Requisition ID: req46973

Job Title: Context analysis/mapping Consultancy

Sector: Violence Prevention and Response

Employment Category: Consultant

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: Yes

Location: Amman, Jordan

Work Arrangement:

Job Description

I.Background

Inspiring Girls and Grassroots Networks for Inclusive and Transformative Education (IGNITE)  is a consortium funded by the Agence Française de Developpement (AFD) though the Support Fund for Feminist Organizations (SFFO)led by the  the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Over a period of 36 months, IGNITE will aim at empowering adolescent girls and advance gender equality in seven target countries in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, namely Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Jordan, Lebanon, and Nigeria. The overall objective of the project is to facilitate feminist CSOs to advance gender-transformative education and empowerment for marginalized adolescent girls, rooted in sustainable and locally driven approaches. IGNITE will be supporting feminist and youth-led CSOs to accelerate gender equality in and through education. This will be achieved through sub-granting and collaborative organizational capacity strengthening in finance, administrative and technical areas, including research with a specific focus on:

● CSOs working explicitly on challenging harmful gender norms and social norms in schools that limit the potential or freedoms of young women and girls.

● CSOs providing direct support to girls and their families to remove individual-, family- and community-level barriers to education.

● CSOs working directly with schools and other sub-national institutions to improve the quality of support for adolescent girls in school as well as access to education for out-of-school girls.

● CSOs conducting research and/or advocacy to advance the rights of girls, including access to education

The context analysis/mapping also presents an opportunity to map local CSOs/feminist organizations and gain a better understanding of the ecosystem in which they operate both in Lebanon and in Jordan. The assessment will support the consortium to identify key stakeholders (KSH)/organizations as well as organizations working on capacity development pathways to support the grantees in advancing girl’s education, including government departments, organizations specialized in girls' education, school communities, and teacher unions etc. Also, and by engaging parents, guardians, caregivers, and community members, interviews and FGDs will be conducted to understand family and community values, assess retention risks, examine school and government policies and to highlight the intersectional discrimination committed against girls.

II.Purpose

The purpose of this consultancy is to conduct a comprehensive context analysis/ mapping with a specific focus on girls' and adolescent girls' education in Lebanon and Jordan. The primary objective is to identify the barriers, challenges, and specific needs that hinder their access, enrollment, retention, and may lead to dropouts, as well as the quality of education they receive. The analysis will also identify the opportunities and enabling factors that contribute to girls’ access to formal/informal education.

The assessment findings and recommendations will serve as a foundation to develop evidence-based interventions and strategies aimed at enhancing girls' educational opportunities and improving their overall outcomes. Additionally, the assessment should also consider the socio-economic and cultural factors that may influence girls' education in the region.

III.Objectives

The objective of this context analysis/mapping is to provide findings and recommendations  so  the consortium can support evidence-based interventions and strategies that can significantly enhance girls' educational opportunities and outcomes, promoting gender equality and empowering girls to thrive in their educational pursuits.

•Conduct an analysis of the Political, socio-economic and cultural factors that influence girls' education in Lebanon and Jordan.

•Provide a comprehensive mapping of key stakeholders/local organization that thrive to promote feminist principles and contribute to enhance girls’ access to both formal and informal education programming.

•Examine the role of societal norms with a focus on community and parental attitudes in shaping girls' educational opportunities and aspirations.

•Investigate the availability and accessibility of safe and girl-friendly learning environments in schools.

•Identify successful models and best practices from the region that have effectively improved girls' educational outcomes.

•Explore the challenges faced by girls in accessing educational resources, including textbooks and learning materials.

•Examine the impact of gender-based violence, child marriage and early pregnancies on girls' educational trajectories and achievements.

•Recommend strategies to promote gender equality and inclusion in educational policies and practices.

•Map out the harmful gender and social norms in schools that limit the potential or freedoms of young women and girls.

•Suggest mechanisms to enhance collaboration and coordination among relevant stakeholders to implement the proposed interventions effectively.

•Map out organizations working on capacity development pathways that could effectively support the grantees (national or regional)

IV.Scope of Work

The consultant's role in conducting this thorough context analysis/mapping for girls' and adolescent girls' education in Lebanon and Jordan encompasses the following tasks:

•Reviewing relevant literature, policies, and reports related to girls' and adolescent girls' education in both countries to gain a comprehensive understanding of the current educational landscape and existing challenges.

•Developing a robust assessment framework and methodology, which includes designing data collection tools and effective sampling strategies to ensure a representative and insightful data collection process.

•Engaging in primary data collection through key informant interviews and focus group discussions, with a specific focus on engaging adolescent girls, parents, teachers, school administrators, teachers union, girl’s clubs , students union and community leaders. These stakeholders' perspectives are crucial in understanding the multifaceted factors impacting girls' educational experiences.

•Collaborating with key stakeholders such as government departments, organizations specializing in girls' education, and feminist CSOs for key informant interviews. This collaborative approach will ensure a holistic view of the educational ecosystem and promotes inclusivity in the assessment process.

•Employing appropriate quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze the collected data, allowing for a comprehensive examination of the challenges and needs faced by girls and adolescent girls in accessing quality education.

•Identifying key findings and trends derived from the data analysis, which will form the foundation for evidence-based recommendations.

• Identify regional and national trends, highlight disparities among regions, districts, and governorates to help the consortium determining specific priorities for each region.

• These recommendations will be tailored to address the needs and challenges, promoting effective interventions for enhancing girls' educational opportunities.

V.Deliverables

The consultant's deliverables for the context analysis/mapping on girls' and adolescent girls' education in Lebanon and Jordan are as follows:

•Inception report: This report will present a well-defined assessment framework, a detailed methodology, and comprehensive data collection tools. It will outline the consultant's approach, work plan and strategies for conducting the assignment, ensuring clarity and alignment with the project's objectives.

•Raw data sets: The consultant will provide the raw data collected from surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions. These datasets will be essential for transparency, validation, and further analysis by stakeholders.

•Draft context analysis/ mapping report: A preliminary report will be submitted for review and feedback. It will include the initial findings, observations, and preliminary recommendations. Stakeholders will have the opportunity to provide inputs and suggestions to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the assessment.

•Final context analysis/ mapping report: the consultant will prepare a comprehensive Context analysis/mapping report, encompassing an executive summary, detailed findings, and actionable recommendations. This comprehensive report will integrate the feedback received and incorporate any necessary revisions and enhancements. It will encompass a thorough analysis of the data, identifying key trends, challenges, and opportunities related to girls' education. The report will present evidence-based recommendations and strategies to address the identified needs effectively.

•In addition to the final report the consultant will provide an excel sheet with the detailed contacts of key stakeholders and organizations working in the sphere of education, women’s rights, youth and girl’s empowerment or research in any related fields

•Presentation of findings: In addition to the final report, the consultant will be expected to present the key findings and recommendations to the consortium members. This presentation will facilitate discussions, foster collaboration, and promote understanding among stakeholders, thereby contributing to a unified approach in addressing the educational challenges faced by girls and adolescent girls.

Qualifications

VI.Timeline

The consultancy is expected to be completed within a timeframe of 7-8 weeks, allowing time for the consultant to conduct a thorough and comprehensive context analysis/mapping. The detailed timeline for the various tasks will be mutually agreed upon between the selected consultant and the project stakeholders. Flexibility in setting the timeline will ensure that the assessment process is well-paced and efficient, accommodating any unforeseen challenges or adjustments required during the course of the project.

Moreover, regular communication and progress updates between the consultant and the project team will be essential to ensure smooth coordination and adherence to the agreed timeline.

VII.Qualifications and Expertise

The ideal consultant should possess the following qualifications:

•An advanced degree in International Development, education, social sciences, gender studies or a related field.

•Proven experience in conducting context analyses and needs assessments in the field of girls' and adolescent girls' education or any relevant thematic.

•Strong knowledge of social norms, gender issues, education systems, and relevant policies and programs in Lebanon and Jordan.

•Proficient in quantitative and qualitative research methods and data analysis techniques.

•Clear understanding of feminist and women’s rights CSOs and feminist movements

•Extensive understanding of feminist MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning) systems

•Excellent report writing and communication skills.

•Familiarity with the context and education sector in Lebanon and Jordan is preferred.

•The consultant should have a demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, (I)NGOs, and community organizations.

•A gender-responsive approach in data collection and analysis will be essential to understanding and addressing the specific challenges faced by girls and adolescent girls in the education sector.

•The consultant should also be able to propose evidence-based interventions and strategies that can contribute to improving girls' access to quality education and enhancing their educational outcomes.

•Strong research skills and the ability to deliver high-quality outputs within the specified timeframe will be crucial for the successful completion of the consultancy.

•Fluency in English  is mandatory- fluency in Arabic would be an asset

VIII.Reporting and Coordination

The consultant will report to Doria Feminist Fund management and work closely with the consortium team. Regular communication and updates will be required throughout the consultancy period. The consultant should also be open to feedback and be responsive to any queries or clarifications from the project team. Additionally, the consultant may be required to participate in meetings to present the findings and recommendations of the assessment. Timely submission of deliverables and adherence to the agreed-upon timeline is crucial to ensure the smooth progress of the consultancy. Consortium partners shall assist and facilitate connections and communications between partners, stakeholders and the consultant to ensure a smooth implementation of data collection initiatives.

IX.Budget and Payment

The consultant's deliverables for the context analysis and needs assessment on girls' and adolescent girls' education in Lebanon and Jordan are as follows (see section 5 related to deliverables), with each deliverable linked to a corresponding payment percentage:

•Inception report, including the assessment framework, methodology, and data collection tools (10% of payment).

•Raw data sets from the conducted surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions (20% of payment).

•Draft context analysis/mapping  report for review and feedback (30% of payment).

•Final needs assessment report incorporating feedback received (40% of payment).

Payment milestones will be linked to the successful completion and submission of each deliverable as per the agreed-upon timeline.

The total budget for this consultancy can’t exceed 14,500 EUR.

X.Ethics and Confidentiality:

The consultant is expected to adhere to feminist values and research practices, maintain the confidentiality of collected data, and obtain necessary ethical clearances and consents from participants if required. Interested consultants are invited to submit their CV, a brief proposal outlining their approach to conducting the context analysis/mapping a with a sample of a relevant previous work ...

The proposal should include a clear outline of the research design, data collection methods, and analytical techniques to be used, as well as a detailed timeline for the completion of the consultancy. Additionally, consultants should demonstrate their understanding of gender-responsive research and their ability to integrate intersectional perspectives in their work. The selection of the consultant will be based on their qualifications, experience, and alignment with feminist principles and approaches.

ANNEX 1: Budget template