RFQ FY22- 109 Girls’ Political Power and Participation Research

1. Background Information on Plan International

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected. Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 75 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Read more about Plan International’s Global Strategy: 100 Million Reasons at https://plan-international.org/strategy

2. Background/Context

Topic of investigation: The global political landscape regarding girls’ political participation, their value as political and social actors, and their perceptions of politics and of their own political power and influence; the new opportunities and risks this presents and its impact on girls’ political development.

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian INGO that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We strive for a just world, working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners. Plan International operates in over 78 countries and in 2021 reached 26.2 million girls.

Girls Get Equal is Plan International’s global campaign, created and delivered with youth activists around the world. The campaign champions girls’ voice, power and leadership in the drive for gender equality.

Over the past two years (October 2020 – October 2022) we have been campaigning on Girls Get Equal #FreeToBeOnline, aiming to remove the barriers to girls’ freedom online, and create an enabling online environment for girls and young women’s civic participation, so they can use online spaces and platforms to exercise voice and agency safely without fear and be leaders in the drive for gender equality. For more information on our #FreeToBeOnline work please see here

In October 2022 we will move to the next pillar in our campaigning – Girls Get Equal Power, specifically girls’ political power.

We are witnessing a global decline in political rights and civil liberties, shrinking civic space, and a rollback of girls and women’s rights. Adolescent girls and young women are at a life stage where they are starting to become more politically conscious and interact with social issues and networks. Against this backdrop, their ability to influence or participate in the development of public policy and political decision-making in many countries is increasingly curtailed.

Valuing young people, particularly girls, as political actors is critical for understanding and enabling their potential to build peaceful societies and contribute to sustainable and inclusive development. Girls and young women need to be drivers of change, including engagement with government duty-bearers.

We need to explore new insights about girls’ and young women’s attitudes, perceptions, and experiences of politics, societal issues, and of their own political power and influence.

Plan International are looking for a consultant for a short-term assignment on the above topic of investigation. The output from this consultancy will enable us to have a better understanding of girls and politics, and the influencing landscape to advocate for girls’ political leadership, including their collective action and participation in public policy and decision-making, through both formal and informal mechanisms. The project should seek to identify: the major current trends and dynamics in girls’ participation in political and societal issues, girls’ perception of politics, where the opportunities are to influence from a girls’ rights perspective, and who are the key actors or “power-holders” and potential allies we should engage.

It will be desk-based research on existing literature / articles. The consultant will produce a concrete overview, especially on trends (social and political), power dynamics, recommendations, and opportunities for influence. The consultant will apply a strong intersectional girl lens to the project and a broad, global view, beyond euro-centric research.

We expect this to be 14 days of work over a period of one month. The report should be finalised by end of April- beginning of May 2022 at the latest.

3. Details of short-term assignment

Purpose

• Map the trends, causes, barriers and patterns of girl’s political participation (both through formal political processes and informal engagement) and their own perceptions of politics, civic engagement and political participation. Provide an overview of the political landscape girls are engaging in.

• Map the power holders, including governments, social media, organisations, institutions, and other stakeholders, in relation to girls and politics. Include an overview of existing power dynamics and political trends within and among relevant power holders.

• Map the international NGOs and CSOs supporting and advocating for girls’ participation in politics and civic issues

• Identify existing and emerging opportunities to influence power holders and girls and young women, and advocate for girls’ participation in politics. Include effective strategies and potential recommendations to key power holders.

• Provide an intersectional girls’ lens throughout. Address the consequences girls and young women encounter in their political participation, both online and offline.

• This short-term assignment will build on an existing Literature Review, which will be provided to shape the report at the start of consultancy.

Prompts (please note, each of these questions does not need to be answered independently and in detail).

• Definitions

o How do different actors (civil society, governments) understand the concept of political participation? What types of activities are perceived as being part of political participation?

• Trends

o What are the biggest patterns and trends in girls’ and young women’s political participation and political perception? For example: individual vs. collective, formal vs. informal, online vs. offline

o What are the different conventional and non-conventional modes of participation girls and young women are organising within?

o What are the biggest issues of concern for young people? Are young people organising according to certain thematic priorities? Are they able to influence on issues that may not be considered stereotypically “youth” issues?

o What are the main factors inspiring girls and young women to get engaged with politics?

o How do young people view and conceptualise the activities they are involved in, how do they understand politics and think about their own political activity?

• Stakeholders

o What types of institutions are most relevant/powerful when it comes to girls’ engagement in politics?

o What are the relationships, power dynamics, and political trends within and among these relevant key power holders?

o with regards to girls’ and young women’s political participation?

o What are some good practice examples from civil society to support meaningful and sustained youth engagement in decision-making?

o How have decision-makers attitudes or policies changed as a result of engagement with young people?

o Please provide recommendations on which types of stakeholders are most relevant for the promotion of girls’ and young women’s political participation.

• Mechanisms and legal/policy frameworks

o What mechanisms (laws, policies, and processes) do governments have in place to engage girls and young women in politics or formal decision-making? What are the existing regional and international legal and policy frameworks covering girls’ political participation?

o To what extent are these different mechanisms allowing girls not only to participate but also have an impact?

o What types of laws and policies need to be in place in order to promote girls’ political participation, both at the individual and collective level? Please provide recommendations on the most important types of laws/policies to have in place.

• Barriers

o What are the primary reasons/factors that power holders limit girls’ and young women’s opportunities to engage in politics or decision-making?

o Of the known barriers to girls’ political activism, which would be the most important to address and why? Where will investment make the biggest impact?

• Cross-cutting considerations

o Intersectionality: How does age, gender, location and other intersecting characteristics impact all of the above. Please consider both online and offline components.

o Girls vs. Young women: Please draw distinctions where relevant between girls and young women. For example, when discussing legal/policy frameworks, please specify whether it is applicable to under or over-18s.

4. Deliverables and Timeline

Key Deliverables

• A report of 30-40 pages maximum, including definitions and references (not including annexes).

5. Budget

Due to Procurement process and regulation, it is not possible to share the actual budget, however, include as much detail as possible in the timeline and deliverables – where possible including the estimated number of days.

6. To apply you should demonstrate

• Solid skills in global political analysis and synthesis.
• Desired experience working on political or social change, ideally in relation to gender equality, girl activism, or youth collective action.
• Desired experience in influencing (previous work in policy, advocacy, or public campaigning).

7. List of documents to be submitted with the RFQ

Please submit the following documents/information with your proposal:

o A resume/cv including contact details

o An example of a similar report you have previously produced (1 or 2 pages maximum)

o Technical proposal, outlining the following on one page:

1. Suggested steps/methodology you would take
2. Day rate in GBP and all relevant costs
3. Availability

4. Proposed timeline:

5. Including a short call at the beginning of the assignment for sense check. And a short call once the report is completed to present top-line key findings.

o Contact details of a client reference (ideally within the development/humanitarian sector)

All consultants/applicant are required to agree and adhere to Plan International’s Non-Staff Code of Conduct (to be provided at a later stage)

8. Evaluation of offers

Shortlisted suppliers may be invited to discuss their proposals in more detail at Plan’s discretion.

Plan International, at its sole discretion, will select the successful RFQ.

Plan international shall be free to:

· Accept the whole, or part only, of any submission

· Accept none of the proposals

· Republish this Request for Quotations

Plan International reserves the right to keep confidential the circumstances that have been considered for the selection of the offers.

Part of the evaluation process may include a presentation from the supplier.

Women-owned businesses and companies actively engaged or advancing gender equality and women empowerment in the workplace are especially encouraged to apply

Value for money is very important to Plan International, as every additional £ saved is money that we can use on our humanitarian and development work throughout the world.

Plan International may award multiple contracts and all contracts will be non-exclusive.

9. Contract & Payment terms

Please note that, if successful, Plan International’s standard terms of payment are 30 days after the end of the month of receipt of invoice, or after acceptance of the Goods/Services/Works, if later.

10. IR35 Requirements – Only applicable for UK based or connections to the UK Consultants

As of April 2021, all Global Hub UK-based contractors (Consultant/personal service company/agency/intermediary) employing “people” in their chain to deliver serves to Plan International must follow a strict process of IR35 determination.

Plan Limited will conduct a CES tool on all relevant shortlisted proposers as outlined above to determine whether they fall inside or outside IR35.

11. Plan International’s Ethical & Environmental Statement

The supplier should establish environmental standards and good practices that follow the principles of ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems, and in particular to ensure compliance with environmental legislation

12. Clarifications

The onus is on the invited individual/companies to ensure that its offer is complete and meets Plan International’s requirements. Failure to comply may lead to the offer being rejected. Please therefore ensure that you read this document carefully and answer fully all questions asked.

If you have any queries in relation to your submission, or to any requirements of this RFQ, please email: [email protected]

Thank you for your proposal