Analytical Report Consultant

Terms of Reference

Consulting Services: To develop an analytical report of available national policy frameworks that are directed to promote the economic rights of rural women

Project: Strengthening a Gender-Responsive Environment in Rural Development and Cooperative Sector

Project Duration: 2019 - 2022

Funded by: We Effect Palestine Country Office

About PWWSD

Established in 1981, The Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development (PWWSD) is a non-governmental women’s, mass, developmental, and learning human rights organization that contributes to developing feminist struggle within national, social, and developmental dimensions. The organization believes that liberating women is connected directly with ending the occupation and establishing a full Palestinian democratic sovereign civil state. PWWSD is active all over West Bank including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip and is an active member in several local, regional, and global networks and coalitions. 

The Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development (PWWSD) aims for a free and democratic Palestinian society based on gender equality, respect for human rights and social justice. The organization promotes women empowerment, women’s participation in the national struggle against the occupation, women’s contribution to the development processes, the entitlement of woman to political, economic and civic rights, women’s access to justice and their right to a life free of violence.

About the Project

In October 2019, the Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development (PWWSD) was selected by We Effect to serve as the Feminist Expert Organization to support strengthening gender mainstreaming approaches in policies, strategies and programs within its program titled “Equality First”. The latter aims to strengthen civil society actors in rural development and gender equality in Palestine.

The project “Strengthening a Gender-Responsive Environment in Rural Development and Cooperative Sector” is implemented in close partnership with the Economic and Social Development Centre of Palestine (ESDC), The Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem (ARIJ), the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC), the Land Research Centre (LRC), and the Palestinian Agricultural Cooperative Union (PACU).  The overall objective of the project is to contribute to strengthening a gender equal environment for women’s access to land and productive resources through improving their livelihood conditions and active opportunities in development processes. Our aim is to create an advanced gender mainstreaming system within partner organizations that reflect different models, mind-sets, values and purpose in rural and cooperatives development.  

General Description and Purpose of the Report

PWWSD is soliciting an external experienced individual consultant for developing an analytical report on the available national policy frameworks that are directed to promote the economic rights of rural women in Palestine.  

The main objective of this assignment is to generate information on the Palestinian legislations that address the economic rights of Palestinian rural women; and critically analyze the policies from a gender perspective. In addition, this report is expected to reflect the voices of women in the field and translate their concerns into demands and recommendations and to demonstrate the needed interventions to improve the national policy frameworks. To achieve the latter, a background on the current situation of Palestinian rural women in terms of their access to land and reproductive resources.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will undertake the following tasks:

• Conduct a desk review.
• In close consultation with We Effect’s partners, define the report areas, main rights-holders, problem statement, objectives, importance, reference framework, time frame and methodology (report plan).
• Collect data using qualitative methods (i.e. key informant interviews; focus group discussions, etc.).
• Perform analysis and conclude findings.
• Develop conclusions and recommendations.
• Present the draft report to PWWSD and project partners, and amend the draft, as needed.
• Write and submit the final report in Arabic incorporating feedback from PWWSD and project partners.
• Submit the report in high quality Arabic and English Languages. The final report will be designed with an eye to aesthetics, including graphics, images and materials that promote a lively reading experience.

Key Deliverables:

• The report plan including:

1. A report outline (by 23 August)
2. Indication of the report groups and the national policies.
3. Problem statement, objectives, justification and reference framework; 
4. Methodology and proposed tools.

• The report semi-final draft (by 10 September). 
• The final report in high quality Arabic and English Languages with integrated comments and inputs provided by PWWSD and Project Partners, providing comprehensive description of challenges faced, and recommendations for any future similar interventions (by 15 September). 

The Individual Consultant is required to:

• Maintain an open and frequent communication with PWWSD on progress.
• Submit the key deliverables including the report and the raw material in a timely manner under the terms of the contract.
• Submit the report in high quality Arabic and English Languages
• Present the report in a workshop organized by PWWSD, the date to be agreed upon after the development of the report. 
• The report must not exceed 20 pages. 
• The maximum duration for the consultancy services is 14 working days from signing date of the consultancy contract.

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Required Qualifications

• Post-graduate degree in gender and development, human rights, or any other related social sciences.
• At least 10 years of proven professional experience in women’s empowerment, gender equality and academic reports. 
• Proven experience in applying human rights-based-approach (HRBA) in researches (samples will be requested).
• Very strong understanding of national and international policy and legal frameworks on gender equality, women's rights, and women’s access to economic and productive resources, including understanding of social, cultural, economic and political context of Palestine.
• Very strong knowledge of the impacts of the occupation on the Palestinians, with at least 5 years’ experience researching women and girls rights in rural areas, including area C.
• Fluency in written and spoken Arabic and English are required. 

Interested consultants are required to prepare and submit the following:

• A Technical proposal including context (brief), approach, methodology, and work plan including the proposed timeframe. 
• CV/s of the consultant/s.  
• Financial offer: budget breakdown of the proposed costs in ILS including VAT. 

Interested Individual Consultants are requested to send the above package in a sealed envelope to the office of the Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development in Ramallah – Alanbia St., Real Estate Company Building, Palestine. Tel: +972022986761 or +972022981977 with the subject line: “analytical report on the available national policy frameworks that are directed to promote the economic rights of rural women in Palestine.” 

Deadline for Submission

Interested consulting firms are requested to submit their offers by 24 August 2020