Terms of Reference (TOR) – Conducting gender assessment on NEXUS Consortium Member Organizations – Mogadishu, Hargeisa and Garowe

 

Terms of Reference (TOR) – Conducting gender assessment on NEXUS Consortium Member Organizations

Location: Mogadishu, Hargeisa and Garowe

Application Deadline: 25^th May-021

 

Send documents To: CSS.LOGISTICS@savethechildren.org

Background

NEXUS is a platform for change in response to the contemporary challenges to Somalia and Somaliland. The main goal of NEXUS Consortium is to transform humanitarian, development and peace ecosystem. The consortium, led by eight pioneering Somali NGOs, aspires to advance a locally driven agenda for change by building partnerships between communities, civil society and the public and private sectors as well as through the implementation of integrated and sustainable interventions across the triple nexus of humanitarian, peace and development.

The NEXUS platform in Somalia/Somaliland was formed in 2019 and it is comprised of eight core members: Centre for Peace and Democracy (CPD), Gargaar Relief and Development Organization (GREDO), Horn of Africa Voluntary Youth Committee (HAVOYOCO), KAALO Aid and Development, Save Somali Women and Children (SSWC), Social-Life and Agriculture Development Organization (SADO), Taakulo Somaliland Community (TASCO) and Wajir South Development Association (WASDA).

 

Nexus core members possess wide-ranging technical capacities and represent communities across all Federal Member States of Somalia and Somaliland. Nexus has two international partners who are committed to the localization agenda – Oxfam and Save the Children – and who will support Nexus during its first three years.

By breaking the silos of humanitarian aid, development and peacebuilding and by creating much- needed spaces for local organizations to lead the way in seeking, scaling and integrating solutions across these sectors, Nexus proposes local leadership as more than a means of realizing localization commitments – but as a revolutionary reform to the international systems at play in Somalia.

 

The NEXUS Institutional Development Unit (IDU) is one of NEXUS’ 5 pillars and is a mechanism for organizational strengthening that leverages the collective experience and expertise of Nexus partners to enhance the capacity of Somali civil society to deliver responsive, integrated and community-owned interventions. As part of the IDU, and with support of Save the Children, the Nexus Platform is looking for a consultant to undertake a gender assessment on its eight (8) member organizations. The gender audit aims to map women’s influence on humanitarian decision making by asking learning questions on how women and girls are consulted and involved in decision making in the design, implementation and evaluation of their humanitarian programmes.

2. The purpose of the study

The purpose of the study is to identify and understand NEXUS members’ approaches to gender, the meaningful participation of women and girls in the programming as well as their leadership and map recommended actions that will support gender equality approaches and women’s leadership in future NEXUS programming.

Specific objectives

• Assessment of organization gender equality approaches and gender equality practices (Document organization’s history on gender equality/ position and practices current commitments available policies and guidelines. Find out practical concrete evidences)
• A comprehensive review of the programme approaches to gender equality and equity and women’s leadership by NEXUS member organizations.
• Assessment of organization staff (leadership/management, project staff and gender focal points) understanding of gender equality and equity mainstreaming as well as their capacity to implement both gender mainstreaming and gender stand-alone programmes
• Identification of the current challenges and areas of concern related to gender and women’s leadership, both in the organizational practices as well as in their areas of work.
• Formulate recommendations to ensure NEXUS members’ projects effectively address identified gender gaps and promote women and girls’ meaningful participation and leadership.

3. Scope of the assignment

The consultant will specifically focus on the strategies NEXUS members have in place and potential gaps to be addressed to strengthen approaches to strengthen gender equality and women’s leadership as part of the organizational practices and in project implementation. The audit will provide actionable recommendations to deliver on gender equality commitments in practice.The sucessful candidate shall travel to Garowe, Mogadishu and Hargeisa for the assignment with no logistical facilitation of SCI, further the consultant should contain all costs including relevant taxes.

4. Proposed methodology of the Gender auditing consultant.

In each of the above areas, the consultant is expected to

• Review the gender mainstreaming policies/strategies/plans that inform the current practices of the eight NGOs against gender equality criteria.
• Assess the performance of the eight Nexus member organizations in terms of gender equality, women and girls participation and leadership by reviewing current project documentation, design and implementation in terms how it is addressing gender equality (e.g. are projects based on gender analysis, are gender issues identified in MEAL processes, how much budget is invested in gender mainstreaming work, who supports work on gender, accountability systems in place on gender, HR procedures, communication materials etc).
• Conduct Focus Group Discussions with the organizations’ male and female staff both at national and field level to gauge current capacity and capacity development needs, beliefs and attitudes around gender equality. Conduct Key Informant Interviews with organization’s gender focal persons as well as with organization leadership and managers.
• Develop practical recommendations for mainstreaming Gender Equality and women and girls’ meaningful participation and leadership together with the organizations in a participatory workshop and that can be integrated in the NEXUS IDU.

5. Deliverables

The consultant is expected to deliver;

1. Inception report detailing the methodology the consultant will use, the budget, and work plan.
2. A gender audit report indicating the strengths and weaknesses regarding gender and women’s leadership that the core NEXUS member organizations have with clear strategies and recommendations on how to address weaknesses, taking into consideration all of the above.
3. The final report outline should be as proposed:
4. The executive summary providing the background, major conclusions about the recommendations, and lessons learned (total 2-4 pages).
5. The main report (around 30 pages without annexes) of which a substantial part will be the main conclusions and recommendations. These should be substantiated with more detailed information only to the extent necessary.   Detailed findings should be referred to the annexes. Conclusions and recommendations in the main report should have references to the relevant findings in the annexes.

III.       The annexes should provide all information necessary to substantiate major conclusions and recommendations in the main report. The Terms of Reference, the teams’ itinerary, list of persons interviewed, and list of documents used should be annexed.

6. Management and supervision of consultancy

The consultant will report to SCI/Nexus, with day-to-day supervision by the NEXUS Institutional Development Unit Manager and the Save the Children Partnership advisor.

7. Application procedure and requirements

Proposal submission Interested and qualified (individual or institutional) consultants are invited to submit their proposal(s) comprising the following:

1. a) Technical proposal – including but not limited to:
   • Consultants understanding of the assignment and context
   • Approach to the assignment
   • Methodology and work plan for performing the assignment.
   • Deliverables
   • Work plan
   • Key staff bio data
   • A details of experience of previously conducted similar assignments, capacity to undertake the assignment.
   • Curriculum Vitae including of the Lead person plus three professional references
   • Registered legal documents

1. b) Detailed reference list indicating the scope and magnitude of similar assignments.
2. c) At least 3 references from previous clients.
3. d) Registration and other relevant statutory documents
4. e) Financial proposal showing clearly the budgeted cost for the work to be conducted by the consultant under the scope of work above.

8. Qualifications

The Lead consultant should have the following qualifications and experience:

• An advanced degree in Gender studies, Social Sciences, Development or related fie
• At least seven (7) years’ experience in development, management and /or monitoring Gender programmes.
• Experience in conducting gender audits for businesses and/or organizations, especially local/national humanitarian or development organizations.
• High level of professionalism and an ability to work independently under tight deadline
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• The lead consultant must have strong analytical skills and ability to clearly synthesize and present findings, draw practical conclusions, make recommendations and to prepare well-written repo
• Demonstrated capacity to deliver in the timeline outlined.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Desired: Experience in Somalia/land and working with consortia (of local/national humanitarian or development organizations).

9. ETHICAL CONDUCT

The consultant is expecting to uphold all ethical considerations throughout this exercise including adhering to Save the Children policies and procedures especially the child safeguarding policy [See Annex]

10. Duration of Service.

The gender audit is expected to be completed upon mutual agreement, within 30 days starting from the date both Save the Children and the selected consultancy firm/company signed the agreement fully.

 

11. How to apply

Interested firms/ individuals should at minimum share the below documents for evaluation

1. Technical and financial proposals with detailed work plan
2. similar contracts –signed and stamped scanned copies to be shared
3. Firm staff / individual CVS

Share your documents with email; CSS.LOGISTICS@savethechildren.org with the subject line of the email body “gender assessment on NEXUS Consortium Member Organizations”. Deadline for submission is 25^th May 2021 at 10:00AM.

 

 

Follow us on Social Media:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/QaranJobs.so

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/somaliajobs

Linkedin: https://so.linkedin.com/company/qaranjobs

Twitter: https://twitter.com/QaranJobs

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qaranjobs