Evaluation of​ FCDO’s Economic Development Research Programme Portfolio

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is seeking a supplier to conduct an evaluation of the FCDO’s Economic Development Research Programme Portfolio between Autumn 2024 and Autumn 2028 (dates are provisional). The portfolio of research is commissioned by the Economic Growth Research Team (EGRT) in the Research and Evidence Directorate (RED). The evaluation will focus on coherence, value for money and impact.

The portfolio evaluation aims to deliver learning to improve the current portfolio and better target future programming, and to provide accountability for a substantial research investment.

The objectives of the portfolio evaluation are to assess:

• the overall portfolio of research in relation to coherence, research gaps and inclusion (particularly but not exclusively gender and disability);
• value for money of EGRT economic development programming;
• outcomes and impacts in terms of policy and practice change and influencing the knowledge frontier.

The evaluation will provide new insights from the evidence gathered and recommendations for further research programming, as well as for changes that could be made within existing programmes to improve impact and value for money.

The programmes within scope for the evaluation are listed below (please note, these are subject to change):

• Capacity for Economic Research and Policy-making in Africa (CERPA)
• Development and Economic Growth Research Programme (DEGRP)
• Gender, Growth and Labour Markets (G2LM)
• Private Enterprise Development in Low-Income Countries (PEDL)
• Economic Development and Institutions (EDI)
• Structural Transformation and Economic Growth (STEG)
• International Growth Centre (IGC) phase 3

An Early Market Engagement event is scheduled to take place virtually on Wednesday 17 April @ 11:00 – 12:30 GMT. Please register for attendance for the EME via the form at:

forms.office.com/e/TistqkrJe5 ↗

Please note, we plan to publish draft slides and a draft ToR ahead of this event (no later than 10th April).

We ask that Suppliers register on the Jaggaer Portal and sign up to the PQQ titled ‘Evaluation of FCDO’s Economic Development Research Programme Portfolio - EME only'. All future communications relating to market engagement and pre-procurement messaging will be sent through the portal. Please note that this is not the PQQ stage of the formal procurement process and non-attendance will not impact any bidder’s opportunity to participate in the tender process. Any issues with accessing this PQQ should be reported to daniel.jones7@fcdo.gov.uk