Terms of Reference for conducting Gender, Youth, and Social Inclusion Analysis Save the Children Somalia Adkeeysi Resilience Food Security Activity

Job Description

Job description

General Background

Save the Children (SC) and its partners, Fondazione AVSI, Gargaar Relief and Development Organization, and Shaqodoon Organization launched the USAID/Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) Adkeeysi Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA) on October 1, 2024. The five-year program aims to provide a locally customized classic graduation approach (GA) that carefully and deliberately sequences and layers five graduation components to enable the ultra-poor to “graduate” into resilience. The primary purpose is to enable socially marginalized populations in both internally displaced person (IDP) camps and surrounding host communities to achieve resilience and sustainably graduate out of poverty. Adkeeysi will work through graduation groups to reach 378,000 participants (54,000 households (HHs)), with a focus on economically active women, and male and female youth aged 18-25, in Daynile in Mogadishu, Afgoye, and the Afgoye Corridor to achieve the goal of “extremely poor, socially marginalized populations in IDP settlements and surrounding host communities improve and maintain their food security despite shocks and stresses.”

In order to fill knowledge gaps and to better guide intervention efforts, Adkeeysi will conduct a gender, youth and social inclusion (GYSI) analysis. The information captured from this analysis will influence decision-making across all components of the program as the information will reveal how gender dynamics and other socially relevant characteristics affect the fostering of an entrepreneurial spirit and how they may limit or hinder development of good business practices, access to technology, access to literacy, digital literacy, and financing opportunities along the five components of the graduation approach (GA). Moreover, the GYSI analysis will examine discriminatory social norms and practices that affect women and young women and young men’s ability to lead their lives and develop independent livelihood sources. This GYSI analysis will be guided by USAID’s Youth and Gender Analysis Toolkit, Save the Children’s Gender and Power Analysis Guidance, and will be particularly mindful of how the intersection of age and gender can affect participants’ ability to thrive in achieving the graduation

agenda. The qualitative research will use participatory approaches to examine how gender also intersects with other socially significant characteristics and power dynamics to create

multilayered vulnerabilities and forms of exclusion as well as advantages and opportunities for key groups targeted by Adkeeysi. The GYSI analysis will complement other assessments (conflict analysis, labor market analysis, and financial service mapping) that will take place during the contextualization period, particularly to refine the content and implementation approach of each graduation component, ensuring it is designed to maximize opportunities, address barriers, and mitigate any risks that may hinder the participation of women and youth in the program.

SC is therefore looking for an international consultant to be Team Lead and a local consultant to play the role of the local gender and youth expert to conduct the analysis including all the deliverables laid out in this scope of work.

Problem Statement

Daynile and Afgoye-Somalia, approximately 90% of the country is experiencing severe to extreme drought conditions, acute food insecurity and malnutrition have reached critical levels, exacerbating systemic gender and social inequalities (FSNAU, 2022). Prolonged drought has decimated pastoralist livelihoods, the backbone of the region’s economy, with over 3 million livestock deaths reported since mid-2021 (FAO, 2022). This collapse has destabilized men’s traditional roles as providers, leading to increased distress among men and heightened household tensions and intimate partner violence incidents. Concurrently, women have expanded into non-traditional roles to secure income and humanitarian aid; however, structural disparities continue to constrain their decision-making power and economic participation (UNDP, 2023).

Women, who play a central role in food production and household nutrition, face systemic barriers including limited access to land, credit, and decision-making power. For example, only 15% of women in Somalia own land despite their significant contribution to agricultural labor (FAO, 2022). Youth, comprising over 75% of Somalia’s population (UNFPA, 2022), encounter high unemployment rates exceeding 67%, limiting their economic engagement in agriculture and resilience-building activities. Social norms perpetuating inequality such as restrictions on women’s mobility and youth participation further exacerbate vulnerabilities. Additionally, clan-based marginalization and gender-based violence (reported by 36% of Somali women aged 15-49, UN Women, 2021) hinder inclusive participation in interventions aimed at enhancing food security and resilience. Culturally accepted practices around early and forced child marriage (reported at 81% as of June 2024)1, as a coping method, also creates added stressors for women and families.

The country also experiences ethnic inequality. Somalis are indigenous to Somalia and make up the majority ethnic group, while Bantus make up the largest ethnic minority and mostly live in the lower Juba Valley (largely within the Resilience Zone). Historically, Bantus have faced discrimination, land seizures and insecure land tenure, and increased rates of poverty and displacement. Today, Bantus still face identity-based discrimination, particularly in IDP camps, or are targets of Al-Shabaab for religious and cultural reasons. Discrimination against Bantus and minority Somali clans is also visible in climate-related displacement. (Climate Risks in BHA Geographies: Somalia, 2024)

Key Objectives for the GYSI Analysis

1. To deepen Adkeeysi’s understanding of gender and power dynamics and relations within programming areas (Daynile and Afgoye) by examining the differential status of women, men, boys, and girls including minority groups (people with disabilities), minority clans, etc.).

a. To understand these gender and power dynamics and gaps with respect to different ethnicities and other influential groups (religious communities). In addition, the study will identify overall power relations, socio-cultural barriers, and constraints among women, men, boys, girls, and excluded groups (such marginalized clans and people with disabilities) that limit access to and benefits from resources, services, and economic opportunities of this activity. The ability of such groups to participate in community-level activities, fora, and decision-making will also be reviewed.

2. Understand the drivers of intimate partner violence and other forms of gender-based violence linked to economic distress and shifting household dynamics. Identify what opportunities may exist to prevent and respond to backlash and gender-based violence.

3. Inform gender and youth-sensitive and transformative interventions and the development of a gender and youth action plan and strategy that will ensure that Activity interventions:

(1) Do no harm: activities do not endanger or create negative impacts for participants, and

(2) Empower all participants so that the highest-level program outcomes are achieved.

Skills and qualifications
The following are minimum requirements for the Consultant/Firm to be considered for carrying out the assignment.

International Consultant – Team Lead

• Master’s degree in social sciences, gender or youth studies, international development, or relevant field.

• 7-10 years of experience conducting qualitative research on gender and youth in the Horn of Africa.

• Experience in gender programming and developing cross-sectoral gender and youth engagement strategies for USAID-funded programs.

• Familiarity and experience in Somalia.

• Experience leading research teams and conducting enumerators training for qualitative research.

• Excellent speaking and writing skills in English. Knowledge of Somali language/local dialect a bonus.

Somali Consultant – Local Gender and Youth

Expert/Research Team

• Master’s degree in social sciences, gender or youth studies, rural development, or relevant field.

• 7-10 years of experience conducting qualitative research on gender and youth in Somalia.

• Excellent record in designing and undertaking gender and youth studies in the target (Daynile and Afgoye) or similar locations (IDP settlements).

• Experience in gender and youth programming in Somalia.

• Experience overseeing data collections and training enumerators in qualitative research methods.

• Experience in hiring qualified and experienced enumerators with relevant experience.

• Excellent record in designing and undertaking gender and youth studies in the target or similar locations.

• Excellent speaking and writing skills in English and Somalia language/local dialects.

• Have a valid consultant license from Government of Somalia (Federal or States).

Attachments

Final TOR for Gender Youth and Social Inclusion Analysis_Adkeeysi Somalia_SHORT VERSION

.pdf
How to apply
Applications can be submitted by either:

Electronic Submission via ProSave (Recommended)

• Submit your response in accordance with the guidance provided in the below document:

• Bidders are encouraged to apply via Ariba system. Please request the Ariba link via email sending your company profile and Business registration certificate/CV. Please address your request to apply via ProSave to css.logistics@savethechildren.org

Electronic Submission via Protected Email box (Optional)

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Youth, and Social Inclusion Analysis Save the Children Somalia Adkeeysi Resilience Food Security Activity’’.

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Your bid must be received, no later than 6th January 2025

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