RFP: Research Consultant

Request for Proposal

Research Consultant

RFP No: 0003

Duration: Fixed-term consultancy - research design & implementation

Total Budget: CAD $20,000 - $25,000 (all-inclusive of fees, taxes and expenses)

Proposal Deadline: September 15, 2026, 11:59 EST.

About NEW

Newcomer Women's Services Toronto (the “Organization”) is a Toronto-based non-profit that delivers settlement, language training, employment and community programs for newcomer women. The Organization is delivering a multi-year systems-change project (the “Project”) that advances newcomer women's representation in governance and board leadership.

Project Background

The Project builds evidence on barriers to newcomer women's governance participation and pilots practical responses across five streams: (A) research and an Ontario baseline study; (B) governance tools and templates; (C) credentialing and governance-training pathways; (D) a regional community of practice and referral pathways; and (E) evaluation and knowledge-sharing.

This RFP relates to Stream A: research design, data collection from newcomer women and from organizations, analysis, and production of an Ontario baseline study, research briefs and recommendations. The research findings directly inform the Project's tools (Stream B), training and credential pathway (Stream C), and referral pathways (Stream D).

Purpose of this engagement

The Organization is seeking a research consultant (the “Consultant”) to lead the design and implementation of the Project's research component. The Consultant will design a rigorous, ethical, GBA Plus–informed research approach; collect and analyze data from newcomer women and from organizations; and produce an Ontario baseline study, research briefs and recommendations. The Consultant works in coordination with Project staff .

Scope of Work

Research design (work plan A.1)

• Develop the research design, including research questions, a GBA Plus / intersectional approach, and a data-collection plan;
• Establish ethics and privacy protocols appropriate for a vulnerable participant population (informed consent, confidentiality, secure data handling, and research-ethics review if required); and
• Conduct a literature/environmental scan of documented barriers to newcomer women's governance and board representation.

Data collection (work plan A.2–A.3)

• Collect data from newcomer women through surveys, focus groups, interviews and storytelling on governance barriers and supports; and
• Collect organizational data from employers, non-profits, institutions and governance partners on representation, recruitment, credential expectations, referral pathways and barriers.

Analysis & outputs (work plan A.4)

• Analyze the data and identify systemic barriers;
• Produce an Ontario baseline study;
• Produce research briefs; and
• Produce recommendations to inform the Project's tools, training and referral pathways.

Consultant Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience leading applied social/community research, including mixed-methods design and implementation;
• Expertise in GBA Plus / intersectional research and in research ethics and privacy;
• Experience conducting research ethically and safely with newcomers, women and equity-deserving communities, including qualitative methods such as storytelling;
• Strong analytical skills and a track record of clear, accessible research writing (baseline studies, briefs, recommendations); and
• Knowledge of governance, board representation, employment or settlement contexts (an asset).

Proposal Requirements

• Demonstrated experience leading applied social/community research, including mixed-methods design and implementation;
• Expertise in GBA Plus / intersectional research and in research ethics and privacy;
• Experience conducting research ethically and safely with newcomers, women and equity-deserving communities, including qualitative methods such as storytelling;
• Strong analytical skills and a track record of clear, accessible research writing (baseline studies, briefs, recommendations); and
• Knowledge of governance, board representation, employment or settlement contexts (an asset).

Terms and Conditions

• The Organization may accept or reject any proposal, request clarifications, or cancel this RFP at any time without liability.
• This RFP is not an offer and does not commit the Organization to award a contract.
• All research outputs, datasets and intellectual property created under this engagement are assigned to and owned by the Organization; participant data must be handled per approved ethics/privacy protocols and may not be reused.
• The successful proponent must maintain confidentiality, comply with applicable privacy law, and sign the Organization's consulting services agreement.