Research Paper: “Governance, Policy and Cooperatives”

Terms of Reference

Research Paper: “Governance, Policy and Cooperatives”

Within the framework of the project: “Strengthening a Gender-Responsive Environment in Rural Development and Cooperative Sector”

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

Consulting Services: Carry out and prepare a research paper (of between 25-30 pages, in English  Language) on Palestinian and Israeli policy practices and practices of governance on the cooperatives sector in the west bank and Gaza strip, specifically from an environmental and gender perspectives.

Deadline: July 31, 2022.

Funded by: The project is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) through the We Effect Palestine Country Office.

About PWWSD

Established in 1981, The Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development (PWWSD) is a non-governmental women’s, 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’s empowerment, women’s participation in the national struggle against the occupation, women’s contribution to the development processes, the entitlement of women to political, economic, and civic rights, women’s access to justice and their right to a life free of violence.

About the Project

The project "Strengthening the Gender Responsive Environment in the Field of Rural Development and in the Cooperative Sector" is implemented in close partnership with:

the Economic and Social Development Centre of Palestine (ESDC)

The Palestinian Agricultural Cooperatives Union (PACU)

The Land Research Centre (LRC)

The Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ)

The Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC).

The overall objective of the project is to contribute to consolidating an environment of gender equality by increasing women's access to land and means of production through improving their living conditions as well as opportunities for active participation in development processes, ultimately forming an advanced gender integration system within the framework of partner institutions that reflects different models in thinking styles, values and objectives of rural and cooperative development.

Scope of The Assignment

PWWSD is seeking to engage a consultant to carry out and prepare a research paper, of between 25-30 pages and in English language, on Palestinian and Israeli policies and practices of governance on the cooperatives sector in the west bank and Gaza strip, specifically from an environmental and gender perspectives.

The policy paper will have a comparative approach elaborating on policy and governance challenges and good practices relevant for each targeted location (West Bank and Gaza Strip), and will reflect on the role of international development agencies and international treaties and agreements in  developing the cooperative sector in targeted locations. The researcher is also expected to develop policy and good governance recommendations for developing the cooperatives sector and strengthening the resilience of established cooperatives.

The researcher  is solely responsible for coordinating and conducting the interviews and site visits in support of the research paper.

The consultant is expected to submit the first draft of the research paper on the 20th  of August, 2022 and to amend the research paper as needed. The content will be finalized in consultation with PWWSD project team.

The consultant is also required to:

Maintain open and frequent communication with PWWSD and projects team.

Submit the deliverables in a timely manner under the terms of the contract.

Submit the outline and research paper in high-quality English language.

Amend the outline and the research paper as needed.

Required Qualifications

Master’s degree in Social or Public Policy, International Law or Development Studies, with at least 2 years` of experience in policy research.

Strong understanding of national and international laws and legal frameworks on gender equality, women's rights, and women’s access to economic and productive resources, including an understanding of the social, cultural, economic, and political context of Palestine.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Fluency in written and spoken Arabic and English is required.

Evaluation and Selection Criteria

In accordance with the evaluation criteria and compliance with the qualification requirements, technical and financial offers shall be graded and ranked according to the following:

Evaluation Criteria Weight (100%)

Specific qualifications, experiences, and capabilities of the consultant related to the assignment 30%

Adequacy and quality of the research paper outline 20%

Quality of the writing sample and other publications 20%

Financial Offer 30%

Expression of Interest

Interested consultants are required to submit the following to PWWSD through email [email protected], the submission deadline is July 31,  2022:

A detailed research paper outline.

A writing sample in English language.

A resume.

A financial offer in ILS including VAT.