Introduction 

The Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) is the UK public body dedicated to supporting democracy around the world. WFD works to make political systems fairer, more inclusive, and more accountable. We do this by working with parliaments, political parties, electoral bodies and civil society. WFD currently has a presence in over 30 countries around the world, including in eight countries in the Europe & Central Asia region: Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine, Georgia and Armenia.  

In Ukraine, WFD’s main focus is on helping the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (VRU) overcome its most critical challenges and enabling the VRU to become a modern, effective institution that promotes accountability and democratic development in Ukraine. WFD is part of a consortium of organisations implementing the USAID-funded Rada Next Generation (RANG) programme.  

Given the Russian invasion of Ukraine, WFD would like to assess how best it could support women’s political leadership in Ukraine and their participation in decision making processes on all aspects of conflict-responses and peace building processes. While the war has made the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda even more urgent than before, there is a risk that the heavy demands of the war effort and humanitarian response might lead to overlooking specific needs and experience of women and girls, or addressing only some, or the most visible needs. Therefore, the participation of women in politics and decision-making is critical to ensure that the diverse needs, perceptions and voices of women and girls are captured and adequately address by women co-designing them.  

Despite this, there are also positive developments. In 2022, Ukraine ratified the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. This indicates that there is a continued, possibly even increased, commitment to improving the protection of women. Ukraine’s National Action Plan, which covers the period from 2020-2025, is currently being revised in light of the war.  

Objectives 

The main objective of this assignment is to produce a mapping and assessment of the Women, Peace and Security agenda in Ukraine, focusing on:  

1. Developing a comprehensive understanding of current needs, gaps and priorities in relation to the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda, especially pillar 1 (increased participation of women at all levels of decision-making)  

2. Mapping of key national and international actors involved in the implementation of the WPS agenda, including governmental stakeholders, local NGOs, international organisations and donors.  

Scope 

The assignment should cover the following areas:  

• An analysis of how the Russian invasion on Ukraine has impacted on the priorities of the Ukraine’s WPS National Action Plan (NAP) and mapping on of key national and international stakeholders leading on its implementation. 
• An analysis of needs, gaps and potential entry points for WFD in the implementation of the WPS agenda especially regarding pillar 1 
• A mapping of current and prospective donors in the WPS field and their priorities 

Deliverables 

Qualifications and experience 

We are looking for a team of at least two consultants, consisting of an international expert and a Ukrainian expert. Between them, the team of consultants should have the following qualifications and experience:  

• In-depth knowledge and understanding of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda   
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of the WPS agenda and NAP in Ukraine  
• Experience conducting primary research, including desk research and key informant interviews 
• Sufficient proficiency in Ukrainian language to conduct primary research and English for the purposes of report writing

Budget 

Candidates should submit a quotation showing the total number of working days, the daily rate and a breakdown of days (eg. desk analysis, key informant interviews, report writing). 

The total amount quoted should not exceed £10,000.  

Bid procedure 

Please submit a technical and financial proposal addressing the criteria below.  

• A brief outline of the proposed methodology describing how you will go about undertaking the study 
• The consultant’s profile and experience, including examples of previous research studies conducted and (where applicable) links to where they have been published online and/or contact details of references 
• A detailed budget showing the consultant daily rate and the total number of days offered.  

Proposals will be evaluated on the quality of the methodological proposal, the experience of the consultant/team and the soundness of the financial offer.  

Please submit your proposal before 21 February 2023, 9am GMT by email to Rob van Leeuwen, rob.vanleeuwen@wfd.org.