ToR for Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Action Plan for CREATES and BRIDGE in East Africa at International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Objectives of the Consultancy

• The overall objective of this consultancy is to conduct gender equality and social inclusion analysis in the project areas to identify key challenges and to develop an action plan to address these challenges while creating opportunities for diverse members of the society to provide input on their needs and experiences, building capacity for stakeholders to integrate theses needs into the project activities. These actions will ensure that gender is mainstreamed in every stage of the project, from (development to) implementation to monitoring and evaluation.

Specific Activities

• Task 1: Review the two project documents and identify key entry points in terms of activities that would support gender equality and social inclusion;
• Task 2: Review the IUCN Global and ESARO Gender Policy/Strategy and and Practice to identify entry points, challenges and experiences;
• Task 3: Conduct gender equality and social inclusion analyses in the project areas to identify key challenges. The gender analysis should elaborate on gender roles in socio-economic activities and natural resource management, dependencies on natural resources, environmental degradation, women’s access to productive resources and their legal rights, as well as their influence in collective decision-making. The gender analysis should also include a review of national, regional and international gender equality and environmental mandates and policies, specifically in areas related to women’s rights, land rights, natural resource including water, climate change among others. It should explore gender dynamics across six core thematic areas: (1) legal and customary laws; (2) attitudes, customs and beliefs related to gender norms; (3) division of time, space and labour; (4) participation, inclusion and representation; (5) access and control of resources and services; and (6) environmental stressors and vulnerability.
• Task 4: Map local and national stakeholder groups to engage in project activities, including in conducting the gender analysis. As part of the gender analysis methodology, consultatons with a wide-network of in-country gender experts is encouraged. It will be important for consultants to develop a contact list of gender-related groups, women’s organisations, indigenous peoples’ rights organisations and other relevant stakeholders that participate in consultations to help ensure these stakeholders are engaged throughout the project.
• Task 5: The consultants should ensure that gender equality and social inclusion is considered and addressed as a cross-cutting component in the two projects. The consultants should ensure participatory and inclusive methods are used and gender-disaggregated data and information is collected from local consultations. The consultants are encouraged to provide inputs to the recruitment process for the following CREATES Technical Advisors: Gender Equality and Social Inclusion, Monitoring and and Evaluation and the Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS). These positions will ensure that the project activities contribute to reducing gender gaps in sectors related to the project.
• Task 6: Develop a gender action plan to guide and advise gender mainstreaming in the two projects. The gender action plan should draw upon results from the gender analysis and include actions to overcome barriers (gender gaps) identified during the gender analysis. The gender action plan should not only focus on external outcomes, but also provide guidance to the internal management and organization of the project (e.g. staff communication, reporting, monitoring and evaluation, etc.). The gender action plan for the project should provide guidance in relation to strategies; capacity building initiatives; strategic alliances with gender and women’s organizations, as well as relevant civil society organizations with strong work on gender in the project sites.

Deliverables

• The successful consultant will develop & deliver gender equality and social inclusion analysis and action plan with the specific outputs detailed below:
• Inception Report outlining the methodology, stakeholders engagement plan and work schedule within a week upon signing the consultancy;
• Draft gender equality and social inclusion analysis and action plan within 30 days after the commencement of the consultancy and;
• Final gender equality and social inclusion analysis and action plan incorporating
• IUCN and stakeholders comments within 40 days after the commencement of the consultancy.

Requirements and/or Criteria

• The successful candidate/consultant for the assignment should have the following minimum (qualifications and experience) requirements:
• The team leader should have at least 10 years of experience in Gender Equality and Social Inclusion field,
• The team leader should have a postgraduate degree, master's degree preferred in sender studies, development studies or related fields,
• Strong (proven) written and oral communication skills,
• Familiarity with the 5 basins and the socio-economic realities of these basins and Two sample work of a similar previous work is mandatory.

Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications should be submitted by February 26th 2024 and will not be accepted after the closing date.