Request for Proposal (RFP) - MEL Consultant — Global Impact Indicators Review & Framework Support at Global Fishing Watch RFP
United States
<p><strong>GLOBAL, closes August 28, 2026<br></strong></p> <p><strong>Consultancy Title: </strong>MEL Consultant — Global Impact Indicators Review & Framework Support</p> <p><strong>Organization:</strong> Global Fishing Watch (GFW)</p> <p><strong>Department: </strong>Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)</p> <p><strong>Reporting to:</strong> Head of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning</p> <p><strong>Location: </strong>Remote (collaboration primarily across GMT and GMT+2, with reasonable accommodation for other time zones)</p> <p><strong>Duration: </strong>Approximately 3 months (up to 30 days LOE)</p> <p><strong>Start Date:</strong> Early Q4 2026 (tentative)</p> <h2><strong>1. Background:</strong></h2> <p>Global Fishing Watch (GFW) is an international non-profit organization that advances ocean governance through increased transparency of human activity at sea. By making data and analysis on fishing and other vessel activity more accessible, GFW supports science, policy, enforcement and international cooperation to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and promote sustainable ocean management. </p> <p>GFW is institutionalizing an organization-wide monitoring, evaluation and learning system. Existing metrics are distributed across grant logframes, results frameworks, program workplans, donor reports, product and regional trackers, and other internal systems. The metrics vary in definition, result level, data availability, ownership and use. GFW therefore requires a consolidated and quality-assessed inventory and a focused set of global indicators that can demonstrate progress against its strategy and Theory of Change while remaining feasible for programs and regional teams to report over time.</p> <h2><strong>2. Purpose and Objectives:</strong></h2> <p>2.1 Purpose </p> <p>The purpose of the consultancy is to review and consolidate GFW’s existing metrics and provide a technically robust, decision-useful and implementable global impact indicator framework anchored in GFW’s strategy and Theory of Change.</p> <p>Specific objectives are to:</p> <ul> <li>Consolidate GFW’s metrics into one standardized inventory.</li> <li>Assess the technical quality, actual use, data availability and reporting feasibility of existing metrics.</li> <li>Map metrics to GFW’s Theory of Change to identify duplication, gaps, particularly at outcome and impact levels.</li> <li>Support GFW to make explicit decisions about indicator selection, ownership, measurement, baselines and phased implementation.</li> <li>Suggest an initial set of 15–20 candidate global impact indicators, weighted toward outcomes and impact.</li> </ul> <h2><strong><br>3. Scope of Work:</strong></h2> <p>The consultant will deliver the assignment through four integrated workstreams:</p> <p>3.1 Inception and Scope Confirmation </p> <ul> <li>Confirm the assignment questions, users and decisions the framework must support.</li> <li>Agree the document universe, inventory cut-off date, unit of analysis, definitions and version-control arrangements.</li> <li>Finalize the workplan, interview sample, consultation plan, risks, dependencies and deliverable-review schedule.</li> <li>Agree the Theory of Change mapping taxonomy and candidate-indicator scoring rubric before substantive assessment begins.</li> </ul> <p>3.2 Metrics Review and Consolidation</p> <ul> <li>Consolidate GFW’s existing metrics from grant logframes, results frameworks, program work plans, donor reports, and team-level trackers into a single standardized inventory.</li> <li>Standardize each metric into a common template (name, definition, level, source framework, data source, frequency, owner, last reported value, quality rating).</li> <li>Assess quality using an agreed rubric covering clarity, validity, reliability, feasibility, sensitivity to GFW’s contribution, comparability, disaggregation, aggregation and decision utility. .</li> <li>Map each metric across three dimensions: (i) strategic goal; (ii) outcome type/change pathway; and (iii) results level. Document rules for overlapping outcomes and double counting.</li> <li>Conduct a light external benchmark of how 2-3 comparable conservation-technology and transparency organizations structure their global indicators.</li> <li>Conduct short key-informant interviews (6–8) across programs, regions, and functions.</li> </ul> <p>3.3 Indicator Design</p> <ul> <li>Structure a candidate indicator architecture across GFW’s core impact pathways, including:</li> <ul> <li>Transparency and data</li> <li>Capacity and training</li> <li>Analysis and research</li> <li>Policy and governance influence</li> <li>Fisheries and biodiversity outcomes</li> <li>Organizational reach and partnerships</li> </ul> <li>Provide advice to the MEL team on an initial set of 15–20 candidate indicators, deliberately weighted toward outcomes over outputs.</li> <li>Score each candidate against agreed selection criteria (strategic relevance, measurability, feasibility/cost, sensitivity to GFW’s contribution, comparability, communicability) and document trade-offs transparently.</li> <li>Pressure-test feasibility against real data availability before consultation.</li> </ul> <p>3.4 Consultation Support and Refinement (to be confirmed based on performance of consultant) </p> <p>This workstream will proceed only following written authorization by the assignment manager after acceptance of the draft framework and confirmation of remaining days and budget.</p> <ul> <li>Design and co-facilitate focused workshops for program, regional and leadership stakeholders, supplemented by an asynchronous feedback option.</li> <li>Prepare accessible pre-reading, candidate-indicator profiles, scoring matrices and explicit decision questions.</li> <li>Maintain a consultation log recording the comment, source/stakeholder group, decision, decision owner and rationale.</li> <li>Revise the framework without converting consultation into indicator accumulation; unresolved strategic trade-offs should be escalated for leadership decisions.</li> <li>Prepare a concise “you said, we did” summary for consulted staff.</li> </ul> <p>3.5 Measurement Planning — Optional Extension</p> <p>This workstream will proceed only following written authorization and may be limited to the highest-priority indicators if the remaining level of effort is insufficient for all candidates.</p> <ul> <li>Develop or finalize indicator reference sheets covering definition, rationale, calculation, inclusion/exclusion rules, result level, source, frequency, disaggregation, aggregation, quality controls, limitations, owner and reporting use.</li> <li>Propose a baseline and target-setting strategy, including indicators requiring prospective baseline collection or piloting.</li> <li>Develop a data-flow and accountability map from data generation to validation, aggregation, analysis, reporting and use.</li> <li>Produce a crosswalk showing how global indicators relate to selected grant and program metrics without requiring every grant indicator to become a global indicator.</li> </ul> <h2><strong><br>4. Deliverables</strong></h2> <p>Key deliverables will include:</p> <ol> <li><strong>Consolidated Metrics Inventory</strong> — single standardized inventory of existing metrics (living asset).</li> <li><strong>Metrics Review Report</strong> — landscape, quality assessment, Theory of Change gap map, benchmark summary, and implications for indicator design.</li> <li><strong>Draft Global Indicator Framework (v0.1)</strong> — 15–20 candidate indicators, scoring matrix, and architecture narrative.</li> <li><strong>Consultation Support Outputs </strong>(to be confirmed based on performance of consultant) — workshop materials, consultation log, and revised framework (v1.0).</li> <li><strong>Measurement Plan</strong> (to be confirmed based on performance of consultant) — reference sheet compendium, baseline plan, data flow map, and grant crosswalk.</li> <li>All intellectual property and source files will remain the property of Global Fishing Watch.</li> </ol> <h2><strong>5. Roles and Responsibilities</strong></h2> <p><strong>Consultant</strong></p> <ul> <li>Support the metrics review, indicator design, measurement planning.</li> <li>Provide technical facilitation support for consultation activities.</li> <li>Coordinate with the MEL team and selected subject-matter experts.</li> <li>Deliver all outputs within agreed timelines and standards.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Global Fishing Watch</strong></p> <ul> <li>Provide existing metrics, frameworks, and the organizational strategy and Theory of Change.</li> <li>Facilitate access to staff for interviews, consultation.</li> <li>Lead stakeholder engagement and secure leadership decisions and endorsement.</li> <li>Review and approve deliverables.</li> <li>Ensure timely payment and contract management.</li> </ul> <h2><strong>6. Timeline and Level of Effort</strong></h2> <ul> <li>Duration: Approximately 3 months</li> <li> Level of Effort: 30 working days (to be finalized with the selected consultant)</li> <li> Phases:</li> <ul> <li>Metrics Review and Consolidation</li> <li>Indicator Design and Consultation</li> <li>Measurement Plan support (to be confirmed based on performance of consultant) </li> </ul> </ul> <p><strong>Illustrative Milestones Include:</strong></p> <p><strong>Phase 1: Review and Consolidation</strong></p> <ul> <li>Consolidated metrics inventory in a common standardized template.</li> <li>Metrics Review Report including quality assessment, Theory of Change gap map, and external benchmark.</li> <li>Key-informant interviews completed across programs, regions, and functions.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Phase 2: Indicator Design and Consultation</strong></p> <ul> <li>Draft Global Indicator Framework (v0.1): 15–20 candidate indicators with reference sheets and a documented scoring matrix.</li> <li>Workshop materials and asynchronous feedback instrument to support program, regional, and SEG consultation.</li> <li>Consultation log and revised framework (v1.0) reflecting staff and leadership input.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Phase 3: Measurement Plan Support</strong> (to be confirmed based on performance of consultant) </p> <ul> <li>Measurement plan: finalized reference sheets, baseline strategy, data flow map, and grant crosswalk.</li> </ul> <h2><strong>7. Ethics and Confidentiality</strong></h2> <p>The consultant will adhere to GFW’s ethical standards and data protection policies and ensure confidentiality of all internal materials and staff information.</p> <h2><strong>8. Required Qualifications</strong></h2> <ul> <li>Degree in monitoring and evaluation, international development, environmental science, statistics, or a related field.</li> <li>Minimum 5 years’ experience designing results frameworks and indicators for global or international organizations.</li> <li>Demonstrated expertise in Theory of Change, results measurement, and indicator development.</li> <li>Experience conducting metrics or results-framework reviews and synthesis.</li> <li>Practical experience building performance dashboards or data-visualization tools (e.g. Looker Studio, Power BI, or structured spreadsheet-based systems); or ability to partner with a data-visualization specialist.</li> <li>Experience in the environmental, conservation, governance or transparency sectors is an asset.</li> <li>Strong communication, facilitation, and cross-cultural collaboration skills, including working asynchronously across time zones.</li> <li>Fluency in English.</li> </ul> <h2><strong>9. Application and Selection Criteria</strong></h2> <p>Qualified candidates should apply via Greenhouse. All applications must include the following and be submitted no later than Friday, August 28, 2026. Applicants should include the following content:</p> <ul> <li>CV (max 2 pages)</li> <li>Technical proposal including methodology, timeline, and approach to indicator design (max 3 pages)</li> <li>Financial proposal with daily rates and VAT status (max 1 page)</li> <li>Portfolio or samples of previous indicator frameworks, MEL reviews, or dashboards</li> </ul> <p>Selection will be based on a weighted technical (70%) and financial (30%) evaluation, with specific scoring for technical approach, relevant experience, and sector relevance.</p> <p><strong>Evaluation Criteria and Score</strong></p> <p>The selection of the consultant will be made based on the cumulative analysis scheme, where the total score will be obtained upon combination of weighted technical and financial aspects.</p> <p>Technical weighted score, out of 70 based on:</p> <ul> <li>Relevant qualifications (10 points)</li> <li>Relevant experience designing results frameworks and indicators for global audiences (15 points)</li> <li>Technical proposal: metrics review, indicator design, and consultation approach (25 points)</li> <li>Measurement-planning capability (10 points)</li> <li>Experience in the environmental, conservation, or international development sector (10 points)</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>Equal Opportunities</em></strong><em>: Global Fishing Watch is an equal opportunities employer. Global Fishing Watch is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within our organization and in the greater ocean management and conservation community. We believe that diverse backgrounds, skills, knowledge and viewpoints make us a stronger organization. Bringing together professionals who possess broad experiences and a spectrum of perspectives will enable us to reach our goal of improved ocean governance faster. We hire and promote qualified professionals without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or parental status, national origin, age, physical or mental disability or medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Our organizational goals match the urgent challenges facing our global ocean, and our mission is designed to help secure a healthy ocean for all. We are committed to building a workforce that is representative of humanity’s diversity, by providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all employees of Global Fishing Watch and for our partners, vendors, suppliers and contractors.</em></p>
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