--- title: "Request for Proposals: Evaluation Consultant - Leadership Exchange Programme " date: 2025-11-21T15:22:45Z modified: 2025-12-03T12:02:24Z permalink: "https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/2025/11/21/request-for-proposals-evaluation-consultant-leadership-exchange-programme/" type: post status: publish excerpt: We are seeking an evaluator for Round 3 of the Leadership Exchange Programme to understand how the Programme is helping to fast-track, scale and replicate cultural policies in participating cities. The evaluation will also support our storytelling around the role of culture in urban policy and value of global collaboration. The evaluator will also provide impact analysis as well as analysis of the strengths and opportunities for improvement for the Leadership Exchange Programme.   wpid: 175800 categories: - JOBS - Leadership Exchange topic: - Leadership Exchange featured_image: "https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/alvaro-reyes-qWwpHwip31M-unsplash-scaled.jpg" timestamp: 2025-12-03T12:02:24Z tags: - JOBS - Leadership Exchange --- ## **Deadline for submission: Friday 12 December 2025, 17h00 GMT** ![City cultural practitioners share ideas in Lagos](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/LEP-Lagos-1.jpg) 1. **Background & Context** World Cities Culture Forum is the leading global network on culture in cities with over 45 cities across six continents. Founded on the principle of generosity, we believe that as city leaders, we can achieve more by working together. Our cities share their best ideas and solutions to build a world where culture is at the heart of thriving cities. We have established the idea that culture is a golden thread in cities: supporting communities, improving health and wellbeing, attracting tourists and boosting economies. We are a charity, regulated by the UK Charity Commission. The **Leadership Exchange Programme** is a grant-funded initiative by the World Cities Culture Forum that enables city leaders from our network to take part in **study visits**, **deep-dive** into shared urban challenges, **share ideas**, and **scale** **innovative cultural strategies globally**. By supporting in-depth study visits, the programme **accelerates learning**, **helps cities grow in confidence** **and** **ambition**, and leads to the **fast tracking** of practical solutions back in participants’ home cities Launched in 2018, the Programme has empowered more than 185 leaders from 22 global cities to drive lasting change through 11 exchanges. The impact of the previous rounds of the Programme can be found [here](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ImpactReport_Published_LEP_WW_18.10.23-2.pdf). Now in its third round, the Programme will support **seven** exchanges across **19** cities in Asia, Latin and North America and Europe. The Exchanges will take place throughout 2026. Selected Exchanges for Round 3 can be found [here](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/post/announcing-third-round-of-leadership-exchange-programme.md). 2. **The Opportunity & Scope of Work** We are seeking an evaluator for Round 3 of the Leadership Exchange Programme to understand how the Programme is helping to fast-track, scale and replicate cultural policies in participating cities. The evaluation will also support our storytelling around the role of culture in urban policy and value of global collaboration. The evaluator will also provide impact analysis as well as analysis of the strengths and opportunities for improvement for the Leadership Exchange Programme. The evaluator will work closely with the World Cities Culture Forum team as well as the nineteen cities participating in Exchanges taking place in 2026. World Cities Culture Forum is seeking to understand the value of the Leadership Exchange Programme in, but not limited to, the following areas: 1. Strengthening the evidence base for replicating successful policies across global cities 2. Value of the exchanges to participants’ personal and professional development 3. Impact of exchanges on participating cities policy and strategy **Part 1: Evaluation Framework & Methodology – deadline end February 2026** Design and develop an evaluation framework, methodology, materials and templates for Round 3 of the Leadership Exchange Programme, including: - What metrics should be evaluated, the methods for collection and collection templates for: 1. Pre-Exchange 2. During Exchange 3. Post Exchange (up to 36 months after completion of Exchanges) - It is expected that some of the data collection will be administered by the World Cities Culture Forum team. The evaluator should therefore provide practical guidance for implementation, including tools and templates (e.g. online questionnaires) - The evaluator is expected to conduct interviews with participants in line with the framework developed above **Part 2: Interim update report – deadline mid-September 2026** - An update report should be shared with the World Cities Culture Forum team with emerging learnings that will be discussed and disseminated at the World Cities Culture Summit in October 2026. - This should include Exchanges that have taken place in 2026 so far, and a light touch update (desk research or digital questionnaires) for Exchanges in Rounds 1 and 2. **Part 3: Written report and executive summary – deadline March 2027** Providing: - An overview of key metrics - Description of evaluation methods and process - Impact of the Exchanges on the key areas identified above, including key metrics and findings - Case studies and stories outlining key impacts and outcomes of each Exchange - Recommendations for monitoring impact and evaluation of the Exchanges beyond the completion of this contract (see Part 1) - Lessons learned, recommendations and opportunities The report should be practical and in plain English to reflect our global audience The written report will provide the basis for wider dissemination of the Programme’s impacts and outputs, including the Leadership Exchange Programme Impact Report 2027, a digital report that will sit on World Cities Culture Forum’s website. It will also inform policy briefings and ‘how-to’ guides. **Part 4: Final update report – mid-September 2027** - A short briefing document to reflect any updates from between March and September 2027 for dissemination and discussion at the World Cities Culture Summit in October 2027. 3. **Consultant Experience** The selected consultant will be expected to demonstrate: - Significant experience in evaluating grant funded programmes - Experience of working in international or cross-cultural contexts - Experience with public sector or government programmes and an understanding of challenges faced by city governments, especially in culture and the creative industries 4. **Timescale** The table below outlines the key milestones for this commission: | **Milestone** | **Timeline** | | --- | --- | | Deadline for responses to tender | 12 December 2025 – 5pm (GMT) | | Notification of successful applicants | 15 December 2025 | | Interviews | w/c 5 January 2026 | | Appointment of consultant | 9 January 2026 | | Completion Part 1 | End February 2026 | | Completion Part 2 | Mid-September 2026 | | Completion Part 3 | March 2027 | | Completion Part 3 and contract ends | Mid-September 2027 | 5. **Your Proposal** Your proposal should outline: - A summary of your relevant experience in relation to the tender, including examples of comparable past work. - Your approach to the opportunity, including suggestions for questions this evaluation should address. The proposed approach should be clear, practical, and feasible, showing understanding of the Programme objectives and the time and capacity constraints of participating partner cities. - Your approach to delivering the requirements detailed in the Scope of Work, including a breakdown of consultancy days, associated fees, and a proposed payment schedule. - A brief biography of the lead consultant and/or core team members. - At least two references from similar contracts. The total proposed costs must not exceed **£20,000 GBP** (excluding VAT). Please do not exceed **5 pages** **of** **A4** **including your budget**. Examples of previous work may be outside of this page count. 6. **Appointment Criteria**: Applications will be assessed against three main criteria: - Methodology and approach (40%) - Experience (30%) - Cost (20%) - Added value, clarity and overall quality of proposal (10%) Cost will be evaluated based on value for money and alignment with the project tasks. We are committed to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion. Applications are welcomed from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith, or disability. 7. **Deadline for proposals** Proposals should be sent to [maryam.shariff @worldcitiescultureforum.com](mailto:maryam.shariff@worldcitiescultureforum.com) by **17h00 GMT** on **12 December 2025**. Download application criteria as a PDF: [Evaluation Consultant- Leadership Exchange Programme ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Request-for-Proposals-Evaluator-for-Leadership-Exchange-Programme-Round-3-v2.pdf)