USAID - KAVES Gender Mainstreaming Request for Consultancy Services

Request for Consultancy Services: Gender Mainstreaming in the KAVES Project
 

The Kenya Agricultural Value Chain Enterprises (USAID-KAVES) project, is a five year activity funded by the United States Agency for International Development with the goal of increasing the productivity and incomes of smallholder farmers and other actors along dairy, horticulture and staples value chains in 22 target counties in the eastern and western regions of Kenya. 

The project recognizes that social stability and economic growth require the participation of both men and women. 

As investments are made to increase incomes, enhance food security, and stimulate growth it is critical to ensure that women participate in this process as leaders, decision makers, productive actors and beneficiaries in value chains.
 

The project’s approach to gender starts by recognizing the key role that women play in agricultural production systems, and activities up and down the value chain. 

Increasing incomes, job opportunities, and economic growth requires that gender be addressed across project components.

Gender Mainstreaming in the USAID–KAVES Project: The main goal of this activity is to ensure that interventions implemented by KAVES enhance gender equity. 

The consultant will therefore adopt an evidence-based approach in identifying gender gaps in the three value chain activities and develop a gender mainstreaming strategy for project that also complies with the requirements of GOK, USAID and Fintrac.

The consultant will also train project staff to develop a common understanding of the KAVES gender strategy and practice.

Scope of Work
 

1. Review of existing USAID, Fintrac and GOK gender empowering/mainstreaming policies and strategies in relation to KAVES value chain development activities.
 

2. Undertake an evidence-based approach identifying gender gaps in access to among others productive resources, input and service markets and markets in the three target value chain activities.
 

3. Develop a strategy that provides among other approaches on empowering women in decisions about agricultural production, the use of productive resources (labor, land, water, and capital), and control of income and time use.

The strategy should also provide ways of enhancing and strengthening women’s leadership in communities to foster inclusive growth and strong resource management as well as ways of systematic monitoring, evaluation and learning based on gender dynamics and achievements.
 

4. Interview project staff to assess training needs and to have a good level of understanding of staff development needs and related gender issues.
 

5. Develop a training program that best meets the needs of KAVES staff and subs based on the assessment and after consultations with project staff.

6. Train staff of KAVES and subs on the gender mainstreaming strategies.

7. Assist KAVES team in formulating a follow-up action plan for implementing the proposed gender mainstreaming strategies.

8. Submit an end-of-contract report including the proposed gender mainstreaming strategy, staff gender training report, evaluation of effectiveness of the training and recommendations for improvement based on assessment and training exercises.

Procedure for Submission
 

Interested consultants should submit a concept note of not more than five pages detailing suitability to address SOW including CV profiles to: Contracting Officer, USAID KAVES (kaves-subcontracts@fintrac.com) by COB Friday October 24th, 2014.