Request For Proposal for The Development of a Proof of Concept for Digital Targeting

Oxfam Horn, East and Central Africa would like to hire a consultant to prove the concept on Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven targeting. The consultancy will aim to provide a more cost-effective methodology and bring to about the benefits to costs and accuracy of social protection and humanitarian cash targeting. The consultancy will also shed more light on the valuable role of novel digitally driven targeting in social protection and humanitarian interventions in the path to progressive universality in Social Protection. The consultant will highlight how advances in technology (ICT, big data, and machine learning) can improve the accuracy in targeting.

Social protection is concerned with preventing, managing, and overcoming situations that adversely affect people’s well-being. Social protection consists of policies and programs designed to reduce poverty and vulnerability by promoting efficient labour markets, diminishing people’s exposure to risks, and enhancing their capacity to manage economic and social risks, such as unemployment, exclusion, sickness, disability, and old age. It is one of the targets of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10 aimed at promoting greater equality.

The most common types of social protection include the following:

• Labour market interventions: These are policies and programs designed to promote employment, the efficient operation of labour markets, and the protection of workers.
• Social insurance Interventions: These interventions mitigates risks associated with unemployment, ill-health, disability, work-related injury, and old age, such as health insurance or unemployment insurance.
• Social assistance[1] interventions: These include interventions when resources, either cash or in-kind, are transferred to vulnerable individuals or households with no other means of adequate support, including women, children, older persons, or people with severe mental health problems or other people who are poor and/or marginalised.

1.1 Social Assistance

Social protection and humanitarian cash policies and programs help individuals and families escape poverty, manage risks, and improve resilience and opportunity. Prioritizing poorer households in social protection and humanitarian cash programs often can generate more progress on reducing poverty and inequality and improving other dimensions of welfare such as resilience and human capital.

Social assistance schemes comprise programs designed to help the poorest and most vulnerable people to meet a social protection floor. These programs are designed to transfer resources, either cash or in-kind (e.g., food transfers), to eligible vulnerable and deprived persons. Social assistance interventions may include cash or in-kind transfers include interventions such as universal child benefits. Unconditional cash transfers, for example, appear to be an effective intervention for interventions in a humanitarian crisis and reducing extreme poverty if markets are functional.

2.0 Objective of Consultancy

Oxfam and a teleco developed a concept on AI enabled targeting. After undertaking some big data analysis, the concept was deemed is feasible. This consultancy is a continuation of this activity.

The purpose of the consultancy id to undertake a process of proof of the concept that it is possible to use income and expenditure data to undertake more effective and regular proxy means tests. The consultancy will thus

• Further the work already undertaken in conjunction with the teleco and undertake a proof of concept of the work in Kenya, Uganda, or Somalia.
• Develop a set of interventions that can ensure that we may use AI for social protection and humanitarian cash measures to reach poorest and most vulnerable members of any populations.
• Develop a policy brief that may be used by state and non-state actors to initiate a debate on policy and practice on digital targeting.

Based on interactions with various Oxfam targeting documents and processes that are ongoing in HECA and within the broader Oxfam confederation, the consultant is expected to.

• Review work HECA has undertaken in conjunction with the teleco.
• Undertake consultations and interviews with Oxfam global, regional, and country staff and externally with partners and potential donors to understand AI targeting priorities for the region
• Develop a proof of concept highlighting the detailed technical methodologies for IA targeting.
• Validate the proof of concept and with Oxfam staff, country teams and potential donors.

3.0 Methodological Considerations

The consultant will work independently but in close and regular communication with a dedicated Oxfam staff dealing with Social Protection and ICT4D, providing guidance and support this project. The consultant will detail the proposed methodology in the application proposal, and work plan in line with the Terms of Reference.

4.0 Expected Deliverables

The consultant will be expected to produce the following outputs:

• Develop an inception report with a clear indication of methods, activities and work plan that would logically lead to the development of the proof of concept
• A 20-page draft report and final report that outlines the detailed technical guide, process, findings, guidance of the proof of concept for AI.

All deliverables will include full documents and a PPT summary and delivery is proposed as follows:

Deliverable

Timelines

1

Inception Report

7 days after start of assignment

2

Draft report and proof of concept

15 days after start of assignment

3

A high-quality document of no more than 20 pages that includes proof of concept and a policy brief.

days after start of assignment

5.0 Time Commitments

The assignment is expected to start in Mid-January and end in Mid-February 2023. Planning for a maximum of 21 working days seems reasonable, although it can be less or more, if properly justified in the application proposal.

6.0 Place of the Assignment

Home based

7.0 Budget

The consultant is requested to provide a budget for the work, which breaks down daily fees and any other costs.

8.0 Essential Skills and Competences

Required skills and competencies for this assignment:

• Relevant university degree and postgraduate / master’s degree.
• Knowledge certified with evidence (certificate, etc.) of AI and/or general scripting and coding.
• At least 5 years’ experience and skills on development of digital outputs.
• At least 5 years’ experience and skills on facilitate dialogue and exchange.
• Good analytical skills.
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Fluency in English.

9.0 Application Procedures

interested and qualified candidates (both institutions and individuals) should submit their applications with the subject line clearly marked: “Request for Proposal for “The Development of HECA proof of Concept for digital Targeting”.

The application should contain a financial and a technical proposal. The technical proposal should clearly show the understanding and interpretation of this call for proposals.

The financial proposal should include consultant’s daily rate and include indication of other support costs that may be involved in conducting the assignment.

The application proposals should be accompanied by following documents to exhibit key competencies and credentials of the applicants. They are

• Consultant’s Up-to-date CV reflecting relevant experiences and qualifications

• Key reference contacts for previous work done – Organizations worked for.

• Samples of similar work undertaken.

[1] In this case social assistance includes humanitarian cash.

How to apply

If you believe your qualifications meet the requirements, please send your Expression of interest by 23rd January 2023 to [email protected]

Oxfam International is an equal opportunities employer, committed to diversity within the workplace.