Terms of Reference (ToR)

Consultancy to Conduct a Gender Audit of the FAWE Regional Secretariat and Affiliated Country Chapters

1. Background

The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) is a pan-African NGO with a regional secretariat and a network of national chapters across Africa. FAWE is committed to promoting gender equality and equity in education by fosteringpolicies, practices, and programs that remove barriers to girls’ and women’s participation, retention, and completion ofeducation. As part of its ongoing commitment to strengthening institutional accountability and inclusivity, FAWE intends to commission a comprehensive gender audit of the Regional Secretariat and its 14 affiliated country chapters, located across Southern, East, West (Francophone and Anglophone), and Central Africa.

2.     Objectives of the Gender Audit

The main objective of the consultancy is to conduct a gender audit of the FAWE Regional Secretariat and its 6 national chapters to:

1. Assess the extent to which gender equality is institutionalized in organizational systems, policies, culture, and practices.
2. Identify strengths, gaps, opportunities, and challenges in advancing gender mainstreaming at both the regional and national chapter levels.
3. Analyze how effectively FAWE integrates gender perspectives in governance, leadership, programmatic work, resource allocation, and monitoring and evaluation.
4. Provide actionable recommendations for strengthening institutional capacity and accountability in gender mainstreaming.
5. Develop a roadmap for sustaining gender-responsive practices with the active involvement of leadership and governance structures.

3.     Scope of Work

A gender audit to be undertaken will go beyond surface-level assessments. It is a comprehensive institutional diagnostic—akin to an evaluation, that examines the extent to which gender equality is mainstreamed into organizationalstructures, policies, processes, programs, and culture. It provides an evidence-based framework for strengthening gender responsiveness, improving institutional performance, and ensuring sustainability. The audit will require significant effort, engagement, and leadership buy-in, including from the Board and senior management, to ensure that recommendations are adopted and embedded in the long term.

The consultant will therefore undertake the gender audit covering the following office and chapters:

1. FAWE Regional Secretariat, Nairobi
2. East Africa (2 chapters)
3. Africa Francophone (1 chapter)
4. West Africa Anglophone (1 chapter)
5. Central Africa (2 chapters)

The audit will examine, but not be limited to, the following dimensions:

1. Policy and Strategy Frameworks – Review of organizational policies, strategies, and operational documents to determine gender responsiveness.
2. Organizational Culture and Leadership – Assessment of leadership commitment, governance structures, and overall institutional culture regarding gender equality.
3. Programs and Projects – Evaluation of gender integration in program design, implementation, monitoring, and reporting.
4. Human Resource Practices – Analysis of recruitment, training, promotion, and retention policies with a gender lens.
5. Resource Allocation – Assessment of financial and non-financial resources dedicated to gender equality objectives.
6. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) – Review of indicators, tools, and mechanisms for tracking gender-related results.
7. Partnerships and Advocacy – Analysis of how gender equality is prioritized in external partnerships and advocacy efforts.

4.     Methodology

The consultant is expected to propose a robust methodology for conducting the audit, which may include:

1. Desk review of organizational and chapter-level documents.
2. Key informant interviews with leadership, board members, staff, and partners.
3. Surveys/questionnaires with staff across regions and chapters.
4. Focus group discussions with relevant stakeholders.
5. Participatory gender audit tools to engage staff and leadership.
6. Comparative analysis across chapters to identify regional trends and variances.

The methodology should be participatory, context-sensitive, and aligned with best practices in institutional gender audits.

5.     Deliverables

The consultant will be responsible for delivering:

1. Inception Report – Detailing understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, tools, and a detailed work plan.
2. Data Collection and Preliminary Findings – A brief report summarizing emerging trends, validated through stakeholder consultations.
3. Draft Gender Audit Report – Comprehensive report covering findings from the Regional Secretariat and all 14 chapters.
4. Validation Workshop – Presentation of findings and recommendations to FAWE leadership, board, and key stakeholders.
5. Final Gender Audit Report and Roadmap – A refined, comprehensive document incorporating feedback andproviding clear recommendations and an actionable roadmap for strengthening gender mainstreaming.

6.     Duration and Level of Effort

The consultancy is expected to be conducted within 9 months, covering both desk-based and field- based work acrossthe 14 countries. The consultant should propose a detailed timeline and level of effort required.

7.     Consultant Qualifications

The consultant (or team of consultants) should possess the following qualifications:

1. Advanced degree in Gender Studies, Development Studies, Social Sciences, or related fields.
2. Proven expertise in conducting institutional gender audits, evaluations, or similar large-scale gender diagnostics.
3. Demonstrated experience working in multi-country, multi-cultural African contexts.
4. Strong knowledge of gender equality frameworks, tools, and methodologies.
5. Excellent analytical, facilitation, and report writing skills
6. Fluency in English and French (spoken and written) is required.
7. Ability to engage with senior leadership and governance structures effectively.

8.     Reporting and Management

The consultant will report directly to the Executive Director of FAWE and work closely with the

Regional Secretariat team. Country chapter focal points will provide logistical and technical support during fieldwork.

9.     Application Process

Interested candidates should submit:

1. A technical proposal detailing their understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, and work plan.
2. A financial proposal providing a detailed budget, including professional fees and reimbursable costs.
3. CV(s) of the consultant(s) highlighting relevant experience.
4. At least two references from previous similar assignments.

Applications should be sent to procurement@fawe.org by November 10, 2025

10.    Evaluation of Proposals

Proposals will be assessed based on the following criteria:

• Understanding of the assignment and proposed methodology (30%)
  • Relevant experience and expertise (30%)
  • Qualifications of consultant(s) (20%)
  • Financial proposal (20%)