Programme: “STRONGER TOGETHER: Civil Society for Enhanced Rural Resilience”.

I.      Background

We Effect is a Swedish development organisation present in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Our work focuses on reducing poverty and inequality by strengthening the ability of member organisations to enable women and men, girls and boys living in poverty to improve their living conditions, defend their rights and contribute to a just society. The work is focused to the following areas: rural development, gender equality, environment and climate, just food systems and sustainable livelihoods. In Europe, We Effect is present in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo[1], Moldova, and North Macedonia.

The implementing partners of We Effect’s development cooperation are We Effect’s partner organisations [civil society organisations], mostly represented by member-based organisations active in rural development, farmers associations, producers’ groups, and cooperatives. We Effect applies a rights-based approach where development interventions are results of the dialogue with our partner organisations, with strong local ownership, characterized by accountability, transparency, non-discrimination, and meaningful participation.

The We Effect Country Office Europe [COEU] makes significant efforts in applying sustainable and results oriented practices by combining environmental, social, and economic development perspectives in one integrated development framework. In terms of social development perspectives, the focus is placed to strong engagement in transforming gender and social norms and introducing a methodology for implementation of gender transformative approach [GTA] as tool for supporting the foreseen gender transformation.

For this purpose, we are looking for a capacitated regional consultant who will:

§  conduct a two-day training on GTA to three agriculture-focused civil society organisations in Moldova,

§  develop a We Effect COEU methodology for application of GTA in rural areas, and

§  guideline for mainstreaming gender into organisation’s development framework.

II.  Objective of the assignment

The main objective of the assignment is to strengthen the We Effect COEU’s framework for applying gender transformative approach and strengthen CSOs’ capacities in gender transformative approach.

While conducting the assignment, the consultant should come up with the following products:

1.        Training package for gender transformative approach.

[estimated working days: 2; deadline for submission to We Effect: 15.10.2026]

1.1.     Submission of Agenda and one page methodology for the two-day training on gender transformative approach [English language]

1.2.    Submission of training materials on gender transformative approach – [English language]

2.       Report on the training conducted on gender transformative approach.

[estimated working days: 3; deadline for submission to We Effect: 10.11.2026]

2.1.    Conducting two-day training in Chișinău, Moldova on gender transformative approach [English language]

2.2.   Submission of training report focused on recommendations for follow up on in-practice implementation of gender transformative approach [English language]

3.       Development of We Effect COEU methodology for applying gender transformative approach in rural areas with focus on farmers.

[estimated working days: 12; deadline for submission to We Effect 18.12.2026]

3.1.    Submission of We Effect COEU methodology for applying gender transformative approach in rural areas with focus on farmers [English language]

Note: At a minimum, the methodology should include the following elements:

-          Purpose and Principles of the Gender Transformative Approach [purpose | guiding principles]

-          Gender Transformative Analysis [context analysis | stakeholder analysis | gender gap assessment | power and social norms analysis | institutional capacity assessment]

-          Theory of Change and Gender Transformative Mission [vision of change | gender transformative mission | theory of change | strategic objectives]

-          Gender Transformative Intervention Framework [individual level | household level | community level | institutional level | systems level]

-          Implementation Mechanisms [gender mainstreaming process | participation mechanism | engagement mechanism | safeguarding mechanism]

-          Expected Results Framework [example outcomes and outputs]

-          Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning [monitoring framework | evaluation criteria | learning mechanism]

-          Suggested Gender Transformative Indicators [organisational indicators | indicators for providing services | social norms indicators | institutional indicators | safeguarding indicators]

-          Risk Management and Sustainability [risks | mitigation measures | sustainability measures | exit strategy]

4.      Guideline to one organization [National Federation of Agricultural Producers from Moldova  - FARM] for mainstreaming GTA into the: a) ongoing organizational strategy, b) available gender policy, c) ongoing projects, d) FARM’s women network, e) FARM’s youth network, and the pipeline projects.

[estimated working days: 7; deadline for submission to We Effect: 18.12.2026]

                4.1.   Submission of guideline for mainstreaming gender into organisation’s development framework [English language]

While conducting the foreseen training, the selected consultant will be encouraged to use positive examples, replicable in Moldova and Western Balkan countries, serving as a good practice and guidance to partner organisations for development and implementation of their agenda for gender transformation.

Upon signing the contract and prior development of the agenda, the We Effect COEU programme coordinator will secure bilateral discussion with the selected consultant for provision of all information related to the expected audience and the context of We Effect portfolio.

III.           Duty travel & accommodation

One travel to Chișinău, Moldova is foreseen for this assignment.

Proposed number of days for stay in Moldova: 6 days

Day 1:              Arrival in Chișinău

Day 2 and 3:    Delivering training to three organisations

Day 4 and 5:   Bilateral technical meeting with FARM on development of guideline for mainstreaming gender into organisation’s development framework

Day 6:             Departure Chișinău

All preparatory work will be organised virtually.

The logistics [venue, lunch, refreshments] of the in-person training in Chișinău will be organised and paid by We Effect.

IV.            Coordination & reporting

Selected consultant will work under direct supervision of We Effect’s Programme Coordinator [PC] based in Skopje, North Macedonia. The PC will be responsible for sharing the available assignment-related documents to the consultant and reply to the question/s that selected consultant might have. The PC will also guide the consultant through the process of development of the required documents, review the draft materials, and provide comments and approval of the materials.

Consultant will be reporting directly to We Effect PC in charge of gender equality. The intended dynamics of the assignment is the following:

V.                Qualification requirements

The consultant shall hold the following skills and experience:

-      University degree in social sciences (gender studies are preferable), or at least 12 years of experience in gender equality and/or gender mainstreaming.

-      At least 7 years of professional experience in gender equality [for consultants with university degree in social sciences].

-      At least one [1] assignment involving development of GTA methodologies.

-      At least one assignment involving delivering of GTA training.

-      Ability to use English language on professional level.

-      Experience in agriculture and rural development context will be considered as strong asset.

The contracted expert will be obliged to perform the following competences:

-      Demonstrates integrity and fairness by modelling We Effect’s values and ethical principles.

-      Demonstrate professional competence and conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments.

-      Observing deadlines and achieving results.

-      Display cultural, gender, ethnic, religious and age sensitivity, and adaptability.

Selected consultant will be requested to communicate with the programme coordinator for any unclear situation or challenge that the consultant might face during the implementation of the tasks, especially the challenges in practicing the above-mentioned competences. If consultant is in opinion that the challenge has not been properly addressed or recovered, she/he is encouraged to communicate the situation with the We Effect’s country manager in North Macedonia.

VI.            Application procedure:

By October 9^th, all interested consultants should send their application to info_roeu@weeffect.org and copy samir.memedov@weeffect.org.

To secure multilevel integrity of the process, applicants should use two separate emails for application (both shared in one minute period if applicable):

Email 1: CV (PDF document).

Email 2: Financial proposal – lumpsum (PDF document).

By October 9^th, the evaluation of offers is going to be conducted.

By October 13^th, the contract will be signed by both parties (consultant and We Effect official representative).

By October 14^th, the consultant will start with implementation of the contract.

Any questions related to this procurement should be submitted to info_roeu@weeffect.org [and copy samir.memedov@weeffect.org] no later than 29 September. Queries received after this deadline may not be considered.

Note 1: The financial offer should be presented in EUR and lumpsum format where all components (consultant fees, VAT, personal tax, legal fees, communication fees) are going to be included but NOT separately presented.

Note 2: 10% of the total financial proposal [lumpsum] will be deducted for covering the personal tax.

Note 3: Please make efforts to clearly present the assignments that are aligned with the criteria stated in the technical evaluation. It is not mandatory but could be very beneficial if you could add an additional table in your CV where you will write the:

a) # of years of professional experience in gender equality, gender mainstreaming gender budgeting;

b) # of assignment involving development of GTA methodologies.

c) # of assignments involving development of methodologies for gender equality

c) # assignment that include rural development context

d) # of assignment involving delivering of GTA training.

VII.        Evaluation of the offers

The incomplete applications or applications received after the deadline for submission will not be taken into consideration.

The evaluation of offers will be based on the “best value for money principle” by using a weighted scoring method to evaluate the combination of the applicants’ qualification [90%] and financial proposal [10%].

The award of the contract will be made to the bidder whose offer has been evaluated as:

§  Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

§  Having received the highest combined score out of a weighted technical and financial evaluation specific to the solicitation

Technical evaluation (90%):

The technical evaluation of the received offers will consist of:

§  Evaluation of education [max 15 points]

-  PhD in gender studies [15 points]

-  MSc in gender studies [12 points]

-  BSc in gender studies [8 points]

-  PhD in social studies [12 points]

-  MSc in social studies [8 points]

-  BSc in social studies [5 points]

Note: if consultant has no education in the related field but has more than 12 years of experience in gender equality, gender mainstreaming, and/or gender budgeting, she/he will be granted zero points in this component but will not be eliminated for not meeting the minimum requirements and continue being evaluated against other evaluation criteria.

Evaluation of overall professional experience [maximum 15 points]

Select one:

§  15 or more years of experience in gender equality [15 points]

§  10 to 14 years of experience in gender equality [12 points]

§  7 to 9 years of experience in gender equality [8 points]

Note:    consultant having less than 7 years of experience in gender equality, gender mainstreaming, and/or gender budgeting will be eliminated for further evaluation.

§  Evaluation of experience in similar assignments [maximum 50 points]

Select one:

§  3 or more assignments involving development of GTA methodologies [25 points]

§  2 assignments involving development of GTA methodologies [18 points]

§  1 assignment involving development of GTA methodologies [10 points]

Note:    consultant having no experience in development of GTA methodologies will be eliminated for further evaluation.

Select one:

§  6 or more assignments involving development of other gender-related methodologies [15 points]

§  3 to 5 assignments involving development of other gender-related methodologies [10 points]

§  1 to 2 assignments involving development of other gender-related methodologies [7 points]

Select one:

§  3 or more assignments involving delivering a training in GTA [10 points]

§  2 assignments involving delivering a training in GTA [7 points]

§  1 assignment involving delivering a training in gender equality [4 points]

Note:    consultant having no experience in delivering a training in GTA will be eliminated for further evaluation.

Evaluation of experience in rural development initiatives [10 points]

Select one:

§  3 or more gender-related assignments that include rural development context [10 points]

§  2 gender-related assignments that include rural development context [7 points]

§  1 gender-related assignment that include rural development context [3 point]

Note:    gender-related assignment in rural development context is an asset and is not considered as mandatory criteria. Consultant that has no experience in rural development context will gain zero points for this subject but will continue being evaluated.

Only the candidates who will reach the threshold of min 50 points out of maximum 90 points available for the technical evaluation will be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial evaluation (10%)

The financial offers are expected to be delivered in a separate email that will not be considered for evaluation before receiving the results of the technical evaluation.

Once the technical evaluation is finalized, the consultants that gain at least 50 points are going to be subject to financial evaluation.

The email with financial offer of the consultant that is being technically evaluated as not responsive [gained under 50 points in technical evaluation] will not be opened, will be screenshotted in the list of emails received, filed in the procurement file, and further deleted without being opened.

For those that will pass the minimum threshold (50 points and more), the evaluation of the financial offers will be conducted in the following manner:

§  The offer with the lowest price shall receive the total of 10 points.

§  The other offers with higher prices shall receive the respective score according to the following formula: 10 * (Lowest Price / Proposed Price).

The final evaluation will be sum of the points generated in the technical and financial evaluation. The consultant that gained best score in final evaluation will be offered a contract with We Effect for implementation of the assignment. In case the consultant is being prevented to sign the contract, We Effect is going to offer a contract to the consultant that gain second best score in the evaluation process.

Note: the maximum funds available for this assignment is 21,000 Euros

VIII.     Terms of payment

Due to the expected value, the foreseen one travel, and duration of the contract, this assignment considers payment to be realized in two instalments:

-      First instalment: 20% prior travel to Chișinău [expected payment date: 20.10.2026].

-      Final instalment: 80% upon approval of all deliverables [expected payment date: 25.12.2026].

The payment will be realized based on the email sent to info_roeu@weeffect.org and copy the officer responsible for supervision of the assignment (samir.memedov@weeffect.org).  The email for the initial instalment should contain the following components:

-      Email Body Text for the first instalment:

§  Official request for payment 1.

-      Email Attachment for the first instalment:

§  Agenda and one page methodology for the two-day training on GTA [Word format].

§  Training materials on GTA [Word format]

The email for the initial instalment should contain the following components:

-      Email Body Text for the final instalment:

§  Official request for payment 2.

-      Email Attachment for the final instalment:

§  Training report focused on recommendations for follow up [Word format]

§  We Effect COEU methodology for applying GTA in rural areas [Word format]

§  Guideline for mainstreaming GTA [Word format]

§  Feedback on collaboration with the contract supervisor.

Note: The feedback aims at identified gaps and challenges, subject to further internal evaluation that could significantly contribute to future improved processes of collaboration and communication with consultants and strengthened proactive supervision