Making All Voices Count: A Grand Challenge for Development (MAVC) brings together the Department for International Development (DFID), US Agency for International Development (USAID), Omidyar Network (ON) and other funders to create a Fund in the region of US$30-35 million, to support innovation, scaling-up and research in the use of technology to support open government and citizen engagement. MAVC will run until 2016.
This Grand Challenge for Development will focus global attention on innovative solutions and uses of technology that amplify the voices of citizens and enable governments to listen and respond effectively, with the goal of creating more effective democratic governance and accountability.
MAVC seeks a Fund Manager to identify and support work in four areas to exploit mobile, web and new technologies in support of citizen engagement and government responsiveness:
• Backing innovative ideas and technology solutions
• Building an evidence base on what works and why
• Scaling up successful initiatives and responses
• Catalyzing global attention and action around these issues
MAVC will concentrate its efforts in emerging democracies, where delivering to citizens is at a particular premium, with an expected focus at municipal and subnational levels, where citizens interact most with government.
As the lead donor and contracting authority, DFID intends to engage a Fund Manager (FM) to implement MAVC under the strategic direction of the funding partners. The Fund Manager will create financial opportunities for local organisations to compete for funding to create, implement and scale solutions that will help meet these goals.
This Grand Challenge is inspired by and supports the goals of the Open Government Partnership. The Open Government Partnership (www.opengovpartnership.org) is a new multilateral initiative aimed at securing firm commitments from participating governments against four principles: 1) transparency; 2) civic participation; 3) anticorruption; and 4) using technology and innovation to make government more open, effective, and accountable.
Expressions of interest on behalf of consortia wishing to bid for the position of fund manager of MAVC are welcome. All documentation related to this tender is available through the DFID suppliers portal. The deadline for expressions of interest (Pre-Qualification Questionnaires) is 05 November 2012 1400, only via the DFID portal.
In order to access the documentation and complete a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire, organisations need to register on the DFID portal. Once registered, organisations can access all current competitions; get automatic notification of newly released OJEU competitions; and sign up for opportunity notifications.
Please note that no direct communication regarding this competition take place between DFID staff or other funders involved, and potential delivery partners. All communications must go via the DFID Portal or potential bidders risk elimination from the competition.
To promote this procurement opportunity, we are running a second and last informational webinar on Monday 15 October at 1400 BST // 0900 EDT. At the webinar, basic information about Making All Voices Count will be presented. To participate, there are just three easy steps:
Click here: http://ac.usaid.gov/dfid
Click on “guest”
Agree to terms
You will then be linked to webinar. Please note: you will need audio on your computer in order to hear the webinar.