RESEARCHER

INTRODUCTION

RECLAIM Sustainability! is a five-year advocacy program whose Theory of Change premises that IF we strengthen civil society; IF we increase and maintain civic space; and IF we apply gender equality  & social inclusion approach throughout all our interventions in trade and value chains; THEN this will influence the public and private sector to adopt and implement sustainability norms that will ultimately alleviate the poverty of farmers and workers.

Central to our Theory of Change is the four impact themes Decent Work, Fair Value Distribution, Natural Resource Management, and Sustainable Consumption. In addition, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI/GSI) is anchored across all programmes. The core underlying principle of the learning agenda is to identify solutions that can bring about systemic change on these themes across the 6 supply chain programmes and the Africa Food programme.  The learning agenda looks at the role that the private sector, the public sector and civil society need to play to generate impact at scale and lead to real sector transformation.

To this end, a total of 5 Thematic Learning Groups (TLG) have been formed, composed of programme staff from the RECLAIM Sustainability! partners that focus on testing and exploring our Theory of Change and fill critical gaps in our (technical) understanding of the 5 themes.

At the start of the RECLAIM Sustainability! The TLG Gender and Social Inclusion (GSI) developed and finalized the thematic learning questions, and developed a mix of learning activities, including a plan that details what learning activities will be implemented and when and how they will be implemented. Below is a summary of the aforementioned activities in relation to this consultancy assignment:

ASSIGNMENT

Development of the Gender and social inclusion research guide

• Develop a research guide (WKP 1) for the learning agenda with:
  • a step-by-step approach to incorporating voices of the marginalized groups
  • methodologies to collect evidence related to project interventions that address inequalities and power imbalances
  • clear tools that will be used to deconstruct inequalities 
  • methodology and tools to collect satisfaction of the marginalized groups

• Roll out and Build the capacity of the RECLAIM Sustainability! project teams to use the guide (WKP 1) 

Roll out the GSI Learning Agenda to inform lobby and advocacy

• Map the GSI Learning Agenda questions in support of the assumptions of the RECLAIM Sustainability! ToC

• Review the current GSI TLG learning guide and ensure that it has: 
  • clear methods for implementing the learning agenda
  • clear learning questions to focus on
  • suitable systems to foster the learning agenda
  • data points for collecting evidence for the learning questions

• Convene and present the GSI TLG Learning guide with respective data points to RECLAIM Sustainability! PMEL, project managers & G&S experts

• Develop an overarching guide that provides scope and methods for GSI learning and Knowledge Management (KM) processes that will guide Project managers

• Map out clear systems and data points for systematic collection of information that informs GSI advocacy

• Package information from data collected for effective learning of household and individual (SCAs)

BACKGROUND: LINKING AND LEARNING

The availability and application of relevant and documented evidence is the basis for successful dialogue.

We believe evidence and knowledge are critical to the success of our programme. Evidence and knowledge are closely related to Monitoring & Evaluation, Innovation, Communication to disseminate information and learnings, Capacity Strengthening, and Advocacy strategies and interventions. For innovations and learning to be successful to support advocacy different aspects are needed:

• Research
• Learning
• Knowledge Management

For this assignment, the focus is on all three which form three key elements of GSI TLG learning agenda that aims at deconstructing social norms and policies that perpetuate inequalities while using the learning agenda outcomes to strengthen the position of women, youth, indigenous groups and migrants in self-advocacy and meaningful participation. 

Intersectional feminist linking and learning: re-engaging of patriarchal and systemic power

This five-year programme RECLAIM Sustainability! aims at a radical rebalancing of power and a turn-around of rather superficial sustainability policies and practices in seven value chains and in 22 countries characterized by power imbalances and (gender) inequality.

The focus countries are Africa: Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Sierra Leon, Uganda, and Zambia; Asia: Bangladesh, China, India, and Indonesia; Latin America: Colombia, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, and Peru; Europe: The Netherlands.

There is a clear understanding that to address inequalities (a major driver of poverty), patriarchal power and unequal systemic power must be challenged. The research will therefore become a powerful tool for deconstructing power imbalances in the knowledge spaces and among stakeholders; more outward-looking than inward-facing strategy. Knowledge sharing across broad categories of civil society actors will moreover become a solution to re-balancing power in development programming.   

SCOPE OF WORK

This consultancy assignment will be divided into three (3) distinct but interconnected Work Packages (WKP). Successful completion of one (1) WKP will lead to subsequent contracting of the following WKP activities.

WORK PACKAGE 1: Development of the Gender and social inclusion Research guide

Main activities under WKP 1 are as follows:

• Develop a research guide (WKP 1) for the learning agenda with:
  • a step-by-step approach of incorporating voices of the marginalized groups
  • methodologies to collect evidence related to project interventions that address inequalities and power imbalances
  • clear tools that will be used to deconstruct inequalities 
  • methodology and tools to collect satisfaction of the marginalized groups

• Research guide rolled out and RECLAIM Sustainability! project teams trained to use the guide (WKP 1) 

Expected deliverables from the CONSULTANT for WKP 1

• A research guide (WKP 1) for learning agenda developed with:
  • a Step-by-step approach of incorporating voices of the marginalized groups
  • methodology to collect evidence related to project interventions that address inequalities and power imbalances
  • clear tools will be used to deconstruct inequalities
  • methodology and tools to collect satisfaction of the marginalized groups
• Roll out and Build the capacity of the RECLAIM Sustainability! project teams to use the research guide (WKP 1).

WORK PACKAGE 2

Main activities under WKP 2 are as follows:

• Mapping of the GSI Learning Agenda questions in support of the assumptions of the RECLAIM Sustainability! ToC

• Review the current GSI TLG learning guide and ensure that it has:
  • clear methods for implementing the learning agenda
  • clear learning questions to focus on
  • suitable systems to foster the learning agenda
  • data points for collecting evidence for the learning questions

• Convene and present the GSI TLG Learning guide with respective data points to RECLAIM Sustainability! PMEL, project managers & G&S experts
• Develop an overarching guide that provides scope and methods for GSI learning and Knowledge Management (KM) processes that will guide Project managers

Expected deliverables from the CONSULTANT for WKP 2:

• GSI TLG learning guide developed that has: 
  • Clear methods for implementing the learning agenda
  • Clear learning questions to focus on
  • Suitable systems to foster the learning agenda
  • Data points for collecting evidence for the learning questions
• The GSI TLG learning guide presented to RECLAIM Sustainability! PMEL, project managers & G&S experts (WKP2) the learning guide. 
• An overarching guide that provides scope and methods for GSI learning and Knowledge Management (KM) processes developed.

WORK PACKAGE 3

Main activities under WKP 3 are as follows:

• Map out clear systems and data points for systematic collection of information that informs GSI advocacy
• Package information from data collected for effective learning of household and individual (SCAs)

Expected deliverables from the CONSULTANT for WKP 3:

1. Clear systems and data points for systematic collection of information that informs GSI advocacy
       mapped out.
2. Information from data collection packaged for effective GESI learning of SCAs
3. Learning evidence disseminated through different virtual and offline platforms (WKP 3 – Annually)

*This deliverable is annually towards the end of every year i.e. Q4*

APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY

The consultant is requested to propose a methodology to be used to deliver the expected deliverables for each of the work packages, including a detailed breakdown of the steps he/she/they would follow to ensure a participatory, effective, and inclusive process. 

COORDINATION AND REPORTING

The successful consultant will be working under the guidance of the  Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI/GSI) Thematic Learning Groups (TLG) – GSI TLG. The GSI TLG is represented by a working group of three (3) representatives based in different countries – the Netherlands, Uganda, and Kenya. 

All reports should be sent and shared with the three representatives at all times.

EXPERT(S)/CONSULTANT(S) PROFILE

The consultancy firm/company/individual must have verifiable work experience and expertise in the field of gender-based or intersectional feminist research and learning and/or knowledge management with a particular interest in past or current expertise in advocacy programming or initiatives and more distinctively fulfill the following requirements:

• Evidently demonstrate an understanding of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) in both academia and in practice. A MUST have academic post-graduate qualification in Gender Studies. 
• Has previously conducted research for lobby and advocacy with a keen focus on power, gender, inclusion, and participatory learning
• Prior experience in linking evidence-based data and information to not only PMEL systems for reporting but also for learning and knowledge management objectives

CONSULTANCY PERIOD

#	DELIVERABLE	TIME FRAME
1.	Work Package 1	Maximum of 15-20 days
2.	Work Package 2	Maximum of 10-15 days
3.	Work Package 3	Maximum of 5-10 days

*It is advised to work with a fewer number of days in consideration that some of the activities will be conducted virtually. The above days are just tentative*

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested consultants are required to submit an EOI) containing a statement on consultancy firm /companies/individual’s experience with similar assignments, curriculum vitae, financial and technical proposals, and work plan by 2 September 2022 at 4:00 PM (CET). All applicants must meet the minimum requirements described above, those unable to meet the requirement will not be considered. 

Each EOI submission should be not more than 15 pages and include the following: 

1. A brief proposal for the training with methodology and work plan. 
2. A sample/samples of previous related work. 
3. A financial proposal with a budget with breakdowns of different costs involved, to the finer detail.
   A budget with aggregated figures will not be accepted. 
4. Updated CVs for the team (each CV not more than 2 pages). 
5. Contact details of 3 references with complete contact information (i.e. name, organization, title position, address, email, telephone). 

Subject reference GENDER EQUALITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION (GESI) RESEARCHER IN LOBBY AND ADVOCACY PROGRAMMING AND LEARNING. 

Submissions are by email to GSI TLG: Njeri.Kimotho@solidaridadnetwork.org with a copy to Catherine.Odenyo@solidaridadnetwork.org and Seth.Talvik@solidaridadnetwork.org  

Note: Canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification and only successful candidates will be contacted.