Gender Analysis Along Vegetable Value Chains Consultancy at Traidcraft Exchange

Introduction

Traidcraft Exchange (TX) in partnership with Farm Concern International is implementing a three-year project titled, Sustainable Agriculture & Women’s Advancement: Improving Livelihoods and Establishing Women led Enterprises with Smallholder Farmers in Meru County Kenya (SAWA).

The project is in the first year and Traidcraft plans to undertake a detailed gender analysis of target vegetable value chains to further identify barriers, opportunities and solutions to engaging women in active decision making at all levels. Traidcraft also plans to train project staff on gender mainstreaming focusing on gender sensitization and practices that effectively engage with women and men to help achieve the outcomes and objectives of the project. This Terms of References is intended to guide the consultant and all who will be involved in analysis and staff training.

The Project

Sustainable Agriculture & Women’s Advancement (SAWA) Project is a three-year project (September 2018- August 2021) being implemented by Traidcraft Exchange in partnership with Farm Concern International in Meru with funding from UK government, as well as donations from individuals in UK. The project aims to improve the sustainable livelihoods of 2120 smallholder farmers in Meru, Kenya. SAWA project will economically empower and improve the sustainable livelihoods of 1590 women and 530 men smallholder vegetable farmers in Buuri sub-county, Meru, Kenya. There will be a 50% increase in annual net income from sales of targeted crops. SAWA will adapt the Commercial Village Model to promote women’s entrepreneurship through collective organization, improved business skills and links with private sector and government stakeholders. The project is expected to deliver the following:

Impact: Reduced household poverty and sustainable livelihoods for smallholder horticulture farmers, particularly women in Meru County, Kenya.

Outcome: Improved economic empowerment and sustainable livelihoods of 1,590 women (30% from Female Headed Households and 70% from Male Headed Households) and 530 men smallholder vegetable farmers in Timau, Kisima, Kirua and Ruiri wards of Buuri sub-county, Meru County, Kenya.

The project expected outputs include:

• Output 1: 2120 smallholder vegetable farmers are better organized and work collectively to access markets efficiently.
• Output 2: 2120 smallholder vegetable farmers demonstrate improved production through adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.
• Output 3: 1,590 women smallholders participating in vegetable value chains have increased influence in decision-making through participation, engagement and leadership.
• Output 4: 2120 smallholder vegetable farmers have improved access to markets and better terms of trade through partnerships with government and private sector.

Purpose of The Consultancy Assignment

The purpose of this consultancy assignment is to:

• To conduct a detailed gender analysis of identified vegetable value chains to further identify barriers and solutions to engaging women in active decision making at all levels.
• To train and support project staff on gender mainstreaming - gender sensitization and practices that effectively engage with women to help achieve the objectives of the project.

Expected deliverables

• A gender analysis report
• Two-day training workshop for project staff
• Tools for assessing/measuring progress on gender sensitization and women’s economic empowerment.
• Post training evaluation report

Project documentation

Traidcraft will make available a range of relevant project documents that the consultant should refer to, primarily the approved project proposal document, the baseline survey report and progress reports.

Timeframe

This assignment is expected to last not more than 16 days and shall commence end March 2019 and shall be completed on or before 15th May 2019. It is however appreciated that the actual consultancy period will be determined by such developments as responsiveness of stakeholders’ and this will be communicated as the case may be.

Required skills and experience

To carry out the above detailed task Traidcraft is looking for an evaluator with the following skills:

• A relevant advanced degree in social science especially gender studies or relevant discipline.
• Extensive experience in applied research
• An influential communicator, with excellent written and verbal skills in both English and Kiswahili
• Over 5 years’ experience on gender mainstreaming and women’s empowerment
• Practical experience of participatory training

Proposal assessment criteria

Traidcraft will look into the following areas in assessing the quality of the proposal submitted by the bidding consultants.

Qualification, skills and experience of the consultant.

• Practical and demonstrable experience on gender mainstreaming and women’s empowerment.
• Clarity of understanding of the task at hand as described in consultants’ own words.
• Quality and relevance of methodology proposed including adequacy of tools and approaches to be used in the analysis and training.
• Value for money including comparison of proposed costs and methodology.
• Knowledge of the sector and or the type of task required.
• Availability to commence the task quickly.