thorough understanding the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, and sustainability of the program[2]
The evaluation will be expected to cover the following components:
Effectiveness
Program Objectives and Alignment:
- Assess how well the program’s objectives align with the National Inuit Strategy on Research (NISR) and the broader North-by-North Research and Training Program;
- Assess the extent to which the 21 funded projects have achieved their approved objectives;
- Evaluate the impact of funded projects on Northern communities, considering project results and capacity-building outcomes. Specifically, focus on evaluating the effectiveness of the IQP training component within projects in building research capacity in Inuit Nunangat.
Efficiency & Relevance
Documentation and Reporting:
- Evaluate the quality and completeness of project documentation, including all submitted IQP project reports;
- Assess the effectiveness of project reporting and report review templates and their alignment with the program’s objectives and expectations.
Funding Procedure/ Budget Utilization:
- Evaluate the efficiency and accessibility of the funding procedure;
- Assess the flexibility of the funding mechanism, especially in response to progress reviews and conditions for continued funding. Specifically analyze the relevance of the carry-over mechanism available to projects;
- Evaluate the impact of the program budget on achieving IQP program goals.
Implementation Processes:
- Examine the efficiency of the Call for Proposals (CFP) process, considering historical and updated procedures;
- Assess the effectiveness of the CFP approach across the four regions of Inuit Nunangat. Consider the accessibility of the call with regard to the various modes of proposal submission (video, oral or written proposals) and evaluate the effectiveness of translating program materials in ensuring inclusivity and accessibility;
- Examine the efficiency of the annual report review process, considering historical and updated procedures.
Governance and Adjudication:
- Evaluate the adjudication procedure, including regional and national review processes for proposals and annual reports, as well as the involvement of external experts;
- Assess the transparency and fairness of all IQP proposal and reporting evaluation criteria, taking into account the perspectives of different regions;
- Review the IRMC conflict of interest policy and its effectiveness in maintaining the integrity of the evaluation process.
Stakeholder Engagement and Communication
- Evaluate stakeholder engagement strategies, including communication channels and collaboration with project leads and all respective program partners.
Risk Management:
- Evaluate the identified risks and the effectiveness of risk mitigation plans, such as addressing projects failing to report and spend allocated funds within timelines;
- Assess the responsiveness of the program to unforeseen challenges, if they occurred, and its adaptability to changing circumstances and project needs.
Sustainability
Program Sustainability:
- Evaluate the sustainability of the program’s results and its contribution to research capacity building for Inuit communities;
- Assess the program’s responsiveness to evolving Inuit research needs and challenges, as outlined by the National Inuit Strategy on Research and by regions and relevant communities.
Section 3: Evaluation questions & Methodology
The evaluation questions and the methodology will be developed by the consultant (s) and approved by the IRMC. The methodology is expected to enable an assessment of the elements detailed in Section 2. Notably it should encompass a review of materials, identification of relevant participants, the preparation of questionnaires or surveys for various participants (project team members, committee members, ArcticNet Staff, etc.), validation of findings, report writing, and other relevant components.
Possible evaluation questions may include:
- To what extent did funded projects meet their objectives and produce the intended results/outcomes. Were there any ‘unintended’ results (positive or negative)? If so, what were they?
- What are the key challenges, constraints and risks facing the program and how can these be addressed in future funding cycles?
- What were the barriers that relevant stakeholders (project leads, project team members, IRMC members, program coordinators, etc.) encountered throughout the process that may have positively or negatively impacted the implementation/outcomes of the program? What barriers did Inuit researchers face specifically? How can these be addressed?
Section 4: Documents to be Provided
All documents will be provided electronically, via Email.
- North-by-North Strategic Plan
- North-by-North Implementation Plan
- IQP Call for Proposals (2021 and 2022)
- IQP Expression of Interest (2021)
- IQP applicant guide
- IQP project proposals (from call for proposals in 2021 and 2022)
- Proposal evaluation criteria
- IQP annual reports (from fiscal years 2021-2022, 2022-2023 and 2023-2024)
- IQP annual report evaluation criteria
- IRMC conflict of interest policy
- Other documents as deemed fit.