Terms of Reference (TOR): Research to Identify Barriers to Women Running for Local Government Elections

Background:

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has signed a contribution agreement with Global Affairs Canada (GAC) for a six-year (2021-2027) project entitled Partnerships for Municipal Innovation – Women in Local Leadership (PMI-WILL). PMI-WILL intends to contribute to improved quality of life for women and girls, in particular those from marginalized groups, in Benin, Cambodia, Ghana, Sri Lanka and Zambia. The project will use a two-pronged approach to achieve this goal:

• Increasing the participation and enhancing the role of women as leaders and decision-makers in local governance
• Increasing the effectiveness of local governments in delivering inclusive, gender-responsive public services.

In Zambia, FCM will implement the project in collaboration with Local Government Association of Zambia (LGAZ), selected local authorities/municipalities and other selected partners, including relevant Ministries, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs). FCM will mobilize Canadian municipal practitioners and elected officials from FCM’s membership to provide peer-to-peer technical assistance.

Research has shown that increasing the number of women on local councils contributes to increased responsiveness to women’s needs and greater investment in social programs leading to poverty reduction. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5.5 calls for women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic, and public life. As the order of government closest to the people, local authorities need women, including those from marginalized groups, to participate equitably in decision-making as elected leaders, senior administrators, and community members. The Partnerships for Municipal Innovation – Women in Local Leadership (PMI-WILL) strives to increase the capacity of women, in particular from marginalized groups, to run for local elected office. To effectively, achieve its outcome, FCM seeks to address the barriers and challenges women face as candidates in local elections, as local council members and as local government administrators.

Major Purpose:

Under the general direction of the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Specialist and the Local Government Association of Zambia (LGAZ), the consultant will identify barriers to women running for local government elections in Zambia and submit a report with findings, recommendations, and baseline data. Using existing studies and data gathered during the country context assessment, the consultant will verify data, and prepare a report with recommendations and an action plan.

Scope of Work

A. A research report on barriers to women’s participation in local government

1.            Review existing literature/ research to identify barriers to women’s participation in local governance in Zambia

2.            Review data collected during context assessment and stakeholder consultations

3.            Interview key stakeholders such as female/male councillors (past/present) as well as opinion leaders

4.            Validate data collected with key stakeholders such as women’s networks, Women Rights Organisations (WROs), political parties, traditional and religious leaders, and key allies, including men

5.            Review existing laws/ policies/programs in Zambia that relate to governance and increasing women’s participation in local governance with a clear focus on accessing how gender-responsive the policies are in promoting women in decision- making from the points of:

• Formulation
• Adoption of policy
• Implementation (pros and cons)
• Monitoring and evaluation

6.            Write a research paper on key findings and recommendations from the research that will inform selected initiatives delivered to encourage the engagement of women and girls in local government in Zambia and the development of action plans.

B. Action Plan

1.            Provide Technical Assistance (TA) to LGAZ, key stakeholders and partners to develop action plans by identifying priority actions to increase women’s participation in local governance.

C. Identify relevant knowledge products

1.            Identify past (within the last 5 -10 years) and present projects, initiatives, or programs with a focus to increase the participation of women and marginalized persons as elected officials in local governance in Zambia

2.            Make a list of partners and stakeholders working in local governance, in particular those promoting women participation in decision making processes.

3.            Review PMI-WILL project documents and identify synergies with past and present projects

4.            Review existing tools, knowledge products that have been developed, case studies, research papers, project reports, training manuals, good practice articles and success stories in print, electronic and video formats from previous projects and programs implemented in country.

Deliverables

#/ Deliverable / Level of Effort / Due Date

1. Approach to work and methodology for undertaking the research and a work plan / 1 day /

Within 1 week of starting contract

2. Conducting research and submitting a research report on barriers to women’s participation in local government as elected officials, officers inclusive of knowledge sharing tools and potential stakeholders working or worked in area of local governance / 28 days / Within 4 weeks of starting contract

3. Validation workshop / 3 days / Within 5 weeks of starting contract

4. Multi-stakeholder engagement to develop action plan / 5 days / Within 5 weeks of starting the contract

Management parameters

The following parameters should be considered in the applicant’s proposal:

1.            Duration: The assignment duration is from February 2022 to 1st week of March 2022.

2.            Location: The assignment will be conducted in Zambia, with the consultant working remotely.

3.            Level of effort: 32 days

4.            Management: The consultant will report to the LGAZ and PMI-WILL team within FCM.

Knowledge, Education and Experience

• Master’s Degree in gender studies and/or social/humanitarian studies
• 5 years’ experience in conducting research and publishing research papers/reports in the areas of women’s political leadership, gender equality, governance, and elections
• Understanding of the local government sector in Zambia highly desirable
• Excellent written and oral communications skills, in English

Application process

Please submit a costed proposal (no more than 2 pages) indicating the level of effort, methodology, a work plan, daily rate, and list of people who would work on the assignment (if you are team) with their CVs. Please note that the costs for the validation workshop and consultation to develop an action plan will be covered by the project and need not be costed.  A submission should be sent via e-mail to the address below by close of business on 20th January 2022.

The Executive Director

Local Government Association of Zambia

E-mail: info@lgazambia.org.zm & cc: lga.zambia@yahoo.co.uk

Kindly note that only successful applicants will be contacted.