SNV is a not-for-profit international development organization that applies practical know-how to make a lasting difference in the lives of people living in poverty. We use our extensive and long-term in-country presence to apply and adapt our top-notch expertise in agriculture, energy and WASH to local contexts. SNV has an annual turnover of €130 million, over 1,250 staff in more than 25 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. We are proud to be a not-for-profit organization that uses project financing to implement our mission. This requires us to work efficiently and to invest in operational excellence.

In agriculture, we work with partners, including private- and public-sector actors, to take up and implement the use of successful processes, technologies, and models. We focus on smallholder farmers willing and able to implement farming-as-a-business, as well as the small and medium agricultural enterprises that are essential to transforming agricultural value chains. We support systems change and develop markets so that they function more effectively, sustainably, and beneficially for people living in poverty, building their capacities to improve their lives. Important elements are a system’s change perspective, a focus on sustainability and a continuation of market services, facilitating changes that improve adaptive intervention and the way markets work.

For more information on our operations in Kenya and SNV generally visit our website: www.snv.org

Project background

SNV Kenya/Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) and Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) - in collaboration with County Governments, are implementing the Integrated & Climate Smart Innovations for Agro-Pastoralist Economies and Landscapes in Kenya’s ASAL project or action. The project’s lifetime is from 1 January 2021 – 31 December 23, and it works in the Counties of Narok, Kajiado and Taita Taveta. The project is funded by the European Union and the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The project’s overall objective of the project is, livelihoods of agro-pastoralists communities (including women and youth) is enhanced through improved forage production and livestock husbandry, building on commercialization of climate smart innovations and sustainable landscape management in Taita Taveta, Kajiado and Narok counties. 

The project has three main objectives:

1. To increase resilience of agro-pastoralists and SMEs against climate shocks by upscaling of appropriate grazing and feeding innovations.
2. To increase capacity of county governments to implement climate resilient integrated landscape management strategies and plans to support agro-pastoralist communities.
3. To improve capacity of county governments to develop local strategies/frameworks for drought resilient sector development compliant with national policies.

Gender and social inclusion study.  

The Integrated & Climate Smart Innovations for Agro-Pastoralist Economies and Landscapes in Kenya’s ASAL Project aspires to be inclusive in its delivery.  Specifically, the project seeks to realize increased women and youth participation in the fodder/forage value chain and subsequently contribute to realization of:   

• Enhanced involvement of women and youth accessing and adopting commercially viable drought resilient feeding innovations and forage value chains business models.
• Increased number of women and youth SMEs with successfully established improved forage plots, feedlots and grazing areas based on their business plans.
• Increased number of women and youth SMEs with forage value chain business plans, providing services and forage supply inputs and drought resilient technologies to the market, de-risked with an innovation matching fund and/or feeding vouchers.
• Increased capacity and participation of women and youth in county climate resilient integrated landscape management coordination and contribute to the development and engendering of landscape management plans and grazing plans.
• ·To increase participation of women and youth in the development of county government drought resilient sector development policies and regulations that offer them strategic opportunities.

Consultancy description

SNV is seeking a consultant to undertake a gender and social inclusion study to establish status of gender and youth engagement in the fodder/forage value chain, landscape and associated policy dialogue.    

Objectives

The GESI Analysis seeks to investigate attitudes and norms of gender and affecting participation of women and youth in the in the livestock sector in general and with a particular focus on the forage/fodder value chain, and their participation in decision-making structures and policy dialogue processes in the context of the selected project sites: Narok, Kajiado and Taita Taveta counties.

The study seeks to interrogate women and youth involvement in the fodder value chain and how this can be maximized by addressing: the i) individual (agency; self-empowerment, skills knowledge); ii) addressing relations (gender power dynamics in family & business), reviewing cultural barriers (norms, stereotypes etc.) and policy, systems & structures in society. 

Scope of work

a)   Examine the socio-economic, cultural, relations and legal factors that underlie differential gender position in the livestock sector generally and in the fodder value chain in particular.

b)   The study further seeks to examine the consequences gender inequalities on women and youth and their access participation and adoption of commercial drought resilient feeding innovation and forage value chain businesses. 

The analysis will investigate the activity profiles of women and youth in the fodder value chain and the socio-cultural norms that underpin these.

c)    Analyse the inter-personal and intra-household power relationships that are at play and how this shape the role of men, women and youth in decision-making, access to and control over productive resources, business assets, access to finance and income sharing at household level.

d)   Examine the consequences of differential gender and age position on men, women and youth on:

• Access to skills, knowledge transfer and information (e.g. on markets, finance) and adoption of technologies in the livestock and feed/fodder value chain
• Participation and adoption of commercially viable, drought-resilient feeding innovations and forage value chain business models.
• Their participation in business/Private sector engagement  
• Participation, leadership and /or representation of women and youth in climate resilient integrated landscape management and drought resilient sector policy development and decision-making dialogues/processes.

e)   The analysis will also investigate the constraints that affect women and youth’s agency in businesses (producer organisations, cooperatives, SMEs, markets) and their role in policy dialogue and decision-making processes and platforms related to implementation of climate resilient integrated landscape coordination and management, strategies and plans.

The findings of this study shall be used to develop a gender and youth inclusion strategy and action plan.

Methodology

 The study will entail interaction with diverse project stakeholders and target in the fodder/forage value chain at the county level. The consultant(s) is expected to use the following data collection methods:

1. Conduct a rapid desk review of relevant documents and publications for this study.
2. Stakeholder interviews and consultative meetings (including SNV and KALRO) using structures questionnaires
3. Field visits and group discussion with government agencies, agro-pastoralist communities, cooperatives, conservancies, commercial forage producers, ranches, SMEs and seed suppliers and other stakeholders in the pasture and fodder value chain at county level.
4. Knowledge and proficiency in the application of online data management platforms is an added advantage.
5. Presentation and validation of the draft study report for each county in a multi stakeholder forum.

Report recommendations.

Among other areas, the report should cover:

1. Key gender barriers and challenges to achieving social inclusion for women and youth (e.g social/ gender norms, legislative, institutional capacity etc) in the livestock value chain focussing on the fodder value chain.
2. Identify opportunities or entry points for change or leverage for women and youth inclusion.  Give concrete and tangible gender-based recommendations and strategies for inclusion of women and youth in the fodder value chain and align them to the three project objectives above.
3. Specific recommendations to increase women and youth adoption and upscaling of the appropriate grazing and feeding innovations and technologies. This will also include approaches for dissemination strategies that are effective to reach women and youth, in the adoption of new feed/forage technologies.
4. Provide recommendations for increasing participation of women and youth in rangeland landscape management structures and the county multi-stakeholder platforms involved in and policy dialogue at County level.

Consultancy deliverables

The following deliverables will be achieved:

(i)   A draft report with specific County sections covering the above scope of work described above - and a power point summarizing the main findings and recommendations.

(ii)  A final-draft report or reports after incorporating feedback from SNV and KALRO on the first draft report (i).

(iii) A multi stakeholder validation workshop in each County with presentation of the final draft report and discussions. The feedback shall be included in the final report(s) as workshop proceedings.

(iv)A final report edited and presented as per the requirements and standards of SNV Kenya and the donors (i.e. the European Union and the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands).

• A university degree in the field of Gender and development, Social Sciences, or agriculture/livestock production with  a focus on  gender studies.
• Minimum seven years’ experience in gender in agriculture/livestock production and familiarity with Women Empowerment in Agriculture Index and other relevant gender frameworks.
• Proven experience in research especially qualitative and analysis in the field of gender in agriculture.
• Good understanding of the economic and social context of the agro-pastoralist communities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and oral.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent report writing and presentation skills.

Requirements in response to this TOR

The following is required from the consultant in response to these terms of reference as a basis for evaluation and choice of the suitable consultant:

(i)   A technical and financial proposal.

(ii)  A tentative work plan of the planned activities; including proposed number of days.

(iii) CV(s) of the lead consultant and any support staff/consultant to be engaged

(iv)Reference list of previous consultancies and relevant report e.g. GESI analysis and Action Plan

Please apply by clicking on the I’m Interested button and complete your application in our in-house recruitment system, attaching the required documents in English before 19th April 2021. 

NB: While making the application as a consulting firm, note that the system is customised to receive applications from individuals - please use the firm name instead of individual name and attach your company's profile in place of CV. The proposals and other documents can then be attached separately.

Applications submitted without the required attachments will be disqualified.

NB:

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

We do not appreciate third-party mediation based on this advertisement.

SNV Kenya does not require you to undergo any medical test prior to employment