Gender Specialist

NETWORK REINFORCEMENT AND ACCESS PROJECT (NRAP)

CLOSING THE GENDER GAP IN ESWATINI ENERGY SECTOR

TERMS OF REFERENCE for Gender Specialist

(National Consultant)

Bid reference: SZ-ECC-283250-CS-INDV

• BACKGROUND

The Government of Eswatini continues to ensure full and effective participation and representation of women in the economic, social and political sector. Among other frameworks, the National Gender Policy of 2010 and National Education and Training Sector Policy, 2018 emphasize women’s and girls’ empowerment in the Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Innovation sector (STEM & Innovation). Despite these efforts, Women’s participation in the energy sector remains low. According to the Africa Gender and Energy Overview, 2021; 26% of their full-time employees are women, with 50% of the management positions being held by women. However, it is not defined as to what positions (for example technical- or non-technical) are held by the 25% women employed by the company.

Under the Network Reinforcement and Access Project (NRAP) the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, through the Department of Gender and Family Issues, Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy in collaboration with the Eswatini Electricity Company, and the Ministry of Education and Training will be collaboratively support implementation of the gender action plan towards closing the gender gap in Eswatini energy sector.

• OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT/ CONSULTANCY

The objective of the assignment is to conduct a gender audit in Eswatini energy sector[1] to:

• identify the status of women’s representation and participation (including participation of women in leadership and decision-making position)
• examine how institutional policies, strategies and practices are supporting and promoting gender equality in the energy sector,
• map out the availability of systematic, institutional and supportive arrangements as well as working practice of gender equality (eg. Integration of gender in institutional planning, implementing, reporting system, availability of gender budgeting, availability of gender unit/department, availability of gender responsible staff etc)
• identifying gaps and challenges that hinder effective implementation of gender equality work program
• KEY EXPECTED DELIVERABLES FROM THE CONSULTANT

i) Design and development of methodology for gender audit

• Developing a detailed gender audit methodology, draft data collection tools, develop checklist for document analysis and desk reviewing of all relevant documents. ii) Conduct gender audit in the energy sector:

• assess availability/effectiveness of institutional legal framework, policies, and procedures in supporting gender equality (e.g. gender equality policy/procedure, institutional GBV prevention and response policy etc)
• assess available governance and corporate culture - is corporate culture inclusive? Do male and female staff feel equally valued, able to advance, and protected by policies? Do male and female staff feel equally comfortable holding colleagues and managers accountable for any perceived gender bias or discrimination? What services exist for holding staff accountable?
• review the recruitment procedure - are there explicit or implicit indicators of bias or discrimination? Are recruitment efforts inclusive, or do they send signals discouraging female applicants? Are selection panels gender-balanced? Are interview procedures standardized and transparent? Are managers accountable for increased gender diversity in teams? Evaluate gender bias in corporate recruitment and opportunities for improvement.
• identify the overall percentage of women employees, women technical staff and women in leadership positions
• assess availability of systematic and institutional integration of gender equality in planning, budgeting and M&E system of the energy sector (including collection of sex disaggregated data, applicability of gender indicators)
• examine main barriers women employees face once recruited and during the internal promotion process
• analyse barriers for women in leadership and decision-making positions (especially in progressing to roles with greater responsibilities);
• assess existing opportunities/programs facilities or working arrangement supporting women employees (e.g. Capacity building programs, availability of workplace childcare centres, availability of flexible working hours for nursing moms etc)
• identify the existence of any partnership with private, public or non-governmental organization in support of gender equality
• examine the availability of physical facilities (e.g. separate toilets, lodging rooms at project site etc), services, and equipment, including uniforms, to determine safety and appropriateness of use by female staff, including pregnant women, including personal protective equipment, job testing facilities, and medical facilities etc.

iii) Gender Audit Report Writing and Submission

• draft a report on key findings of gender audit with recommended gender action and result framework
• submit the draft report to the NRAP TWG
• collect inputs, feedback/comments from NRAP TWG and revise the draft report
• Submit the final report iv) Coordinate and support implementation of NRAP gender Action plan and perform the following key activities

• Lead, coordinate and support key activities of NRAP gender action plan through providing technical support for all implementing agencies
• Conduct capacity building workshops for the TWG, key stakeholders, general public, etc
• Lead awareness Raising Campaigns on women’s participation and Representation in the energy sector
• Document, profile and disseminate success stories for gender and women in energy sector through newsletters, brochures, newspaper
• Provide technical support to the Ministry of Education and Training (National Curriculum Centre) on mainstreaming gender and energy in the education curriculum
• Conduct dialogues on women in the energy sector targeting public and private sector, business associations, as well as academia (schools, tertiary institutions) v) Other Deliverables

• Submission of inception report detailing methodology of the gender audit on 1st month of assignment
• Assessment and submission of work and budget plan per TWG drafts on 1st month of assignment
• Submission of draft gender audit report with gender action plan after 3 months of assignment
• Presentation of report at validation workshop of key stakeholders
• Submission of final gender audit report with gender action plan after 6 months of assignment
• Submission of quarterly implementation progress reports of NRAP gender action plan
• Monitoring and evaluation tools for NRAP gender action plan
• Capacity building training for gender TWG and stakeholders on M&E tools
• Reporting Mechanism

The consultant shall be provided with basic working tools and space to be based in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy and shall report to the Gender TWG and the Energy Department Director.

• Duration

The duration of the contract will be 1 year, with possibility of extension subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding.

• Qualification, Experience and Competencies

• Advanced degree in Gender and Development, Social Development or related Social Science fields of studies with 10 -15 years of directly relevant experience in the public sector.
• Experience in gender policy, gender sensitivity training, women’s employment, and gender-based violence is desired;
• Relevant experience in conducting gender audit, providing high-level gender technical support, program design and advisory support for gender equality interventions in the energy sector (or similar sectors) in Africa region;
• Ability to lead social and gender audit/ assessments, design surveying tools and conduct field-level consultations;
• Experience in the energy and infrastructure sectors in developing countries is a plus
• In-depth experience working directly with project teams and interacting with governments/public sector entities on gender and social issues in Eswatini is key;
• Proven ability to plan, develop, coordinate and monitor programs and various activities from content (research, writing, and presentation) to administrative aspects (budgets etc.);
• Fluent in written and spoken English
• Willingness to work and travel to remote areas as needed.
• How to Apply

• Interested candidates should submit application letter and CV with academic certificates before end of business 23 May 2022 through the following email: [email protected] copy [email protected]

[1] Institutions in the Energy Sector: Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy, Eswatini Electricity Company, ESERA, Royal Eswatini Sugar Cooperation’s, Montigny, Ubombo Sugar Pty Ltd, Academia: University of Eswatini, VOCTIM, Eswatini College of Technology, Cooperative College of Eswatini (CODEC)