ITT: IDEAS Bicycle Innovation Program - in-country researchers by Challenge Works

Invitation to Tender (ITT): IDEAS Bicycle Innovation Program in-country researchers

Challenge Works, delivery partner USAID’s IDEAS Activity

Deadline for submissions: Monday 26 February 2024 at 12:00 GMT

1. Purpose of this document We are recruiting a team of researchers based in Malawi, Uganda and Zambia to complete seven weeks of primary research, analysis and design work to support the development of the Bicycle Innovation Program design. This document summarizes the background to the program, the more detailed scope of work, timelines, budget and the application process.

2. Background to the Bicycle Innovation Program The Bicycle Innovation Program is a $5.1 million Open Innovation Program (OIP), which is currently in the research and design phase. This program sits within the USAID Innovation Design, Execution, and Acceleration Support (IDEAS) mechanism as part of the USAID Innovation, Technology, and Research Hub’s Innovation Division (ITR/I). The mechanism is being run by the USAID Exploratory Programs and Innovation Competitions (EPIC) team with support from a consortium made up by Encompass, Challenge Works, DT Global and Itad. Challenge Works, part of the UK innovation foundation Nesta, is leading this program's research and design phase. Over the next five years, the IDEAS team will support ITR/I’s mission of increasing the adoption of high-impact development and humanitarian solutions by bringing together a diverse set of nontraditional partners to discover, test, and scale breakthrough evidence-based approaches, methods and technologies. The Bicycle Innovation Program is the first program to be run through this new USAID mechanism. This Bicycle Innovation Program seeks to continue and expand USAID's work on bikes in Sub-Saharan Africa and - more specifically - build upon the key findings and learnings from the Bicycles for Growth (BFG) bicycle market systems research in Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, Ghana and Malawi (with pilot development activities running in the latter two). The Bicycle Innovation Program may include the addition of electrified bikes and/or electric retrofitting of bikes, as well as traditional pedal bikes a scoping decision that will be made throughout the course of the research period. A summary of the key findings from the BFG program can be found in Annex 1. This literature review draws upon the following documents: ● ●

MIT-Lab ‘Access to Affordable Bicycles in Africa’ final report BFG summary

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BFG country profiles BFG case studies BFG pilot activities

The research and design phase runs between 15 January and 12 April 2024, with in-country primary research, analysis and report writing taking place from 26 February to 12 April 2024.

3. Scope of work We are contracting a team of researchers based in Malawi, Uganda and Zambia to lead the primary research of this program to inform and test the OIP design. Objectives The objectives of the research are to: 1. refine our understanding of the regional factors and buy-in of local stakeholders to prioritize two out of the three countries for OIP delivery 2. validate the current innovation opportunities in the local context to inform the OIP design by engaging users, problem owners and key market actors 3. test and iterate the attractiveness and relevance of the OIP design (to be provided by Challenge Works) with innovators and key enablers within the local business acceleration ecosystem. A list of preliminary research questions associated with each of these objectives can be found in Appendix 2. Outputs The outputs of the research and analysis are: 1. a summary of research findings, including the methods used, the individuals and/or organizations consulted, key findings and considerations relevant to the design of the OIP 2. support and review of the Activity Implementation Plan, led by Challenge Works, which summarizes the OIP design. Activities ● In-country primary generative and evaluative research which may include: ○ input on the initial research questions outlined in Annex 2; ○ interviews/consultations; ○ focus groups; ○ surveys; ○ site visits; and/or ○ other primary research methods deemed appropriate.

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Research analysis which may include: ○ collaborative workshops; ○ content analysis/quantitative data analysis; ○ thematic analysis/affinity mapping; and/or, ○ other research analysis methods deemed appropriate. Research consolidation, documentation and design planning which may include: ○ data visualization; ○ report writing; ○ participation in design sessions to incorporate research learnings; and/or ○ other research documentation and planning methods deemed appropriate.

Roles & responsibilities The research team will be responsible for: ● ● ● ● ●

leading all in-country primary research activities; leading on the data collection and insight generation; collaborating on the analysis of research insights with Challenge Works, leading on the consolidation and documentation of research findings; and attending regular weekly meetings with Challenge Works (as agreed) as well as ad hoc meetings on an as-needed basis, to share updates on progress.

Challenge Works will be responsible for: ● ● ● ● ● ●

selecting and contracting the research team; developing initial design options (up to three in total) to be evaluated during the research phase; providing access to all research analysis and documentation done to date; leading on the direction and oversight of the research work; collaborating with in-country researchers with analysis to ensure that research outputs are relevant for informing future work of Challenge Works; and leading program management activities, including scheduling and coordinating project kick-off as well as regular meetings to share updates on progress.

Timeline The proposed timeline of activities is as follows: Activities & Timelines Researcher selecting and contracting [Challenge Works] Program management [Research Team/ Challenge Works]

Week 1 26-Feb

Week 2 04-Mar

Week 3 11-Mar

Week 4 18-Mar

Week 5 25-Mar

Week 6 01-Apr

Week 7 08-Apr

Selecting researchers, contracting and kick-off Project planning & management

In-country primary research [Research Team]

Data collection

Research analysis [Research Team]

Research insight generation

Research documentation & design planning [Research Team/ Challenge Works]

Design planning and documentation

Submission of Activity Implementation Plan (AIP) [Challenge Works]

Submit AIP

This timeline may be subject to change. Any changes will be discussed and agreed in advance with the selected research partner.

4. Budget A budget of up to £40,000 is available for this work, inclusive of local taxes, charges, travel expenses and research materials. This must include the research planning, data collection, analysis and documentation over the period of seven weeks. Please note that this research and design scope and timeline may change, following new guidance from USAID. In this instance, no additional budget will be available, but any changes will be discussed and agreed in advance to ensure this is feasible within the pre-set budget.

5. Application process & requirements To apply for this opportunity, please submit a proposal via this link by Monday 26 February 2024 at 12:00 GMT. Your submission should include the following information: ●

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A written proposal outlining: ○ your research and project management approach ○ description of 2-3 relevant projects ○ your research methods ○ the team and CVs. A budget breakdown, including ○ day rate and associated staff time ○ travel costs ○ research material costs.

The proposal must not exceed eight pages, excluding team CVs and the associated budget. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Bicycle Innovation Program Team (bicycle.ideas@challengeworks.org).

6. Selection criteria We will use the following criteria to assess your proposal: Selection and Award Criteria

Weighting

1. Experience of organization and qualifications of proposed individuals

5 points

Please provide the names and CVs of all team members proposed to work on this program. Please be aware that the named individuals cannot be changed as part of this contract. 2. Credibility and practicality and proposal approach

5 points

Please describe how you would approach this project, including the necessary stage and methodologies used. 3. Value for money

3 points

Please provide an itemized breakdown of your proposed fees and pricing structure. Please also indicate which team member will lead on specific aspects of the work and breakdown the rate per individual/level. 4. Contract management arrangements

2 point

This refers to your processes for ensuring on-time delivery with exceptional high quality, while demonstrating cost efficiencies and flexibility of proposals to adapt to changing needs. Please outline your approach to project management, planning and execution of this role and your reporting plans/arrangements describing how you will work with Nesta as a contractor.

Annex 1: Summary of desk research Opportunities and challenges In preparation for this scope of work, we conducted some cursory research to build an understanding of the bicycle landscape in Malawi, Uganda and Zambia as well as Sub-Saharan Africa more broadly. This included conducting a detailed review of the BFG literature, encompassing country market system profiles, case studies and previous USAID reports, which served as foundational sources. Additionally, we consulted with organizations overseeing BFG pilot activities in Ghana (J.E. Austin Associates) and Malawi (World Bicycle Relief), as well as the USAID MBIOs in Zambia and Malawi to better understand the approaches and success factors of these programs and the role of bicycles in SSA. This was followed by supplementary desk research and the facilitation of an interactive scoping workshop with key members of the IDEAS consortium. This collective effort has led us to identify some high-level innovation opportunities and bicycle adoption challenges detailed below. This initial analysis also helped to develop the initial research questions that we are seeking to address through this scope of work which are detailed in Annex 2. Innovation opportunities Research shows that bicycles have the potential to enable various development outcomes by improving mobility. For the majority of people living in SSA, non-motorised transportation (NMT), including walking and cycling, is the primary mode of travel. Specifically, in a survey across Ghana, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia, at least 40% of respondents in all countries apart from Uganda identified bicycles as their main mode of transportation to work. Despite this widespread demand, research1 has also shown that more widespread adoption of bicycles throughout SSA has the potential to have a significant impact on livelihoods by improving mobility and, therefore, access to essential services relating to health, education and social well-being as well as economic opportunities and important community or religious events. The issue of mobility is also tightly linked to other key development outcomes, such as poverty reduction and gender equality.

Sambu, W., Jennings, G. and Myers, A., 2023. Bicycle mobility in sub-saharan Africa: a market system investigation into demand and use. Southern African Transport Conference.

Considering bicycles as being a potential enabler for achieving desired development outcomes, we have identified four overarching innovation opportunities, including: ●

Income generation: recognizing bicycles as enablers of economic activity, we will explore how they can be used to increase income generation, such as in accessing work, reducing time spent commuting to work, or using bikes to generate income. This may involve creating new bike-related business models that solve local mobility gaps or build capacity for local manufacturing and assembly of bicycles and bicycle parts.

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Female empowerment: bicycle ownership is lower amongst women, influenced by intra-household dynamics and societal perceptions. We aim to explore how bicycles can be accessed and adjusted for activities that predominantly involve or benefit women. This includes initiatives focused on training, microfinance and support, with a mindful and sensitive approach.

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Youth education: given that school commutes are a major purpose for bicycle use in the BFG study countries, particularly among the youngest age brackets with the lowest ownership, we will explore solutions directed at educational institutions and youth. These solutions will aim to develop a more mobile youth population and improve access to education.

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Healthcare access: a high proportion of people living in SSA face obstacles to healthcare access. The adoption of bicycles within this context has the potential to be a transformative solution for accessing healthcare services, including mobilizing frontline health workers.

Challenges to bicycle adoption In alignment with the above opportunity areas, any proposed solutions must take into consideration the challenges currently hindering more widespread bicycle adoption in SSA. The BFG research identified some of the key barriers currently impacting access to bicycles in communities in SSA2, including: ●

Affordability: the costs associated with the transport, purchase, maintenance and repair of bicycles are often prohibitive.

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Personal attitudes & perceptions: people's attitudes toward using and owning bicycles can be influenced by various factors, including intra-household dynamics such as age and gender, as well as competition from motorized forms

J.E Austin Associates, World Bicycle Relief, USAID Bicycles for Growth Project, Bicycle Market System Profiles (Ghana, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia).

of transportation. These dynamics can significantly impact the low access and/or utilization of bicycles by certain members of the community.

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Design and quality: often, bicycles are manufactured and assembled abroad and therefore have not been designed with the local context in mind. The low levels of durability and suitability of these bicycles for their intended purpose and users means that they are often in need of replacement or repair.

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Supply-side systems: lack of local capacity for the manufacture of bicycles and bicycle parts means reliance on international supply chains, which are often more expensive and poorly coordinated.

These problem areas will be essential considerations for the success of any potential innovation and, therefore, will need to be considered as part of the assessment of eventual proposals. Current innovation landscape In addition to the above research, we also conducted a high-level global market scan to gain an idea of the types of innovations that exist in this space and to understand their potential relevance to this program. Following an initial mapping, we were able to create a framework for categorizing the existing types of innovation that we have seen, including: ●

Bikes as a product: includes innovations related to adaptations of bicycles or bicycle accessories which extend or expand the use of the bicycle. For example, cargo attachments, attachable water filtration systems of attachable battery charging systems.

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Bikes as a service: includes innovations related to using bicycles to deliver a service to users. For example, a bicycle used to deliver a mobile ironing, ice cream or food delivery business or a mobile clinic.

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Bikes as an enabler: includes innovations related to using bicycles to gain better access to service users. For example, nurses using bicycles to make home visits, first responders using bicycles to reach patients in hard-to-reach areas or farmers using bicycles so they can access more market locations.

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Bikes for mobility: includes innovations related to improving mobility of individuals and communities for the purpose of accessing essential services related to health, education and nutrition. For example, providing bikes to youth 9

to improve school attendance or community bike banks that reduce time and effort required to access clean drinking water. Some innovations may also represent a combination of one or more of these innovation types. For example, specially equipped bikes that provide internet services to train women in remote parts of India. Innovators working in this space can also be classified as government programs, not-for-profit organizations, for-profit businesses, community-led volunteer projects, or corporate social responsibility initiatives. Beyond the innovation opportunity areas identified above, we have also come across example innovations in the following areas of impact: ● ● ● ●

agriculture & food security social cohesion & resilience water, sanitation & hygiene (WASH) energy, environment & circular economy

Considerations In addition to the innovation opportunities and challenges identified above, we have identified some important considerations which are relevant moving forward: ●

Country to country variation: we acknowledge that the identified challenges and innovation opportunities are not experienced uniformly across countries or regions in SSA. Therefore, the proposed OIP approach involves a collaborative process, emphasizing alignment with specific Country Development Cooperation Strategies (CDCS) or equivalent strategies to ensure the design is appropriately nuanced and relevant to local contexts.

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Local buy-in: the success of any intervention will also depend on the support and buy-in from local stakeholders. Similar to the above, the proposed OIP co-design approach will involve working directly with relevant local stakeholders to ensure their perspectives, knowledge and expertise and incorporated for maximum impact and potential for sustainable development.

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Relevance of electric bikes: within the identified opportunities, we intend to also investigate the relevance of incorporating electrified bikes and/or electric retrofitting of bikes.

Annex 2: Initial research questions Research objective 1: refine our understanding of the regional factors and buy-in of local stakeholders to prioritize two out of three countries for OIP delivery. 1. How do mobility limitations impact livelihoods in the target countries of interest? ● ● ● ●

Is mobility - and specifically non-motorized transport - a priority development area with potential for impact? What are the downstream impacts of reduced mobility? How is access to essential services such as education, healthcare and sanitation impacted by reduced mobility? How is improved mobility linked to economic growth and empowerment?

Research objective 2: validate the current innovation opportunities in the local context to inform the OIP design by engaging users, problem owners and key market actors. 2. In the target countries of interest, what is the current state of the bicycle market? ● ● ● ● ● ●

What are the existing trends and use cases for bicycle adoption? What, if any, are the limitations to bicycle adoption? What are the personal attitudes and perceptions impacting the demographics and behaviors relating to bicycle adoption? What are the factors impacting the use and adoption of electrified and retrofitted bicycles? What are the dynamics of the demand-side and supply-side systems, impacting bicycle adoption? What solutions, programs and ventures already exist? ○ How successful have they been? ○ What issues have they encountered? ○ How will/might they be scaled? ○ Could they be scaled / piloted in other regions?

3. What are the profiles and needs of key stakeholder groups that are relevant to the OIP? Including but not limited to: ● beneficiaries - potential users of bicycles or electrified (and retrofitted) bicycles; ● problem owners - actors responsible for matters relating to bicycles or electrified (and retrofitted) bicycles; ● innovators - inventors and entrepreneurs working with bicycles or electrified (and retrofitted) bicycles; and ● enablers - decision-makers, local leaders and supporters.

4. Are there common themes across target countries of interest? ● ● ●

Are there shared priorities and challenges related to reduced mobility? Are there shared challenges and/or barriers relating to bicycle adoption? Are there shared opportunities and/or trends related to bicycle adoption?

5. Which of the themes / opportunities identified, if any, could be addressed by OIPs? ● ●

What is the demand and role of innovation in solving adoption problems? What are the relevant innovative approaches we wish to incentivise?

Research objective 3: test and iterate the attractiveness and relevance of the OIP design (to be provided by Challenge Works) with innovators and key enablers within the local business acceleration ecosystem. 6. What do local stakeholders think of the attractiveness and relevance of the draft OIP design(s)? ● ● ●

What do potential innovators, local authorities, government organizations etc. think about the attractiveness and relevance of the draft OIP design(s)? What feedback do potential innovators, local authorities, government organizations etc. have about the draft OIP design(s)? What would make the design more attractive to potential innovators, local authorities, government organizations etc.?

7. How do we attract and support the relevant local and global innovators? ● ● ●

How can we lower barriers to entry into the competition? How can we recruit the widest possible pool of diverse innovators? What time, funds, support and/or enablers could be provided to accelerate the development of high-quality solutions?

8. How do we define success and select the winner? ● ● ●

How do we frame the call to innovators? What assessment criteria and process will be used at the point of entry into the competition, proceeding into the next stages, and selecting the winner(s)? What should be the profile of assessors and judges?

Annex 3: ITT Terms and Conditions This appendix provides the terms and conditions which will govern your submission of a proposal to Nesta. You are required to read this appendix carefully together with the Invitation to Tender (ITT) brief (including all its annexes) before submitting a proposal. By submitting a proposal, you accept these terms and conditions and you agree to abide by them. If you do not agree to these terms and conditions, please do not submit a proposal. 1. Submitting a proposal 1.1

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You have sufficient time, skill, experience and resources to carry out the services to the highest professional standards expected of a competent supplier of services identical or similar and are able to obtain all necessary rights, licenses, consents, waivers, approvals, permissions, permits, certificates and insurances necessary to provide the services to Nesta;

1.1.4 Your tender will remain open for acceptance for a period of 90 days. A tender valid for a shorter period may be rejected; 1.1.5 All information contained in your proposal is true, accurate and not misleading; and 1.1.6 Nesta may share your proposal with any third party as Nesta in its absolute discretion deems necessary for the purpose of evaluation. 2. Compliance 2.1

Nesta reserves the right to reject or disqualify your tender where:

2.1.1 You fail to comply with the requirements of this ITT (including but not limited to these terms and conditions), your tender is incomplete, or you

are guilty of a serious misrepresentation in supplying information in response to this ITT; 2.1.2 Your tender is received after the deadline set out in this ITT. Nesta will not consider any requests for an extension of the time or date fixed for the submission of responses; 2.1.3

There is a change in your identity, control, financial standing or any other factor impacting on the selection and/or evaluation of your tender;

2.1.4

You are or become insolvent or have a petition issued against you;

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You do not have the economic and financial standing and/or the technical and professional ability to carry out the services;

2.1.6 You are suspected either directly or indirectly of behaving in a collusive, canvassing, or anti-competitive manner or you offer or accept an inducement or reward in order to gain a commercial, contractual, regulatory or personal advantage; and/or 2.1.7 You (or if you are a commercial entity, a director or person who has the power of control or power to make representations or decisions on your behalf) have committed any offense relating to conspiracy, corruption, bribery, fraud, money laundering or any other criminal offense related to your course of business or profession. 2.2

Nesta reserves the right in its absolute discretion to:

2.2.1

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