Freshwater mid-strategy review: Invitation to tender

We’re looking for someone with experience in evaluation and research, who is good at listening, comfortable working with varied sources of information, and can summarise their findings clearly and simply. Knowledge of the environment and freshwater sectors would be an advantage but is not essential.

We estimate the work will take 25 days, beginning in January 2025, and have a budget of £18,000.

Background

Launched in 2020, our strategy runs through to the end of 2027. As we pass the midway point, we want to: look back at where we started; assess where we are in 2025; and use what we learn about the changing context for our Freshwater strategy, and what progress our work and funding has made so far, to inform our future work.

We have 44 active grants and social investments under our Freshwater priority, and a further six have been made since 2020 which are now closed. For grants, we do not cover the capital costs of river and wetland restoration but do support organisations and partnerships working to improve the standards of citizen science, advocating for better policy, undertaking public campaigns, and exploring ways of involving more people in planning catchment restoration.

What the review will involve

• Desk research: this should begin with the situation in 2020, and be updated for 2025 as the review progresses. Themes will be agreed with the consultant, but should include:
  • a summary of the policy situation affecting freshwater in each nation of the UK
  • public opinion on freshwater, including the sewage scandal, water quality campaigning, and trust in water companies
  • key freshwater quality and biodiversity information
  • significant changes in context since 2020 eg key changes to policy and regulation, to data availability and collection
• A review of key learning from Esmée’s funding (both grants and social investments)
• Interviews or group discussions with key stakeholders including Esmee staff, funded organisations, public bodies (e.g. Environment Agency, NatureScot), and the private sector
• A validation workshop to test initial findings with a smaller group of stakeholders, and Esmée
• Report writing

Read the full invitation to tender

Registering your interest

If you are available for this project from January to April 2025, please email your details, including any potential conflicts of interest, and attach a CV (including day rates), and links to examples of your work to communications@esmeefairbairn.org.uk by 5pm on Monday 9 December 2024.