Terms of Reference – Gender Analysis

Terms of Reference – Gender Analysis

1. Background: 

Accelerating Actions to Reduce Gender-Based Violence (GARVA) is a 3.5-year project funded by Islamic Relief Canada. The project aims to reduce GBV and improve the well-being of 34,155 Women, men, girls, and boys in the Rajpur and Chandrapur Municipalities of Rautahat district. The project seeks to transform harmful gender roles and social norms by empowering women and girls, engaging men and boys in practicing positive gender norms and contributing to a reduction in the incidences of gender-based violence. Counselling/psychosocial aid and case management support will be made available to GBV survivors, besides referrals for other services and entitlements. Women and girls will receive training for planning and running income-generation activities, financial literacy, necessary technical knowledge related to the chosen trade, life skills and assets to pursue income-generation activities (agriculture and livestock and off-farm). The project will also promote/facilitate market-based vocational skills and support potential self-employment.   

Islamic Relief Nepal will conduct an in-depth gender analysis to assess the current gender dynamics, vulnerabilities, and underlying societal norms and identify contextualized existing good practices. The study should also be able to identify prevailing types of gender-based violence and protection risks associated with project intervention. The study will inform project implementation planning and execution to be gender sensitive and transformative where possible. 

Key objectives of the study:

• Assess the community-level gendered role responsibilities, time use, access to and control over resources, priorities, opportunities, needs and constraints faced in relation to each other. 
• Participation and decision-making status at household, community, organization, and government levels and opportunities for the most vulnerable especially women, girls, men and boys older people and people with disabilities, Dalits, Muslims etc. considering intersectionality)
• Diagnose gender stereotypes that have an implication on girls’ and women’s access to income generation/Entrepreneurship, education, leadership, and other services related to social protection including GBV prevention and response services in the targeted communities. 
• Identify the extent to which policies and institutional practices at the local level contain explicit provisions that treat males and females differently.
• Assess socio-cultural constraint opportunities and capacities of women and girls as well as possible entry points for reducing gender inequalities and promoting more equal relations between women and men in response to the project objectives and sectors of interventions.
• Identify measures to avoid, mitigate or manage any possible negative gender impacts of the project.
• Determine and explain the mix of strategies that will be utilized to support the achievement of project results from a gender perspective, whilst being able to respond and mitigate GBV occurrences.

2. Methodology:

The consultancy process should be impartial and independent, and it must be as open as possible with respect to the results achieved. The consultancy team should consider a retrospective and prospective approach in the process of engaging targeted respondents, and we strongly recommend use of quantitative and qualitative techniques such as open and semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, direct observation, and participatory appraisal methods. The consultant will develop the methodology and tools required for gender analysis. The consultant/s will be responsible for facilitating the following processes:

• Literature review (law, policy, Regulations, and Institutional Practices, national gender reports, most recent gender-related research and reports, and project documents)
• Develop necessary tools and matrix for primary data collection.
• Field visits to the project area  
• Consultation with potential rightsholders, community influencers and faith leaders
• KII with adult men and women government stakeholders from civil society — including women's organizations and gender experts. 
• FGD with people with disabilities, Dalit women, Muslim women, single women etc. to understand the intersectional aspect of their experiences.
• Data analysis and recommendations.
• Produce a full report with gender analysis and recommendations.

3. Deliverables: Deliverables should include the following:

• An inception report, including work plan, secondary literature review, detailed methodology/approach, potential stakeholders to be consulted and sampling, 
• A comprehensive zero draft report, which outlines the methodology and processes followed to conduct the study, and the key findings.
• Sharing of the key findings of the study with IR Nepal and partner organizations. 
• Revision of the report integrating relevant comments/inputs and subsequent submission of a final report.
• The final report should be jargon-free, clear, and understandable. The main body of the report should not exceed 30 pages and should include an executive summary, brief background, and recommendations.
• Recommendations and findings should be backed up with relevant data, referencing the data source and need to be specific. 

The structure of the report should cover the following: 

• Executive summary 
• Brief project background 
• Methodology and limitations 
• Country overview of gender analysis 
• Main findings relating to the study questions.  
• Conclusion and Recommendations 

In addition, the final report should contain at least the following annexes: 

• Terms of Reference 
• Itinerary 
• List of meetings conducted. 
• List of people/stakeholers interviewed.
• Details of the methodology 
• Summary of field visits 
• List of documents reviewed and the copy of documents if possible

4. Reporting: 

The consultant will report to the Islamic Relief Nepal MEAL Manager for study deliverables and for all issues related to the project and fieldwork.  The consultant will hold a meeting to exchange views on preliminary findings and recommendations.

5. Timeline

The anticipated duration of this assignment is 20 working days with a minimum of 10 days spent in the projects’ target locations in Rautahat. The anticipated start date is mid-October 2023 with submission of the final draft at the mid-November 2023. The final timeframe will be agreed upon with the selected consultants.

6. Payment schedule

The payment will be done as follows:

• 60% upon submission of inception report with a work plan
• 40% upon submission of the final report that is agreed upon and approved by IRN

7. Penalty arrangements:

In the event of any delay in the delivery of reports or if the quality of the reports delivered is manifestly lower than what was agreed with the contracting entity, the penalties and arbitration measures established by the contracting entities under the official terms and conditions of the contract entered with the consultancy firm shall apply.

8. How to apply

The individual or consultancy firm shall submit their proposals with the following documents by 27th September 2023 by 5:00 pm to the email: info.nepal@islamic-relief.org.np or hardcopies submission at Islamic Relief Nepal Country Office Kumaripati Lalitpur with subject line: Consultancy for gender analysis.

Proposal Assessment

• A technical proposal with a detailed response to the TORs, with a specific focus on the scope of work, proposed methodology to be used and key selection criteria for respondents.
• Organization/individual capacity and experience in conducting gender analysis in rural, urban, or peri-urban contexts.
• CVs of the team and their roles 
• The financial proposal should include a detailed budget proposal breakdown of what cost covers inclusive of relevant taxes where applicable.
• VAT/ PAN Registration Documents, Latest Tax Clearance Document (In case of submitting from Consulting Firm)
• Evidence of similar reports and References from the organization(s) for whom that work was contracted.

Required qualifications, skills, and competencies.

The lead Consultant should have at least the following qualifications:

• The minimum academic qualification is a master’s degree in Gender studies, social science, or development studies.
• Minimum of five years of relevant professional work experience in conducting gender analysis studies