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South Sudan: Gender Assessment Survey Consultancy

Oct 11, 2020 | World Vision
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Fortifying Equality and Economic Diversity for Resilience (FEED II) is a five-year project (2020-2025) funded by the Global Affairs Canada. In close collaboration with World Food Program (WFP), World Vision, along with CARE and War Child have formed a consortium that builds on learnings and experience implementing a food security, livelihoods and gender equality project in South Sudan. The ultimate goal of FEED II is to see reduced inequalities between women and men in access to and control over resources to enhance food security in South Sudan. The project aims to achieve this goal through the following intermediate outcomes; a) Improved participation of women and girls in managing common threats to food security, b) Improved use of female-friendly agricultural and business practices that promote sustained income generation and management of natural resources and finally, through the c) Improved, equal and safer environments for women’s participation in leadership.

The project will enhance women’s and girls’ skills and leadership in managing threats to food production, such as drought, flooding and conflict. The project will also provide women with agricultural and business training and contribute to reduced gender-based violence. The intervention will directly serve approximately 284,821 people (164,368 women, 46,552 men, 19,337 female youth, 5,477 male youth, 9,669 girls and 2,738 boys) from 2020 – 2025. It will be implemented in Central Equatoria, Western Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Warrap, and Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Western Bahr el Ghazal and in Jonglei states. This is the second phase of the project FEED I, which was implemented from 2015 – 2018.

The purpose of this gender analysis for FEED II is to identify key gender equality issues that may inhibit the ability of the project to reduce the inequalities between women and men related to food security. It will also uncover emerging opportunities that will assist in achieving greater women’s empowerment. It also aims to respond to some of the recommendations from the FEED I Final Report, namely, to have context-specific information in order to fully understand the gender norms, barriers, entry points and most appropriate implementation strategies for women and men. The Terms of Reference herein has been developed to determine the extent and nature of gender inequality in the target areas. The recommendations from this analysis will help FEED II to implement gender-transformative, household and community-based interventions leading to active and meaningful participation and leadership of both women and men and female and male youth to ensure gender equity in access to, control over and benefit from FSL initiatives.

Overall Context for Gender Equality, Food Security & Livelihoods in South Sudan

The high levels of acute food insecurity continue to be driven by the cumulative effects of national and localized conflicts, heavy reliance on unpredictable and poor rainfall performances, associated population displacements and prolonged years of asset depletion. These factors have contributed to insufficient crop production, with only 52 percent of the national cereal need being met by harvests[1]. The South Sudan Food Security and Nutrition Monitoring Bulletin (2017) by the South Sudan FSL cluster reported that only one fourth (26 percent) of the households were found as having acceptable food consumption, while 44 percent had poor consumption and 30 percent were in borderline consumption group. The report noted that proportion of households with poor consumption increased from 28 percent to 56% in Western Equatoria, from 20 percent to 40 percent in Central Equatoria and 19 percent to 37 percent in Eastern Equatoria compared to the previous year. Other notable increases were observed in Western Bahr el Ghazal (12 percent to 47 percent), Warrap (19 percent to 44 percent) and Jonglei (23 percent to 45 percent). On average, adult members of the households were eating only 1.5 meals per day, while the children were eating 1.7 meals per day.

Women’s fundamental right to access safe and nutritious food is essential to ensuring a viable society and is enshrined in South Sudan’s Transitional Constitution 2011 and international law. However, currently this right is not fully realized in South Sudan as millions of women and girls suffer from limited or unreliable access to food. South Sudan’s inequitable divisions of labour at the household level and patriarchal decision-making have negatively impacted women’s participation and leadership in agricultural production, peace processes and economic spaces. Women have less access to land, resources for conservation agriculture, post- harvest production and improved food utilization despite the fact that women form 80% of the food production labor in South Sudan[2].

FEED I’s capacity building efforts did not adequate account for women’s triple burden of reproductive, productive and community responsibilities. Historically, many development initiatives have also ignored the differences between men and women’s literacy levels, control of assets and access to vocational training, financial institutions and markets. It is important to note that men are also faced with unique security challenges related to conflict over cattle and grazing land.

There are critical gaps in access, quality and availability of SGBV services in South Sudan, particularly in rural areas. Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV)[3] is prevalent in South Sudan, although the exact extent to which SGBV occurs is unknown due to under-reporting and insufficient mechanisms to track incidents. Only 41% of physical violence is reported and 53% of the reported incidents are perpetuated by intimate partners[4].

Project profile 

Fortifying Equality and Economic Diversity for Resilience II (FEED II) 

Geographic areas: Central Equatoria (Juba), Eastern Equatoria (Magwi, Torit, Ikotos and Pageri) Western Equatoria (Tambura, Yambio, Ezo and Nzara), Warrap (Tonj South, Tonj East, Gogrial West, Twic and Tonj North) Northern Bahr el Ghazal (Aweil South, Aweil North, Aweil West and Aweil East), Western Bahr el Ghazal (Wau and Jur River) and Jonglei (Twic East, Bor)

Project objectives and relevant indicators 

Ultimate Outcomes 

  • Reduced inequalities between women and men in access to and control over resources in relation to food security in South Sudan
  • 1000.1 % of women and men who report having control over productive resources and assets for food security and livelihood
  • 1000.2 Proportion of time spent on unpaid domestic and care work, by sex, age and location (for individuals five years and above)
  • 1000.3 Female-headed and male-headed household Food Consumption Scores

Intermediate Outcomes

  • Improved participation of women and girls in managing common threats to food security 
  • 1100.1 % and # of women and female youth in committees who contribute to or are responsible for developing and implementing climate change and conflict management plans
  • 1100.2 % and # of men and women using equitable feeding practices for girls and boys
  • Improved use of female-friendly agricultural and business practices that promote sustained income generation and management of natural resources
  • 1200.1 % and # of women and men that used environmentally sustainable or adaptive strategies, technologies or practices
  • 1200.2 % and # of women and female youth participating in more profitable income generating activities
  • 1200.3 % and # of women satisfied with using female-friendly agricultural practices (as identified by female participants)
  • 1200.4 GAC KPI: Number of entrepreneurs, farmers and small holders (m/f) provided with financial and/or business development services through GAC-funded projects
  • Improved equal and safer environments for women's participation in leadership
  • 1300.1 % and # of women participating in leadership functions in project groups and community organizations
  • 1300.2 % and # of women and men who report sharing household decision-making
  • 1300.3 % and # of women, men, female and male youth who use non-violent conflict resolution to resolve disputes in relationships and at home

Immediate Outcomes 

  • Improved knowledge of healthy nutrition practices for girls and pregnant and lactating women
  • 1110.1 % and # of women, men, girls and boys who can identify at least 3 healthy nutrition practices for girls and pregnant and lactating women
  • 1110.2 % and # of women and men who are able to describe the linkages between nutrition practices, GBV, and SRHR
  • Equitable improvement in knowledge and skills among women and men to manage natural resource-related shocks
  • 1120.1 % and # of women and men able to employ an effective disaster-risk reduction or positive coping strategy
  • 1120.2 % and # of women and men who report confidence in their own ability to manage natural resource-related shocks (must score a 4 or 5 on a 5-point scale)
  • Equitable improvement in knowledge and skills among women, men, boys and girls to manage conflict-related shocks
  • 1130.1 % and # of women, girls, men and boys aware of one or more conflict resolution mechanisms
  • 1130.2 Level of confidence of women and girls in managing conflict resolution mechanisms
  • Increased capacity of women and female youth to participate in sustainable livelihood practices and technologies
  • 1210.1 % and # of women and men with increased capacity to use environmentally sustainable and adaptive strategies, technologies and practices
  • 1210.2 % and # of men that report acceptance of women and female youth owning and controlling agricultural inputs
  • 1210.3 % and # of women and men using post-harvest loss techniques for increased food access
  • Improved equitable access of women and female and male youth to conventional and innovative markets
  • 1220.1 % and # of women and female and male youth reporting having identified new marketing avenues and/or new clients for their products/services in the past 12 months
  • 1220.2 % and # of women and female youth reporting they can access the necessary inputs for production/ access to market
  • Increased awareness of the need for women's equal participation in leadership and decision-making
  • 1310.1 % and # of women and female youth that report having a high level of confidence leading project groups and local organizations
  • 1310.2 % and # of men and boys that report having a positive experience with women and female youth in leadership positions
  • Improved attitudes among women, men and female and male youth to lead the prevention of harmful traditional practices, including GBV
  • 1320.1 % and # of women, men and female and male youth that are able to identify a project-defined minimum number of consequences of harmful traditional practices, including GBV
  • 1320.2 % and # of women, men, female, and male youth who can cite ways of promoting non-violence in their communities
  • 1320.3 % and # of women, men, female and male youth who report gender equitable attitudes (GEM Scale)
  • Increased knowledge of women, men, female and male youth to appropriately prevent and respond to GBV
  • 1330.1 % and # of women, men and female and male youth that are able to identify GBV response services
  • 1330.2 GAC KPI: Number of people who have experienced, or are at risk of, any form of SGBV that have received related services in the previous 12 months through GAC-funded projects
  • 1330.3 % and # of female and male traditional leaders that can cite ways of promoting gender equality, GBV prevention and protection under the law

Project Length

  • 5 years

Project Budget

  • CAD $38.5 million

Purpose of the Gender Analysis

The purpose of the gender analysis is to gather information in relation to the challenges and opportunities facing men and women, female and male youth, boys and girls with regard to food security, livelihoods, resilience to climate change and SGBV so that we can respond appropriately. The analysis will also focus on challenges in access to SGBV prevention and response services and provide recommendations on how the project can make the communities safer for women and girls. The analysis will help us understand the context better, avoid making incorrect assumptions or harm and will lead to gender transformative considerations. The recommendations from the analysis will enable the project team and different stakeholders engaged in the project to use appropriate approaches that promote gender equality.

Specific Objectives of the Gender Analysis/ Scope of Consultancy 

  • To gain an understanding of gender and power relations between men, women, boys and girls, the division of labour between men and women (who does what work), including productive labour, domestic (household and reproductive) and community work. More importantly, it will expand understanding of who has access to, and control over resources, with specific attention to food security and livelihoods and SGBV.

The gender analysis will explore 

  1. gender roles, responsibilities and time use
  2. household and community patterns of power and decision-making
  3. access to and control over assets and resources
  4. women’s meaningful participation in public decision-making
  5. Sexual and Gender Based Violence
  • To identify opportunities and barriers to men and women’s, as well as female and male youth’s participation in agriculture and economic activity and the resulting impact on production and productivity. A holistic perspective is required to examine the social, economic, legal, political, and cultural aspects of ownership and control over resources with respect to FEED II’s project interventions including in the following areas:
  1. Group dynamics and women’s role in Food for Assets groups, Disaster Risk Management Committees, Farmer Field Business Schools, producer groups, cooperatives, youth groups, women-led groups, Village Savings and Loans Associations, literacy groups
  2. Food utilization and preparation practices
  3. Access to and use of agricultural extension services for climate smart agricultural production (Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration, Landscape Approach, including organic pest management, etc.)
  4. Access and use of animal extension services
  5. Use of improved, time-saving practices for crop production, vegetable production, post-harvest handling seed multiplication, agro forestry, value addition in value chains (honey, pineapple, fish, poultry, etc.) and small ruminant management
  6. Control of time-saving technologies for women. This could include but is not limited to, bicycles, radios various farm equipment (tractors, traction, hoes, malodas, hand tractors, energy saving stoves, various farm machinery
  7. Involvement in labour markets, vocational training, trade, market actors and access to credit
  • Gain an understanding of current cultural practices which promote and/or hinder gender equality and specifically those that exacerbate or limit sexual and gender-based violence and women’s participation in leadership.
  • Gain an understanding of national policies for agriculture and gender-equality and identify gaps and opportunities for implementation
  • Identify gaps in in constitutional and conventional legal frameworks as well as policies related specifically to women’s equal participation in agriculture, including animal and crop husbandry, access to credit and markets, capacity to trade and do business, in peace processes, leadership committees and politics generally as well as make use of appropriate technology
  • Identify and outline the expected risks (including backlash) and develop recommendations and strategies to minimize these risks

Consultant Scope of Works

World Vision South Sudan will facilitate the process to identify a competent consultant to conduct the Gender Analysis in consultation with partners CARE and War Child. As part of the negotiation process, World Vision will ensure that the consultant understands and agrees to the assignment, including the Gender Analysis scope, purpose, objectives and methodology and deliverables. This negotiation includes flexibility to cater for any changes that may arise in the context due to COVID-19, conflict or any other unforeseen changes.

The consultant will design all the relevant data collection techniques, protocols and tools. The FEED II consortium will review the tools and techniques and give feedback prior to starting the data collection for the Gender Analysis. The consultant should remain aware of the changes in the context that could impede the study.

The Gender Analysis must align with the requirements of Global Affairs Canada[5] and should respond to key questions outlined by the donor.

  1. Who is the target (both direct and indirect) of the proposed policy, program or project? Who will benefit? Who will lose?
  2. Have women been consulted on the 'problem' the intervention is to solve? How have they been involved in development of the 'solution'?
  3. Does the intervention challenge the existing gender division of labour, tasks, responsibilities and opportunities?
  4. What is the best way to build on (and strengthen) the government's commitment to the advancement of women?
  5. What is the relationship between the intervention and other actions and organizations — national, regional or international?
  6. Where do opportunities for change or entry points exist? And how can they best be used?
  7. What specific ways can be proposed for encouraging and enabling women to participate in the policy/program/project, despite their traditionally more domestic location and subordinate position?
  8. What is the long-term impact in regard to women's increased ability to take charge of their own lives, and to take collective action to solve problems?

This assignment should be completed within a maximum of 45 days from inception. Hence, the consultant will:

  • Prepare an inception report and hold inception meetings with the FEED II consortium members.
  • Develop a simple yet comprehensive study matrix describing type and data to be collected, techniques and relevant tools for each indicator.
  • Define sampling method, sampling size and targeted respondents
  • Review existing literature on the state of gender roles, norms and laws, food security and livelihoods and women’s economic empowerment in South Sudan, including, but not limited to GAC’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, the FEED II proposal and FEED I reports and the preliminary FEED II Gender Analysis

Methodology 

Approach 

The consultant may adopt acceptable analytical frameworks to ensure the quality of data collection and analysis. The consultant will design use qualitative data collection techniques and tools. The consultant should first review the quantitative data that is available from the baseline study to ensure that any additional data collection does not duplicate the data already collected in the baseline study.

  • Feminist research methodology, which incorporates both primary and secondary study methods will be applied. Feminist research methodology would include research procedures which produce descriptive data: people’s own written or spoken words and observable behavior, consideration of the hierarchical power relations between men and women that tend to disadvantage women throughout the research process- including the research process itself, adaptation of quantitative methods to take into consideration ‘hard-to-measure’ aspects such as women's empowerment, and sensitive items such as gender-based violence.
  • Cognizant of COVID-19, the consultant is expected to conduct Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), Key-Informant Interviews (KIIs) while ensuring safety for all participants. Findings from this technique will be used to refine questions raised through the thematic reviews.

Areas of Inquiry 

  • Gender Roles, Responsibilities and Time Use
  • Household and Community Patterns of Power and Decision-Making
  • Access to and Control over Assets and Resources
  • Women’s meaningful Participation in Public Decision-making
  • Sexual and Gender Based Violence

Data Sources 

The Gender Analysis study considers both primary and secondary data sources.

Primary data sources include, but are not limited to:

  • female and male (25 years and above) community members
  • female and male community leaders
  • female and male farmers
  • Women’s organizations
  • female and male youth (15 – 24 years) 

Data Collection

The consultant will develop data collection tools such as: questionnaires, FGD, KII guides, and observation tools to capture data from the respondents above. Enumerators will be recruited and trained by facilitators to collect data. The COVID-19 pandemic may greatly impede grouped face to face data collection. Hence, the consultant is expected to design a safety protocol for achieving data collection cognizant of Government of South Sudan COVID-19 country SOPs.

Data Analysis

The consultant should adopt an iterative data analysis approach. This approach allows for prompt data validation as enumerators collect data. Hence, the consultant will develop a data analysis plan. Analysis should integrate findings from the different sources of data. The consultant should corroborate, and triangulate data from different primary data sources. Depending on access to the country and within the country, the consultant should factor in remote analysis and presentation of findings and sharing of documents in collaborative forums. A complete set of tools and procedures for summarizing and analyzing qualitative data needs to be made available.

Data Quality Issues 

The designed data collection techniques, quality of data should not be compromised and maximum care should be taken to avoid or at least minimize errors at all stages of the baseline measurement process. Some techniques such as, but not limited to, the following will be applied:

  • Before data collection: Pilot testing the data, collection tool will be required in order to verify the reliability and validity of the tool. This includes for both face to face and remote approaches.
  • During field data collection: For household surveys, data entry will be on the spot using an electronic questionnaire. Monitoring enumerators for accuracy in doing the interview and in capturing data will be necessary. Checking through all completed responses (on a daily basis) to ensure any mistakes or inconsistencies are corrected on time will add value to the quality of data. **
  • Data analysis: Perform iterative data analysis which involves continuously analyzing key variables as part of data quality checks using various methods such as: frequencies or cross-tabulations or any forms of regressions

Communication of Findings/Reflection 

  • The Gender Analysis findings will be validated by the consortium and project stakeholders. Once the validation is completed then the final report will be produced.

Gender Analysis Products/Deliverables**

 There will key deliverables of this process:

  • An inception report clearly outlining the approach, indicators, methodology and tools
  • Include an annex highlighting how COVID-19 safeguards will be achieved
  • Finalize survey tools and inclusive and gender sensitive sampling design
  • Enumerator training, tool pre- testing and data collection
  • A comprehensive and well-organized final gender analysis report in MS Word and PDF formats. (Not more than 30 pages without annexes)
  • Supporting files, original and cleaned datasets, statistical output files, photos, etc.
  • Fact sheet or abstract and power point presentations to be used for dissemination of results to stakeholders

Management of the Consultant 

World Vision, CARE and War Child will support the consultant remotely throughout the Gender Analysis. The team, led by the Gender Advisor and Quality Assurance Manager will commence the inception process to:

  • Review of study protocols, data collection plan, and COVID-19 risk reduction plan.
  • Finalize tools and approve final plan prior to commencing data collection
  • Providing technical support and oversight during data collection process

Data analysis

  • Support data validation through data reviews to identify outliers, clean the dataset, and create new variables in advance of analysis by local consultant.
  • Support to focus the analysis on concepts/ theories upon which the project is designed on.
  • Writing up technical report on baseline data that includes conclusions in key areas or risk and areas of intervention focus.

Data Disclosure 

  • The consultant should deliver, at minimum, all files including: transcripts of qualitative data and others in an easy to read format, and maintain naming conventions and labelling for the use of the project/program/initiative and key stakeholders
  • Analysis of gender analysis data should be sex and age-disaggregated and where possible disaggregated by variables such as disability, ethnicity, socio-economic status, geographical area and other categories relevant to the project

Lessons Learned 

The lessons learned through the entire study shall be documented and shared with the FEED II team so that they may be taken into consideration for future studies. The documentation of these lessons will be vital for reflection, growth and continued improvement.

Limitations 

This baseline survey will be undertaken with some limitations. These may include:

  • COVID-19 pandemic: Guidelines and restrictions may undermine the extent to which sample sizes and limit optimization of selected data collection approach such as FGDs.
  • Security: Given the current restrictions in the country, the baseline measurement may be affected by the volatile security condition in some areas.
  • Travel Schedules: International and domestic travel between states is mostly by air using UN Flights. Currently, travel within requires medical tests before traveling which may delay. In addition, travel schedule may change due to flight cancellation and other technical issues.
  • Statistics: Country demographics may not be readily up-to date hence the consultant may have to undertake preliminary data additional data corroboration

Required External Response to Terms of Reference:

A technical and financial proposal (minimum of 15 pages and a maximum 40 pages) based on this Terms of Reference (ToR) is requested from the consultant or consulting firm. The proposal should contain:

Technical proposal with:

  • Description of assignment
  • Detailed work plan indicating methodologies and required support from the FEED II team.
  • Specific roles and responsibilities of the team members
  • Schedule of key activities 

Financial proposal with:

  • Summary budget with justification. The proposal should include a reasonable budget to cover all costs associated with the evaluation.
  • Updated CV of members of the gender analysis study team.
  • A profile of the consulting firm, the consultants in the team, and a sample of similar work performed.
  • A list of three references.
  • A commitment for availability for the entire assignment.
  • 2 reports from similar assignments, performed by some or all of the consultants.

[1] https://fscluster.org/sites/default/files/documents/fsnms_round_23_repor...

[2] South Sudan: An Infrastructure Action Plan - A Program for Sustained Strong Economic Growth, African Development Bank, 2013.

[3] SGBV Includes rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, forced and early marriage, sexual exploitation and abuse, abduction and other harmful practices

[4] SGBVIMS report

[5] https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/funding-financement/policy-p...

Minimum Qualifications

At the minimum, the consultant/s must possess the following:

  • Relevant Master’s degree in gender and developmental studies or social sciences.
  • The consultant must have proven track record and experience in gender analysis and power analysis of a similar or related assignment. This should be backed up by the number of similar research that has been conducted by the individual or institution.
  • Minimum experience of 5 years in conducting gender analysis using participatory methodologies.
  • Demonstrated ability to write high quality, methodologically sound, analytical papers in English.
  • Excellent organizing, facilitating, presentation, communication and report writing skills.
  • Experience using feminist methodologies will be considered an asset.

Logistics 

Air tickets, airport pickup and drop off, ground transport and accommodation while in Juba and field locations will be provided by World Vision, CARE and War Child in their respective project areas. Whereas visas are obtainable on arrival at Juba international airport, travellers are advised to obtain visas in countries where they reside. An introduction letter may be provided on request to support processing of visas. Visa costs are refundable upon presenting a receipt as evidence of payment.

Payment Terms and Conditions 

Payment will be effected as follows; First installment (30%) of the total cost on submission and acceptance of inception report. Final payment (70%) upon completion and approval of the final report. Additional information on payment terms and conditions will be included in the contract

How to apply 

Submission 

Kindly submit bids electronically indicating "Gender Assessment Survey" in all your correspondences and send to the email address below: SDNO_SCMQuotations@wvi.org

Bid Submission Deadline: 

The deadline for expression of interest is on October 23, 2020. Please note that applications that are incomplete and/or received past the deadline will not be considered. Only shortlisted, qualified candidates/firms will be contacted.

Women consultants, women-owned and managed firms or consortiums are strongly encouraged to apply.