Request for Proposal

Research Consultant
RFP No: 0003
Duration: Fixed-term consultancy - research design & implementation
Total Budget: CAD $30,000 - $40,000 (all-inclusive of fees, taxes and expenses)
Proposal Deadline: November 3, 2026, 11:59 EST.

About CURRENT
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 academic and applied social/community research, including the design and implementation of mixed-methods research.
- PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in a relevant field such as social sciences, migration studies, gender studies, public policy, sociology, or a related discipline.
- 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

- Organizational/Research Team Profile: A brief overview of the applicant, research centre, academic institution, think tank, consulting firm, or research team, including relevant areas of expertise.
- Lead Researcher Qualifications: Identification of the lead researcher(s), including academic credentials. A PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in a relevant field such as social sciences, migration studies, gender studies, public policy, sociology, or a related discipline is preferred.
- Relevant Research Experience: Demonstrated experience leading rigorous academic and applied social/community research, including mixed-methods research design, data collection, analysis, and knowledge dissemination.
- GBA Plus and Intersectional Approach: Description of how GBA Plus, intersectionality, and relevant gender-responsive frameworks will be integrated throughout the research design, analysis, and reporting.
- Research Ethics and Privacy: Description of the proposed approach to informed consent, confidentiality, data protection, participant safety, and Research Ethics Board (REB) review. Applicants should indicate their capacity to facilitate and secure REB approval, where required, in collaboration with the Organization.
- Experience with Priority Populations:



Demonstrated experience conducting ethical and culturally responsive research with newcomers, women, and/or equity-deserving communities.
- Work Plan and Timeline: A proposed work plan outlining key activities, milestones, deliverables, and timelines.
- Research Team: Names, roles, qualifications, and relevant experience of key personnel who will undertake the work.
- Previous Work: Two to three examples of relevant research projects, reports, publications, baseline studies, policy briefs, or similar work.
- Budget: A detailed budget outlining professional fees and any anticipated research-related expenses.
- References: Contact information for two references from organizations or institutions for which the applicant has completed comparable work.

Lead Researcher Qualifications: Identification of the lead researcher(s), including academic credentials. A PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in a relevant field such as social sciences, migration studies, gender studies, public policy, sociology, or a related discipline is preferred. Submit a CV for the Lead Researcher

Proposal Length: Proposals should not exceed 8 pages, excluding the, CVs/bios, references, work samples, and detailed budget.
Research centres, academic institutions, and think tanks are particularly encouraged to apply, given the anticipated need for Research Ethics Board (REB) approval. The successful proponent will be expected to work collaboratively with NEW to facilitate and secure the necessary ethics approval.”

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.
- Institutional and Research Ethics Capacity:

Research centres, academic institutions, think tanks, and other qualified research organizations are encouraged to apply. Given the nature of the research and the involvement of human participants, preference may be given to proponents with the institutional capacity to facilitate and secure Research Ethics Board (REB) approval, where required. The successful proponent will be expected to work collaboratively with the Organization to complete the applicable research ethics review process prior to commencing participant data collection.

📌 RFP: Research Consultant (North York)
🏢 Newcomer Women's Services Toronto
📍 North York