Development of an Online Training Course for Gender Mainstreaming in the Commonwealth Secretariat (Phase 1 Content Development) Request for Tenders

Transcription

1 Development of an Online Training Course for Gender Mainstreaming in the Commonwealth Secretariat (Phase 1 Content Development) Request for Tenders TERMS OF REFERENCE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ONLINE TRAINING COURSE FOR GENDER MAINSTREAMING IN THE COMMONWEALTH SECRETARIAT (PHASE 1 CONTENT DEVELOPMENT) A. Background Context The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 53 independent and equal sovereign states. It is home to 2.2 billion citizens, of which over 60% are under the age of 30. The Commonwealth includes some of the world s largest, smallest, richest and poorest countries, spanning five regions. Thirty-one of its members are small states, many of them island nations. The Commonwealth Secretariat is the principle intergovernmental body of the Commonwealth, responsible for advancing and achieving the shared goals of its member governments in advancing democracy, development and respect for diversity. Gender Equality is a principle value of the Commonwealth Charter. The Secretariat s strategic plan ( ) prioritises the importance of gender equality and gender mainstreaming as a means to delivering projects and programmes that promote equity for all and more sustainable development solutions. A Gender Equality Policy was developed in 2012 but implementation has been challenging, in part due to a restructuring process which has now ended. In 2014, a gender needs assessment was conducted with senior management and in 2015, with all staff, which highlighted the need to develop gender mainstreaming tools and training and identified existing knowledge gaps. A pilot face to face training session was delivered at the Divisional level during 2015 and lessons learned are being incorporated into a two day face to face training course, which will be rolled out to all staff. The development of an online self-paced training course will serve to supplement and reinforce information provided during the face to face training sessions. Due to a staff rotational policy and the total number of employees, not all staff will receive training at the same time. A standard basic online course, available to access at any time, will provide an additional capacity-building resource and sign-posting platform to build knowledge and give guidance on mainstreaming gender into work programmes. The course will form part of a wider organisational development capacity building programme. To date there has been limited capacity building within the Secretariat for gender mainstreaming, which has been largely centred on the integration of gender into project design documents for individual programmes of work. This has been ad-hoc and demand driven, due to human and financial constraints and varying knowledge and understanding of gender across the Divisions. There have been efforts to integrate gender into the Project Information Management System (PMIS) and there are plans to develop a gender analysis module as one of the key modules for the Secretariat s new Results Based Management (RBM) online training programme. All new staff receive a twenty minute introduction to gender in the corporate induction. A brief gender awareness session covering an 1

2 introduction to gender concepts and their importance in project design is also delivered during the PMIS training session. This project is part of the efforts to systematically build the capacities of staff on gender and gender analysis in support of the Secretariat s commitments to gender mainstreaming in the organisation and its policy and work programmes. B. Purpose of Assignment The purpose of this assignment is to review existing tools and training materials for gender mainstreaming (both internal and external) and to create the content for an online training course to respond to the requirements of the Secretariat identified from the needs assessment. The online training course will be complementary to the face to face basic training on gender and should integrate with the Secretariat s Results Based Management (RBM) online training currently in development. Case studies from within the Secretariat and across the Commonwealth would be utilised as examples where relevant to clearly demonstrate how gender mainstreaming principles can be applied to the Secretariat s projects, policies and programmes in addition to the organisation s systems and functions to enhance gender equality principles within the organisational culture. Expected outcomes: Secretariat staff have a basic understanding and awareness of key gender concepts, themes and gender mainstreaming processes to assist with policy development and project/programme planning for greater gender equality. Staff are able to operate with greater sensitivity and awareness of gender equality and diversity in their daily interaction with others. Projects and programmes demonstrate gender equality principles in design, delivery, monitoring and evaluation. Secretariat culture displays signs of being more open and responsive as gender equality and diversity principles become more integrated. C. Scope of Consultancy This consultancy will be carried out in two phases. Phase one (to which this TOR refers) will focus on course content development and phase two will focus on transferring the content to an online platform. Key tasks for this consultancy will include the following: 1. Review the findings of the gender mainstreaming needs assessments and identify key training requirements with guidance from the Gender Section. 2. Review existing literature, tools and training materials on gender mainstreaming (including the face to face course) and suggest recommendations for updating and improvement, providing new templates as identified and required. The consultant will be expected to draw upon knowledge of other external resources (e.g. UN Women I Know Gender course) and what works in a complex INGO environment that could be tailored to the needs of the Secretariat. 3. Design and develop detailed content for an online interactive self-paced e-learning course for Secretariat staff to gain a basic understanding and awareness of gender concepts, themes and how a gender mainstreaming approach and analysis can be 2

3 applied to their work. The course should be complementary to existing gender and RBM training and include the following: (i) Basic gender concepts, gender analysis, international agreements pertaining to gender and an overview of key thematic areas relating to gender equality. (ii) Suggested reading materials and resources drawing on internal and external case studies from across the Commonwealth for a multi-cultural audience. (iii) Examples relevant to staff in both programmatic and core functions areas of the organisation (i.e. focused on policies and systems in addition to programmes) (iv) Training methods to include interactive and stimulating activities to consolidate and reinforce learning. (v) Mechanisms for self-assessment as the course progresses and overall assessment of staff awareness and learning. 5. In conjunction with the Gender Section, select and identify relevant case studies (internally) that can be utilised as examples of gender mainstreaming best practice within the training tools. 6. Review and make recommendations on gender issues and related elements to be integrated into the RBM online training course content to support the strengthening of staff to conduct a gender analysis and integrate gender equity and equality principles into policy/project planning, delivery, monitoring and evaluation. 8. Revise and finalise course content based on discussions and feedback from the Gender Section. 9. Submit final course content in Microsoft Word format and a consultancy report outlining key recommendations. D. Deliverables 1. Inception report detailing methodology, suggested course outline and recommendations on any updates /revisions to be made to existing gender training materials. 2. Draft of online course content and revisions following feedback. 2. Online course content designed and developed ready for transferring to an online platform, including a mechanism for evaluating the levels of participant knowledge gained. Hard copy of course content to be provided in Microsoft Word format. 3. Consultancy report submitted justifying and outlining key recommendations made to include: (i) Overview of training content provided and how it meets the Secretariat s identified needs. (ii) Comprehensive set of gender mainstreaming tools reviewed, updated and available for staff utilisation, with new tools created where gaps exist. (iii) Recommendations provided on gender elements to be successfully integrated into the RBM online training modules. E. Duration and timeframe It is anticipated that this project will take 40 working days to complete over a period of three months and a proposed timeframe of deliverables is outlined below. Phase one of this consultancy to develop the online course content is scheduled for completion by June

4 Phase two to translate the course content to an online platform is scheduled for completion by September The consultant for phase one will be expected to be available for up to five additional days between June and September to provide inputs to phase two as required at an agreed time. Consultants are advised to review the proposed timelines carefully and propose any changes where considered necessary. Activity Timeline (2016) 1. Signing of contract April 2. Presentation of inception report including methodology, End April suggested course outline / recommendations and updates to gender mainstreaming training and tools. 3. Submission of draft course content Mid - May 4. Submission of second draft of course content End May incorporating any feedback 5. Submission of final course content and presentation of End June consultancy report F. Start date This consultancy is expected to commence by 15 April G. Required Qualifications, Experience and Competencies The consultant should demonstrate the following: Substantive experience (10 years +) in the field of gender equality and women s empowerment and strong knowledge of international gender mainstreaming approaches and frameworks, training, implementation and evaluation. Proven experience of curriculum design, development and usage of online training programmes for both individual and organisational transformative change. Experience of facilitating participatory and interactive capacity building for adults in a multi-cultural setting. Strong knowledge of the project cycle management process including monitoring, evaluating and reporting from a results based management perspective. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills in written and spoken English. Knowledge of the Commonwealth Secretariat with proven experience of working at within the structures of a diverse inter-governmental organisation. H. Location This assignment is United Kingdom based and therefore has no provision for air travel from other commonwealth countries. The consultant(s) will be required to travel to the Commonwealth Secretariat office in London, UK for: Initial discussions/ inception meeting with the team; As need arises during the course of the assignment; and Presentation and discussion of draft and final training modules and consultancy report Any other relevant work is to be undertaken at the consultant s normal place of residence. I. Reporting 4

5 The consultant will report to the Head of the Gender Section, Secretary General s Office (SGO). It is expected that the consultant(s) will work closely with the Gender Section staff on the development and finalisation of the online training course. During the assignment, the consultant will also be expected to work in collaboration with other Divisions such as the Strategic Planning and Evaluation Division (SPED) and others. 5