REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS JULY 2022, DEVELOPING GENDER MAINSTREAMING TOOLKIT FOR BUSINESSES UNDER THE KKCF PROJECT.

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR DEVELOPING GENDER MAINSTREAMING TOOLKIT FOR BUSINESSES UNDER THE KKCF PROJECT.

1. The Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund

The AECF is a leading African-owned and led development organization that supports innovative enterprises in the agribusiness and renewable energy sectors with the aim of reducing rural poverty, promoting resilient communities, and creating jobs. AECF has raised over US$ 400 million to provide catalytic funding and technical advisory support to enterprises that struggle to meet traditional risk-return standards for commercial investors. In just over a decade, we have supported over 375 businesses in 26 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, impacted more than 30 million lives, created over 27,000 direct jobs, and leveraged US $771 million in matching funds.

We surface and commercialize new ideas, business models and technologies designed to increase agricultural productivity, improve farmer incomes, expand clean energy access, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve resilience to the effects of climate change while also addressing the crosscutting themes of women, youth, and fragility. AECF is committed to working in frontier markets, fragile contexts, and high-risk economies where few mainstream financing institutions dare to go. In 2021, the AECF launched a refreshed strategy with the objective to build resilience and sustainable incomes for rural and marginalized communities in Africa.

1. AECF Gender Mainstreaming Strategy

AECF’s investment strategy seeks to identify, nurture, and accelerate solutions which result in the full and equal participation of men/boys and women/girls in the value chains in which it invests. This will require a broader definition of how private sector investment can achieve impact throughout the gender equality spectrum. It will include investing in a way that recognizes current norms and works around barriers to help individual women participate or is ‘gender accommodative’—such as creating sustainable livelihoods and opportunities for employment. But it also seeks to be ‘gender transformative’ by funding interventions which challenge inequitable norms – and strengthen equitable ones – to disrupt the barriers in the market which impede the achievement of full equality

1. About Kakuma Kalobeyei Challenge Fund (KKCF)

The KKCF applies a competitive financing mechanism for disbursing donor funding to incentivize for-profit companies, social enterprises, and local and refugee entrepreneurs to start or scale existing operations in the Kakuma-Kalobeyei area. Attracting the private sector to the area and supporting local entrepreneurs has the potential to expand job opportunities, improve services, provide more choices, and reduce prices. This will, in turn, enhance the self-reliance and socioeconomic integration of both refugee and host communities, while also contributing to the development of Turkana County. KKCF is a program of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and AECF is the implementing partner. For more information, visit www.kkcfke.org

Gender mainstreaming is an integral part of the KKCF project. Women, girls, as well as men and boys, are faced with multiple and different forms of gender-related barriers and challenges in the context of the refugee set-up. Similarly, businesses and companies operating within the refugee context are faced with varied gender-related issues, including gender-based violence, lack of financing, difficulty with attaining permits, discrimination, and security among others. AECF and IFC are collaboratively supporting established companies, social enterprises, and local entrepreneurs in implementing commercially viable and sustainable businesses that can raise incomes, provide goods and services, create jobs, and improve living standards in the refugee camp and host community. KKCF conducted a gender assessment in 2019, and the findings were used for mainstreaming gender at the program level.

1. About the assignment
2. 1. Purpose of the assignment

AECF is seeking the services of a consulting firm or an individual consultant to support the development of a gender mainstreaming toolkit for the KKCF projects in Kakuma/Kalobeyei. The toolkit will provide simple practical steps for each business to mainstream gender-smart and gender-sensitive interventions across various nodes (governance structures, operations, clients and other critical stakeholders) of their business operations. The toolkit will support each investee company and their staff to address gender issues and promote equity to improve the impact and sustainability of the projects.

The gender toolkit will also assist the KKCF staff and consultants in conceptualizing and designing gender-responsive activities and interventions for the projects/businesses. The business-facing toolkit should be embedded within the humanitarian/refugee context, with a focus on the business models being financed to operate in this same context. The toolkit will also have separate sections and tools/guides tailored to the sectors of focus of the KKCF Program (Poultry, waste management, clean cooking, childcare, re-usable sanitary towels, hydroponics, mini grids, solar home systems and financial services)

1. 1. Consultant tasks:

Under the supervision of the Manager – Partnerships and Gender, the consultant will be expected to research, write, and produce a gender mainstreaming toolkit for KKCF-supported companies as per the project priorities and complying with gender equality principles in a humanitarian context. The tool kit will have specific guides to the business sectors being supported. Specifically:

1. Review the gender assessments already conducted by the projects and conduct desk research to understand the social context as well as take stock of the social and cultural norms and practices. Evaluate the gender equality issues within the context of the project in Kakuma/ Kalobeyei; focusing on the project beneficiaries including an understanding of the gender dynamics – unpacking the critical role of social norms, cultural stereotypes, and power dynamics in the companies and how these influence behaviours and decisions that perpetuate inequalities along gender lines and how they create imbalances within organizational structures
2. Engage the businesses/investees to understand their gender mainstreaming strategies and provide recommendations while including guidelines on the same in the toolkit for each business
3. Assess the enabling and policy environment that the businesses are operating in to support gender mainstreaming initiatives within a humanitarian/refugee context
4. Conduct an in-depth consultation with stakeholders including the project beneficiaries(investees) to gather input in developing the gender mainstreaming toolkit.
5. Develop gender mainstreaming indicators to be used to track progress in relation to gender equality by the companies. The indicators should align with the AECF investment approach and Monitoring & Evaluation framework.
6. Develop project-level gender mainstreaming tools to be used as a guide for gender mainstreaming and development of company policies that also cover SGBV and child protection
7. Conduct a stakeholder validation meeting and orientation of the gender mainstreaming toolkit to KKCF staff and relevant stakeholders
8. Pilot test and induct a few investees and staff on the use of the tool
9. 1. Specific deliverables

The key deliverables/outputs for this assignment are outlined below:

1. An inception report with the following;

• Detailed work plan with milestones and timelines
• Updated methodology/approach for developing the toolkit and stakeholder engagement process/plan
• Key research questions and an assessment tool/guide to be used for the KIIs with stakeholders and businesses, including focus group discussions with the refugees and the host communities to check their opinions on GE in the businesses

1. A synopsis of existing gaps/opportunities and an outline/structure of the sections of the toolkits for the various business models/sectors of focus
2. A summary report of findings with recommendations
3. Draft toolkit with sections and guides customised for each sector
4. Validation report that covers the orientation of KKCF staff, investees & stakeholders
5. Final Tool kit adopted by the investees
6. A short report on insights from this work, as will be guided by AECF.

4.4 Duration of the assignment

The assignment will be undertaken between July 2022 and October 2022 (3 months).

1. Qualifications and experience

The consultant or consulting firm/team must demonstrate experience and understanding of gender mainstreaming approaches in development programs and in private sector development.

The minimum competencies and qualifications include:

1. An advanced degree in field related to business management and administration, gender development, social science, or any other related field.
2. Minimum of 5 years of professional experience with proven competence in gender and development, and SMEs development
3. Knowledge and experience regarding methodologies and best practices for promoting institutional gender mainstreaming interventions
4. Demonstrated experience in developing gender strategies and toolkits is highly desired
5. Previous experience working in a humanitarian context will be an added advantage.
6. Good analytical and presentation skills
7. Reporting

The consultant will report to the Manager – Partnerships and Gender.

1. Proposal submission

Qualified consulting firms and /or individual consultants are invited to submit a proposal including the following requirements:

Documents to be submitted

FIRM

• Company registration
• Company profile and experience of team
• Methodology to undertake the assignment
• Previous experience in similar assignments on gender mainstreaming, SMEs and development of manuals, strategy documents and toolkits
• Sample working papers/writing and toolkits relevant to the assignment
• A detailed financial budget (in USD ) and work plan.
• Reference letters

INDIVIDUAL

• Full CV with list of previous similar work demonstrating experience in similar assignments on gender mainstreaming, SMEs and development of manuals, strategy documents and toolkits
• Methodology to undertake the assignment
• Sample working papers/writing and toolkits relevant to the assignment
• A detailed financial budget (in USD ) and work plan.
• Reference letters
• Identification documents

The technical and financial proposals will need to be submitted as separate documents

8.0 Pricing

AECF is obliged by the Kenyan tax authorities to withhold taxes on service contract fees as well as ensure VAT, at 16%, is charged where applicable. Applicants are advised to ensure that they have a clear understanding of their tax position with regards to provisions of Kenya tax legislation when developing their proposals.

1. Evaluation Criteria

An evaluation committee will be formed by the AECF. All members will be bound by the same standards of confidentiality. The consultant should ensure that they fully respond to all criteria to be comprehensively evaluated.

The AECF may request and receive clarification from any consultant when evaluating a proposal. The evaluation committee may invite some or all the consultants to appear before the committee to clarify their proposals. In such event, the evaluation committee may consider such clarifications in evaluating proposals.

In deciding the final selection of qualified bidder, the technical quality of the proposal will be given a weighting of 70% based on the evaluation criteria. Only the financial proposal of those bidders who qualify technically will be opened. The financial proposal will be allocated a weighting of 30% and the proposals will be ranked in terms of total points scored.

The mandatory and desirable criteria against which proposals will be evaluated are identified in the table below.

Key Areas for Evaluation/ Assessment

Weighted Award

(A) TECHNIAL PROPOSAL

70

i) An understanding of the consultancy requirements;

10

ii) Methodology and work-plan that will deliver the best value on the assignment:

25

iv) Relevant services undertaken by the bidder in past engagements:

25

• Demonstrate relevant experience and recent engagements in gender analysis of investees, private sector companies and strategy and toolkits development
• Knowledge and experience regarding methodologies and best practices for promoting institutional gender mainstreaming interventions.

v)Detailed reference list indicating the scope and magnitude of similar assignments and at least 2 signed Letters of reference from past clients/assignments

10

(B) FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

30

• Clarity, relevance, reality to market value/ value for money of cost for the assignment (inclusive of any applicable tax)

1. Application details

The AECF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The AECF considers all interested candidates based on merit without regard to race, gender, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law

• AECF invites qualified consultants/firms to send a proposal to [email protected] clearly marked “TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR DEVELOPING GENDER MAINSTREAMING TOOLKIT FOR BUSINESS UNDER KKCF PROGRAM” The AECF shall not be liable for not opening proposals that are submitted with a different subject.
• The proposal should be received no later than 22nd July , 2022, by 5.00 pm East Africa Time (GMT +3) addressed to: The AECF, Procurement Department. All clarifications and or questions should be sent to [email protected] . Kindly note bids received will be evaluated on a rolling basis due to the urgency.

1. Disclaimer

AECF reserves the right to determine the structure of the process, number of short-listed participants, the right to withdraw from the proposal process, the right to change this timetable at any time without notice and reserves the right to withdraw this tender at any time, without prior notice and without liability to compensate and/or reimburse any party.

How to apply

1. Application details

The AECF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The AECF considers all interested candidates based on merit without regard to race, gender, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law

• AECF invites qualified consultants/firms to send a proposal to [email protected] clearly marked “TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR DEVELOPING GENDER MAINSTREAMING TOOLKIT FOR BUSINESS UNDER KKCF PROGRAM” The AECF shall not be liable for not opening proposals that are submitted with a different subject.
• The proposal should be received no later than 22nd July , 2022, by 5.00 pm East Africa Time (GMT +3) addressed to: The AECF, Procurement Department. All clarifications and or questions should be sent to [email protected] . Kindly note bids received will be evaluated on a rolling basis due to the urgency.

For more information visit our website as per link below

https://www.aecfafrica.org/careers/request-for-proposals-consultancy-to-develop-a-gender-mainstreaming-toolkit-for-businesses/