Channel Research holds multiple framework contracts1 with the European Commission, Sida, DFID and the World Bank
(1) A framework contract establishes terms and conditions under which subsequent contracts will be placed. There is no defined commitment for the purchaser to purchase but there is a commitment for the supplier to supply.
European Commission
The European Commission uses framework contracts to recruit expertise for projects and evaluations in countries benefiting from European Commission external aid. The objective is to provide, short-term technical assistance which can be mobilised at very short notice (normally within 3 weeks, in exceptional cases within 48 hours). The duration of the individual assignments is between 10 days and 1 year. The expertise requested covers the entire project cycle, as well as a number of cross-cutting issues, such as awareness-raising, training, research, and gender.
Channel Research holds framework contracts the following lots:
Lot 7 : Democracy, Good governance and Institutional Strengthening
Lot 13 : Humanitarian Aid and Emergency
Lot 7:
Sectors covered by the framework contract:
- Promotion and defence of human rights and fundamental freedoms
- Democratisation processes including elections and good governance of public affairs
- Conflicts prevention and dealing with the consequences of conflicts including landmine clearance
- State, Justice and Parliament reform processes
- Police and security
Channel Research holds the Lot 7 contract with a consortium under the lead of B&S Europe, Belgium. The consortium members are: Public Administration International, COWI, Fundación Internacional de Administración Pública, CESO.
Lot 13:
Sectors covered by the framework contract:
- Humanitarian aid needs assessment
- Mediation, conflict resolution and reconciliation
- Demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration
- Resettlement of refugees and internally displaced persons, and support to host communities
- Linking relief, rehabilitation and development
- Damage assessment and reconstruction planning
- Post-conflict transitional relief measures, including employment generation
- Logistical support to operations
- Disaster preparedness
- Civil protection
- Military expertise (including civil-military cooperation)
The EC sends out about one request for services per week.
Channel Research holds the Lot 13 contract with a consortium under the lead of Agrisystems Ltd. UK. The consortium members are : University of Bradford, IECAH, ISSEE, RedR, Particip, and T&B Consult.
Swedish International Development Agency (Sida)
Peace & Security in Development Cooperation
Sectors covered by the framework contract for which Channel provides consultancy services are:
- Peace building/conflict management/conflict resolution/conflict prevention in practice and theory, e.g. the issues of;
- Processes of implementation of development initiatives and support in the field of peace and security;
- Methods, tools and experience of conflict analysis;
- Conflict sensitivity in development cooperation;
- The field of peace and security in the realm of international development cooperation.
Channel Research holds the framework contract with a consortium under the lead of COWI, Denmark. The consortium member is TUPO, Sweden.
UK Department for International Development (DFID)
Governance and Transparency Fund
The ability of citizens to make their voices heard and hold their governments to account is fundamental to good government. Its absence fosters an environment in which corruption can flourish, and citizens are unable to assess the decisions of their leaders, or make informed choices about who they elect to serve as their representatives. Civil society, the media, and others have a key role in promoting accountable governance and transparency.
To address some of these issues, DFID has created a new £100 million Governance and Transparency Fund (GTF). It is designed to help citizens hold their governments to account, through strengthening the wide range of groups that can empower and support them.
This £100m fund is being managed by a consortium led by KPMG.
Channel is one of the experts undertaking screenings of expressions of interest, proposals and conducting performance assessment.
World Bank
LICUS Trust Fund
The LICUS Trust Fund was established through a $25million transfer from IBRD surplus in March 2004, and replenished through a further $25 million transfer in 2006 and another $30million in January 2007. The Trust Fund (TF) assists the most marginalized and fragile states in non-accrual status and, in exceptional circumstances, funds activities in active international development agency (IDA) status, where the use of IDA funds would be impractical for this purpose. Its initial focus was on Central African Republic, Haiti, Liberia, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, Togo and Zimbabwe. The LICUS Trust Fund assists countries that have the most severe conflict and institutional problems by:
- Supporting the implementation of early policy and institutional reforms to improve performance and facilitate reengagement with the international community;
- Developing resilient systems for social service delivery, including HIV/AIDS programs, that can continue to operate effectively and mobilize multi-donor support even in situations of political instability;
- Developing harmonized multi-donor approaches that combine scarce resources behind a selective strategy for reform; and
- Promoting the delivery of visible results in support of peace-building efforts.
In Central African Republic, The LICUS Trust Fund supported improving management of the public payroll system which had been a source of political friction. In Somalia, the Post Conflict Fund collaborated with the LICUS Trust Fund to prepare a Country Economic Memorandum. It supported health services to combat HIV/AIDS and improve child and maternity care in collaboration with the Red Cross.
Channel Research is under contract to the World Bank to provide independent reviews of the project proposals for grants under LICUS.