Title of Consultancy: Global Corruption Barometer Survey in the Pacific Islands

Application Closing Date: 25th of September 2026

Consultancy Start and End Date: November 2026 to May 2027

BACKGROUND

Transparency International (TI) is a global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption. Through more than 100 chapters worldwide and an international secretariat in Berlin, Germany, TI raises awareness of the damaging effects of corruption and works with partners in government, business and civil society to develop and implement effective measures to tackle it.

As part of the 11th edition of the Global Corruption Barometer (GCB), the Transparency International Secretariat (TI-S) in Berlin is looking for a Service Provider to conduct the GCB survey in several Pacific Island States. The second edition of the GCB Pacific aims at measuring respondents’ perceptions, experiences and attitudes towards corruption and compare progress against the results obtained in 2021 (see final report and results here).

OBJECTIVES

The GCB provides accurate, reliable data grounded in sound methodology, measuring people's perceptions of corruption in their country, how corruption levels have shifted, which institutions are most affected, and people's direct experience with bribery across various sectors and services. Perceptions carry weight of their own: they reveal where trust in institutions is breaking down, often surfacing problems long before they show up in official statistics, and they put the everyday experience of citizens at the center of the corruption debate. The survey also captures public assessments of how well governments are tackling corruption. Ultimately, the GCB is designed to inform policy and track how corruption evolves in a region over time, including progress toward SDG 16.5 on reducing corruption and bribery.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES AND TIMELINE

METHODOLOGY.

The survey is to be conducted amongst the adult population, i.e., citizens older than 18 years, in up to 11 of the Pacific island countries: the Federal State of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu. Service Providers may bid solutions in one or more of these countries, but TI-S strongly encourages bids with the highest possible country coverage.

TI-S acknowledges the complexity of carrying out surveys in the socio-demographic context of the Pacific region. Service Providers are thus asked to describe in their proposals the suggested methods of data gathering, which they deem both sound and feasible in each country considering the local constraints e.g., population density and dispersion, internet and phone penetration, etc.

While the GCB normally relies on a multi-stage sampling method, which includes sampling by clusters stratified by region (urban or rural) and random selection of the cases, given the socio-demographic conditions, providers can also bid with alternative sampling designs per country, aiming, however, at probability sampling whenever possible.

Proposals that contemplate an OMNIBUS survey should clearly state this in the application and ensure that the length of the final questionnaire does not exceed 40 minutes (excluding socio-demographic classification questions). In addition, the Service Provider should guarantee that a questionnaire section rotation system is put in place.

QUESTIONNAIRE.

The GCB questionnaire is composed of 2 sections: a core set of questions applied across different regions and editions of the GCB, and a section aiming at capturing regional corruption-related issues. The GCB questionnaire is, on average, 15-20 minutes long and does not contain any open-ended questions that would require post-fieldwork codification. These characteristics should be observed as a reference for pricing.

TECHNICAL PROPOSAL.

The Service Provider is expected to submit a proposal covering at least the following items:

Service provider background:

  • Company background: the bidders must prove at least 3 years of experience in the provision of similar services in the region. The submission should include a description of their projects detailing the date of submission, duration and the scope of the tasks performed. In addition, the bidder is to submit a list of at least 3 client references.
  • Team Background: interested bidders shall also submit details on the size, composition, and experience of the project team along with identification and contact details for all the national affiliates who will be responsible for conducting the fieldwork locally. The bidder is expected to submit the resume of the team members involved in the project.

Methodology and working plan:

The Service Provider is expected to submit a full methodology and working plan upon application. This must include:

  • A description of sampling methods, including selection criteria, gathering technique, coverage, collection tools and sample design (reporting sample size, oversampling, non-response, sub-sampling and weighting). In addition, the bidder is to explain their strategy to control for selection bias due to uneven selection probabilities. If sampling methods differ by country, this information is to be provided for each case.
  • A description of the fieldwork preparation, supervision and reporting including interviewer selection and training, pilots, supervision and working schedule. In addition, a standardised recording of outcomes that allow the eventual production of response rates corresponding to the standard ESOMAR/AAPOR system are to be included.
  • A declaration that the population statistics at the chosen regional level will be prepared and shared with TI-S for each country, in due time after the sign-off of the service contract.

TIMELINE.

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2026:

  • Bidder selection
  • Final questionnaire with local sections included
  • Questionnaire translations

NOVEMBER 2026:

  • Questionnaire script programming
  • Survey manual
  • Fieldwork preparation and schedule set-up

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2027:

  • Pilot Interviews
  • Fieldwork
  • Data delivery at 10% and 50% of the fieldwork

MARCH 2027:

  • Final data delivery and quality checks

APRIL 2027

  • Technical report summarising the fieldwork

RESPONSABILITIES.

The Service Provider is expected to work in close contact with the Research Team at TI-S and to fulfill the following tasks:

  • Methodology: the Service Provider must design the sampling technique, detailing the sample distribution across the countries, the proposed stratified sample allocation, the household selection approach and the sampling unit selection method.
  • Questionnaire translation: the Service Provider is responsible for procuring and ensuring the quality of the questionnaire translation unless a translation is provided by TI-S. TI-S will share all this information with its National Chapters in the region, wherever present. The Service Provider is also responsible for providing necessary translations for all trainings.
  • Programming questionnaire script: the Service Provider is expected to programme and ensure that all the questions in the script match the provided questionnaire. The final script, including appropriate coding elements and logic/skip patterns, must be reviewed and approved by TI-S prior to the fieldwork.
  • Pilot interviews before fieldwork: the Service Provider should conduct pilot interviews with 10 respondents in each country. The pilot must ensure that the translation is correct, the questions are appropriately phrased for the local environment and that they are understandable by the respondents.
  • Fieldwork kick-off and interviewers training: the Service Provider is expected to prepare the training for interviewers and the fieldwork schedule with prior TI-S approval. The fieldwork manual should contain clear instructions for the interviewers on how to approach respondents and how to ask the questions, as well as the procedures of random selection of cases -if applicable- and ways to proceed when respondents fail to understand concepts and questions. Additionally, TI-S and its local Chapters reserve themselves the right to accompany the fieldwork kick-off.
  • Fieldwork report: the Service provider shall notify the progression of the fieldwork, reporting the rate of response, the expected vs. collected cases, and the sample distribution according to the socio-demographic variables (gender, age, region and SEL). One weekly report updating the quota and number of cases collected per country should be delivered by the Service Provider. TI-S strongly encourages the provision of online quota control solutions, such as platforms to control the fieldwork in real time.
  • Fieldwork supervision: The proposal must include specific plans for quality control, such as the percentage of data to be back checked (at least 10 percent), the portion of the sample to be witnessed by a supervisor and any other means of quality monitoring, such as IT-driven solutions (i.e. tracking of interviewer activity based on time, etc.).
  • Database: the Service Provider is to deliver three sets of Databases according to the fieldwork progression. The three instances will be at a) 10% b) 50% and c) 100% of the fieldwork. The expected formats for the databases are .sav and .xls compatible with SPSS and Excel respectively. These databases shall be prepared for their use with value and variable labels in English. We invite suppliers who hold a platform to download the data collected in real time to include it in the proposal. The weighting of the sample ought to be included in the last database delivery.
  • Final technical report: A summarised report describing the challenges encountered during the fieldwork should be delivered in accordance with the ESOMAR/AAPOR standards. A sample of such Technical Report can be accessed here.

REPORTING AND MODIFICATIONS.

The service providers must submit all the reports, presentations and communications in English. The amendments to the project must be communicated to and agreed with TI-S before implementation. No changes are allowed without TI-S’ written approval.

SELECTION CRITERIA

TI-S will take a holistic approach for the selection of the Service Provider and will base its decision on the following criteria:

  • experience of conducting public opinion surveys on politics, governance and/or other public policy related topics in the Pacific Islands
  • experience of managing multinational surveys across the region and, in case not all countries are covered by the Service Provider directly, experience working with sub-contractors
  • the methodological design and the strategies to ensure data quality given the challenges in the region
  • sufficient staff and expertise both at the coordination and national levels to deliver the project, as well as an assigned project manager.
  • demonstrated ability to complete the work in agreed timeframes / substantiated through references
  • political neutrality and adherence to national laws
  • suitability between the expected deliverables and the total price of the project

REMUNERATION AND COSTS

The Consultants should provide their estimated total fee as a lump sum or as standard daily or hourly rates.

For candidates based in the EU, EEA, UK, and Switzerland

Transparency International e.V. (Secretariat), (TI-S) is registered as a Business Entity in Germany with VAT identification number DE273612486. EU reverse charge applies. Service providers should issue invoices with zero VAT.

Candidates who are based in Germany and do not charge German VAT must confirm their small entrepreneur status.

HOW TO APPLY

The application should include the following documents as part of their proposals in English:

  • background and experience of the Service Provider, including three samples of relevant previous work and references (confidentiality guaranteed)
  • information about the project team (bios and relevant experience) and any local fieldwork providers
  • recommended methodology and sampling plans by country
  • details on the quality controls procedures
  • business proposal with quotes, including full cost breakdown by country
  • project timeline
  • completed VAT Form for Tenders/Vendor Form

Please indicate “GCB Pacific” in the subject line of your email application. Applications should be sent in English by email to Roberto Martinez B. Kukutschka at pacificstudy@transparency.org by close of business of 25/09/26.

Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

The Transparency International Secretariat is committed to creating an inclusive work environment where diversity is valued and where there is equality of opportunity. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and therefore welcome applications from qualified candidates of all regions, countries, cultures, and backgrounds.

Selection of candidates is made on a competitive basis, and we do not discriminate based on national origin, race, colour or ethnic background, religious belief, sex, gender identity and expression or sexual orientation, marital or family status, age, or ability. We kindly ask applicants to refrain from including in their application information relating to the above as well as from attaching photos.

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