Terms of Reference - GOGLA data: Strategy, processes and tools 

About the Call for Proposals

Context
GOGLA is the voice of the off-grid solar industry. Since 2016, it is the go-to resource for data on the off-grid solar sector and has evolved and adjusted its data work as the industry has evolved.

GOGLA uses data to:

1. Raise the profile and strengthen sector credibility - Produce trusted market intelligence that demonstrates the impact and scale of off-grid solar.

2. Deliver member value - Offer insights, market share / benchmarking, and intelligence to member companies.

3. Influence policy and investment - Provide evidence for governments, donors, and profiles/benchmarks for investors.

4. Improve internal decision-making - Track performance, engagement, and impact of GOGLA programs.
   

GOGLA undertakes three core data workstreams:

Further, GOGLA holds an array of data/info on member companies and on the ecosystem:

• GOGLA CRM

• Member profiles

• ESG performance

• VAT and duty rates per country

• Policy and programmes tracking

• Investor pitchbook

• Results of ad-hoc research

• MTR data

• Data shared by partners

• Etc.

In addition to our own publications and outputs, GOGLA data is a key input for many institutions looking at energy access, renewable energy and off-grid solar. This includes sharing our data with the World Bank on the Off-Grid Solar Market Trends Report and Tracking SDG7 initiative, with the IEA for the World Energy Outlook and with IRENA for the Off-Grid Statistics series.

Beyond being an information hub, GOGLA's work on data also directly feeds into other GOGLA roles:

• Standard setter: defining and disseminating standards for the industry (product categories, performance KPIs, impact metrics, etc.).

• Voice of the industry: GOGLA's data and knowledge pieces are relayed by GOGLA's communications and at our events.

• Advocate: GOGLA's data enables GOGLA to deliver evidence-based advocacy in its relationships with governments, investors and development partners.

• Member service provider: GOGLA data has historically also been used in different ways by its members, from informing business decisions to impact reporting.

In 2025, GOGLA has updated its strategy for the years ahead and conducted a mapping of the industry data landscape. This strategy includes a continued pivotal role for GOGLA's data in supporting the organisation's ability to inform the sector and an ambition to better use the evidence generated to enhance its advocacy activities on behalf of its members.

As the sector evolves (diversification of market segments, concentration and scaling of companies, innovative new financial instruments, data-driven subsidies, emerging business models, etc.) and the data ecosystem surrounding it changes (with new data initiatives and service providers), GOGLA needs to continue adapting and improve the value of its data services.

GOGLA's data work is funded by an array of projects and donors, with strong long-term partners but also significant constraints and future uncertainty. The data strategy needs to be informed by the financial outlook and steer towards sustainability.

It is in this context that GOGLA is seeking an individual consultant to consult with key stakeholders and review GOGLA's existing tools and processes to support the GOGLA Knowledge & Insights team in finalising its data strategy and roadmap and to provide the team with recommendations for roll-out.

The scope of the work

The consultant is expected to work as a close collaborator to the Associate Director and Data Manager in the Knowledge & Insights (K&I) team. The scope of work for this assignment falls in three main buckets:

1. Supporting the K&I team in refining the data strategy, what are the priorities for GOGLA to lead (vs partner or support)? What is GOGLA's role in the respective data initiatives (standards, cap building, collection, QC, knowledge, comms, etc). Which membership / industry segments are best served by the different data initiatives?

2. Reviewing and providing guidance on optimising data processes and tools, including how we engage with external data initiatives and data service providers

3. Support the K&I team in ensuring GOGLA makes better use of its data.

For each bucket, the scope of activities is expected to include:

1. GOGLA has an updated strategy and a definition of success for its data work but seeks support from a consultant to help more clearly define its data strategy and operational plan. This work will be in direct collaboration with GOGLA's K&I team and will include:

• Consultation with key audiences both internal (policy team, access to finance team, membership team) and external (member companies, investors, RBF providers and development partners)

• Support the K&I team in delivering a defined data strategy and blueprint for implementation

Expected deliverables:
i) Draft learnings and recommendations and
ii) Final data strategy and roadmap document (in collaboration with K&I team)

2. Review core data and insights workstreams, processes, and tools:

• Review of processes and tools in partnership with the GOGLA team and existing service providers.

• Consultation with data providers (mostly GOGLA members) and key off-takers of GOGLA knowledge products (significant overlap with consultation listed in part 1. of the scope of work) in partnership with the Data Manager

• Provide recommendations to:
  i. Optimise use of resources
  ii. Reduce reporting burden for data providers / improve value proposition for data providers
  iii. Align processes with desired outputs (see part 3.)
  iv. Enable continuous improvement and alignment towards strategy

Expected deliverable:
i) Draft learnings and recommendations
ii) Final recommendations and roadmap

3. GOGLA holds a wealth of data and knowledge content and believes it could be doing more to provide the right information to the right organisations and people. The consultant is expected to be involved in discussions on making better use of GOGLA's data and insights as it will contribute to parts 1. and 2. of the scope of work. However, this workstream will be lead by the GOGLA team.

Expected deliverable:
None – should contribute to deliverables under 1. and 2.