Consultant needed for the Development of a Training Manual for Female Political Aspirants and Candidates

In partnership with Trócaire, SEND Sierra Leone seeks to recruit a national or international consultant to develop a training manual for female electoral aspirants and candidates’ empowerment between July and December 2021. The consultant will work closely with SEND-SL’s Training Manual Development Manager, who will support the process. The consultant is expected to carry out the following deliverables in three phases:

Phase 1: Formative Research

1. Develop an inception report based on the consultancy ToR guidelines including timeline and detailed methodology. SEND-SL and the Manual Development Steering Committee (MDSC) will review and provide feedback.

2. Review existing training manuals by SEND-SL, 50/50, NDI, CGG, and Trócaire and other international documents to compile lessons learned and content to support the process.

3. Draft data collection tools for primary data collection.

4. Conduct FGDs and KIIs in selected districts (Bombali, Port Loko, Kambia, and Western Area Rural). Participants will include political party representatives, women groups, traditional leaders, media representatives, youth leaders, security personnel, spouses and family members of female aspirants.

5. Organise and conduct district meetings with relevant stakeholders in selected districts to inform experience and lessons learned to support writing the training manual.

6. Develop a preliminary findings and recommendations report from desk review and primary data collection.

Phase 2: Training Manual Development

1. Using these findings, develop a training manual and related materials adaptable to multiple contexts for CSOs in Sierra Leone to capacitate female aspirants and candidates for review by MDSC

2. Conduct a minimum of three pilot sessions with potential women aspirants to ensure methodologies and approaches are relevant and iterate accordingly.

3. Conduct validation meeting of a training manual with the MDSC and other stakeholders in Freetown. Complete final edits of the training manual.

4. Submit the final version of the training manual and materials for publication and workshop.

Phase 3: Dissemination of Training manual to key stakeholders

1. Conduct a capacity building workshop using the training manual for Trócaire partners and other NGOs promoting women’s political participation in leadership. The training will equip the partners with tools and skills to use the manual to facilitate further training and engagements with women aspirants, candidates and women groups.

2. Host a webinar to share learning with Trócaire and partners’ and present during the launch of the manual to communicate its contents to key stakeholders, aspirants, MDAs, and other organisations.

Expertise required

The candidate should possess a postgraduate university degree in a development-related discipline, gender, politics, or other relevant social science fields. A post-doctorate degree is desirable but not essential.

Relevant Experience

• Five or more years’ experience in gender-transformative approaches and gender mainstreaming

• Demonstrated experience in women’s political participation programming or research.

• Strong understanding of, and commitment to, gender equality and women’s empowerment and its policy implications

• Excellent writing and organisational skills

• Knowledge and substantial experience using computer office tools and statistical software, such as Microsoft Office.

• Willingness to travel to project locations, including remote areas.

• Committed to signing SEND Safeguarding Policy. Desirable Criteria:

• Strong understanding of adult learning and instruction delivery techniques

• Familiarity with results-based programme management and human rights-based programming will be an asset. • Strong understanding of gender issues and the political sphere in Sierra Leone

For full information regarding the Terms of Reference please click the link : https://sendsierraleone.com/Assets/documents/Terms%20of%20Reference%20for%20the%20Development%20of%20a%20Training%20Manual%20for%20Female%20Aspirants%20and%20Candidates-%20Final.pdf