Terms of Reference (ToR): Consultancy Services for Conducting a Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+)

TERMS OF REFERENCE: GENDER-BASED ANALYSIS PLUS (GBA+) FOR STRENGTHENING CIVIL SOCIETY IN NEPAL  

ABOUT CECI

The Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI), founded in 1958, promotes sustainable and inclusive development worldwide. Committed to poverty reduction and gender equality, CECI empowers women, girls, and vulnerable communities through innovative solutions in leadership, economic inclusion, governance, climate resilience, and peacebuilding. With operations in 17 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Americas, it has implemented over 350 projects, partnered with 400+ organizations, and engaged 440+ employees and volunteers globally.  Our key priorities include (1) Women and Girls' Rights – Advocating for equal opportunities, (2) Women’s Economic Empowerment – Strengthening skills for employment and entrepreneurship, (3) Climate Change Adaptation – Supporting communities in environmental resilience, and (4) Inclusive Governance & Peacebuilding – Promoting participatory governance in fragile contexts.  CECI collaborates with key partners to drive transformative, gender-inclusive approaches and scale best practices. Its efforts in research, innovation, and international cooperation foster sustainable solutions to global challenges. Since 1987, CECI has worked in Nepal across 66 districts within seven provinces, implementing 50+ projects in agriculture, MSMEs, governance, and gender equality, collaborating with governments, civil society, and the private sector. Learn more at www.ceci.org.

PROJECT SUMMARY

The "Strengthening Civil Society in Nepal and the Philippines" project aims to reinforce civic engagement and democratic participation among WMGs. This endeavor prioritizes empowering WMGs to assert their fundamental human rights, participate in democratic processes, and secure representation through initiatives centered on citizen engagement, thereby reinforcing the commitment of governments and stakeholders to advancing peace, human and environmental rights, and inclusive governance.

CECI will manage the project in close collaboration with Pro Public and provincial partners in Nepal. In line with the participatory approach to the project’s design, several key stakeholders at the governmental and non-governmental levels will be engaged throughout the project’s implementation. The project will aim to achieve the ultimate outcome: Improved equitable participation and representation of women and marginalized groups in the democratic space in Nepal and the Philippines (1000).

The project will be implemented in Nepal's Lumbini and Madhesh provinces. During its implementation period, the project aims to reach 35,515 individuals and approximately 550,000 indirect beneficiaries in Nepal, of whom at least 60% of direct and indirect beneficiaries will be women. While the primary focus will be on local-level initiatives, the project also seeks to create a broader impact at the national level. It will engage various stakeholders—rights-holders, duty-bearers, and responsibility-holders, including Women and Marginalized Groups (WMGs)—specifically targeting Madhesis, Dalits, Dom, indigenous peoples in Nepal, and Muslim and LGBTQI+ communities. Additionally, the project will establish partnerships with key stakeholders, including governmental entities, human and women's rights commissions, civil society organizations (CSOs), government representatives, community leaders, elected officials, rights activists, and WMGs.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

Building on the results of the preliminary consultations, CECI aims to hire a consultant(s) / consulting firm(s) in Nepal to provide more in-depth gender-based analysis from an intersectional perspective (GBA+) using primary and secondary data. The results of the GBA+ will support the design of a Gender Equality and Human Rights (GEHR) strategy that will be aligned with the objectives targeted by the project and be integrated into the Project Implementation Plan (PIP).

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study will build on the findings of the previous preliminary consultations conducted in Nepal to inform the project design. The geographic scope of GBA+ will be aligned with the project areas of Lumbini and Madhesh provinces in Nepal. Details on the mapping process for identifying key stakeholders, women’s groups, other CSOs, and community members consulted for this study will vary, considering the consultations previously led in Nepal and the mapping conducted for the baseline study. This will determine the exact number and profile of stakeholders to be consulted on each project site. Care should also be given to avoid consultation fatigue in communities targeted for the GBA+ and baseline study. Focus will be given to stakeholders and organizations not consulted previously.

METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH

Except for the number of stakeholders consulted (disaggregated by gender, age, ethnicity, disability status, and other key identity factors as relevant) and data collected through the literature review, this study will mainly gather and analyze qualitative information. Quantitative data will be collected through the baseline study.

The methodology for the GBA+ will be comprised of:

1. A Literature review 

2. Semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders (ensure a minimum of 30 percent women representation)

3. Focus group discussions with community members (women, men, girls and boys)

The methodology described in the technical proposal submitted for this assignment should provide explicit details on the process for selecting respondents for the data collection and how key ethical issues related to the data collection, analysis, and dissemination processes will be addressed.

A dynamic, participatory, and feminist approach will have to be used during this study's consultation phase, allowing for flexibility to ensure women's effective participation and providing them the space to speak freely. The data collection approach and specific tools used to establish should be adapted to the local contexts to ensure the appropriateness and reliability of the data collected. This strategy will promote collecting key information that will feed into the project's GEHR strategy by ensuring that the activities implemented will be gender transformative and inclusive.

Particular attention will need to be given to disaggregating the data collected and analyzed by gender and other relevant variables that may constitute vulnerability factors (e.g., age group, ethnocultural minority, people with disabilities).

The GBA+ process will have to be implemented considering the Baseline Assessment that will be carried out for each site targeted by the project. Harmonization of these analyses will be necessary to ensure consistency and complementarity in their integration into the PIP. This GBA+ and separate assignment of Baseline Assessment--two studies will provide a rich database that will inform the Performance Measurement Framework (PMF) and enable robust project implementation monitoring.

Refer to TOR for indicative GBA+ guiding questions.

TIMELINE AND EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

Refer to TOR for the tentative timeline and expected deliverables.

CONSULTANTS’ QUALIFICATIONS

• The Applicant should possess a graduate degree in gender studies, social sciences, political science, human rights, development studies, international development, or a related field, focusing on the Indo-Pacific region, especially Nepal.   
• The Applicant should have at least 5-7 years of professional experience, including at least 5 years of conducting gender analyses required.
• Relevant research experience in gender equality, women’s rights, human rights of marginalized groups, political and civic engagement, and/or environmental rights, with a proven track record in research, monitoring, and evaluation required.   
• The Applicant must have strong knowledge of decentralization and local governance processes in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly Nepal.   
• Experience developing data collection tools, conducting interviews and facilitating Focus Group Discussions while maintaining cultural sensitivity is needed.       
• Fluency in English and Nepali is required, and knowledge of other local languages spoken in the target areas is an asset.   
• Strong research, analytical and writing skills in English are necessary, as English writing skills are critical for this consultancy.   
• It is essential to be flexible with time and work schedules and to meet tight deadlines (as outlined in the TORs).   
• The capability to recruit and train a network of local researchers to assist with the data collection process is required.
• Ability to read, comprehend, and analyze large amounts of technical information, provide concise summaries, and explain its significance is required.   
• Knowledge and understanding of Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP) and the Feminist International Assistance Gender Equality Toolkit for Projects are assets. 

ETHICAL STANDARDS, CONFIDENTIALITY, AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS  

The Consultant or Consulting Firm must adhere to ethical standards throughout the assignment, including maintaining confidentiality of interviewee statements when required and avoiding judgmental comments about stakeholders. During and after the assignment, the consultant must not disclose any proprietary or confidential information related to the service without prior written consent from CECI. All materials and documents produced under this assignment will be the property of CECI.

APPLICATIONS 

To apply, interested candidates (individuals or firms) are required to submit:

• A Curriculum Vitae (for individuals or teams);
• A technical proposal outlining the detailed methodology for the GBA+ clearly demonstrating a thorough understanding of these TORs and a detailed calendar of implementation;
• A financial offer for completing the deliverables mentioned above with a detailed breakdown of costs for the study (itemized consultancy fees/costs, itemized field data collection expenses, Itemized administrative expenses);
• Names and contact information of three references who can be contacted regarding recent relevant experience;
• A copy of previous reports of similar recent work undertaken and
• A brief cover letter to the following email addresses: cecinepal@ceci.ca (Nepal) and nancy.degraff@ceci.ca (Montreal) by 5 PM Friday, March 28, 2025 (Nepal Time). 

Consultants or firms seeking clarification on the TOR can send their questions to nancy.degraff@ceci.ca and cecinepal@ceci.ca before the submission deadline. Only those selected consultants or consulting firms will be invited to formal discussions and contractual agreements with CECI. Please note that CECI reserves the right to reject any applications that do not meet the minimum standards specified in the TOR.

CECI's initiatives aim to address inequalities and foster sustainable development worldwide. The work ethic of our staff, volunteers, consultants, representatives, and partners must align with the organization’s values and mission. We encourage applications from women, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and other marginalized groups.

Download TOR here.

Only electronic submissions will be considered.