Consultant (Individual) for Impact Assessment Study of IFPRI's Research

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR IFPRI CONSULTANT

Report topic: Influence and Impacts of IFPRI's Modeling, Policy, and Communications Work on the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and Associated Food Crises 2020-2025

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) seeks to commission a consultant to carry out an impact assessment study of IFPRI's research on the food crises associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, IFPRI carried out numerous country-level and global analyses on the effect of the pandemic on food security, trade, diets, and agricultural production. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 prompted IFPRI to continue and expand these analyses. These analyses were used by funders and policymakers as a timely source of information. IFPRI's communication of its modeling results led the G20 and World Trade Organization to call for swiftly phasing out food export restrictions imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. IFPRI earned the AAEA Quality of Communication Award twice for its timely coverage of the impact of these global shocks using briefs, blogs, policy events, and data from the Food Security Portal.

IFPRI seeks an independent, comprehensive assessment of these activities. The study should include the following types of analyses:


a) an assessment of the overall contributions of IFPRI's work on COVID-19, Ukraine and other associated crises in 2020-2025 in terms of the relevance and quality of its research, research capacity building, communications activities and outputs, and how its research contributed to decisions about resource allocations and policy formulation or change.

b) identification of challenges in achieving impacts and factors that may be associated with higher likelihood of contributing to impacts.


It is expected that the methods used to produce those outputs will include:
• Desk reviews of IFPRI's crisis-related outputs, IFPRI impact materials, as well as any reporting of contributions to outcomes to funders and the CGIAR
• In-depth interviews with policymakers, funders, and relevant partners, as possible, conducted mostly virtually and also in Washington, DC if the consultant is already based in the area.
• Use of analytical tools to trace through influences of research recommendations on decisions taken in relation to policies, programs, investments and other actions.
• Use of tools to trace the influence of IFPRI's communication of its results through the internet and media outlets, utilizing IFPRI's In the News tracker, search engines, and other tools.


The consultant will lead the impact assessment study and take direct responsibility for the final report. IFPRI staff will provide necessary background documents and administrative support.

After an initial review of background materials, the consultant will be expected to produce a workplan, a methodology proposal which outlines the analytical approach, and a list of relevant stakeholders to interview. A draft report will be submitted 90 days following the signing of the contract. It will be peer reviewed and subsequently published as an IFPRI Independent Impact Assessment Report, and a policy brief. The consultant will be asked to present a high-level summary of the report at an IFPRI policy event or workshop.


Deliverables

1. Proposed workplan, methodology, and list of interviewees: June 15, 2026
2. Draft report: September 15, 2026
3. Final report: December 15, 2026
4. Policy brief: December 15, 2026
5. Presentation at an IFPRI policy event or workshop: Winter 2027

Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in economics, political science, evaluation science or other discipline that is relevant to policy research and/or its impacts
• At least 10 years post graduate experience
• Strong familiarity with IFPRI's work
• Experience in conducting impact assessments
• Excellent writing skills

Time Commitment

We anticipate this assignment to take between 15 and 25 days.