(MoHERST) Study on Women in Tertiary and Higher Education (MoHERST) / Development of a Manual on Female Gender Mainstreaming

Language of Notice *

English

Deadline for submission of expressions of interest *

23-02-2024

Local Time *

12: 30

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Assignment Title: CONSULTANCY TO DEVELOP A NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR THE INCREASED FEMALE GENDER PARTICIPATION IN TERTIARY AND HIGHER EDUCATION AND DECISION-MAKING IN THE GAMBIA

(Individual Based Consultancy)

Reference No. GM-PPPPE-407373-CS-INDV

• Context and Background information on the Consultancy

The Gambian national development blueprints have all continually emphasised the importance of education and the need to provide equal access to quality education for both genders. Taking a cue from the laws of the land, a declaration is made on the essence of education and goes further to advocate for a society that is founded on the principles of freedom, equality, justice, and accountability. This ultimately gives the right to educational opportunities and facilities to both sexes, in order to enable them to achieve the full realization of their potential. Several policies and programmes have also been formulated supporting the relevance and universality of access to education irrespective of gender, race, social status, and region of domicile. Educational policies of the sector give credence to this call. The National Development Plan 2018-2021 and its successor plan both re-echo the same pronouncements regarding quality, access, and relevance of education for all at all levels. Therefore, the consultancy is to develop a national strategy and its implementation plan that ensures increased enrolment and participation of the female gender in the tertiary and higher education system and their overall participation in decision-making.

• OBJECTIVES The main objective of the consultancy service is to develop a national strategy for an increased enrolment of the female gender in tertiary and higher education system and their continued inclusion and participation in decision-making.

The specific objectives are to:

• Assess the transition and participation of the female gender in tertiary and higher education institutions.
• Develop the required strategy, including all relevant frameworks to address the challenges in the transition and participation of the female gender in tertiary and higher education
• Develop a sustainable financing mechanism to support the transition and participation of the female gender in tertiary and higher education, more so in the STEM area.
• Identify the drivers, barriers and opportunities of female participation in tertiary and higher education

• SCOPE AND TASK The scope would be to develop a national strategy that ensures increased transition, participation, and promotion of the female gender in tertiary and higher education.

The main tasks to be undertaken are:

• Conduct a national survey to diagnose and understand the actual participation levels of women and girls in tertiary and higher education
• Development of a roadmap for implementation that outlines the challenges, drivers, barriers, and opportunities relating to the transition and participation of women and girls in tertiary and higher education
• Conduct a stakeholder validation of findings
• Dissemination of findings (media and public engagement)
• Development of a national strategy and implementation guideline for increased female gender participation in tertiary and higher education
• Development of a communication strategy for stakeholders and the general public (visibility and awareness creation)
• Development of a sustainable financing strategy and advocacy plan The consultancy will span for a period of three (3) months from the date of the award of the contract.

• Individual Qualifications -Minimum requirements: The consultant for this activity has to be someone with a long track record (at least 5 years’ experience) in gender related activities with experience in the development of gender related policies and their implementation.

Consultant Qualification:

The Consultant must have the following minimum qualifications:

• S/he has to have local knowledge of the educational system from ECD to tertiary and higher education both at the policy level as well as their implementation
• S/he has to have competence in data analysis involving large data, descriptively and inferentially.
• S/he has to be a proficient expert, rich in knowledge and experience both in gender development issues and in providing gender-related consultancies and their implementation.
• S/he has to have excellent communication, negotiation, and writing skills with a good track record of meeting deadlines and targets
• S/he must have at least a Master’s degree in relevant fields
• S/he would be expected to provide a financial and technical proposal for review

Submission of Expressions of Interest:

The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MoFEA) through the Gambia Fiscal Management Development Project, now invites eligible Individual consultants to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultant firms should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” dated September 2023 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant Selection (IC) method set out in the Consultant Guidelines. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 09:00 to 16:00 Monday to Thursday and 09:00 to 12h30 on Friday.

Expressions of interest should be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail) on or before 23 February 2024 at 12h30 GMT

Gambia Fiscal Management Development Project GFMDP

Royal Insurance Building

2nd Floor, Kotu Bertil Harding Highway

The Gambia

Email: [email protected] and [email protected]