Consultancy consortium

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The GSDRC consortium offers leading-edge expertise in governance, conflict, social development, information management, and consultancy management. Your request will be circulated amongst our consortium partners and distributed to our wider networks and associates to ensure rapid access to the best available expertise. Projects are managed by specialist consultancy management company Coffey International Development and undertaken by a consortium comprising:


Consortium members

Coffey International Development is a specialist consultancy management company with substantial experience managing DFID resource centres and framework agreements. In the last five years, Coffey International Development has undertaken more than 80 projects for DFID, many of which have been large scale and multi-disciplinary. Coffey International Development currently manages DFID’s Economist Resource Centre and is responsible for three other DFID framework agreements in Iraq and Afghanistan. Coffey International Development is registered with the UK Institute of Management Consultancy and applies ISO 9001 certified systems to ensure consistency in the design and delivery of services in order to manage independent consultants and ensure high quality outputs. Coffey International Development works in emerging, post conflict and fragile states and has in depth knowledge of countries in Asia, the Middle East, Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, and Africa. Coffey International Development has worked with 45 international organisations on more than 200 assignments in more than 100 countries worldwide. Coffey International Development has been included in the consortium to bring expertise in the rapid and effective mobilisation of quality consultancy on demand.

 

The International Development Department (IDD) (School of Public Policy, University of Birmingham) was founded in 1964 and is distinguished by its focus on governance and its capacity to bridge the gap between theory and practice in development. As the lead institution in the GSDRC, IDD brings an embedded and experienced professional project and research management infrastructure, 40 years experience of close working relationships with donors and partner country governments, and proven capacity to translate research results into the policy agenda.  Recent and current research activities include investigations into non-state service providers, aid effectiveness (including budget support and donor harmonisation), municipal finance, the role of governments in liberalising economies, the relationships between faiths and development, and NGOs in service delivery.  IDD has carried out consultancy work for many donor agencies, including DFID.  Since 2001, IDD has managed the GSDRC in collaboration with the Institute of Development Studies.

 

The Institute of Development Studies (IDS)  is one of the world’s leading centres for research, information and teaching on development. Founded in 1966, IDS holds an international reputation for the quality of its work and the rigour with which it applies academic and communication skills to real-world policy challenges. IDS brings to the consortium 20 full time governance and social development researchers and its 50-person Information Department (the largest development knowledge services team in Europe).  In all of its work IDS aims to stimulate debate and influence the way people think about international development through effective methods of communication and dissemination.  IDS continues to pioneer new thinking on issues that are central to the continuing challenge of development.  Bringing together perspectives from disciplines as distinct as political science and social anthropology to interact creatively with the complex reality of human poverty is a key IDS strength.  Partnerships are key to the success of IDS, with the relationships forged broadening our horizons and stimulating new learning.

 

INCORE (International Conflict Research) is a joint project of the United Nations University and the University of Ulster. Combining research, education and comparative analysis, INCORE addresses the causes and consequences of conflict in Northern Ireland and internationally and promotes conflict resolution management strategies. It aims to influence policymakers and practitioners involved in peace, conflict and reconciliation issues while enhancing the nature of international conflict research.

 

Nordic Consulting Group (NCG) is a group of consulting companies based in Norway and Denmark with sister companies in Sweden, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. NGC’s global coverage affords our consortium rapid access to international and local experts with specialist skills in: good governance focusing on democratic accountability, transparency, the institution of legal frameworks and judicial controls and the protection of human rights; the planning of budgetary aid, sector wide approaches and PRSP processes; and post conflict reconstruction and humanitarian relief.

 

North South Consultants Exchange (NSCE) is a social development consultancy with offices in the UK and Egypt, specialising in the promotion of equity and social inclusion, collective action, social mobilisation and effective pro-poor service delivery. NSCE provides access to a large pool of international experts and to a substantial body of regional advisers specialising in social development in conflict and post conflict states in the MENA region.

 

Northern Ireland Public Sector Enterprises (UK) (NI-CO) has extensive experience of delivering governance projects in post conflict and politically sensitive areas. NI-CO practitioners are currently supporting governments with a range of issues including: institutional strengthening, human resource development, legal approximation, local government reform, security reform, human rights, justice reform and the development of practical approaches to transparent and accountable government.  NI-CO can call upon skilled practitioners from 11 regional government departments, a network of 26 local government authorities, and numerous civil society and research institutes.

 

The Overseas Development Group (ODG) is a UK leader in the field of social development with experience of policy-relevant research and consultancy in many areas closely linked to poverty reduction, the integration of social and economic approaches to development and empowerment of the most vulnerable groups in society. ODG core staff include social scientists, political scientists and economists with substantial experience and capacity in the following areas relevant to this call: growth, inequality and poverty reduction (e.g. Frank Ellis); health policy and practice (e.g. Janet Seeley); conflict, governance and development (e.g. Tony Pereira); gender and identity (e.g. Cecile Jackson); education and literacy (e.g. Bryan Maddox). All core staff are academics in the School of Development Studies of the University of East Anglia and are research active. The ODG receives substantial funding from UK research councils (e.g. ESRC) as well as from DFID and other funders. The ODG is a charitable company wholly owned by the University of East Anglia (UEA). Since its foundation in 1967 the Group has completed over 700 assignments in more than 70 countries. It is nationally and internationally recognised for its effective research and consultancy management as well as its strong academic record in research.

 

PA Consulting is a leading development, management, systems and technology consulting company, which has been providing consultancy services for 60 years.  Headquartered in London, PA has 3,200 consultants operating out of 40 offices in 20 countries.  PA has 60 years experience supporting public sector reform in developed, transition and developing countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe and the Americas.  PA is currently undertaking public finance management, organisational development, privatisation and infrastructure projects in more than 50 transitional and developing countries in Africa, India, the former Soviet Union, and Latin America.  Particular strengths are improving governance, public sector reform, public finance and public expenditure management, privatisation and infrastructure.  PA has extensive experience of leading reconstruction programmes in post-conflict contexts, and holds two DFID framework agreements in Iraq.

 

The Department of Peace Studies (DPS) at the University of Bradford is internationally recognised for academic and applied policy research, consultancy, and training on international peace, conflict, security, and governance issues. Established in 1974, DPS has more than 50 academic and research staff working on conflict, security and development issues and hosts five international research centres all of which have expertise and experience relevant to the Resource Centre’s work: (i) The Africa Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (AC); (ii) the Centre for Conflict Resolution (CCR); (iii) the Bradford Disarmament Research Centre (BDRC);  (iv) the International Centre for Participation Studies (ICPS); and (v) the Centre for International Cooperation and Security (CICS). It maintains a national and international network of associates, consultants and research partnerships, and through CICS has managed a Conflict, Security and Development (CSD) Framework Agreement with DFID since 2002. It also works closely with the MoD, FCO, Cabinet Office and the Conflict Prevention Pools on policy and programme development, analysis and evaluation.

 

TripleLine Consulting (TLC) is a small, value-driven consultancy firm established in July 1999 by three senior consultants. They have since expanded to nine core consultants and around 40 key associates with whom they work on a regular basis. The business has grown considerably since 1999 and in 2006 they had a turnover of approximately £1.3 million. TLC believe that there is an important market for small businesses such as theirs to build trusted relationships with clients who want a quick and reliable response, and where the client requires the services to be of a consistently high quality.

 

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