Gender Sensitive Responses to IWRM, SDG 6.5.1

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Understanding and advancing gender-sensitive responses to Integrated Water Resources Management, in line with SDG indicator 6.5.1

GLOBAL WATER PARTNERSHIP ORGANISATION

1. Objective

The objective of the consultancy is, by means of literature analysis[1] and structured interviews, to contribute to a better understanding among key target audiences (water and environment managers in national governments, international organisations, etc.) on the multiple benefits of more fully integrating gender considerations into water resources management and empowering women’s participation, so as to contribute to accelerating achievement of SDG 6.5.1 and other related SDG targets.

1.1 About the Global Water Partnership

The Global Water Partnership (GWP) is a multi-stakeholder international action network created in 1996 to foster the implementation of integrated water resources management: the coordinated development and management of water, land, and related resources in order to maximise economic and social welfare without compromising the sustainability of ecosystems and the environment.

The GWP Network is open to all organisations that recognise the principles of integrated water resources management endorsed by the Network. It includes states, government institutions at all levels, non-governmental organisations, academic and research institutions, private companies, and service providers in the public sector. GWP’s diverse and inclusive network is a platform for policy dialogue and bottom-up development of action plans and programmes, providing a voice for communities on water management.

GWP comprises 3,000+ partner organisations in over 180 countries. Our network of 65+ Country Water Partnerships and 13 Regional Water Partnerships convenes, and brokers coordinated action by government and non-government actors. A long-time advocate for integrated water resources management, GWP draws on implementation experience at the local level and link it across our Network and to global development agendas.

GWP water partnerships (regional, country, area, city, or River Basin) bring together various sectors and interest groups to identify common water problems and develop action plans based on integrated water resources management. Each partnership has its own operational strategy, work programme, and administrative structure. Most partnerships are attached to host institutions that administer funds and employ staff on their behalf.

Our Vision

A water secure world.

Our Mission

To advance governance and management of water resources for sustainable and equitable development.

Our Unique Value

GWP mobilises action on the global water crisis through a unique combination of social capital, shared values, credibility within the global water community, bottom-up orientation, and expertise. A network of networks, we ensure the ‘voices of water’ can influence local, national, regional, and global development priorities. We are committed to our role as a neutral convener and respected for our focus on inclusiveness and sustainability.

Our Work

We prioritise opportunities where key global or regional policy frameworks bring leadership focus, progress measurement, development partner action, and potential for financing. Specifically, we target the following Anchor Areas:

• Water solutions for the Sustainable Development Goals
• Climate resilience through water
• Transboundary water cooperation

We mobilise people and organisations to unite around shared development priorities that impact water resources. We bring all voices to the table, including the private sector. We work with youth as key agents of change. We work towards gender equality in all we do. We build and leverage partnerships, and work through multi-stakeholder platforms to create space for diverse views and interests.

We act to support coordinated action to address water risks and put integrated water resources management into practice. We work with our partners to change behaviours, strengthen institutions, build pilots and catalyse investment for water-wise sustainable development. We measure ourselves through the actions we take to improve water management and governance.

We learn from our actions and relationships. We curate, create, and share knowledge globally and across regions. We work with stakeholders to turn learning into ongoing improvements in water management and provide a constant feedback loop through our learning and knowledge activities.

Our Values

Inclusiveness | Openness | Transparency | Accountability | Respect | Gender sensitivity | Solidarity

The GWP Organisation (GWPO) was established as an intergovernmental organisation in Sweden. It is managed by the Executive Secretary who is answerable to the Steering Committee (SC). The SC oversees policy and approves the work programme and budget of the GWPO. The SC and its Chair are appointed by the Sponsoring Partners, comprising the ten founding members of the GWPO.

The GWPO Secretariat manages GWP’s finances and reports on funding received at the global level. It also helps with the exchange of knowledge and resources and ensures communication and coherence across the Network. The Secretariat of GWPO is located in Stockholm, Sweden. The Secretariat staff normally stands at 25-30 members recruited from all parts of the world. The staff is composed of administrative and operational/scientific/technical positions.

More information can be found at www.gwp.org.

Specification of Requirements

Introduction

According to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 on Gender Equality, providing women and girls with equal access to education, health care, decent work, and representation in political and economic decision-making processes will fuel sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity at large. This SDG is very much related to Goal 6 on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, given the disproportionate effects of the lack of clean water and sanitation on women and girls, as well as their common roles in many countries in managing water supply at the household level.

More specifically, the Dublin Statement on water and sustainable development stipulates as a key principle that women play a central part in the provision, management and safeguarding of water. This pivotal role of women as providers and users of water and guardians of the living environment has seldom been reflected in institutional arrangements for the development and management of water resources. Acceptance and implementation of this principle requires positive policies to address women’s specific needs and to equip and empower women to participate at all levels in water resources management programmes, including decision-making and implementation, in ways defined by them.

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP), as the custodian agency for SDG indicator 6.5.1 on the degree of implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), included three gender-specific questions in the 2017 baseline survey instrument for that indicator, as follows:

• 2.1e Gender-specific objectives for water resources management at national level.
• 2.2c Gender-specific objectives at sub-national levels; and
• 2.2d Gender-specific objectives and plans at transboundary level.

The results of the 2017 SDG 6.5.1 baseline survey carried out by 172 countries shows that the gender question was one of the least well reported. GWP and UNEP-DHI Center have welcomed the suggestion of conducting an analysis around the gender questions in the SDG 6.5.1 indicator, to provide clearer guidance to countries in terms of what it means for water resources management to be more inclusive of gender in relevant laws and plans. This may also take into account the preliminary results of the 2020 update to the SDG 6.5.1 survey, currently under self-evaluation by UN Member States.

Purpose

The purpose of the consultancy is, by means of literature analysis[1] and structured interviews, to contribute to a better understanding among key target audiences (water and environment managers in national governments, international organisations, etc.) on the multiple benefits of more fully integrating gender considerations into water resources management and empowering women’s participation, so as to contribute to accelerating achievement of SDG 6.5.1 and other related SDG targets.

The following are the specific objectives of the consultancy:

• Generate a comprehensive report[2] with a small catalogue of specific ways in which countries have addressed gender issues in water resources management, based on the answers from countries in each of eleven possible values (in increments of 10, from 0 to 100) on the three gender-related questions in the 2017 SDG 6.5.1 survey[3], with real-life examples from those countries that self-evaluated as being at each of those levels[4]. The progressive description of what it means to be at each of the levels, going from lowest to highest, should show how a greater inclusion of gender issues in laws/plans or similar at the national level leads to a better basis for water resources management.
• Produce substantive input to a persuasive and well-documented “communication piece” that shares the findings of the report in an easily understandable way to a broad public (the production of the actual communication piece is separate from the scope of these terms of reference);
• Contribute to the production of a communications and outreach strategy around the report (the production of the actual communication and outreach strategy is separate from the scope of these terms of reference);
• Generate internal feedback and recommendations that allow UNEP, UNEP-DHI Center, GWP and UNDP-Cap-Net to provide better support to countries in integrating gender issues into their water resources management frameworks;

Tasks

Delivery 1: 30% of the total payment (2 weeks after the start of the contract)

• Based on key interviews with the internal team and closest partners, propose a detailed methodological approach to reach the study’s objectives;
• An initial identification of countries that would be interesting as examples within each of the 11 possible values;

Delivery 2: 30% of the total payment (6 weeks after the start of the contract)

• Based on approval of delivery 1, and key interviews with country representatives and others as needed, as well as the definition (to be provided by GWP) of the scope of the communication piece described above, provide the necessary substantive input to that communication piece;
• After agreeing on an outline of the full report with GWP, generate a first skeleton draft of the full report;
• Based on the draft full report and the input provided to the communication piece, contribute with substantive input to the draft communications and outreach strategy, to be provided by GWP;

Delivery 3: 40% of the total payment (12 weeks after the start of the contract)

• Based on approval of delivery 2 by GWP, after the necessary reviews to ensure full satisfaction, deliver the final report in English in Word format[5];
• Provide the final substantive input required to complete (separately) both the communication piece and the communication and outreach strategy;
• As separate annexes to the report, deliver the related material generated through the consultancy, including recommendations on how to improve the reporting on gender issues in SDG 6.5.1 in the future, photos with cleared permissions, transcripts of interviews, reference documents, etc.

Time schedule

The contract shall last approximately 12 weeks from the date of its signature to final delivery.

Qualifications, experience and skills

The individual or group of consultants should have as a minimum the following qualifications:

Education: Advanced university degree in related topics, including water resources and social sciences focused on gender and inclusion.

Experience: At least 10 years’ practical and theoretical international, regional and national experience in implementing participatory and inclusive water resource management projects, gender focused institutional analyses, gender focused policy analysis and with a solid understanding of IWRM, within the broader context of sustainable development. Provable experience in synthetic report writing and communicating to broad audiences will be essential.

Skills:

• The consultant(s) must be fluent in English, both in writing and orally. Knowledge of French, Spanish, Arabic and/or other languages is an advantage.
• Good communicator(s) in writing and orally, with good organisation and analytical skills.
• Knowledge of standard Microsoft Office processing tools is a must.

Evaluation criteria

The proposals received will be evaluated by a small committee within GWP based on the following criteria:

1. Quality of the proposed approach and methodology (50%)
2. Relevant qualifications and experience of the consultant(s) (35%)
3. Value for money (15%)

GWP will consult with its partners at UNEP-DHI in the decision-making process.

Budget

For the consultancy, an amount of approx. 17,000 Euros is available.

Consultancy to be supervised by

Liza Debevec, Senior Gender and Water Specialist, GWP
Colin Herron, Global Coordinator, Water Solutions for the SDGs, GWP
In close collaboration with Monika Ericson, Senior Comms Specialist, GWP
With review and approval of deliverables to involve UNEP-DHI staff

Deadline

Send proposals in English by August 28^th, 2020, to procurement@gwp.org.

[1] The literature review should include GWP’s Gender Action Piece on https://www.gwp.org/globalassets/global/about-gwp/publications/gender/ge....

[2] While the length of the report is to be discussed and agreed between GWP and the consultant(s), it is suggested that it could be approximately 40 pages in Microsoft Word.

[3] Namely 2.1e Gender-specific objectives for water resources management at national level, 2.2c Gender-specific objectives at subnational levels and 2.2d Gender-specific objectives and plans at transboundary level

[4] While the 2017 baseline should be used for the purpose of this report, for some countries the results of the 2020 update may already be available and may provide additional insight. It is not expected that the results between the two reporting periods will be drastically different.

[5] GWP will take care separately of the design, layout and publication of the final document