Terms of Reference (TOR) for Gender-Responsive Budgeting and Planning Training

1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

About CARE International

CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty and providing emergency lifesaving assistance. Its programs go beyond meeting basic needs at the onset of an emergency to helping affected communities recover and rebuild their lives long after the crisis ends. CARE has been assisting communities in Somalia since 1981. CARE works in partnership with the government, international NGOs, civil society, leaders, and local authorities to bring effective and lasting change to the most vulnerable communities. CARE currently works through three main programs: firstly, the Rural Women program, which supports poor, rural women and girls in addressing long-term underlying causes of poverty and vulnerability as well as social, cultural, political, and economic obstacles towards positive change. We help women and girls improve their economic status and access to education and support them to play a greater role in local leadership and conflict resolution. Secondly, the Urban Youth program focuses on job creation and livelihood opportunities for poor youth through interventions such as secondary education, vocational training, small business development, and microfinance. Thirdly, the Emergency program provides direct humanitarian relief to victims of drought and conflict. CARE Somalia/Somaliland has three programs: Rural Women, Urban Youth, and emergency. This project falls under Urban Youth

About Maamul Wadaag Program  

The Maamul-Wadaag consortium brings together Stichting CARE Nederland (CARE Nederland), CARE International Belgium in Somalia (CARE Somalia), the Somali Youth Development Network (SOYDEN), and the Puntland Youth Associations Network (PYAN). The Maamul-Wadaag consortium aims to strengthen the capacity of local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on accountable leadership, while elevating their voices and facilitating effective participation to cultivate their ability to support inclusive governance and influence key policy processes to improve service delivery in Somalia. As non-government and non-market actors, CSOs are in a unique position to foster collaboration among relevant stakeholders, influence agenda-setting and hold the government and private sector accountable for their promises and actions. The Somali Government has made impressive strides to approve the CSO Act, which is currently being implemented in Puntland and Southwest States. However, inclusive governance continues to be undermined by corruption, changing government structures, political interference, limited transparency and patriarchal mindsets among government institutions, while local CSOs face ongoing challenges that undermine their effectiveness, legitimacy, coordination and community engagement. The Maamul-Wadaag consortium recognises the challenges CSOs face in gaining legitimacy in key policy processes with local authorities and is therefore keen to strengthen target CSOs’ institutional capacity, effectiveness, transparency and legitimacy. Our approach is address CSOs’ institutional capacity gaps, support women’s leadership and promote gender equality and the inclusion of marginalized groups through targeted training and specialized technical assistance for local and national level policy advocacy, as well as effectively mobilizing local CSOs networks. By addressing key bottlenecks and capacity gaps within CSOs, the action will empower these locally led institutions to effectively engage with government in designing and implementing timely and viable development plans, programs and policies, for the benefit of target communities and vulnerable groups in particular.

Overall Objective: to strengthen local CSOs in Somalia as independent actors of good governance and development in their own right. This is envisaged to be accomplished through two specific objectives: 

1.             To strengthen local CSOs' capacities to engage in policy dialogue, advocacy, implementation, and monitoring of national development plans and programmes.

2.             To increase local CSOs’ capacities to advance gender equality and support more inclusive governance.

Target groups: The project will target 114 Community Based Organisations (CBOs), including: Southwest State: 20 Village Loans and Savings Associations (VSLAs), 4 Peace Committees and 2 Youth Networks; Banadir Regional Administration: 55 VSLAs, 11 Peace Committees and 2 Youth Networks; Puntland State: 15 VSLAs, 3 Peace Committees and 2 Youth Networks; 36 District,12 State NGOs (2 and 4 per region respectively); Six PLWD organisations/networks; and, Six State level umbrellas/CSO networks/social movements (two per state).

1. OBJECTIVE OF THE CONSULTANCY  

CARE Somalia is seeking to procure the services of a consultant to conduct Gender-Responsive Budgeting and Planning Training for CSOs under the Maamul Wadaag project in the target locations (Puntland, South-West States and Banadir Regional Administration). This is aimed at equipping Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) with the knowledge and skills to advocate for and implement Gender-Responsive Budgeting and Planning (GRBP) practices. The rationale for this action arises from the recognition that most budgets are generally gender-neutral and therefore are unaware or blind to how they impact men and women differently through patterns of resource allocation. Resource allocations targeting women and girls usually comprise a very small proportion of most budgets exacerbating already-existing gender inequalities. 

1. OBJECTIVES OF THE TRAININGS

·         Enhance understanding of gender equality concepts and their connection to budgeting and planning.

·         Develop skills for conducting gender analysis of budgets and plans.

·         Introduce tools and frameworks for integrating gender responsive approaches into budgeting and planning cycles.

·         Empower participants to advocate for and implement GRBP initiatives within their organizations.

1. SCOPE OF WORK

·         Prepare a contextualized training manual, PowerPoint presentations, handouts, and links to deliver effective training for CSOs to use and apply the intended outcome of the training. 

·         Deliver the training program for participants as per the plan scheduled in close consultation with CARE Program Staff. The training will be conducted in three (3) different locations; Mogadishu, Badioa and Garowe.

·         Work closely with the CARE program team to develop a training plan with deliverables and an agenda for each session, which the CARE Program Manager should approve.

·         Use appropriate methods and tools to make sure the trainees thoroughly undertake the training.

·         Prepare and submit a detailed report on the training program, along with photographs demonstrating the training's progress.

1. EXPECTED DELIVERIES

The consultant will be responsible for defining and carrying out the training. This will include the design of the methodology, development of the training material/topics and delivering the training in the target locations. Specifically, the consultant shall carry out the following activities:

• Conduct pre-training and post-training evaluations of the training and include the results in the main report.
• Prepare training materials: including developing a methodological note that outlines the overall training process Review and adapts training materials in coordination with the Maamul Wadaag Team. Prepare presentations and handouts.
• Prepare the final agenda for the training. 
• Provide all the necessary tools and materials to enable participants to undertake training.
• Training report capturing topics covered.
• Prepare and submit the final report at the end of the training regarding the delivery of the training programme.

1. ROLE OF CARE SOMALIA

CARE will have the following functions: provide oversight, supervision, and coordination of the assignment; coordinate document reviews and approval of all deliverables as per the terms of reference; and arrange logistical support during field visits. The consultant will report to the project manager and dedicated project staff will be assigned to support the consultant team in coordinating the training to provide necessary information for planning purposes. Logistic and administrative support will be provided for example, office working space, travel expenses, local transportation, or associated expenses (training costs) per diem, and accommodation during the field visits.