Overview

Ukama Ustawi (UU) Work Package 5 is seeking a consultant (or a firm) to plan and implement Phase 1 of the Gender Action Learning System in Malawi.

This is an internationally/globally hired consultancy; therefore, individuals / firms with relevant abilities from diverse locations around the world are encouraged to apply.

The CGIAR Regional Integrated Initiative on Diversification in East and Southern Africa, also known as Ukama Ustawi (UU), aims to address food and nutrition security risks in the region arising from an overreliance on maize through a climate-resilient, water-secure, and socially inclusive approach.

One of the research activities in UU is Work Package 5 (WP5): Empower and Engage. The work package seeks to empower and engage women and youth in agribusiness ecosystems. It addresses widespread gender and social inequalities in the region’s agribusiness ecosystems. Different local and national contexts are being assessed to map multidimensional challenges and opportunities for coordinated transformative change interventions.

WP5 helps identify pathways to transformative change according to local demand, informed by a robust gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) framework, and designed to adaptively scale up and scale out inclusion throughout the agribusiness ecosystems.

Part of this work includes an all of society approach which seeks to facilitate and create (where possible) an enabling environment for women, youth and other marginalized groups to sustainable engage in the agricultural value chain and associated activities. One of the ways in which we would like to support such an enabling environment is to implement Phase 1 of the Gender Action Learning System (GALS) in two districts in Malawi.

OBJECTIVES & TASKS:

For ongoing work in the initiative through WP 5, we are seeking a consultant, team, or a consultant company to lead a process to develop a plan for implementing Phase 1 of the GALS in Malawi with the ultimate goal of reaching 4000 households in total; and, implement this plan in the first six months of 2024. The districts in Malawi identified for this work are: Balaka and Nkhotakota districts.

SCOPE OF WORK:

Specifically, the consultant will:

  • Familiarize themself with the work UU has conducted in Malawi, specifically in relation to climate smart agriculture (WP1); gender assessment in terms of agriculture (WP5), and youth and agribusiness landscaping analysis (WP5)
  • Develop and implement a plan to execute Phase 1 of GALS in two districts in Malawi. The plan should be adapted to the UU context and goals, and include, but not be limited to:
  • Stakeholder map: Draw up a list of key stakeholders to engage with in line with GALS Phase 1
  • GALS introduction/adaptation workshop/s: An introduction to the GALS ethos and approach to the broader community. This should include, amongst others, local leaders, community leaders, extensions officers, community elders, Ukama Ustawi project team, and women and men farmers who have been participating in UU WP1 activities in the districts
  • GALS change catalyst workshop/s: Workshops that assist participants with self-analysis in terms of gender inequality and its negative consequences. As a part of this workshop, champions or peer trainers should be identified to champion community-led action learning
  • GALS individual and community action learning workshop/s: Using GALS methods and approaches such as household visioning, hold workshops to create an enabling environment specifically for women within their own households and that supports their successful adoption of new technology and approaches as provided under WP1 of UU
  • Plan of action and monitoring for cascading the learning to 4000 households

DELIVERABLES:

  • Planning and stakeholder mapping report
  • GALS introduction/adaptation workshop content/curriculum (could be a document or a slide deck)
  • Conduct workshop and submit workshop report for the two GALS introduction/adaptation workshop
  • GALS change catalyst workshop content/curriculum (could be a document or a slide deck)
  • Conduct workshop and submit workshop report for the two GALS change catalyst workshops. This should include a list of identified champions or peer trainers
  • Plan of action and monitoring for cascading the learning to 4000 households
  • GALS individual and community action learning workshops content/curriculum (could be a document or a slide deck)
  • Conduct workshops and submit workshop report for the two GALS individual and community action learning workshops
  • Close out report
  • Develop a Phase 1 GALS workplan and draw up a list of key stakeholders to engage with GALS Phase 1 for UU WP5
  • Hold two (2) GALS introduction/adaptation workshops – one per district
  • Hold two (2) GALS change catalyst workshops. Develop a close-out report that details the implementation of GALS Phase 1. Include a scope of work for implementation of GALS Phase 2 in the same two districts

Requirements

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

Essential,

  • Advanced degree in agriculture, gender, economics, or a closely related field.
  • At least 10 years of experience in relevant work
  • Demonstrated ability to facilitate processes leading to results.
  • Excellent English writing skills.
  • Demonstrated professional level of attention to detail and accuracy of work
  • Ability to work independently, with initiative and minimal supervision
  • Strong background in public policy, agripreneurship, and gender research in developing countries
  • Deep knowledge of issues relating to gender equality and agriculture in Africa
  • Must be able to converse with participants in their local language
  • Demonstrated experience with the planning and implementation of GALS

Desirable,

  • Familiarity with the Ukama Ustawi work
  • Deep knowledge of issues relating to gender equality and agriculture in Malawi

Benefits

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

  • This is a consultancy position and the contract is valid for 04 months. Compensation will be based on assignments and deliverables and should be completed withing the given time frame
  • Consultants will use their own equipment

HOW TO APPLY:

Apply for the position by following the application instructions at www.iwmi.org/jobs. We will be accepting expression of interest through 24:00 (IST) on January 05, 2024. To submit an expression of interest, please submit the following as separate documents in PDF format,

  • Short cover letter outlining key qualifications, experience, and achievements and how you fit for this role
  • Current CV (and institutional profile if submitting as a company/NGO)
  • Brief technical and financial proposal & writing sample

IWMI believes that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. We offer a multi-cultural, multi-color, multi-generational and multi-disciplinary working environment. We are consciously creating an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and our commitment to gender equity. We, therefore, encourage applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, and gender identities.