WFD is looking for local consultant to support a civic education awareness campaign and outreach to local communities.

Terms of reference (ToR): Civic education awareness campaign outreach to local communities Consultancy

1. Context

The Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) is a non-departmental public body supported by, but independent of, the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Established in 1992, the remit of WFD is to provide expertise in developing parliaments, political party structures and civil society organisations – the key institutions that make up a functioning democracy.  The patron of WFD is the Speaker of the House of Commons.

The Commonwealth Equality Project (CEP) is a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) funded Commonwealth-wide programme focused on expanding the participation of women, girls and other marginalized groups in political and societal decision-making processes.

The Maldives programme will focus on working in partnership with civil society to build greater proficiency around intersectionality as a key component to advancing gender equality, and to continue to raise awareness in policy-making circles about the importance of intersectional analysis. WFD works with parliamentarians and officials, independent institutions, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.  Gender equality, human rights, inclusivity, and support for thematic areas wherever appropriate are integrated in the work we do.

Intersectionality has been highlighted as a priority area by UN human rights institutions and experts in relation to Maldives and is yet to mainstream by gender-related CSOs and decision makers. As part of CEP, WFD will support national human rights institutions, civil society and other stakeholders through engagement on policy and legislative issues related to the advancement of women and girls, with a focus on incorporating an intersectional lens.

2. Objective(s)

• To raise awareness and start advocating around intersectionality as central to advancing gender equality and into overall gender movement
• To increase the extent to which national human rights institutions and CSOs work towards using intersectionality as a key concept in advancing gender equality
• To reach out to the local communities and provide necessary tools, resources on intersectionality in relation to women and girls

3. Scope

The scope of the mission is to coordinate with Local Government Authority (LGA) and other stakeholders to plan and conduct the awareness raising outreach activities in 10 island communities. Using various materials/ resources developed through the project/ already available, coordinating, communicating with local level Civil Society Organizations, Women’s Development Committees and other government stakeholders to implement the awareness campaign on using intersectionality to build greater proficiency around intersectionality as a key component to advancing gender equality, and to continue to raise awareness in policy-making circles about the importance of intersectional analysis. The consultant is expected to work around international best practices on this subject and adapt them into Maldives context while adhering to the local authorities’ regulations on COVID19 pandemic measures.

4. Deliverables

The consultant is expected to complete the following deliverables within the set timelines below:

5. Timeline

The duration of the work is from February 2021 till end of March 2021.  

6. Reporting

The consultant will provide an oral/ written feedback to WFD Maldives Team after each deliverable as required.

7. Working arrangement

The consultant will work remotely and closely with the WFD – Maldives Country Representative Priyanga Hettiarachi. WFD’s Senior Gender Advisor, Local Consultant/ Expert on Gender along with other consultants and experts working with WFD.

WFD Maldives team is responsible for the coordination and communication between WFD team and the consultant, including setting up the necessary meetings with stakeholders, and providing other administrative support.

8. Payment

Consultant will be paid upon successful completion of each deliverables as per the deliverable schedule below:

9. Qualifications and experience

• Education: The consultant should possess a university degree in development related disciplines, human rights, gender, economics, statistics, development or other social science fields.
• Formal training and/ or experience in gender and intersectional analysis and/or gender planning and demonstrated expertise in mainstreaming gender and intersectionality in projects and programmes.
• Experience working with parliaments, national human rights instruments and civil society organization and gender analysis or mainstreaming
• Proven experience and expertise working with communities, with excellent facilitation and technical insight
• Strong communication skills, and ability to liaise with various stakeholders, including government/parliament officials and civil society organisations.
• Fluency in both written and spoken English and in Dhivehi.
• Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), companies, firms and individuals are eligible and encouraged to apply.

10. Application and selection procedure

Interested parties are requested to submit the following documentation responding to the Terms of Reference (ToR):

• A summary of relevant experience (a brief CV with two relevant references)
• Portfolio/examples of similar assignments that you have undertaken, preferably in the Maldives or in the region
• Technical Proposal (including proposed charges in MVR or in USD, Objectives and understanding of the assignment, Expected outputs and product and a Timeline of activities)

The email subject should read “Awareness campaign and outreach Consultancy” by close of business i.e. 1700 on 17^th February 2021 to adam.isham@wfd.org