Consultancy Description

EnCompass LLC is seeking a Missing Middle Prize Development consultant for an assignment to design and implement the Missing Middle Prize, ensuring its alignment with program goals, stakeholder priorities, and best practices in prize design and management for the IDEAS team.

USAID-supported innovators often face a “missing middle” dilemma. They may grow or scale beyond initial funds or subawards but are still too small to compete for prime awards. Additionally, they often require funding with more flexibility than traditional awards can provide. The expansion of USAID Innovation Incentive Award Authority (IIAA), also known as the “prize authority,” now allows USAID to provide no-strings-attached prize funding of up to $500,000 for winners of competed prizes. The expanded IIAA provides an opportunity for Missions to offer missing middle funding to innovators, without the extensive timeline and expense that traditional acquisition and assistance requirements would make prohibitive for awards of $500,000 or less.

The Missing Middle Prize leverages this authority to address the critical gap in financing and support for organizations transitioning beyond micro-level funding but not yet eligible for large-scale institutional support. This prize initiative will incentivize innovative approaches to bridge this gap by identifying and scaling solutions that empower enterprises in this transitional phase.

IDEAS will partner with EPIC to create an APS-like prize that has the architecture for USAID to disburse prize awards to "missing middle" organizations. Other parts of the Agency could then add addenda, much like the CII Innovation BAA.

This is a remote consultancy. However, this individual will need to work with clients in the Eastern Time Zone. The individual will need flexibility to respond rapidly to client needs. Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. for any employer without sponsorship.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Proven experience in designing and managing prize competitions or similar initiatives.
• Experience drafting prize calls and calls for applications for USAID.
• Strong understanding of development finance and the challenges faced by organizations in the "missing middle."
• Excellent research, analytical, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop clear, actionable implementation plans.
• Effective communication and writing skills.

Responsibilities

• Design sessions with internal USAID stakeholders.
• Research and listening sessions with USAID-funded private sector innovators.
• Review of external research to inform prize design and implementation.
• Surface and examine examples of adjacent APS calls, such as the CII’s Innovation BAA, Research Division’s Arch Addendum, and USAID El Salvador APS for locally led innovation.
• Drafting the Prize Call and coordinating internal-stakeholder reviews.
• Sharing drafts with internal stakeholders to gather feedback.
• Developing several use cases/examples for MBIOs that might want to participate.
• Supporting EPIC with any internal clearances as feasible.
• Drafting materials to support internal USAID communications and outreach for an initial internal awareness-building campaign around the Missing Middle Prize.
• Drafting materials to support external communications and outreach to alert prospective competitors to the existence of the prize - Design sessions with internal USAID stakeholders.
• Drafting materials to support external communications and outreach to alert prospective competitors to the existence of the prize.

Experience and Skills

Required:

• Master’s degree in relevant field required

How to Apply

• Please submit CV and cover letter, and complete the application online
• Undisclosed use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs to write or generate your application materials or to submit answers to questions could negatively impact your candidacy

At EnCompass LLC, we promote, celebrate, and support a diverse and inclusive organizational culture and workforce. We are committed to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment, where all are treated with dignity and respect. We do not tolerate, and explicitly prohibit, discrimination or harassment of any kind, at any time. EnCompass also does not tolerate retaliation against individuals who report discrimination or harassment. Our continuing commitment to decisions are based only on the SOW requirements, the candidate’s qualifications, and the needs of EnCompass as a business—not on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, belief, sex (including pregnancy and related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability status, veteran status, genetic information, HIV status, family/marital/parental status, or any other status protected by the laws and regulations in the jurisdictions where we work.