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Call for Consultancy to Conduct Baseline Survey for GAPE “Girls Empowerment on Agro ecology and Permaculture” Project

Background

Sexual and gender-based violence is a daily reality for a large part of Tanzanian women and girls. Nearly 40% of them have experienced physical violence in their lives and 25% are victims of sexual violence from the age of 15 years. 44% of married women experience physical and sexual violence from their husbands. These rates are even higher in rural and less educated areas. Faced with this situation, the Ministry of Health and development donors are stepping up programs to combat gender violence year after year. The embassy itself funded a project in 2017 and 2018 to enhance access to justice for victims of sexual and gender-based violence and to sensitize parliamentarians on the need to amend the Marriage Act, which allows the marriage of young girls from the age of 14 (Project DEFI – FSPI 2017-19).

However, many studies in recent years agree that the fight against gender violence, to be effective, must be accompanied by the economic empowerment of women, without which women face processes of “re victimizations”. This is one of the key lessons learned from the implementation of the DEFI Project and it is also one of the key messages that the Gender Donor Group in Tanzania, chaired by UN Women, has again passed on to the Ministry of Health at its yearly meeting in January 2019.

In Tanzania, more than 14 million people (26% of the population) live below the poverty line and 60% of the female population lives in extreme poverty. In addition, subsistence agriculture alone accounts for 80% of women’s jobs. In fact, while agriculture still provides nearly 77% of jobs in the country, the sector supplies only 25% of gross domestic product (GDP). The feminization of poverty is thus a real challenge in Tanzania and is particularly concentrated in the agricultural sector.

At the same time, more than 50% of women are in the economic sector of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) where excellence can be achieved, provided they have access to financial support and reinforcement of capacities to professionalize and develop their activities. Here again, the implementing partners was able to observe the impact of economic empowerment projects on women, especially through its FSPI 2019-79 on Agro ecology (“Preserving biodiversity and supporting small farmers for agro-ecological transition): the training of women’s groups in agro-ecological practices and their support in the development of micro-enterprises create substantial leverages to support their empowerment.

Drawing on lessons learned from past initiatives and current recommendations from key development actors, Msichana Initiative, Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania (SAT) and PPIZ with financial support from French Embassy has developed a project titled GAPE “Girls Empowerment on Agro ecology and Permaculture” to support girls in a vulnerable situation through a holistic approach that includes both (1) personal and social emancipation and ( 2) Economic empowerment: where on one hand the project aims at building the confidence of girls and their ability to stand up for their rights and on the other hand provide them with vocational training and support them in creation of micro/small businesses around agro-ecology.

Project Outcomes

  1. Young girls master agro-ecological production techniques and are able to create viable and sustainable micro / small businesses
  2. Girls dare to speak and become actors in changing attitudes and attitudes in their communities.
  3. Stakeholders strengthened and better connected locally and nationally, both on issues of VAW and on importance of agro-ecological agenda to preserve biodiversity

Project Outputs

  1. Increased capacity of beneficiaries on entrepreneurship skills
  2. Young women increasingly exercising their right and voice
  3. Strengthened capacity of the organizations implementing this project

Purpose of the Baseline Survey

The main purpose of the assessment is to gather reliable baseline data for key project indicators which will enable project implementers and stakeholders to measure results and impact throughout and at the end of the project and also identify factors that are likely to affect the project success. More specifically:

  1. To assess the magnitude and impact of sexual and gender based violence among adolescent and young women (15 – 24 years of age) in targeted project areas of Kongwa, Nzega and Zanzibar.
  2. To assess the number/magnitude of involvement of women in agriculture, ownership of land and access to markets and credits in project areas.
  3. Identify current effectiveness of mechanisms used by institutions to track and/or respond to VAW/G and issues related to SGBV; including opportunities for improving information management systems that could be used to aid organizations helping victims seeking support.

Scope of Work

The study will cover two regions in Tanzania mainland which are Tabora, Dodoma and Zanzibar focusing in Nzega and Kongwa districts, Pemba and Unguja Regions. The survey should be representative of the two districts and two regions with sampling size drawn on a stratified

basis to ensure adequate representation of the diverse geographies and population groups in the area. If the bidder has any pertinent suggestion other than the proposal made, then the bidder could suggest that with a note of points. It could be discussed accordingly in the pre‐ bid or pre‐ award meeting(s).

Methodology

The baseline assessment should use both primary and secondary sources, covering both qualitative and quantitative data. A combination of methodologies will be used to ensure adequate, reliable, representative, and valid data is collected for the baseline assessment. The primary source should include a survey of adolescent girls and young women, institutions which respond to gender-based violence, extension officers and semi structured interviews with key stakeholders.

The primary source will be the main source of data for the assessment. The secondary data will be used as a source to fill the gaps and substantiate/triangulate the data obtained from primary sources. The consultant or consulting firm is expected to come up with sound research methodology, wherein the following should be given due consideration:

The assessment should conduct its primary source data collection in Kongwa, Nzega and Zanzibar.

The consultant/firm is expected to propose the most suitable method of sampling and sample size based on the need to represent different target groups in consultation with Msichana Initiative, SAT, PPIZ.

The consultant/firm should employ both quantitative and qualitative data collection.

Deliverables

  1. The following are the expected deliverables;
  2. An Inception report that will include a detailed inception report explaining his/her understanding of the ToR, methodology, key resources/materials to be used, survey instruments draft outline of the report and detailed work plan within one week following the signing of the agreement.
  3. Compile and review relevant information related to the subject A copy of the full dataset (in Stata or SPSS) containing the data collected.
  4. Present the data project to implementing organisations to discuss and agree on the validity, representativeness, and reliability of the data.
  5.  A first draft report (outline for the report will be discussed and agreed during the inception phase).
  6. The final report includes comments and inputs given by different stakeholders.
  7. Final Report synthesizing the main findings and indicators of the survey
  8. A set of recommendations on suitable indicators for program monitoring during the implementation and scale up of activities.
  9. Recommendations should consider the needs of specific stakeholder groups, and be relevant to the effective impact measurement of programme objectives and outcome.

Duration

The duration of the consultancy is not less than 20 days after the signing of the agreement between the two parties. However, the first draft work should be submitted within 15 days after the date of signing. The task will be projected to commence as shortly as possible after the signing of the agreement and approval of the inception phase report.

Qualification

  • The lead researcher or leader of the team will need to have a postgraduate Degree in Social Sciences or Development Studies, or another relevant field, with 5 years’ experience in social research such as Gender or Economic Empowerment
  • Good drafting skills, ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, ability to clarify information, good computer application skills, good organizational skills
  • Skilled and experienced in academic and research
  • Excellent conceptual and analytical skills
  • Strong quantitative data entry and analysis skills and previous experience using statistical analysis software

Application

Interested applicants should submit their letter of application, CV, copy of credentials, a detailed technical and financial proposal and other supporting documents that show previous work experience to Admin.mi@msichana.or.tz.

The successful bidder who will meet all the requirements for this application will be contacted. Deadline for application will be: 4th June, 2021.