Consultancy assignment - Gender and Social Inclusion Analysis and Development of Gender Mainstreaming Strategy for the African Biodigester Component Project in Kenya

1. About SNV

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SNV Netherlands Development Organisation is a not-for-profit international development organization, working in Energy, Agriculture, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene. Founded in the Netherlands in 1965, we have built a long-term local presence in more than 30 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Our global team of local and international advisors works with local partners to equip communities, businesses and organizations with the tools, knowledge and connections they need to increase their incomes and gain access to basic services. We support people to access and develop the capabilities, services and opportunities needed to live a healthy, productive and fulfilling life, while sustainably using the natural resources they depend on. More specifically, our work includes advisory services, evidence-based advocacy and implementation at scale.

In Kenya, SNV has been at the forefront of national development, working with government, local development partners, knowledge institutes, private sector and low-income communities since its establishment in Kenya in 1967. SNV seeks to continuously develop and strengthen partnerships with organizations and initiatives that help build local capacity and empower communities to break the cycle of poverty.

2. The Africa Biodigester Component (ABC) Project-Kenya

The Africa Biodigester Component (ABC) Project is implemented by a consortium between the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and SNV Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV). GIZ is the consortium lead, whereas SNV is the implementation partner. This consortium is considered the Lead Implementer (LI) for the ABC project in Kenya.

The ABC-K project seeks “to achieve a sustainable, stable and growing market for biodigesters that significantly contribute to achieving national sustainable agricultural production, energy access and climate targets, by following a market-based approach to triggering demand, promoting the supply of high-quality technology and services and improving the enabling environment.” Specifically, the project aims at facilitating a shift of the biodigester market from its pioneering to the expansion phase.

Within the context of these overarching objectives of the Project, SNV seeks to engage a consultant to undetake the above mentioned assignment for purposes of mainstreaming gender in the ABC-K Project while driving greater gender equality within the wider biodigester sector as a whole.

3. Background and motivation

Kenya is more advanced than other countries in engaging women in the biodigester sector. For example, evidence from 2015 found that 22% of biodigester artisans in Kenya were female. In addition, companies, such as Sistema.bio, have a deliberate focus on hiring female staff (38% of their staff are women). Furthermore, Kenya adopted the Gender Policy in Energy, launched by the Ministry of Energy in 2019. The policy provides a framework for gender-sensitive project design and implementation of energy sector activities and will be a key guidance document on awareness raising of gender-related aspects.

To best inform the gender mainstreaming approach  in the ABC-K Project, the project intends to conduct a gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) analysis. The findings of the analysis will be used to inform a project specific GESI strategy and actions that ensure that gender aspects are mainstreamed across all Project activities.

4. Objectives of the study

The main objective of the study is to undertake a gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) analysis of the biodigester value chain and use the findings to develop a gender mainstreaming strategy for the ABC-K project. The strategy shall inform gender-sensitive indicators, tools, approaches and actions / interventions the Project shall adopt and mainstream across all components of the Project: 1) project implementation processes, 2) partners and enabling environment, and 3) beneficiaries:

The strategy shall also be aligned to the Minimum Standards for Gender Mainstreaming, as developed by the Gender Practitioners Collaborative with regards to gender-related impact, utilisation of sex-disaggregated data, development of gender equality indicators and “do not harm” criteria. 

5. Scope of Work

This assignment will involve two key stages as follows. Specifically:

a)    Conduct a gender equality and social inclusion analysis from selected counties from clusters identified by the project (Central, Rift Valley, Western, Coast and Eastern). The analysis will include among other parameters the following.

• Analysis of the national and sub-national gender policy frameworks, strategies, structures and programme, institutions with regards to biodigester and opportunities and gaps for a vibrant biodigester value chain development.
• The relative status of women, men and youth and how this affects their differential access to/control over assets and resources, access to finance and other resources, information, opportunities, and services related to their businesses and in driving the biodigester benefits along the value chain.
• Existing gender norms and cultural beliefs and how they affect business leadership for women and youth SMEs.
• The inter-personal and intra-household power relationships that are at play and how these influence decisions on purchasing power/ access and control of biodigester and its by products, including access to information and knowledge.
• Opportunities and constraints that affect men, women and youth’s agency and voice in policy dialogue and decision-making processes and platforms related to biodigester value chain. 
• Mapping of stakeholders involved in gender that ABC-K project could partner with to support SMEs in gender mainstreaming at business level.
• Capacity building needs for the ABC-Project team, government and SMEs on gender mainstreaming relevant for the project to achieve its overall goal.   

The consultant shall conduct a desk review of key documents such as  the Gender Analysis and Gender Action Plan developed by EnDev Kenya in 2020 and relevant government strategies, policies, biodigester programmes and staff capacity, institutional structures and systems that support implementation of gender policies and programs in the biodigester value chain. From this analysis the consultant shall identify any critical data and information that is missing and identify the appropriate gender analysis framework (e.g. Harvard Analytical Framework, Moser Framework) and design suitable data tools to collect this information and data.

The consultant shall use a mixed method field approach comprising of FGD and key informant interviews to collect additional information from diverse actors comprising of private sector players, governments (county and national), community members and NGOs.  The study will deliver clear and actionable recommendations highlighting key approaches and interventions and propose key partners to deliver these interventions. The findings shall be validated in a national level workshop attended by national stakeholders and representatives from counties.

b)    Develop a comprehensive gender mainstreaming strategy using the findings and recommendations of the gender equality and social inclusion study.  Among other things, the strategy should also have gender sensitive approaches, tools and actions as well as a monitoring and evaluation framework aligned to the ABC-K Project.

The Gender Mainstreaming Strategy will also draw from SNV’s Balancing Benefit (BB) approach developed for the energy and agriculture sector, supporting women entrepreneurs and women-led businesses. It will be be validated and endorsed by national and county stakeholders in a national workshop.

6. Timeline & Deliverables

The table below highlights the deliverables and proposed timelines of this consultancy assignment.

Research Framework Development (Week of 25th April 2022)

• Inception meeting
• Draft research framework submitted for review
• Delivery of final research framework

Research Outputs

a). By end of April 2022, present an inception report with the following:

• Understanding of the assignment
• Detailed methodology and approaches
• Detailed work plan

b). By late May-June 2022, present a technical study report with the following:

• PowerPoint presentation of the Gender and social inclusion Analysis
• PowerPoint presentation of the Gender Mainstreaming Strategy
• Gender and social inclusion Analysis Report
• Gender Strategy (soft copy both in word and PDF versions)

c). Roadmap for the implementation of the ABC-K with practical steps for capacity building including for the project team (Mid-June 2022).

7. Criteria for Evaluation

Technical proposal including:

• Consultant or firm’s experience in previous similar assignment and reputation – Past performance, references for the work performed in the last five years with at least 2-3 assignments in Kenya (25%)
• Demonstrate past work in the renewable energy (biodigesters) sector, or agriculture sectors, and gender working knowledge of Kenya (15%)

Detailed Workplan (20%)

Relevant qualifications (20%)

• CV(s) of consultant(s) and reference lists including the scope of past assignments that highlight similar work. 
• Sector experience

Financial proposal (20%)

• Must be inclusive of all applicable taxes in Kenya
• Value for money
• Clear budget match to deliverables based on a daily rate in Kenya Shillings

8. Qualifications of consultant/firm of consultants

All bidders must meet the following minimum qualifications and experience:

• Mixed expertise in Gender Studies and (renewabe) energy. Knowledge in market based approaches is an added advantage.
• The lead consultant expert(s) with a minimum of 7 years experince in gender equality work and  (renewable) energy sector in Kenya.
• Strong writing, communications and analytical skills.
• Extensive experience in research and analytical work in gender equality and social inclusion

9. Proposal submission

Interested and qualified firms and consultants are required to submit separately,  a technical and financial proposal that includes the following:

-Technical Proposal

• Qualification and experience of the consultant/ firm and the team to carry out the tasks
• The understanding of the assignment, demonstrating background knowledge
• Proposed approach and methodology to undertake this assignment, highlighting how the applicant will address the needs of this ToR
• Previous experience in a similar assignment(s).
• Detailed activity work plan.

- Financial proposal

This assignment is expected to take 30 days and must be completed by mid June.

• Total budget (Kshs) aligned to work plan
• Cost breakdown of the experts per day
• Copy of Certificate of Registration
• Copy of PIN Certificate of firm/company/individual
• Copy of valid Tax Compliance Certificate

Kindly note that SNV shall facilitate travel cost of the consultant to the field and hence should not be included in the proposal.

Payments will be based on outputs, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the ToRs

10. Clarifications

All questions should be submitted by 15th April 2022 to the following email address snvendevkenya@snv.org with the subject line “Inquiry-Gender Mainstreaming Strategy for ABC Project- Kenya”

11. Submissions

Separate technical and financial proposals should be sent by email to snvendevkenya@snv.org and should be received by Wednesday 20th April 2022, 1700hrs (EAT) with the subject line“Proposals for Gender Mainstreaming Strategy for ABC- Project-Kenya”

SNV will notify all applications via email. SNV may reach out to request additional information or clarification.