Women’s Voice and Leadership Baseline Survey

Women’s Voice and Leadership

Baseline Survey Terms of Reference

Background

Oxfam has been working in Lebanon since 1993. We provide humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people affected by conflict, and we promote economic development, promotion of good governance at a local and national level, and women’s rights through our work with our partners. Oxfam also works with local partners to contribute to the protection and empowerment of marginalized women and men.

Oxfam in Lebanon is currently implementing the “Women’s Voice and Leadership” project, a multi-country 3-year project funded by Global Affairs Canada. The project aims to build the capacity of local women’s rights organizations to enable them to contribute to an increased enjoyment of human rights by women and girls and the advancement of gender equality in the Middle East. This project has three inter-linked intermediate outcomes:

1. Improved management programming and sustainability of local women’s rights organizations, particularly those representing vulnerable and marginzalized women and girls;
2. Supporting enhanced delivery of quality services and advocacy by WROs to advance gender equality;
3. Contributing to increased effectiveness of women’s rights platforms, networks and alliances to affect gender-sensitive policy change and policy implementation.

The WVL project is shaped by the belief that strong, resilient WROs, working together are the most effective actors for gender equality and social justice at community, sub-national and national levels. The WVL project sets out to contribute to a greater systematisation of national level relationships and coordination, as well as spaces to develop these feminist relationships, networks and strategizing spaces at regional level.

Introduction to Required Services

Oxfam in Lebanon seeks the services of a consultant/consultancy firm, to conduct the Women’s Voice and Leadership project Baseline assessment of the capacities of 4 to 6 preselected WROs that Oxfam in Lebanon will be working with.

The main objectives include:

1. To lead on supporting WROs in self-assessing their capacities in terms of management and sustainability capacities, program quality, influencing and effectiveness of alliances with platforms and networks at the national and regional levels
2. To provide Oxfam with specific values for all indicators in the Performance Measurement Framework (PMF) that correspond to WROs capacities. Baseline data will be utilized to i) inform the establishment of realistic and achievable targes; ii) provide a point of reference against which progress on the achievement of outcomes will be monitored; and iii) inform project implementation.

Scope of Services

The full scope of consultancy mission involves:

1. Desk research/literature review: Detailed review of project and supporting documents, including Project Implementation Plan (PIP), Performance Measurement Framework (PMF) among other relevant documents.
2. In consultation with Oxfam Governance programme and MEAL teams, work on the indicator’s definitions along with the assessment of the measurability of indicators – i.e. determine if the proposed means of verification remain viable; identify alternative sources of data, based on the findings of the baseline.
3. Lead on the activity of self-assessment of the WROs through organizing one-one-one workshops with each WRO or a joint workshop to familiarize participants with the purpose of the self-assessment and the tool(s) that will be used, followed by working sessions aimed at completing the self-assessment
4. Provide baseline data for PMF indicators utilizing Oxfam Organizartional Capacity Assessment Tool for Gender-Just Organisational Strengthening CAT tool and results from the data collection:

1. Baseline data provided in the PMF must be accompanied by a narrative explanation of how the baseline data was collected, analysed, and validated. The explanation should also clearly indicate baseline data limitations. This narrative is necessary to demonstrate the credibility of the baseline data set.
2. Baseline data associated with results statements where women and/or girls are integrated must be sex disaggregated and/or gender sensitive.
3. Baseline data should be disaggregated by other variables such as age, ethnicity socio-economic status, geographic area, or any other category relevant to the project.

Outcome and Indicators

Outcome/Output

Indicator

Ultimate Outcome 1000

Increased enjoyment of human rights by women and girls and the advancement of gender equality

1000.1 Perceived level of satisfaction of WROs who have receiving funds regarding the progress in the enjoyment of rights of women participating in the project (measured on a Likert scale: 6=outstanding, 5=highly satisfactory, 4=very satisfactory, 3=satisfactory, 2=mostly satisfactory, 1=unsatisfactory)

1000.2 Perceived level of satisfaction of women WRO participants (by age and country) receiving funds, regarding women's empowerment, taking into account the dimensions of power (scale 1- 5).

Immediate outcome 1110

Increased  organizational capacities for women's rights organizations to develop new programs and ensure financial sustainability (capacity enhancing)

1110.1 #/total supported WROs reporting increased ability to manage and/or govern

1110.2 Perceived level of knowledge of staff of women's rights organizations about financial resource mobilization (measured on a Likert scale: 6=outstanding, 5=highly satisfactory, 4=very satisfactory, 3=satisfactory, 2=mostly satisfactory, 1=unsatisfactory)

Output 1111

Increased technical support to strengthening WROs capacities in developing specific tools to ensure good monitoring and evaluation of ongoing projects

1111.1 #/total of best-practice governance and management practices used per WRO

1111.2 Number of local women's rights organizations that have increased or diversified their financial resources (Broken down by country, type of organization, and type of service offered)

Output 1112

Technical support provided to develop fundraising strategies (including proposal development, seeking for funding opportunities, ensuring donor compliance and requirements)

1112.2 Perceived level of satisfaction of leaders, staff and members of participating organizations (by age) with the relevance of the technical support received. (scale: 6=outstanding, 5=highly satisfactory, 4=very satisfactory, 3=satisfactory, 2=mostly satisfactory, 1=unsatisfactory)

Intermediate outcome 1200

Enhanced delivery of quality services and advocacy by WROs to advance gender equality

1200.1 Value of investments ($) to support local WROs and networks advancing women’s rights and gender equality (GAC indicator)

1200.2 Of these, value of funds directly provided to local women’s organizations and networks of organizations (GAC indicator)

Immediate outcome 1210

Increased technical skills on Protection, GBV/SGBV, SRHR services provided by WROs to ensure continuity and expansion of services offered to women and girls in vulnerable situation (multi-year funding)

1210.1 #/total supported WROs reporting increased ability to deliver quality programming desegregated per type.

1210.2 Perceived level of satisfaction of leaders of local women's rights organizations with the support mechanism of the multi-year fund.  (measured on a Likert scale: 6=outstanding, 5=highly satisfactory, 4=very satisfactory, 3=satisfactory, 2=mostly satisfactory, 1=unsatisfactory)

Output 1211

Multi-year funding mechanism developed and launched to support protection services, case management, psychosocial and legal support provided to women and girls in vulnerable situation

1211.2 Perceived level of satisfaction of selected WROs participants among leaders, staff and members (disaggregated by gender, type of WRO and country) with the adequacy of the technical and financial support received with the needs of women and girls in vulnerable situation (Scale 1-5). (measured on a Likert scale: 6=outstanding, 5=highly satisfactory, 4=very satisfactory, 3=satisfactory, 2=mostly satisfactory, 1=unsatisfactory)

Output 1212

Multi-year funding mechanism developed and launched to facilitate mentoring (co-development) among WROs implementing different services or having different set of skills  (design new inclusive programs)

1212.2 Perceived level of satisfaction of leaders (national and/or regional) with the co-development plans developed and activities carried out (Scale 1-5).

Immediate outcome 1220

Increased knowledge on advocacy techniques and strategies using evidence-based data and analysis to eliminate harmful gender norms, attitudes and policies

(multi-year funding)

1220.1 Number of advocacy techniques or methodologies acquired per organisation to eliminate harmful gender norms

Output 1221

Multi-year funding mechanism developed and launched to develop and carry out digital strategy reinforcing WROs online presence (including online safeguarding and protection tools)

1221.2 Perceived level of satisfaction of leaders, staff and members of WROs with the relevance and reach of the digital campaigns carried out (Scale 1-5).

Output 1222

Multi-year funding mechanism developed and launched to design and implement awareness-raising, and media campaigns using evidence-based data and analysis to influence transformative changes

1222.2 Perceived level of satisfaction of leaders, staff and members of WROs with the adequacy of the evidence-based awareness raising & media campaigns (Scale 1-5).

Immediate outcome 1310

Increased access to networking opportunities between WROs to build a strong movement with common agendas (networking)

1310.1 #/total supported women’s rights organizations reporting increased ability to participate in networks/alliances/platforms/movements

Deliverables & Timeframe

Timeframe

Activity / Tasks

Details

Consultancy /days

Desk research/literature review

Detailed review of project and supporting documents as well as existing research, mapping and analysis carried under the project framework nationally and regionally.

3

Design of tools, and testing ‘if required’

Including qualitative/quantitative tools for collecting baseline data, and mapping of WROs and feminist networks.

2

Inception report

Preparation and submission of an Inception report detailing the outline, timeline, and methodology applied for the baseline assessment

2

Field work (Data Collection)/WRO capacity assessment

Based on the sample and proposed tools, identify outreach approach. Conduct the task with the WROs, appropriately following systematic, logical methodology, utilising the Oxfam Capacity Assessment Tool among other methods

8

Analysis and Draft Report 

Comprehensive analysis of data collected, generating qualitative and quantitative baseline data for project indicators.

3

Final Report

Draft an analytical report and submit for Oxfam’s input and sign off (consultancy firm then, to modify accordingly and submit a final draft of the report within the agreed timeframe)

2

Total working days (level of effort)

26 Days

Key Deliverables

Output

Timeline

1. Inception Report, including data collection tools and guides to be used.

Within 10 days of contract sign 

2. De-briefing 

Within 3 days following completion of the field work 

3. Draft Narrative Report 

Within 10 working days from completion of field work 

4. Final narrative report in English, presenting all findings. (including baseline values for respective PMF indicators and the capacity building assessment for the WROs

Within 3 days after receiving feedback and comments on the draft report 

Required Qualifications

The consulting firm/consultant(s) will have a team with combined expertise in gender equality and protection programming, with proven experience in undertaking surveys and baselines, and adequately familiar with the local context. Team members will have 5-7 years of relevant experience in their respective areas of responsibilities. The consulting firm/consultant(s) and team members will sign and abide by Oxfam non-staff code of conduct. The following will be used in assessing the qualification of the team members:

• Well-versed in women’s rights and gender justice, with a good understanding of power dynamics, feminist approaches, and intersectionality
• Strong track record of experience and expertise in quantitative and qualitative research and evaluations
• Experience working with the civil society and community-based organisations
• Masters’ Degree (or equivalent degree/experience) in Gender, human rights, social sciences, development, or a related field is mandatory.
• Experience in using participatory and engaging workshop facilitation methodologies
• Strong capacity in data management and statistics and compliance with data protection laws.
• Knowledge on women’s right agenda and gender equality related legal and policy framework.
• Excellent communications skills in English and Arabic, including advanced English writing skills
• Demonstrated ability to deliver high quality written reports that analyse the data and information accurately and respond to research ask and questions.
• Knowledge on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) will be an added advantage