Terms of Reference – Develop a Progressive and Gender Responsive Tax Advocacy Strategy for Women Rights Organisations, Networks and CS-PO at Oxfam

1. INTRODUCTION

Oxfam is a global movement of people who are fighting inequality to end poverty and injustice. Across regions, from the local to the global, we work with people to bring change that lasts. Our work is grounded in the commitment to the universality of human rights. Driven by diversity and founding our asks in evidence and experience, we take sides against poverty and injustice everywhere. Feminist approaches guide all.

Oxfam is currently implementing a multi-country European Union funded project dubbed ‘Fiscal Justice for Women Girls in Africa. The project is being implemented in Partnership Consumer Unit Trust Society (CUTS) Zambia and African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET). Fiscal Justice for Women and Girls (FJWG project overall objective is promote progressive and gender responsive fiscal policies in Zambia and Uganda. The specific objectives are to contribute to more transparent and accountable revenue generation and spending policies by transforming fiscal systems to better respond to the needs of citizens, especially for women and girls in Africa as well as strengthening the ability of civil society organizations, women’s rights organizations and citizens in Uganda and Zambia to hold decision makers to account on formulation and implementation of fiscal policies affecting women and girls at national and regional levels.

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2. BACKGROUND

For some time now civil society organizations have been critical in fighting various political and socioeconomic inequalities and many other issues around the globe. Taxation is a fundamental way for countries to generate public revenues that make it possible to finance investments in human capital, infrastructure, and the provision of services for citizens and businesses. Through taxation countries accelerate their economic growth by raising and spending their own funds for public goods and services, like schools, hospitals, clean water, electricity, and roads – all critical to helping people rise out of poverty.

Apart from generating revenue to finance the provision of public services by the government; Taxes can also be used for redistribution and economic stabilization. More importantly taxation can also spur inclusive and sustainable development; taxes can be used to address socioeconomic inequalities. For this reason, that most CSOs around the globe, Zambia inclusively, have turn their attention to the taxation systems and fiscal policies, advocating for a fair, progressive and gender responsive tax systems and fiscal policies. The success of tax justice campaigns and initiatives, however, depends on the capacity of CSOs in undertaking such initiatives as well as systematic of the approach, the adequacy and effectiveness of the tools used.

It is against this background that OXFAM SAF through its country program office in Zambia, wishes to engage a consultant to “Develop a progressive and gender responsive tax advocacy strategy for women rights organisations and CS-POG” to inform and support the work of Oxfam and its partners on the Fiscal Justice for Women and Girls (FJWG project.

3. OBJECTIVE OF THE CONSULTANCY

The overall purpose of the assignment is to develop a progressive and gender responsive tax advocacy strategy for women rights organisations (WROs) and CS-POG.

Specific Objectives

1.            Undertake a desk review to identify and evaluate key and predominant socioeconomic gender inequalities issues in the Zambia Tax system and fiscal policies[1].

2.            Map the needs and capacity gaps of Women Rights Organisation (WROs) and CS POG members in advocating for a progressive and gender responsive tax systems and fiscal policies.

3.            Conduct workshop(s) with WROs and CS-POG for their input and perspectives in the advocacy strategy

4.            Draft a progressive and gender responsive tax advocacy strategy for women rights organisations and CS-POG, outlining clear goals and objectives, as well as key opportunities, challenges, allies, stakeholder, cost-effective mixes of activities[2] and implementation plan for influencing a progressive and gender responsive tax system and fiscal policies for women rights organisations and CS-POG in Zambia.

4. DELIVERABLES

The following deliverables are expected under this TOR:

• Inception report (Detailed methodology, data collection tools and mapped stakeholders agreeable with Oxfam and CUTs in Zambia)
• A progressive and gender responsive tax advocacy strategy, outlining clear goals and objectives, as well as key opportunities, challenges, allies, stakeholder, cost-effective mixes of activities and implementation plan for influencing a progressive and gender responsive tax system and fiscal policies for women rights organizations and CS-POG in Zambia.
• Workshop report(s)

5. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

1.            Post graduate degree in public finance Management, Taxation, Economics, Communications for Developed or any other related field. Having a team composed of a public finance; Communications and Advocacy and gender expert is highly recommended.

2.            The consultant or team must demonstrate knowledge and experience in of tax justice work, Policy development and analysis, socioeconomic policy gender mainstreaming as well as advocacy and campaigns.

3.            Clear understanding of public finance management/governance/gender budgeting/ research approaches

4.            Minimum of 5 years’ proven experience of conducting similar assignments in Zambia or SADC with reputable institutions.

5.            Good report writing skills.

6.            Sound relationship with key role players

7.            Demonstrated ability to prepare deliverables of good quality on time.

8.            Highly creative and innovative team

9.            Previously worked on an EU project and understands EU requirements

6. WORK SCHEDULE

Oxfam expects the consultant to finish the assignment within 20 working days from the day of signing the contract (Specific dates to be agreed with the successful consultant). Failure to adhere to timelines is a violation of a contract and it may lead to termination of contract.

7. SUPERVISION AND MANAGEMENT

Oxfam will supervise the process, specifically the Fiscal Justice Program team. The consultant is expected to work and interact with Oxfam’ s Fiscal Justice Program team and CUTS’s Fiscal Justice for women girls project team on a continuous basis.

8. ETHICS AND SAFEGUARDING

Oxfam has a zero-tolerance policy towards inaction against sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse.  Oxfam’s ethics for safeguarding will be emphasized and remain mandatory throughout the process of the undertaking of the study. Engagements and support will aim to create and maintain safe, equitable, and inclusive culture where all those who work for and with Oxfam as well as those in the communities where Oxfam operates are treated with dignity and their rights and voices are heard and respected.

Selected consultants will be expected to read, sign, and adhere to the Oxfam Code of Conduct for no Oxfam staff and follow Oxfam’s Ethical Content Guidelines.

9. SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

Interested consultant (s) should submit technical and financial proposal (not more than 20 pages excluding annexes-failure to adhere to this may lead to disqualification), detailing how they will undertake the assignment. Attach up-to-date CVs of the core team as annexes. Proposals should be submitted to the address below in electronic form ONLY and must be clearly indicated ‘DEVELOP A PROGRESSIVE AND GENDER RESPONSIVE TAX ADVOCACY STRATEGY FOR WROs NETWORK AND CS-POG.’

by 17:00 hours local time on 19th August 2022

All correspondence for the consultancy should be addressed to:

HR through the email below:

HRZambia@oxfam.org.uk

END of TORs.

[1] The consultants can also refer to the FTM gender analysis

[2] activities which can be undertaken by WROs and CS-POG to advocate and/or influence a progressive and gender responsive tax system and fiscal policies.