Consultant – Global – Gender Mainstreaming Internal Review
This opportunity is now closed.
Terms of Reference for Gender Mainstreaming Internal Review
Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation
1. Background
The implementation of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) provides a unique opportunity to harness trade for growth. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), full implementation of the TFA could reduce trade costs by more than 14% in low-income countries and more than 13% in upper-middle-income nations by streamlining the flow of goods across borders.[1] This could lead to an increase in developing countries’ exports by up to US$730 billion per year.[2]
One of the key outcomes of the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference held in Buenos Aires in December 2017 was a Joint Declaration on Trade and Women’s Economic Empowerment endorsed by 118 countries in promotion of SDG 5: empowering women and girls. An important tool in realizing this goal is the initiation of trade facilitation measures which help reduce transaction costs and increase the gains from trade for women and women-led businesses. Indeed, numerous case studies have shown that trade is not gender neutral. However, to date, gender (and diversity and inclusion, more broadly) considerations have not been consistently included in trade facilitation.
In support of national and international efforts, the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (the Alliance) was launched at the World Trade Organization’s 10th Ministerial Conference in December 2015 with the aim of bringing together the public and private sector to coordinate and accelerate commercially-meaningful and sustainable trade facilitation reform. The Alliance is a not-for-profit venture jointly led by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) – in cooperation with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and financially supported by the governments of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany and Denmark. The Alliance currently implements 9 projects in 8 countries on trade facilitation topics such as: modernising licensing for customs clearing agents, implementing a risk-based inspection system for imports and exports, and setting up a customs bond system.
The Alliance’s approach, known as co-creation, relies on involving the private sector as an equal partner of governments, leveraging its resources and know-how in the development and implementation of reforms. During the April and July 2019 Alliance Steering Group Meetings, the Secretariat was asked to explore options to integrate inclusivity considerations into co-creation and Alliance operations more broadly.
The Alliance recognizes the importance of advancing gender-equality goals and gender-sensitizing its operations. Today, Alliance projects include a gender approach in the project proposal and the logframe includes gender-disaggregated indicators. However, the Alliance does not yet have a fully developed and systematic approach to gender mainstreaming.
[1] OECD (2015). Implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement: The Potential Impact on Trade Costs
[2] WTO (2015). World Trade Report: Speeding up trade: benefits and challenges of implementing the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement
2. Objectives
The Alliance Management Team has agreed to pursue a two-pronged approach to mainstreaming gender into operations
- Carry out an internal review of projects, policies and processes to identify gender-relevant activities, components and, especially results that are already in place, but have not been systematically documented.
- Develop general and fit for purpose guidelines to further integrate gender considerations in Alliance operations.
These terms of reference focus on item 1 above (i.e. internal review), understanding that its findings should feed into the development of item 2 (i.e. general guidelines). Thus, the objective of this consultancy is to undertake an internal review of Alliance projects, policies and processes, comprised mainly of desk review of documents (including strategies, project documents and reports) and interviews with relevant staff, donors and partners, to identify and document existing gender-relevant activities, components and results.
3. Methodology
This consultancy will be largely based in qualitative methods, mainly desk review of documents and interviews with relevant staff, donors and partners. If appropriate and feasible, quantitative information should be used to support findings and highlight achieved results.
4. Deliverables
There are two main deliverables under this consultancy:
- A comprehensive report describing how and to what extent Alliance in-country projects, processes (e.g. co-creation, co-implementation, TTLC, monitoring and evaluation) and policies (e.g. recruitment, procurement) are gender sensitive, and providing guidance on potential areas for improvement
- A minimum of two case studies/impact stories documenting gender-relevant Alliance results, to be coordinated with the Alliance Communications Manager.
5. Management, Timeline and Compensation
The consultant(s) procured under this ToR will report to the Alliance Knowledge Lead, who will serve as the main point of contact between the consultant(s) and the Alliance Management Team, providing all relevant documentation and assisting in setting up necessary interviews and consultations.
The consultancy is home-based and will be conducted between September and November 2019, according to the timeline below:
1) Data gathering and drafting
Preliminary discussions with Alliance Management Team
Desk review of relevant documents
Interview with staff, donors and partners
Deadline: 1 October 2019
2) Draft report and case studies
Delivery of report and case studies
Revision by Alliance Management Team
Deadline: 15 October 2019
Payment terms: 50% upon submission
3) Final report and case studies
Delivery of final report and case studies, integrating comments received
Deadline: 30 October 2019
Payment terms: 50% upon submission
6. Selection Process
Candidates are requested to submit the following by 1 September 2019 to the Knowledge Lead, Mrs. Barbara Ramos (Barbara.Ramos@weforum.org)
1. Technical proposal (max 2 pages) describing the proposed methodology and approach
2. One relevant writing sample
3. Curriculum Vitae (CVs) and/or company profile
4. Financial Proposal (in USD)