Gender_Assessment_Draft_SOW_for_comments.docx

July 2, 2013

Subject: USAID/Gender Assessment Draft Statement of Work for Comments

Dear Sir/Madam:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Rwanda, is seeking comments and/or questions on the attached Gender Assessment Draft Statement of Work. This statement of work provides guidelines for a gender expert to provide technical assistance to USAID/Rwanda in conducting a country and program gender assessment. The Mission has developed a five-year Country Development and Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) to support future programming and implementation of United States development program and strategic priorities. The purpose of this assessment is as follows:

1. Identification of gender-based constraints to equitable participation and access of men and women to programs and services in the sectors in which USAID/Rwanda implements its programs, including agriculture, private sector development, natural resource management, basic education, health, and democracy and governance. Special attention should be paid to issues related to youth and nutrition. The gender analysis findings are expected to serve as an important mechanism and resource to support the implementation of the Global Health and Feed the Future Initiatives and other program priorities in the above mentioned sectors;

2. Identification of strategies and approaches USAID/Rwanda can use to enhance the accessibility and equitability of its programs to both men and women;

3. Analysis of potential impacts of the Mission’s proposed strategic approaches on the status of men and women in Rwanda, taking into consideration economic, political, legal, social, demographic, ethnicity, class factors and other key variables;

4. Identification of major gender issues that will have the greatest potential impact on Rwanda’s economic development and determination on how they impact current Mission programs across all development sectors; and

5. Identification of sector-specific and cross-cutting programming opportunities for all technical areas across the Mission, with a particular focus on planned Feed the Future and the Global Health Initiative programs.

The deadline for receipt of comments and/or questions is July 19, 2013 at 2:00 pm, Kigali time, and shall be submitted to Marva Butler, Acquisition and Assistance Specialist at mbutler@usaid.gov.

Thank you for your interest in USAID activities.

Sincerely, Martin Fischer Contracting/Agreement Officer

DRAFT STATEMENT OF WORK

GENDER ASSESSMENT FOR USAID/RWANDA

Purpose

USAID/Rwanda is finalizing its five-year Country Development and Cooperation Strategy (CDCS). In addition to identifying opportunities that will positively impact Rwanda’s gender development in the agriculture and health sectors, the Mission is interested in learning how to counteract other potential gender issues across development sectors in Rwanda. The findings are expected to guide USAID in designing well-structured and engendered projects and activities for the next five years and beyond.

A gender assessment was conducted by USAID in 2002. Since that study was completed, there have been a number of country reforms that address gender issues and gender studies. Another assessment was conducted in 2011 but because of quality issues, it did not meet the needs of the Mission.

Methodology

This assessment will be conducted by a two person team, one gender expert with specific expertise in Rwanda and/or the Great Lakes region, and the gender focal point from the USAID Rwanda Mission.

Although some literature review will be necessary, particularly for understanding USAID Rwanda’s programs and strategy, the team will be expected to pull much of their information from their existing expertise and the breadth of available research which has already been completed, including the 2011 gender assessment. Information for the assessment can be collected in a variety of ways including but not exclusively:

a. Meetings, discussions, and interviews with key bilateral and multilateral donors, academics, NGOs active in gender related work, GOR institutions, and Rwandan citizens. The consultants will be expected to identify and prioritize key contacts and provide the list to USAID;

b. Meetings with USG gender inter-agency working team, USAID Front Office, Program Office, each DO Team, and implementing partners (contractors, grantees, PVOs/NGOs).

c. Site visits to project activities as appropriate. The consultant will work with USAID/Rwanda to identify the specific districts and projects for conducting field research, based on mutually agreed upon selection criteria including USAID presence, capacity to provide insight into key problems, and “bright spots” (the opposite of a key problem; an existing success that USAID can build upon or replicate), among others.

Deliverables/Roles and Responsibilities

1. Work plan/schedule: The international consultant will develop the work plan and schedule, receiving feedback from the gender focal point, and submitting to USAID/Rwanda two weeks prior to beginning field work;

2. Fieldwork methodology: The international consultant will submit a draft fieldwork methodology plan (in consultation with USAID/Rwanda, and cleared by the Mission), which will include the scope of the assessment, geographic areas of data collection, types of individuals to be interviewed, site visits to be conducted, and any logistical issues to raise prior to the start of the fieldwork. The plan will also contain interview protocols. During the initial orientation, the team will make final decisions about the methodology. The fieldwork methodology will be submitted two weeks prior to beginning field work.

3. Mission debrief of summary findings: Upon completion of the fieldwork, the Assessment Team will present preliminary findings and recommendations to USAID/Rwanda staff, U.S. embassy personnel, and others, as appropriate.

4. Final report: The final report should not exceed 25 pages and will include gender analysis, sector-specific identified gender issues and potential opportunities, crosscutting programming recommendations, and final conclusions. The final report must be submitted three weeks after the completion of field work. The International Consultant is responsible for writing the report with review and verbal input from the Gender Focal Point. The report will be completed according to the following steps and schedule:

· Report outline: submitted the first day that field work begins

· Annotated outline: within 1 week of completing field work

· Draft report: within 2 weeks of USAID Rwanda approval of annotated outline

· Final report that incorporates agreed-upon edits from USAID/Rwanda: within 2 weeks of receiving comments from USAID/Rwanda on Draft report

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