Smex Seeks Researcher To Explore The Potential For Digital Money In Mena

Digital money and mobile money transfer are among the most underexploited and least integrated digital tools in the MENA region, owing in part to restrictive or nonexistent regulatory frameworks. So what exactly is the potential for digital and mobile money services and products to support social entrepreneurship, civil society, and other enterprises in the Middle East? SMEX and Innovation for Change, a group of regional civil society hubs, want to find out.
To explore this gap and how to address it, we are seeking a researcher to map the landscape of digital money in Tunisia, Jordan, Lebanon, and Morocco, including current products and use cases; barriers to adoption and integration of digital money into a broader innovation ecosystem, such as applicable legal frameworks; and opportunities to enter the market from the perspective of donors, activists, and civil society organizations. The researcher will also note innovative funding methods used by NGOs and social enterprises, and investigate how to use these methods for the sustainability of social enterprises.
During a five-month work period, from August through December 2017, the researcher will be expected to conduct both desk research and expert interviews and will be responsible for delivering an outline and interim drafts to demonstrate progress. Preference will be given to experienced researchers based in the region, but theoretically, the work can be done from anywhere. The research will be supervised by SMEX, in coordination with representatives of the Innovation for Change MENA Hub.
Instructions for Submission of Research Proposals
Interested researchers should submit a three-page proposal, in English, as follows:
On page 1, please include:

Your name, address (street, city, and country of residency), email, telephone number.
Brief bio or CV
Two references who can comment substantively on supervising your research

On page 2:

In single-spaced, 12-point text, please describe how you would approach the research process to yield the desired results. Please also detail any previous experience you have with the topic of digital money and the MENA region.

On page 3:

Please submit a timeline that includes delivery dates for: 1) an outline and working bibliography, 2) first and second drafts of the case studies, 3) first and second drafts of the report, and 4) a final deadline.
A bid that includes your pricing formula (i.e., number of days worked x daily rate). Please be sure that you can justify your daily rate.

Offers shall be submitted via email to Talar Demirjdian, research and development officer, [email protected], no later than August 31, 2017, at 12:00 pm, Beirut time. Offers received after the specified time and date will be considered late and will be considered only at the discretion of SMEX and Innovation for Change. All written proposals submitted must be valid for a period of no less than 30 calendar days from the stated closing date.
Questions and Requests for Clarification
For any questions or inquiries, please email Ms. Demirdjian, [email protected], by Monday, August 14, 2017.