Request for Proposals: Economic Valuation of Welfare Entitlements

• Free private school education under the RTE Section 12.1(c)
  
• Selected scholarship schemes for school-going children (1-2 schemes)
  
• Welfare benefits for construction and unorganised sector workers under the BoCW and UWA, respectively (between 8-10 key schemes such as pensions, maternity benefits, medical reimbursements, ex-gratia payments for heat waves etc.).
  

• Develop or adapt a relevant framework for measuring the economic value of welfare entitlements listed above
  
• Develop a plan for computing the economic value through secondary research and/or original field surveys. The need for original field surveys must be discussed mutually and within reasonable budgets. For the field surveys, the economist will develop the 1 In terms of geographical scope of the value of entitlements, we are expecting an average value computed for India on the whole questionnaires and research design in collaboration with Indus Action staff, while Indus Action will implement the surveys.
  
• Compute the economic value of entitlements based on the research conducted for 2025-26.
  
• Develop a calculator for Indus Action to update calculations as metrics evolve. Share reproducible code/Excel with Indus Action.
  
• Indus Action is open to the original surveys serving the dual purpose of supporting the computation of the economic value of entitlements, and aligned, publishable research co-authored collaboratively with the consultant. Survey questions in benefit of research publications may be included by the consultant in discussion with Indus Action.
  

a) A framework document on the economic valuation of social welfare entitlements

b) Questionnaires (as required) for field surveys

c) Document with the computed economic value of welfare entitlements for 2025-26

d) Calculator (Excel-based or reproducible code) for economic valuation for future use by Indus Action

a) Provide existing information on schemes and organise internal consultations to map the social and economic benefits of different schemes.

b) Implement original surveys and conduct data analysis as per the questionnaire and data analysis plan prepared by the consultant.

Requirements

1. The ideal candidate should have a PhD or Masters degree in Economics with significant experience conducting research on economic valuation/SROI in the field of human development/health/social welfare, among others.

2. This is a consulting position. So the candidate may hold other positions (full or part-time), but must be able to commit the fixed number of days per month as mentioned in their proposal.

3. The proposal must clearly outline whether SROI or some other similar or a combination of methods are best suited to this assignment. We understand the limited data you have at this point, and will assess your proposal based on that limitation.

1. We will require a weekly check-in with the Director of Impact and Learning at Indus Action to update on progress and for planning.

2. We will review the progress made with Indus Action’s Board Sub-Committee on Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) against each milestone. The Director of Impact and Learning will anchor this process.

3. Any data shared by Indus Action must be treated as confidential.

4. You will need to have your own laptop/computer and a copy of the statistical software you intend to use if it is a paid software like STATA. We use R at Indus Action.

5. The IP for the economic valuation framework and strategy will be with Indus Action.

1. A brief proposal (max. two pages) on the most suitable analytical framework and the methods required.

2. A timeline with key milestones including the following: (a) a framework for economic valuation (b) research plan (c) field research (if required) (d) submission of a comprehensive final report with the framework, research design, and computed value of entitlements and (e) entitlements value calculator.

3. The above-mentioned milestones (or slight modifications to them based on the proposal) should be mentioned clearly along with milestone-based payments.

4. The number of person-days required for each milestone, the total person-days and the associated cost.

5. Your CV and a cover letter highlighting your previous work relevant to this assignment.