About Rural Women Cultivating Change (RWCC)

Implemented in Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia, the RWCC program aims to shift the cultural attitudes and structures that limit young and adult rural women – particularly women small holder farmers, female heads of households and survivors of Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) – to allow them to take control of their own lives, advocate for themselves and others and take leadership within communities and beyond.

Using gender transformative, participatory agroecological, women leadership approaches and reinforcing interventions aimed at preventing SGBV, the project focuses on the intersection between women’s rights and climate adaptation in order to better support sustainable and equitable resource management, agricultural production and access to markets. It further alleviates poverty through reduced personal and collective vulnerability to social, economic and climate shocks. The project is also providing mentorship for women-led SMES and incubators through GALS trainings   and investment forums.

The assignment         

To address the knowledge and awareness gaps related to agricultural policy, the RWCC program will support women-led policy dialogues in Laikipia and Nakuru Counties.

The dialogues will address the policy gaps and opportunities documented in the project’s research “Mapping gender policy gaps and opportunities in climate resilience and food systems.” The research revealed that the policy development process has not deliberately included women and youth in planning, communication and implementation

Additionally, low awareness among women and youth about the policies was a major gap. The ineffective communication of the policies to local communities resulted in a significant proportion of the population being unaware of government policies and their implementation. This leads to poor accountability mechanisms since people cannot demand what they do not know.

The policy dialogue is a locally designed strategy through which grassroots women’s groups initiate and engage in ongoing dialogues with their leaders, with a view to influence policies, plans and programs in ways that address women farmers’ priorities.

Specific objectives

1. Increase awareness of national and county policies in agriculture and climate change among women farmers.
2. Provide a platform for women farmers to interrogate gender mainstreaming in government priorities in agriculture, food security and climate resilience.

Methodology

The dialogues will be facilitated by an expert facilitator. This will involve group activities and plenary sessions.

Scope of the assignment

The consultant/firm is expected to deliver the following:

1. A two-day engaging and interactive training on the existing national and county policies and laws affecting farmers in each county.
2. A report of the two-day workshop for each county.

Consultant qualifications and experience

• Demonstrable expertise in policy research, reviewing and evaluating policies and legislation, with a minimum of 10 years record in agriculture, climate change, food systems and gender and a master’s degree in the relevant field.
• Good knowledge and a proven track record working on climate justice and policy work at local, regional, and international levels.
• Have experience working/research among smallholder farmers especially in rural areas.
• Strong practical, analytical, research and evidence-based climate change and agriculture advisory experience.
• Previous experience in facilitating trainings, workshops in with communities.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills.

Expected deliverables

1. Two days interactive training.
2. Workshop report

Duration

The workshops will take place as follows:

Laikipia County – 17^th and 18^th August 2023
Nakuru County – 24^th and 25^th August 2023

How to apply

All applications should be sent to email address eastafricajobs@hivos.org by 13th August 2023 5pm EAT with the following information:

• Technical proposal detailing your experience, why you are the best fit for this assignment, and your proposed general approach to the consultancy.
• CV of consultant(s) and description of any partners or contributing institutions as appropriate.
• Not more than 1 page describing the financial proposal i.e. of how long it will take to deliver the workshop, professional fees (per day) and reimbursable costs (tax inclusive).
• Proof of similar previous assignments delivered.

The email subject should read: ‘RWCC CONSULTANT’

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.