Consultant (Gender Transformative Change in Food Systems)

An exciting opportunity with the CGIAR GENDER Platform’s ‘Working Group on the Transformation of Gender Norms at Scale’(hosted by WorldFish).

1. Background

The CGIAR Generating Evidence and New Directions for Equitable Results (GENDER) Platform aims to catalyze research on gender in agriculture to achieve more equitable, sustainable, productive, and climate-resilient food systems. The GENDER Platform, hosted by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), encompasses all CGIAR Research Centers and engages a multitude of partners. GENDER Platform activities will be carried out within 3 modules—Evidence, Methods, and Alliances—working together to develop and promote high-quality evidence, knowledge, methods, tools and alliances around gender that foster transformational change for inclusive and equitable food systems within planetary boundaries.

The Methods Module of the GENDER Platform – in which this work is situated – aims to co-create, consolidate, and share cutting-edge methods and tools to strengthen and facilitate high-quality gender research across key and emerging CGIAR research areas. The activity described in this ToR relates specifically to the Methods Module’s aim to synthesize and curate a portfolio of gender methods and tools related to key areas of gender research.

The Methods Module activities are carried out through a range of Working Groups. The Working Groups will synthesize the methods and tools used for gender research in their respective area and provide guidance for integration in policy or programing. This is intended to build upon the wealth of resources across the CGIAR and its partners. By critically synthesizing, curating, and sharing available methods and tools across these priority research areas, the Methods module will elevate the methods and tools that meet the highest quality standards and make these tools and methods easy for gender researchers to access and apply in their own research. This work will improve the quality of gender research within One CGIAR and partner organizations and will lead to more gender-equitable food system interventions. The syntheses produced by the working groups will be published as a working paper and shared and promoted on the GENDER Platform Resource Hub. The tools and methods collected for each synthesis will be tagged and shared on the Resource Hub to increase the visibility and access to these tools.

This Term of References (ToR) relates specifically to the Working Group entitled the ‘Transformation of Gender Norms at Scale’ – also known as the Gender Transformative Approaches (GTA) Working Group. This diverse working group involves multiple CGIAR centres and programs and is hosted by WorldFish.

2. Activities

The successful consultant or partner team will – in close collaboration with the GTA Working Group leader and members – be responsible for the gathering, analysis, compilation and systematization of GTA resources (tools, methods, and guidance) relevant to the transformation of gender norms at scale as a foundation for gender equality. These will be consolidated into two high quality synthesis outputs (see Deliverables below): a Working Paper; and a Brief. These outputs will be co-authored with the Working Group

The precise scope of the work will be determined by the GTA working group. The topics will likely include:

• Formative methods* for understanding gender norms*
• *Tools for generating changes in constraining gender norms, and*
• *Measuring changes *in gender norms

Thematically, the scope will relate to food systems and the associated priority impact areas and initiatives of One CGIAR.

Within the above scope, the outputs will include consideration of quality or quantity of the available methods and tools, and whether they raise particular ethical issues. The outputs may additionally consider the extent to which the methods and tools have engaged an intersectional lens (including identities such as age, wealth, ethnicity and more). Moreover, they may also highlight how the methods and tools engage with the digital revolution in development and the introduction of new information and communication technologies (ICT).

The working paper will include an annotated appendix presenting the final set of tools and methods. These tools will be tagged according to the purpose of the tool (e.g., research, implementation guidance, conceptual framework, etc.), scale of application, type (quantitative, qualitative, mixed-method, transdisciplinary), and intended audience, and other fields (to be determined).

The successful consultant or partner team will gather the resources via online search of peer-reviewed and grey literature as well as discussions with working group members, and email requests, and key informant interviews with actors working in the area of gender transformative approaches inside or outside the CGIAR. The consultant or partner team will manage the resources in Mendeley. The consultant or partner team will have the opportunity to engage regularly with and be a part of this dynamic Working Group team.

3. Deliverables and timing**

The successful expert or team of experts will produce the following two high quality deliverables:

i) A Working Paper critically reviewing and synthesizing GTA methods, tools and guidance including an annotated appendix.

• When finalized, this will be a GENDER Platform publication and shared on GENDER’s open access Resource Hub.
• Final working papers should be between 10,000-12,000 words not including appendices.
• The appendix to the working paper will contain the set of curated tools and methods. A template will be provided for this appendix so that methods and tools can be tagged consistently and later added to the GENDER Platform Resource Hub.
• The full draft will be reviewed by the GENDER team in a peer review process.

ii) A Brief synthesizing the findings of the Working Paper.

• Approximately 2-4 pages in length, drawing directly on the Working Paper.

While the successful consultant or partner team are responsible for successful delivery, both outputs are to be co-authored with the GTA Working Group Team.

4. Budget

Applicants should indicate overall budget. This should include indication of fees/per day rates of individuals involved, and any other expenses. Publishing-related costs (copyediting, layout and proof reading) will be covered by GENDER thus need not be included in this budget.

5. Requirements

Consultant or organizations (with sufficient capacities and human resources) who have:

• A strong track record of high quality gender analysis and outputs.
• Demonstrated expertise in gender transformative approaches.
• Sharp understanding of gender methods and tools, ideally including in monitoring and evaluation.
• Keen analytical abilities and systematic thinking skills.
• Ability and motivation to work closely and regularly with the GTA Working Group and its leader to ensure a high level of mutual engagement and satisfaction as well as quality of outputs.
• Evidence of on-time delivery.

6. Location and Duration

This consultant will be working on remote based. The successful consultant should be available to commence the consultancy by 29 March, 2021. The consultant will have an overall duration of 6 months, with both outputs fully completed by 25 August 2021. This position is open to nationals & international applicants. If you have any questions regarding the consultancy contract, please contact Ms. Anna Patel at [email protected]

7. Availability of Experts

Experts must be available throughout the duration of an assignment. The duration can range from weeks to months. In some cases, the assignment can be shortened or extended depending on business needs.