Participatory Gender Audit Facilitator

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this assignment is to conduct gender audits in preselected municipalities. This audit will help identifying critical gaps and challenges, and will recommend ways of addressing them, and suggesting possible improvements and innovations in an attempt to promote gender equality at the local level.

NCLW and GIZ-LEAD agreed to select the localities where this assignment will be carried out, the gender auditors shall form a team of three, preferably, which will undertake participatory gender audits in three municipalities.

TASKS AND DELIVERABLES

The certified gender auditor will be undertaking his/her tasks as part of a PGA team, in agreement with NCLW’s Project Steering Committee. The team will be supervised by an Expert throughout the duration of the contract. The methodology of the International Labor Organization (ILO) will be followed.

Tasks

• Use the ILO Methodology in conducting the PGA at the selected municipalities
• Work as part of a Gender Audit Team, to be put together by NCLW, depending on the consultants’ availability;
• Investigation on similar case studies and good practices in Lebanon, familiarization with the experiences and materials of the LEAD Program and its partners in the region;
• Collection of documents and literature review of each institution, existing reports, initiatives, and documents;
• Support the targeted institutions in identifying the team members and hold individual meetings to measure the proposed members’ understanding commitment and willingness to join the audit process;
• Train the selected team and orient it on how to conduct gender audit;
• Reviewing the institution: policies, mission, vision, strategic plans, by-laws, projects, etc;
• Conduct 3 – 4 workshops in each institution targeting all levels of the staff to identify the gender gaps;
• Hold the necessary individual interviews with the staff to identify the gender gaps;
• Document good practices towards the achievement of gender equality;
• Apply the methodology of “participatory gender audit”, which addresses the following key elements:

• Current gender issues, debate and relationship to the national gender machineries.
• Mainstreaming as a cross cutting concern within the institution’s objectives, program and budget.
• Mainstreaming in implementation of programs and technical cooperation activities.
• Existing gender expertise and knowledge management on gender issues.
• Systems and instruments in use for accountability, evaluating and monitoring on gender equality.
• Choice of partner organizations.
• Advocacy products and public image.
• Decision-making on gender mainstreaming.
• Staffing and human resources concerning gender balance and gender-friendly policies.
• Organizational culture and its effects on gender equality.
• Perception of achievement on gender equality.

• Writing a separate gender audit report for each institution and follow up the required procedures and discussions with decision makers in each institution to approve it;
• Develop an action plan for each institution to address the gender gaps;
• Orient the institution on the needed steps to implement the action plan.
• Measure, at the end of the process, the knowledge of the officials and decision makers involved in the Gender Audits, on the principles and approaches of gender sensitive work on the local government level using  gender, position and area segregated data

In advance of their implementation, all the activities and each respective step will be discussed and elaborated together with the project team, NCLW’s gender auditors, and Project Steering Committee, and in consultation with the Gender Audit expert on ILO methods, appointed by and in agreement with GIZ LEAD.

Deliverables

• Compilation of policies, strategies, plans, and all relevant documents related to the institution;
• Gender audit action plan is discussed and approved for each institution;
• Audit report comprising gender gaps;
• Orientation to the institution and staff on implementation of the plan.
• Measurement of the knowledge of the officials and decision makers involved in the Gender Audits, on the principles and approaches of gender sensitive work on the local government level using  gender, position and area segregated data, in accordance with the project indicators

TIME-FRAME

The gender audits are to be carried out within 3 months from the signature of the consultancy contract, with maximum input of 60 working days.

COMMUNICATION & RESPONSIVENESS

The consultant ensures a full commitment and timely responsiveness with all tasks and communications shared with them, and adopts a professional attitude toward all members of the project’s team.

REPORTING

The certified gender auditor will report directly to NCLW’s project manager, and will closely work with NCLW’s gender auditor’s teams, GIZ LEAD staff and the Project Steering Committee when it is deemed necessary, and in consultation with the Gender Audit expert on ILO methods, appointed by and in agreement with GIZ LEAD.

The following reports shall be submitted by the consultant:

1. Inception report;
2. Bi-monthly work progress reports;
3. Final report summarizes the whole progress of the assignment, the accomplished activities, achievements, difficulties, and key lessons learned. The final report shall be submitted in Arabic language. Also, an executive summary in English should be provided. The report shall also include the measurement of the knowledge of the officials and decision makers involved in the Gender Audits, on the principles and approaches of gender sensitive work on the local government level using   gender, position and area segregated data, in accordance with the project indicators

NCLW reserves the right of final approval of the assigned work.

Required Qualifications 

• University degree in social sciences, administrative studies or related field with a good knowledge in gender issues, human rights, and development (especially local governance issues);
• Lebanese national Certified Participatory Gender Audit Facilitator; preferably by ILO;
• Gender inclusive attitudes and work ethics with beneficiaries and within teamwork;
• 2 to 3 years of professional experience in undertaking research in gender, development, and other related fields, using qualitative and quantitative methods, participatory approaches to research, excellent skills in conducting interviews and focus group discussions;
• Familiarity with governmental and nongovernmental entities in Lebanon; 
• Fluent in Arabic and English, French is a plus;
• IT knowledge: Microsoft office, Internet browsing and data mining; 
• Ability to effectively work in partnership on multiple levels and with multiple stakeholders; 
• Excellent communication skills including active listening; Ability to work independently and manage multiple responsibilities.