Gender and Financial Inclusion Consultant – Cameroon

Introduction and Context

The African Union InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) is a specialized technical Office of the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (DARBE) of the African Union Commission (AUC). AU-IBAR’s mandate is to support and coordinate the utilization of livestock, fisheries and wildlife as a resource for both human wellbeing and economic development in the Member States of the African Union (AU) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs).

AU-IBAR and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) are collaborating in the implementation of an action: “Evidence Driven Short Term Solutions to Build Resilience and Address the Adverse Effects of Crises on African Feed and Fodder Systems” commonly referred to as the ‘Resilient African Feed and Fodder Systems Project’ (RAFFS Project). This emergency and short-term action will contribute to understanding the effect of recent and on-going global crises (3Cs: COVID-19, Climate Change shocks and the Conflict between Russia and Ukraine) on the African feed and fodder supply chain and subsequently their effects on the Livestock Sourced Foods (LSFs). This will generate evidence base critical to shaping coordinated action to respond to the feed and fodder shortages that have led to huge losses of livestock (e.g., over 9.5 million livestock in the Greater Horn of Africa region alone), eroded livelihoods, loss of incomes, and driven up prices of highly nutritive livestock sourced foods making them inaccessible to sections of the population that need them most.

Feed constitutes 60 – 70% of the total cost of animal production: the crises have exposed the significant weaknesses and vulnerabilities in the African feed and fodder input and supply chains. Addressing feed and fodder shortages in the short-term ensures business continuity and sustainable livelihoods. The multiplicity and increasing frequency and severity of shocks and their complex and interlocking effects demands an approach that will also strengthen resilience in feed and fodder systems.

The action proposes strengthening analytical capacity for evidence-based decision making and attracting investment, identifying and upscaling viable existing approaches and innovative models, and harnessing partnerships for coordinated action to galvanize impactful immediate and short-term investments. Women, who are largely rural-based or in the informal sector, are disproportionately poor and vulnerable to the increased prices and unavailability of livestock-sourced foods. Working through the African Women in Animal Resources Farming and Agribusiness Network, established under the ambit of AU-IBAR, the action proposes interventions to ensure women’s meaningful involvement in gainful activities in the feed and fodder and the livestock sourced foods supply chains.

The Project Goal is to respond to the worsened food and nutrition security occasioned by recent crises that have negatively affected African feed and fodder systems and production of animal sourced foods.

The Purpose is to harness evidence driven solutions for short term interventions to enhance access to affordable and quality feed and fodder critical to ensure sustainable production of animal sourced foods.

The RAFFS Project has four Results:

• (i) Result 1: A Knowledge and Analytical Ecosystem for Informing Evidence Based Solutions Established
• (ii) Result 2: Viable business models, Strategic Partnerships, Catalytic Interventions for Coordinated Action Supported to Attract Enhanced Investment for Short Term Solutions to Feed and Fodder Shortages
• (iii) Result 3: Women Empowered to Participate and Benefit from Feed and Fodder and Animal Sourced Food Supply Chains to Enhance their Food and Nutrition Security
• (iv) Result 4: Policies, Regulations, and Institutions Reformed for the development of a more sustainable and resilient feed and fodder industry

The Country Assessments

The RAFFS Project is planning to undertake country level Assessments to better understand the effect of recent and on-going crises on feed and fodder supply chains in the national priority livestock value chains (previously identified by stakeholders), and the related impacts on availability of and accessibility to the livestock sourced foods.

Expected Outputs of the Assessment

• Output 1: The impact of the recent and on-going global crises on African feed and fodder systems/supply chain within the priority national livestock value chains, and the related impact on availability of livestock sourced foods.
• Output 2: The status of data and digital capacities and ecosystem for generating evidence-based feed and fodder information.
• Output 3: The level of meaningful and beneficial involvement of women in feed, fodder and animal sourced foods supply chains.
• Output 4: The assessment of the feed and fodder development policy, regulatory and institutional frameworks.

Objectives of the Consultancy: Gender and Financial Inclusion

The Gender and Financial Inclusion Consultant will collaborate closely with the National Assessment Coordinator to conduct briefing sessions for identified respondents regarding gender and financial inclusion topics. This role involves leading Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and facilitating Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with stakeholders identified for the assessment’s gender and financial inclusion component. Their contribution is pivotal in collecting pertinent data for the assessment and achieving its objectives.

Scope of the Consultancy

The Gender and Financial Inclusion Consultant shall:

• (i) Provide training to identified stakeholders on gender and financial inclusion, enhancing their understanding of key concepts and terminologies related to the assessment.
• (ii) Identify and engage with a wide range of stakeholders, particularly women and youth groups in feed and fodder sector, to ensure diverse perspectives are included.
• (iii) Conduct interviews and facilitate focus group discussions (FGDs) to collect data on financial inclusion experiences, challenges, and needs in relation to feed and fo.
• (iv) Lead FGDs with a gender-sensitive approach, fostering a safe and inclusive environment for participants to share insights.
• (v) Demonstrate cultural sensitivity during interactions with respondents, considering diverse cultural backgrounds.
• (vi) Ensure the accuracy and consistency of data collected during interviews and discussions, cross-referencing information for reliability.
• (vii) Uphold high standards in data collection and provide feedback to the National Assessment teams to enhance the interview and discussion process.
• (viii) Collaborate with the Data Management Consultant, offering insights and context during data analysis, especially concerning gender dynamics.
• (ix) Prepare comprehensive reports documenting gender-related findings and recommendations for the assessment.
• (x) Maintain open communication with the assessment team, share insights, address challenges, and contribute to the assessment’s direction.

Deliverables

• (i) Summaries of briefing sessions with identified respondents, including key points, questions, and initial feedback.
• (ii) Materials to enhance stakeholder understanding of gender and financial inclusion concepts.
• (iii) Records of diverse stakeholder engagement, with a focus on women and youth in the feed and fodder sector.
• (iv) Collected data from interviews and FGDs on financial inclusion in relation to feed and fodder.
• (v) Reports showcasing gender-sensitive FGD sessions and insights.
• (vi) Efforts to ensure data accuracy, consistency, and high standards in data collection.
• (vii) Comprehensive reports on gender-related findings and active communication with the assessment team.
• (viii) Presentation or briefing for assessment team, stakeholders, or decision-makers summarizing key findings, recommendations, and implications.

Duration

The Gender and Financial Inclusion Consultant will work for a period of 12 working days to be completed over a three (3) calendar week period. All the proposed activities and outputs should be completed within his period.
The assignment will start immediately after signature of the contract by both parties.

Confidentiality

All documents and data acquired from the records and during the interviews and meetings are confidential and will be used solely for the project.
The deliverables and all material linked to the assessment (produced by the consultant or AU-IBAR itself) shall be confidential and proprietary in nature and may not be shared with 3rd parties without the written consent of AU-IBAR and/or the relevant national authorities.

Remuneration and Terms of Payment

The total amount for the consultation will be $3,600 to be paid upon the successful completion of the assignment, submission of the satisfactory final report, and fulfillment of the terms outlined in the terms of reference.
Other costs related to the activities such e.g cost of meeting venues, ground transportation, materials and tools for data collection will be covered by AU-IBAR.

Supervision and Coordination

The Gender and Financial Inclusion Consultant will be under the overall supervision of the National Assessment Coordinator to identify and coordinate teams for the assessment. AU-IBAR will hold a training session with the country assessment team on the assessment tools and approach to the assessment.

Requirements: Qualifications, Experience and Skills

• University degree in Agriculture Economics, Finance, Social Sciences, Agronomy, Agribusiness Management and any other related field of expertise.
• Experience in gender and financial inclusion-related work, such as gender-focused research, financial inclusion projects, or assessments.
• Experience in survey data collection, conducting qualitative interviews and facilitating focus group discussions.
• Familiarity with gender-sensitive approaches and methodologies.
• Knowledge in use of data collection tools such as interview scripts, ODK tools, Online forms and spreadsheets.
• Oral and written communication abilities, with the capacity to engage with diverse stakeholders.
• Awareness of and sensitivity to cultural diversity, especially in the context of the assessment’s location.
• Ability to work with diverse populations and demonstrate cultural sensitivity when engaging with respondents.
• Capacity to work collaboratively as part of a team, including coordinating with the National Assessment teams and RAFFs Project Staff.
• All reports and consultancy outputs will be in English. In the course of execution of the assignment, proficiency in local languages will be required for engagement with relevant to the assessment country or stakeholders.

Selection Criteria

Criteria Scores (%)

Qualifications 25

General Experience of the Consultant 25

Specific Professional Experience 35

Other skills and competencies 10

Working language(s) 5

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