Gender Just Structures Consultant

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Oxfam is a global movement of people who are fighting inequality to end poverty and injustice. Across regions, from the local to the global, we work with people to bring change that lasts.

OVERVIEW

Title and brief description of the requirement

Oxfam in Lebanon, through the Women’s Rights Fund (WRF), is seeking an experienced consultant/expert to carry out a comprehensive organisational assessment and provide tailored, practical recommendations to its 4 Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs) on the 'Gender‑Just Structures and Processes' capacity domain. The expert will conduct a thorough analysis for each WRO through desk review, on‑site visits, staff interviews, document review, and deliver individual assessment reports and a consolidated report with prioritised, implementable recommendations, templates and tools.

Delivery location

Lebanon – on‑site visits across the 4 WROs (mainly in Beirut). Some remote work is expected for desk review and reporting.

Contract start date

November 2025

How to apply

Interested candidates are invited to submit:

• Technical proposal (approach, methodology, detailed workplan and timeline).

• CV(s) of consultant(s) and details of team members (if applicable).

• Financial proposal with a detailed budget (daily rates, travel, per diem, VAT if applicable and any other costs).

• Sample of a previous organisational assessment report or similar work product (max. 2 examples).

• Minimum of three references (contact details, project description, and dates).

• Registration and official government documents, if applicable. (Note: an 8.5% deduction will apply if the supplier is not registered.)

See section ‘6. Application Process’ for further details

Deadline for submission of offers

15 October 2025

Specific considerations

1. BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

Oxfam’s Women’s Rights Fund (WRF) supports grassroots and community‑based Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs) through flexible funding and capacity strengthening to the 4 partner WROs. Recent Capacity Self-Assessment Tool (CAT) results show that 'Gender‑Just Structures and Processes' is a priority domain for these 4 organizations. This domain is defined as follows: “Organizations are more effective change agents in support of women’s rights when their structures, policies, procedures, programming, and internal culture are also inclusive and gender-just, including collective and self-care practices for staff and volunteers. Collective and self-care is a strategy of resilience and resistance in the face of aggression aimed at weakening organizations and movements dedicated to seeking justice and defending human rights. Self-care is a political act for self-preservation that means taking care of our bodies, our minds, and our spirits so that we do not burn out but are able to sustain our strength and continue our work on women’s rights and gender justice’’.

This domain covers organisational policies, HR practices, decision‑making structures, accountability mechanisms, and self‑care/collective care practices for staff and volunteers. To strengthen WROs’ organisational resilience and effectiveness, Oxfam seeks an expert to provide a detailed organisational analysis and tailored recommendations that are practical, contextually appropriate and prioritised for implementation.

2. SPECIFICATION OF SERVICES REQUIRED

The consultant will undertake the following tasks:

1. Inception & Desk Review: Review CAT results, Oxfam’s Feminist principles, Gender in Emergencies’ standards, and Gender in Emergencies’ tool kit, develop and adapt assessment tools (questionnaires, interview guides, document checklists) and agree on methodology and schedule with Oxfam and WROs.

2. Field Assessments: Conduct on‑site visits to each WRO. Each visit should include: document review (HR manuals, codes of conduct, safeguarding, staff contracts, policies), key informant interviews (leadership, HR/administration, program staff, volunteers), focus group(s) with staff where possible, observation of workplace practices and facilities, and identification of immediate risks or urgent needs.

3. Gap Analysis: Use the CAT framework (or adapted assessment matrix) to map current capacities against desired standards for: a) gender‑just HR policies & practices; b) collaborative management & decision‑making; c) self‑care, collective care and organisational culture; d) environmental practices (where relevant).

4. Tailored Recommendations: For each WRO produce practical, prioritised recommendations (short‑term quick wins, medium and longer‑term actions), including suggested timelines, responsible roles, indicative budgets, and monitoring indicators.

5. Tools & Templates: Provide editable templates and tools to support implementation (sample HR policy language, code of conduct clauses, staff wellbeing checklist, conflict resolution procedure, job descriptions, basic environmental checklist, staff self‑care plan templates).

6. Training/Coaching Session: Facilitate a 1‑day validation workshop (with WROs and Oxfam) to present draft findings, receive feedback and co‑prioritise recommendations. Optionally provide a short training/coaching session for leadership on implementing priority actions.

7. Reporting: Submit individual assessment reports for each WRO, a consolidated analytical report summarising cross‑cutting findings and sector learning.

If the supplier wishes to propose modifications to the specification (which may provide a better way to achieve Oxfam ´s objectives) these must be considered as an alternative offer. The Supplier must make alternative offers in a separate letter to accompany the offer. OXFAM is under no obligation to accept alternative offers.

3. METHODOLOGY

The consultant is expected to follow a participatory methodology including:

• Participatory tools that engage leadership, staff and volunteers, and include diverse voices (gender, age, role).

• Confidentiality‑based approaches to protect participants' wellbeing and privacy.

• Gender‑sensitive analysis and recommendations that centre feminist wellbeing and collective care principles.

• Use of mixed methods (document review, interviews, FGDs, observation) and an assessment matrix linked to the CAT domain descriptors.

Planned timeline

Activity / Milestone

Outputs or Deliverables

Estimated days

Timeline

Kick‑off meeting with Oxfam & finalisation of methodology

Agreed inception report, schedule and assessment tools

3

Week 1 (November 2025)

Desk review and tool finalisation

Reviewed documents and finalized assessment instruments

5

Week 2-3 (November 2025)

Field assessments: on‑site visits to WROs

Raw data, interview notes, draft findings per WRO

16 (4 days per WRO for 4 WROs)

Week 4 (November 2025) till Week 3 (January 2026)

Analysis and drafting individual assessment reports

Draft individual reports with tailored recommendations

12 (3 days per WRO)

Week 3 (January 2025) till Week 1 (February 2026)

Training session

1-day validation workshop

1

Week 2 (February 2026)

Consolidated report & draft recommendations

Analytical consolidated report and implementation roadmap

5

Week 1 (March 2026)

Total estimated consultancy days: 42(including travel, fieldwork and reporting). Exact days and schedule will be agreed during contract finalisation.

4. TIMEFRAME AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Remuneration is based on submission of final deliverables according to the schedule below.

No.

Deliverables or Documents to be delivered

Estimated Dates

% Payment

1

Inception report (methodology, final schedule, assessment tools) delivered and approved by Oxfam

November 2025

2

Submission of draft individual assessment reports and consolidated draft report; facilitation of validation workshop

February 2026

70%

3

Submission of final individual reports, final consolidated report, implementation roadmap, templates and slide deck

February 2026

4

Final report delivered and approved by Oxfam

March 2026

30%

TOTAL

100%

5. EXPERIENCE OR PROFILE REQUIREMENTS

The consultant should have the following competencies:

Essential:

• Advanced degree in Gender Studies, Organisational Development, Human Resources, Social Sciences, or related field.

• Minimum 7 years of professional experience conducting organisational assessments, policy reviews and capacity strengthening with NGOs or civil society organisations (preferably WROs).

• Demonstrable experience designing and implementing organisational change related to gender‑just HR policies, staff wellbeing, and participatory decision‑making.

• Strong facilitation skills and experience running workshops and validation events.

• Excellent analytical and report writing skills in English. Proficiency in Arabic is required for field interviews and document review.

• Availability to conduct on‑site visits across Lebanon and to travel as required.

Desired:

• Previous experience with Oxfam or international NGOs.

• Familiarity with the Capacity Assessment Tool (CAT) or similar organisational assessment frameworks.

• Experience in staff wellbeing, MHPSS or feminist wellbeing approaches.

• Knowledge of Lebanese labour law and local NGO regulatory environment.

6. APPLICATION PROCESS

Submission instructions

Quotations and applications must reach Oxfam no later than 15 October 2025.

Responses must be submitted in English, electronically to: lebanonprocurement@oxfam.org.uk

The subject of the mail should be: ToR – Gender Just Structures consultant

Any questions, remarks or requests for clarification can be sent up to 7 days before the submission deadline in writing. The (anonymised) questions will be answered to all applicants.

Administrative requirements

To be shortlisted for evaluation against award criteria, the following documents must be submitted with this application:

Documents to be submitted

Importance

1

Supplier Quotation/Proposal (description of the goods/services/works provided as per the specification, including any details of quality, brand and a clear indication of pricing

• All prices must appear in USD, with unit prices, total price and with a breakdown of applicable taxes (specify the VAT rate if applicable)

• Date and validity of quote must be included

Mandatory

2

Proof of registration: The bidders also must include a copy of their registration

Desirable

3

Evidence of previous work / references

Mandatory

Evaluation and award criteria

The quotations will be assessed according to the following criteria and distribution of points:

Award Criteria

Max. points

Technical criteria

Capability / competence of bidder to perform the work / service required

Demonstrated expertise and experience in gender-just organization assessments

10

Previous experience with the NGO sector

10

Positive references/reputation

10

Knowledge of country, context, languages

10

Quality of products/ services and ability to meet requirements

Meeting technical specifications

10

 Reliability of plan proposed

10

Ethical and Sustainable criteria

Ethical / Sustainable

Clearly indicated alignment with Oxfam values

10

TOTAL:

70

Financial criteria

Financial off

Total cost of the offer, all services included (without added tax)

30

TOTAL:

100

Oxfam withholds the right to conduct interviews with one or more potential suppliers before an award decision is made. The purpose of the interview is to seek further clarification on the submitted quotations and learn more about the background and previous experiences of the potential suppliers and their teams.

7. OTHER CONDITIONS

Conditions for participating in the procurement process are detailed in the Terms & Conditions of Bidding

8. CODE OF CONDUCT

Oxfam is committed to integrity in its operations and supply chains and ensuring high ethical standards. Complying with all laws and regulations and ensuring fair competition are fundamental to this commitment. We actively promote these principles and standards, and expect all Oxfam suppliers to demonstrate commitment towards them.

All consultants/applicant are required to agree and adhere to the Oxfam Supplier Code of Conduct, whereas individuals (including consultants) must sign the Oxfam Non Staff Code of Conduct[1]. These Codes of Conduct set out the specific standards and principles in the areas of human and labour rights, environmental impact and anti-corruption that suppliers must follow.

9. ANNEXES

• Conflict of interest declaration form for 3rd parties (to be completed in case of conflict of interest)
• Safeguarding policy
• (If applicable) Oxfam child safeguarding policy
• (Edit and use if applicable) Example privacy notice

[1] Non-Staff Code of Conduct applies for any self-employed individuals or contracted employees of suppliers who are working on Oxfam sites, or who have access to Oxfam materials, or who may represent Oxfam in any manner but are not part of Oxfam’s legal entity)