Consultancy for Research on the effectiveness of social media as a tool for opening up spaces for women leaders’ participation in Jordan (6 weeks)

Terms of Reference

The effectiveness of social media as a tool for opening up spaces for women leaders’ participation under the Women Empowered for Leadership programme

https://womeninleadership.hivos.org/

Name of Title: Consultancy for Research on the effectiveness of social media as a tool for opening up spaces for women leaders’ participation (6 weeks)

Location: Jordan

Terms of Reference

The effectiveness of social media as a tool for opening up spaces for women leaders’ participation under the Women Empowered for Leadership programme
https://womeninleadership.hivos.org/

Overview

Hivos is a Dutch development organization that seeks new solutions to persistent global issues. With smart projects in the right places, we oppose discrimination, inequality, abuse of power and the unsustainable use of our planets resources. Counter balance alone, however is not enough. Our primary focus is achieving structural change. This is why we cooperate with innovative businesses, citizens and their organisations. We share a dream with them of sustainable economies and inclusive societies.
Hivos in collaboration with its partners is implementing a five year (2016-2020) Women Empowered for Leadership (WE4L) programme in Southern Africa (Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe) and Middle East (Jordan and Lebanon). This Programme seeks to promote women’s leadership at the political, public administration levels and within civic organizations. Focus is at the sub-national level where decisions are made and policies are implemented that directly affect people’s day-to-day life. It moreover allows for women’s leadership skills to grow and mature. The main catalysing forces in this Programme are women’s organizations and (aspiring) women leaders.
The goal of the WE4L is “collaborating for increased and effective participation by women in politics and public administration.” The activities include use of modern communications tools and platforms in profiling women leaders as well as researching about women who step up to participate in public leadership platforms. Social media has grown exponentially in the last decade rendering traditional information and data gathering methods close to obsolete. It has however become evident that social media has become a key tool in making or breaking leadership careers. It is this use of social media and its direct and indirect effects on women and their participation in leadership that this consultancy seeks to unpack for discussion.
WE4L would like to gather information on the trends, possible case studies and projected future trends of social/online media and its use by women who are aspiring for leadership or currently in leadership as well as how it’s used to support or derail them. The paper will also look at social/online media sentiment on women leaders and how it influences public perception of
women in leadership positions in the five implementing countries. It will also be key to analyse social/online media versus traditional media to determine the added value of investing in social and online media to further the objectives of the programme.
The WE4L programme uses both traditional and social media as information and advocacy tools. Through partners who work with beneficiaries on the ground the programme gathers information for various uses which include setting positions, documenting for research and communicating the work being done and successes . This information works as evidence in lobby missions, programming and when calling the public/ stakeholders to action. Hivos and in turn the WE4L programme prides itself in the effective use of online media and acknowledges the risks that come with the use. The consultant will be required to exhibit substantial understanding of both online and offline communications tools.

The consultant may therefore use the program partners during the research to access beneficiaries and target groups under the program.

The Objective of the Research is to determine the effectiveness of social media as a tool for opening up spaces for women leaders’ participation

The Consultant will be expected to cover the following themes: access, use, experiences, influence and impact of social media with particular reference to the following:
1. The role of social media use in making or breaking women leaders’ careers
2. The direct and indirect effects of social media use on women leaders career progression
3. The impact of social media in promoting the 50/50 gender representation agenda
4. The effectiveness of using social media as a tool for activism by women leaders
5. The impact of online gender based violence (harassment, intimidation & abuse) on women leaders

The consultant will be required to:
1. Develop and design the framework, methodology and research instruments they will use for this research for approval by Hivos (This framework should be adaptable for the other implementing countries mentioned in this document).
2. Carry out the in-country Desktop research based on set methodology.
3. Correctly cite any sources used in the Report.
4. Produce a 10 – 15 -page report summary.
5. Coordinate with Hivos team in Jordan, Lebanon and SA.

Deliverables:
1. A full country report on Social/online media and its effects on women’s full participation in leadership processes with at least two case study/story per country and relevant infographics or visuals.
2. Annex of supporting documents (questionnaire responses)
3. A4 2-pages summary of the report

Timelines:
Closing Date for Applications: 13th May 2020 Appointment of Consultant: 25th May 2020 Submission of Framework: 1st, June 2020 Desk Research & Compilation of Findings: 8th, June 2020 Draft Report by: 29th, June 2020 Final Report by: 6th, July 2020

Requirements:
 Ability to work with a diverse team
 A recent similar body of work
 Flexibility
 Knowledge of global gender (Women Leadership and participation) issues
Application and Criteria for Selection of Best Offer:
We invite interested suitable candidates to submit the following application documents:
 CV showing educational/technical background and experience, and a list of similar assignments of individual/proposed team and their role
 Short proposal outlining how you meet the criteria and particular value added that you bring in delivering this assignment
 Technical proposal how you will deliver the assignment
 Financial proposal with a clear indication of all-inclusive fee
Combined Scoring method will be used in the selection of consultant, where the Technical proposal (qualifications, experience and approach/methodology) will be weighted a max. of 70%, and combined with the price offer which will be weighted a max of 30%.

The interested consultants should submit their applications to we4ljordan@hivos.org by the 13th, May 2020