Individual Consultancy to conduct a gender analysis in Northwest Liberia Landscape 129 views1 applications

1. Background

Conservation International (CI) Liberia and Environment Protection Agency (EPA) have received a Project Preparatory Grant to develop a Project Document for Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded impact child project entitled, “Reducing deforestation from palm oil and cocoa value chains.”

The objective of the project is “Farming and forest-dependent communities are more food-secure, while palm oil and cocoa are produced without deforestation, through the implementation of a transformative, climate-smart landscape approach.”

This project will be implemented in four Counties of Northwest Liberia landscape including Lofa, Grand Cape Mount, Bomi, and Gbarpolu. The project has four components including:

a) Development, adoption and implementation of National and NW Liberia Landscape land-use plans

b) Promotion of sustainable production practices for food crops, palm oil and cocoa, supported by responsible value chains

c) Biodiversity loss reduction and restoration of natural habitats

d) Management, coordination, collaboration and Monitoring and Evaluation

2. Purpose of the consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to conduct a gender analysis at micro and meso levels to understand and identify current gender inequalities in Northwest Liberia landscape (Lofa, Grand Cape Mount, Bomi, and Gbarpolu Counties) and to propose measures to address the situation.

3. Scope of work

The Consultant will undertake desktop review and fieldwork in Northwest Liberia landscape to collect robust data and information on the different rights and roles of women and men at different levels, their respective access to and control over natural and productive resources, services and decision-making power and establish clear gender divisions that determine how natural resources are utilized at the household, community and landscape levels.

4. Key tasks

The consultant will work closely with CI and EPA to undertake the following tasks:

a) To assess the different uses of natural resources by men, women, girls, and boys and how these roles have changed over time; and assessing the values, beliefs, assumptions and prejudices that impact the behaviour of girls, women, boys and men; including interaction/relationships.

b) To identify the stakeholders and analyze the power structures in Northwest Liberia landscape. Identify how females and males are included and possibly excluded in the community including identifying reasons for inclusion and exclusion.

c) To identify barriers and potential to women’s and men’s participation and how both sexes are likely to benefit from the intended project outcomes.

d) To assess the policies, procedures and culture within the project targeted Counties that may enhance or hinder the promotion of gender equality.

e) To assess how the proposed project activities may potentially impact on women and men’s access and control to services, resources and decision making

f) To assess and identify ways to ensure adequate participation of males and females in the project.

g) Provide clear recommendations for possible modifications to the work plan to be gender sensitive and gender inclusive; how to mainstream gender awareness; and to enhance gender equality.

5. Deliverables

i. By 15^th October 2019 an inception report is produced and submitted to CI Liberia. The inception should include methodologies, approaches and tools to conduct the gender analysis; and a detailed work plan and schedule;

ii. By 15^th November 2019 the first draft report of gender analysis produced and submitted to project team for review and comment;

iii. By 30^th November 2019 the second draft gender analysis report produced incorporating all feedback and comments from the project team;

iv. By 15^th December 2019 a final gender analysis report is produced.

6. Period of performance

This consultancy will commence on 7^th October 2019 to 15^th December 2019.

7. Services Provided by CI Liberia and EPA

CI Liberia and EPA project leads will provide the consultant with an initial orientation and all relevant background documents prior to the kick-off meeting. Each of the institutions Project leads will be available for ongoing conversations, to clarify expectations about the process and outputs.

8. Contract Type

Conservation International will issue a fixed-price contract for this work. As per the consultant’s proposal and subsequent negotiations, the contract will include a set of fixed payments based on submission and acceptance of deliverables indicated in 5 above.

9. Location of Work

The consultant shall work from their base of operations and will be required to conduct field assessments in Northwest Liberia landscape.

10. Supervision

CI Liberia Technical Director together with respective colleagues at CI Headquarters will supervise consultant performance and be responsible for review and acceptance of all written deliverables.

11. Minimum Qualifications and experience of Individual Consultant

The successful Individual Consultant will have the following minimum requirements:

a) Education: Graduate degree or equivalent in Gender Studies, Social Science, Community Development, Development Studies or related discipline

b) At least five years’ work experience on gender equality and women’s rights in Liberia or West Africa

c) At least five years’ experience on gender mainstreaming, women’s economic empowerment and leadership, and/or developing gender strategies for development projects and programs, preferably for GEF

d) Knowledge and understanding of national level institutional, legal and policy frameworks impacting the status of women in Liberia

e) Outstanding data collection, research and writing skills: ability to review, edit and synthesize field reports, analyze data, articulate results and produce high quality reports

f) Thorough understanding of gender equality issues and best practices related to addressing gender equality issues, especially as they pertain to biodiversity conservation/natural resources management

g) Experience creating gender mainstreaming strategies, using gender analysis tools and conducting programmatic gender reviews or audits will be an added advantage

h) Strong communication and presentation skills in English

i) Ability to work efficiently and responsively within a multicultural environment and in a team;

j) Practical experience in applying GEF gender mainstreaming policy is an added advantage.

k) Professionalism: flexibility to make ad-hoc changes as and when the need arises; ability to perform under stress; willingness to keep flexible working hours

12. Submission requirements

Qualified Individual Consultants are invited to submit a proposal that must include the following:

i. Cover letter: A short (maximum one page) explaining the Consultant’s suitability including a brief description of the consultant’s recent experience on similar and/or comparable assignments;

ii. Technical Proposal (maximum eight pages) highlighting: brief explanation about the Consultant’s previous experience in this kind of work; understanding of the ToRs, the task to be accomplished as well as the methodology; and a work plan with detailed activities for completing the tasks.

iii. Financial Proposal: The financial proposal should provide cost estimates for services rendered including daily consultancy fees, accommodation, per-diems, transport cost, stationeries, supplies needed for data collection, and other costs related to data collection and data processing

iv. Recent CV of the Consultant

v. Reference: Contact details of three organizations that the consultant/firm has had similar assignments. This will be contacted during the proposal review process.

13. Instructions for Preparation of the budget

i. Format: budgets must be prepared and submitted in Microsoft Excel and explicitly show all units (e.g., labour days), unit costs (e.g., loaded daily rates), and total costs. Excel files should be “unlocked” and show all calculations.

ii. Included costs: budgets should be in United States dollars and should include lines for:

· Labour for individual expert, in person-days, multiplied by either a base daily pay or a “loaded” daily pay (e.g., inclusive of fringe benefits, other indirect costs, or fee). Proposed daily rates must be in accordance with the qualifications represented in the resumes of the named individuals.

· Other direct costs, including costs for items like telephone, internet, photocopying, small office supplies, etc. (if required).

iii. Budget Justification: a budget narrative must accompany the budget spreadsheet, justifying proposed costs.

14. Evaluation Criteria

CI and EPA will evaluate proposals based on the following criteria:

Criterion

Points

• Education qualifications – 20%
• Demonstrated experience in gender analysis – 30%
• Relevant technical expertise – Methodology and approach, key staff – 30%
• Appropriate budget, demonstrating appropriate allocation of labour days in relation to tasks and deliverables; appropriate consultant daily rates in relation to qualifications; appropriate other direct costs in relation to the scope of work; and overall cost effectiveness – 20%

15. Cost of the consultancy

The cost of this consultancy is USD 8,000 inclusive of taxes.