Short-term consultancy, Economic Governance Project - FEMNET

Terms of Reference for a short term Consultancy with FEMNET

ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE PROJECT

Research on Promoting African Women’s Economic Empowerment through gender – responsive Trade Arrangements: May-September 2010

1.0 Introduction
The African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) is a regional African organization working to promote women’s rights and development in Africa. FEMNET works in three different programmes areas namely Communication, Advocacy and Capacity building. Under the Capacity Building Programme FEMNET is planning to undertake a study to assess the extent to which trade arrangements between African countries and the European Union facilitate African women’s economic empowerment and realization of their economic rights. Since the second half of the 1990s many African countries adopted poverty eradication strategy plans and policies (PRSPs). These were the overarching national development plans. The PRSPs aimed to significantly contribute to poverty reduction and stimulation of steady economic growth that would be in tandem with the population growth rates in Africa. In 2007 FEMNET worked with other actors in Kenya to advocate for the mainstreaming of gender in macro- economic policies and the PRSP. There was mobilization at the national level to create Gender Aware Action Groups at the National, district and community levels.

Despite the women’s organizations’ involvement in the process in Kenya it was noted that the PRSP in Kenya did not sufficiently integrate gender both in the analysis and in the action areas agreed upon. This meant that it would be difficult to have gender – responsive programmes implemented consistently.

The FEMNET team then decided to undertake studies in six other countries in Africa to assess the extent to which gender had been successfully integrated in the macro- economic policies and the PRSPs and what were the experiences in those countries that Kenya would learn from. The Research was undertaken in 2007 in five countries namely Egypt, Mali, Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia.

The findings clearly indicated that the understanding of the nature of gender disparities and differences and taking the necessary actions to address them or appropriately recognize and respond to them appropriately not only promote economic growth but would make substantial contribution to the reduction of poverty. It was also found that the countries had varying experiences and levels of success in mainstreaming gender in PRSPs and macroeconomic policies. Rwanda for example had clear mechanisms through which regular monitoring is done to assess the impact of the macroeconomic policy decisions and programmes on different categories of men and women in various parts of the country. It was also clear from the study findings that all countries had macro-economic management systems. However the systems may not necessarily benefit men and women equitably. For example if a country has a competitive exchange rate it will be good as long as the products, goods and services that are marketed within the region and at the international level include those produced or provided by both men and women.

The research also indicated that women’s organizations were not taking a lead role in mobilizing and ensuring that they are involved in the processes of macroeconomic policies development and the formulation of the PRSPs. The major constraint was lack of knowledge, exposure, and capacity to undertake critical analysis of their macroeconomic policies and systems. Without the knowledge and skills it was difficult for them to monitor the impact of the policies. Women in their diversity must be at the decision making tables. To ensure that they have influence and participate effectively they must be aware of their power and potential, have the knowledge, skills and formidable networks and linkages to support their voices so that the proposals they make are taken seriously.

It is on this premise that FEMNET with a range of partners developed a Training manual and advocacy toolkit to facilitate the process of knowledge and skills building within organizations on how to engage meaningfully in the process of mainstreaming gender in macroeconomic policies, PRSPs and the budgeting processes. The last component was included as it was noted that some countries had very good plans which were not fully implemented due to lack of sufficient resources (human, financial and material resources). In some cases it was lack of skills within government bodies on how to translate the plans into concrete actions that can address the gender disparities in men and women’s participation in the economy and other sectors that are prioritized in the PRSPs.

The training manual and toolkit have formed the main resource material for the sub- regional trainings that have taken place in West Africa, North Africa and Eastern Africa since September 2008 – 2010.

It was noted in the 2007 Country studies and the training workshops that brought together participants from 18 countries that all countries focus on women’s economic empowerment as one of the indicators of growth, development and success of the implementation of the PRSPs. As part of the process of implementation of the PRSPs and in particular the pillar on economic development, countries have entered into a number of trade arrangements and agreements with a whole range of partners. In particular most African countries consider Europe to be its nearest and best trading partner. The question therefore is to what extent are the trade arrangements at the continental level and the bilateral agreements contributing to the realization of African women’s economic rights and empowerment? This is the key question that we shall interrogate in the multi – country study that FEMNET is launching in May 2010. FEMNET will support analytical work to assess the potential the trade arrangements between Africa and Europe have to support women’s economic empowerment and identify gaps that need to be addressed for example, through proposing social clauses to be incorporated in revised trade agreement.

2.0 Justification

Poor economic conditions in Africa are a major challenge and increasingly a cause of large numbers of women with tertiary education migrating to other parts of the world. This should be a major concern for African governments that are investing heavily in their human resources by increasing and improving access to quality education for girls and women. It should also be a major concern for gender activists as the female brain drain affects the gains made over the years in closing the gender gaps in leadership generally and in economic governance institutions specifically (though in the latter area there are still minimal gains in the context of Africa). One key lesson highlighted in the Research Report on Gender Dimensions of PRSPs and in the relationship to the National Budgets, 2007 is that development activities function much more effectively if all people, women and men, boys and girls are empowered to be fully involved in the processes. Therefore, the political, social, economic and cultural barriers that hinder women’s economic empowerment must be addressed as one of the ways to reverse the current female brain drain trends and reduce the feminization of poverty in Africa.

FEMNET is therefore proposing to embark on new study to review and assess the impact of trade arrangements at the regional level between the European Union and Africa on women’s economic rights and empowerment efforts. Countries to be involved in the study include Rwanda, Egypt, Uganda and Zambia which were involved in the earlier study. If we have successfully trained gender advocates and they are active in the PRSP processes it is pertinent to assess how their efforts are transforming the lives of women directly or indirectly. In this case the study will focus on economic empowerment of women.

In executing this task, FEMNET seeks the services of five Consultants, four of whom will undertake the study in the above listed countries and one will be the lead Consultant to will provide technical support, monitor progress, facilitate the planning meeting and finally compile the Regional Comparative Report. The task of the Consultant in each country will be to:

- Identify the different trade agreements that the country has with the European Union and with various European countries.
- The focus of the trade arrangements.
- Identify the main organs responsible for the formulation, implementation and monitoring of the trade agreement.
- The extent to which the processes of developing the trade agreements involve civil society actors; how and in what form.
- Assess the level of integration of gender and the human rights approach in the trade agreements (TAs).
- Identify labour standards that support women’s economic rights and empowerment that are included in bilateral and regional trade agreements
- Analyze how the TAs are used to promote the realization of women’s economic rights and the empowerment agenda.
- Identify new ways in which trade agreements can be used to promote the realization of the goals of the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA) specifically those focusing on women’s economic empowerment.
- Assess how the implementation of the trade agreements between Africa and Europe and specific European countries are contributing to the achievement of the targets under the Millennium Development Goals 1 and 3.
- Identify the existing national gender lobbies that FEMNET can work with to effectively engage in trade negotiations, their implementation and monitoring arrangements.
- Identify the knowledge and skills gaps that may exist in the national gender lobby groups and the mechanisms through which the gaps are being addressed, if at all.
- Make recommendations on how trade agreements and their implementation can be further strengthened to be gender responsive in their formulation, implementation and benefits that accrue to the partners involved.
- More specifically make recommendations on how national gender lobbies can use trade agreements to advocate for the realization of women’s economic rights and the empowerment agenda and ensure that women and men benefit equally from the economic opportunities presented by the trade arrangements between Africa and Europe.
- Compile the national report and represent the findings at a national validation meeting.

Key Reference documents (relevant to each country):

• The Africa – European Union Strategic Partnership, June 2008
• The COMESA Trade Agreements with Europe or any of the European Countries
• African Free Trade Zone (AFTZ)
• East African Community (EAC) Trade agreements with Europe
• Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Trade Agreement
• Southern African Development Community (SADC) Trade Agreement
• Southern African Customs Union (SACU)
• Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
• Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)
• Bilateral agreements with European countries
• The Country PRSP and Assessment Reports
• Reports of the Investment Authorities
• Annual Reports of Ministry of Finance / Economic Sector Reports
• National Budget Analysis Reports (2005 – 2010)
• Bilateral Partners Reports (2005 – 2010)
• Any other relevant documents
The Consultant will be facilitated to organize a one day validation workshop at the Country level which will bring together the key actors to review the draft report (between 15 – 20 persons). The meeting will have representatives of donor partners, the European Union, the government and relevant civil society actors.
Payment:
Each Consultant will receive a total of US $ 4,000 for undertaking this study. The money will be paid in two installments of US $ 2000, the first one being paid upon the signing of the Contract and submitting of the work plan to FEMNET. The second and final installment will be paid in the amount of US $2,000 upon satisfactory completion of the study by presenting the final well written report. The lead consultant shall be paid US $ 5,000 and it will also be paid in two installments.

Requirement
• The Consultant may be a man or a woman with demonstrated experience in undertaking similar or related studies.
• Preferably the Consultant shall be based in the country where the study is to be undertaken.
• Must be well versed with trade and economic development issues
• Must have a strong understanding of gender and development issues and has experience in undertaking gender analysis work in the economic sector.
• Must be available to attend a two days planning meeting which will take place in Nairobi, Kenya where all the Researchers will meet to present their plans and agree on the process of undertaking the Study.

Expected Outputs:
The following will be the outputs:
o Approved national work plans to guide the implementation of the Study
o The draft national and final reports
o The Regional Comparative Analysis Report
o Report of the Planning Workshop

Your contact person at FEMNET is the Executive Director Ms. Norah Matovu-Winyi. Please submit an expression of interest, and your curriculum vitae in English or French to [email][email protected] or [email][email protected] For further inquiries do not hesitate to contact the office on TEL: +254 20 2712971/2 by 25th May 2010.