Sexual and Reproductive Health Consultancy Short-Term Scoping Study at World University Service of Canada

BACKGROUND

Canada has recently launched a new Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP), which seeks to promote gender equality and empower women and girls in all of Canada’s engagements abroad. Canada is committed to ensuring that women and girls are not just seen as beneficiaries of international assistance, but are recognized as the actors, leaders and change agents in their communities and societies. Achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls is considered to be the most effective approach to reducing poverty and building a more inclusive, peaceful and prosperous world.

There are a number of complex problems that are a barrier to delivering universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights by 2030, as laid out in the Sustainable Development Goal 5, target 5.6: “Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights (SRHR) as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences.” Ensuring SRHR for women and girls, not only promotes their health and wellbeing but also enhances their education and economic opportunities.

In line with the new FIAP, Canada is exploring the potential to program in SRHR, including comprehensive sex education, and strengthened health systems for SRHR services such as family planning and contraception. Programming should seek to transform harmful norms and beliefs that can lead to early marriage, female genital mutilation and sexual and gender based violence in Kenya. Canadian support will be targeted to programming that plugs critical gaps, uses innovative approaches, leverages other donor support, prioritizes sustainability and provides visibility for Canada.

SCOPE OF SERVICES

The purpose of the consultancy is to assist Global Affairs Canada’s (GAC) development program in exploring and identifying different options for future programming in SRHR as described above. Major activities of the scoping exercise include:

• Analysis: Identification of the current challenges and issues related to SRHR in Kenya;
• Mapping: Mapping other donor engagements, government programs and private sector investments in SRHR programs in Kenya;
• Gap Assessment: Identification and assessment of current gaps in SRHR programing in Kenya that would align with the government of Canada’s FIAP objectives;
• Partner and Initiative Identification: Identification of specific potential partners and initiatives (including project values) that align well with Canadian objectives, respond to identified needs and complement Canada’s existing programming in Kenya;
• Recommendations: Recommendations to GAC on future programing opportunities within the SRHR space in Kenya.

METHODOLOGY

The scoping exercise will be consultative and participatory, entailing a review of relevant literature, interviews with stakeholders and a gap analysis. As part of the scoping exercise, the consultant will be expected to seek the views of key national stakeholders, including officials and designated leads on SRHR from the Kenyan Ministries of Education, Gender and Health, development partners and key players in the SRHR sector.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

The following deliverables will be expected from the Consultant;

• A draft report for discussion and comments by GAC;
• A final report incorporating comments from GAC and stakeholders, as appropriate;
• A presentation to the GAC Development team at the Canadian High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya based on the findings of the final report.

REPORTING

The key product expected from this scoping assignment is an analytical report that includes, but is not limited to, the following components:

• Title
• Table of contents
• List of acronyms and abbreviations
• Executive summary
• Introduction
• Description of the scope and methodology
• Analysis of key issues
• Mapping of key existing investments
• Identification of programming gaps
• Programming recommendations