A. Background
Swisscontact is a leading organization for the implementation of international development projects. Founded in 1959 and registered under Swiss law, we are an independent, politically and denominationally neutral non-profit organization. Swisscontact promotes inclusive economic, social and ecological development intending to make an effective contribution towards sustainable and widespread prosperity in developing and emerging economies. Swisscontact’s footprint is visible across 39 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. In the Central, East and Southern Africa (CESAF) region, Swisscontact has operations across nine culturally and economically diverse countries. Its project portfolio comprises of its own projects and mandated ones. Presently, in Kenya, Swisscontact supports refugees and their host community to shift from over-reliance on humanitarian support to lasting development pathways.
The Skills for Life (S4L) project seeks to strengthen the income-generating capabilities of unemployed refugee and host community youths aged between 18 and 25 years by enhancing their access to technical skills training, financial, life and literacy skills for improved livelihoods. It seeks to catalyze systemic change in vocational skills development (VSD) and employment creation by facilitating flexible, low cost, market-oriented and competency-based skills training, which serve to create pathways to decent employment for the youth. The S4L project is implemented in Kakuma Refugee Camp and Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement in Turkana County, Kenya. The project has been implemented in three phases since May 2013 and the current third phase is ending in August 2022.
The S4L project is executed within three main components:
· Technical skills component: offers training in different sectors within the labor market. These include: carpentry, masonry, welding, catering, motorcycle repair, computer and phone repair, hairdressing, bakery, electrical wiring, plumbing, tailoring, barbery, poultry management, screen printing, beadwork, weaving and soap making
· Social skills component: spearheads training focused on life skills, sexual and reproductive health, sexual and gender-based violence prevention, sports for development, work readiness and literacy, numeracy sessions
· Business support component delivers training on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, group savings and lending, business support through coaching and mentorship
See the S4L Project journey and key achievements: https://www.swisscontact.org/en/projects/s4l/project-journey
The S4L project has integrated gender mainstreaming and social inclusion in all its components through the social skills component and dedicated activities focusing on gender issues and referral pathways within the operational context. In 2019, the project undertook a Gender Analysis whose intention was to have a deeper and enhanced understanding of how gender dynamics/trajectories influence positively or negatively in the income generating capabilities of both the host and refugee youths in Turkana West where the project is situated.
It is based on the gender analysis recommendations that the project set out to enhance greater gender representation, mainstreaming and inclusion in its interventions. This has culminated in the need to carry out a gender assessment which will seek to assess the progress made towards integrating the gender recommendations by the project.
B. Objective of the assignment
The objective of the assignment is to assess the progress of the project towards actualizing the 2019 Gender Analysis recommendations. The consultant is expected to document the notable changes and progress in relation to the gender mainstreaming efforts undertaken within the implementation phase and provide feedback on possible areas for further action.
The assessment will seek to:
· Identify gender gaps, particularly, though not exclusively, for female headed households in terms of livelihood needs, constraints, opportunities, access to micro-credits and savings groups, access to business development services, enterprise development and other relevant training.
· Provide operational recommendations for strengthening the project strategy and provide key elements of gendered strategies for a new project.
C. Methodology/Tasks
The tasks of the consultant would be as follows:
· Conduct an extensive literature review: S4L project documents: Gender Analysis report, proposals, narrative reports, External evaluation of Phase II, S4L Labor Market Scans, Tracer studies, sector relevant studies on gender issues and other relevant published literature.
· Focus Group Discussions (FGDs): Undertake field visit in the project location and conduct FGDs with S4L project beneficiaries in Kakuma/Kalobeyei (refugees and host communities).**
· Key informant interviews: with S4L project team, partner agencies working on gender focused interventions of refugees and host communities, vocational skills development agencies and relevant government institutions.
D. Deliverables
· An inception report/PowerPoint presentation outlining the consultant’s understanding of the ToR, methodology, tools (interview questionnaires and KII guide), ethical considerations and workplan. This is to be submitted 5 days after signing of the consultancy contract.
· 1 brief (10 pages max) with synthesized analysis of the emerging good practices; lessons learnt on the project and sector gendered interventions. The brief should also have recommendations that can inform future programming beyond the Skills for Life Project.
· Final gender assessment report outlining the requirements as per this TOR.**
E. Timeframe
The assignment is expected to be carried out in 15 consultancy days. The consultant is expected to travel to the project locations in the field (Kakuma/Kalobeyei) and collect all relevant materials and content as needed for the assignment, subject to COVID-19 regulations or access restrictions as stipulated by the Government of Kenya (GoK) or UNHCR Kenya in relation to the access to Kakuma/Kalobeyei camps.
F. Reporting
The consultant will report to the S4L Project Manager but will work very closely and be supported by the Project Social Skills and MRM Coordinators during the assignment.
G. Ownership
Swisscontact will have the intellectual property rights of the products developed from this assignment. However, the consultant may share in full or part or modified version of the final products, as appropriate with written consent from Swisscontact.
H. Required skills and experience
The individual consultant/team leader shall have the following qualifications:
· A post-graduate degree in social sciences, developments or gender/women studies or a bachelor’s (in similar fields above) with 10 years’ experience in gender programming
· Proven track record and ability to liaise with diverse groups at different levels including policy makers, grass-root women’s organizations, field workers, technical experts, etc.
· Broad knowledge on human rights is essential, as well as experience in working on diversity and non-discrimination issues.
· Strong conceptual and analytical skills and knowledge of participatory assessment approaches and tools.
· Fluency in English and Swahili is a must, knowledge of a third international language such as French and Arabic is an asset but not a requirement.
· Excellent time management skills, with an ability to deliver high-quality outputs on time.
· Proof of having undertaken similar assignment
Application Process:
Interested consultants are requested to submit their technical proposal (methodology, framework for analysis, detailed workplan, comments to the TOR) and a financial offer describing how they are going to carry out this planned assignment, through e-mail: ke_info@swisscontact.org by 25th March 2022 at 17.00 EAT time latest.
Tagged as: Kenya, Swiss Foundation for Technical Cooperation
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