RFP - Scaling Case Study Consultancy

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About the Organization

The Van Leer Foundation is an independent Dutch organisation working globally to foster inclusive societies where all children and communities can flourish. We bring together people with different perspectives and support them to achieve large-scale impact. Our support involves a unique combination of funding, networks, executive education, technical assistance and knowledge.

Founded in 1949, the Van Leer Foundation started focusing in 1965 on working worldwide to ensure that babies, toddlers and the people who care for them have a good start in life. Our mission is to improve opportunities for all young children, especially the millions of young children growing up in circumstances of social, economic and environmental disadvantage around the world.

About the Proposal

After five decades of investing in early childhood development, we believe the major challenge remains the transition to scale of support for babies, toddlers and those caring for them. For strategic and operational purposes, we define an initiative working at scale as an initiative that either has a reach of more than 50,000 children or coverage of a full population within a well-defined administrative territory such as a city (or a district of a mega-city), state or province. We understand there are different ways of framing pathways to scale. We framed our scaling efforts through the following three pathways: scaling up (expanding vertically by increasing resources, capacity, or adoption at higher levels), scaling out (expanding horizontally by replicating or adapting a programme to new locations or groups), and scaling deep (by enhancing the conditions for social inclusion or improving the quality of scaling implementation).

Through prior learning and documentation of challenges and opportunities, as well as insights drawn from literature, in scaling effective early childhood development programmes, we identified nine conditions for scale and sustainability. These conditions are diverse leadership, effective governance and management, robust workforce, actionable monitoring and evaluation system, anchored in policy, cost effective ideas and costing data, strong, diverse civic management, sustainable, predictable financing, and rigorous evidence-base, including behavioural science.

We have previously documented Management Case Studies on Early Childhood Programmes, Advocacy, and Urban95. These case studies shared lessons on how to scale early childhood programmes through government services, shed light on the importance of advocacy for early childhood, and documented how municipalities have prioritised their youngest residents through Urban95.

Responsibilities

To further this agenda, Van Leer seeks to commission “Scaling Stories” case studies in four countries—potentially Israel, India, Jordan, and Brazil. The main objective of the case studies is to document how early childhood initiatives in the selected countries have scaled and draw insights from the scaling process. These case studies will build on Van Leer’s previous documentation of challenges and opportunities in scaling programmes. The case studies must balance individual storytelling with the identification of broader scaling patterns and insights. Additionally, the final product should synthesise the scaling stories within the approaches and menu of policies and programmes that Van Leer implements, which include, Urban95 and scaling through cities, scaling through national programmes and services, and leadership training through Executive Education. The studies should provide practical insights and lessons for philanthropies, governments, and other relevant stakeholders.

In Israel, we work closely with the Ministry of Health to integrate parenting support into national well-baby clinics and collaborate with Tel Aviv’s municipal leadership to expand child-friendly urban planning. In India, we support the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's Paalan 1000, a national initiative promoting positive parenting through behaviour change campaigns and a parenting app, and its scaling through states. We also support Indian cities to implement child-friendly interventions like safer public spaces and sustainable mobility. In Brazil, together with the Ministry of Citizenship and the United Nations Development Programme, we have supported the national home visiting programme Criança Feliz to maintain quality as it scales. We also support municipal leaders institutionalise child-centred urban practices, such as safe pedestrian spaces and accessible and naturalised parks. In Jordan, we collaborate with the Ministry of Health to strengthen the delivery of early childhood services through supporting parenting programmes, an accreditation programme for healthcare centres, and enhancing coordination among different stakeholders. We work with the Ministry of Social Development to scale ’Be There’, a programme by War Child that aims to improve the caregiver's psychosocial wellbeing and reduce daily stress.

Examples of potential Scaling Stories include scaling Urban95 in Israel, India, and Brazil, scaling and institutionalising support for parents of young children by enhancing the capacity of nurses in the well-baby clinics in Israel and scaling the ‘Be There’ programme in Jordan. The contract holder will develop a scaling framework that captures the Foundation's approaches and pathways to scale, research and write the case studies, and disseminate them based on a dissemination plan that leverages the Foundation’s channels and its own.

 Objectives

• Develop a comprehensive Scaling Framework that captures the progression of Van Leer’s approaches and pathways to scale
• Conduct case studies covering four countries (Israel, India, Jordan, and Brazil) to document strategies, challenges, and opportunities in scaling Early Childhood Development initiatives
• Synthesise the scaling stories within Van Leer's approaches and programmes, including Urban95 and scaling through cities and scaling through national programmes and services
• Consolidate patterns of successful strategies that contribute to sustainable scaling
• Provide actionable recommendations for scaling future Early Childhood Development programme
• Disseminate findings in an accessible and engaging format for both research-oriented and practitioner audiences.

 Methodology

We are looking for consultants to propose innovative and unique methodologies for conducting the case studies. The consultant should outline a methodological approach that includes the case studies’ structure. Additionally, the consultant will collaborate closely with our partner organisation conducting our full strategy evaluation to ensure alignment and integration of insights. We have a preference and keen interest in utilising a mixed-methods approach, including:

• Desk Review: Analyse existing case studies, evaluations, and reports on scaling from the Foundation and other sources.
• Primary Data Collection (as needed): Conduct interviews and focus group discussions (virtually or in-person) with stakeholders, including Foundation staff, partners, policymakers, and implementers.
• Comparative Analysis: Identify common and distinct strategies across the case studies to highlight transferable lessons.
• Iterative Feedback: Engage Foundation staff and key stakeholders for input at different stages.

Outputs

• Inception Report: Detailed methodology, work plan, and preliminary findings from the desk review.
• Scaling Framework: A conceptual framework capturing Van Leer's approaches, conditions for scale, and pathways to scale.
• Case Study Reports: Detailed documentation of scaling stories in Israel, India, Jordan, and Brazil, highlighting strategies, challenges, and outcomes, and including:
  • Synthesis Report: A consolidated report summarising cross-cutting themes, common scaling risks and potential routes of action, lessons learned, and recommendations.
  • Presentation & Dissemination Materials: Engaging and accessible materials for the target audience, including:
    • Executive summaries of the case studies
    • A slide deck and summary brief for wider engagement with stakeholders
    • 1-2 pager policy briefs on the cases and key themes that emerge
    • Infographics and visual aids
    • Presentations and webinars for Van Leer Foundation staff and stakeholders 

• • Background and context of each programme
  • Description of the scaling process and strategies used
  • Key team and skills involved in successful scaling
  • Challenges/obstacles to scale and sustainability that may or may not have been overcome
  • Analysis of the conditions for scale and sustainability
  • Key insights and recommendations

Eligibility

• Interested individuals and/or organisations should demonstrate their qualifications and proven experience in research, scaling social programmes, and policy analysis.

Core skills

• Expertise in various research methodologies, case study development, and ability to engage in candid, in-depth conversations with different stakeholders. Ability to manage and synthesise large quantities of information and data and find key outcomes and processes in achieving these. Ability to extract learning and insights from implementation experience and strategy decisions.
• Strong writing and storytelling skills to balance research rigour with accessibility, and ability to synthesise complex information into engaging and actionable outputs.
• Strong collaboration and organisational skills, ensuring seamless coordination with stakeholders, and ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with Foundation colleagues and country partners. We anticipate this to be an iterative process.
• Results-oriented mindset, with ability to plan projects and activities, work to tight deadlines, and manage conflicting priorities to achieve a high-quality final product.
• Knowledge of visualisation tools and techniques to present complex data in an accessible manner.

How to Apply

Please submit the following when applying for the consultancy:
Letter of Interest describing your motivation and approach to this project including proposed detailed methodology and timeline;
CV(s) and Portfolio of work stating relevant achievements and capacity to undertake the work; Budget proposal for the project, including any potential travel plans to the proposed countries.

Please send all applications via e-mail to evline.meshreky@vanleerfoundation.org by 5th of May 2025. Any questions can also be directed to this email.

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