Terms of Reference for a study on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) gap analysis

Background:

The USAID Feed the Future (FtF) Bangladesh Cereal Systems Initiatives for South Asia Mechanization Extension Activity (CSISA-MEA) began in October 2019 and is implemented by CIMMYT in partnership with iDE and the Georgia Institute of Technology. The activity works in the FtF zone of influence in southern Bangladesh and in the Rohingya crisis-impacted zones of the Cox’s Bazar district. CSISA-MEA is a five-year development project which aims to support the mechanization of agriculture in Bangladesh by developing the capacity of the private sector to develop, manufacture, and market innovative new technology which will enable the country’s farmers to mechanize their agricultural production.

Objective of seeking this service:     
To obtain an analysis on the GESI gaps in CSISA-MEA partner organizations, especially in the machinery manufacturing sector and formulate an action plan to address the gaps in a possible way.

Duration of this contract:
This service contract will be valid for three months from the date of signing with not less than 60 full days of work.

Scope of work:

Within the scope of this contract, the service provider will:

• Work closely with the Monitoring and Evaluation team of CIMMYT/CSISA-MEA.
• Design and implement a study to capture Gender Equality and Social Inclusion gaps in the Activity’s partner organizations and submit a report.
• Conduct the study with 150 partner organizations (Light Engineering Enterprises) of CSISA-MEA in Jashore, Faridpur, Chuadanga, Kushtia, Bogura and Cox’s Bazar regions, covering owners/managers and workers of the organizations under study.
• Develop the required methodology, sampling and tools for the study. Arrange data collection resources and others as needed. Present findings and recommendations in the final report to be submitted to CIMMYT.
• Provide the field visit plan to CSISA-MEA field team through MEL unit well in advance.
• Ensure a high quality data collection and analysis.
• Complete the study as per stipulated time schedules and seek no extension.

Study Methodology proposed:

This study will be a qualitative assessment. Activity’s reports, workplan and other relevant policy documents of GoB and USAID will be secondary source of data that required systematic review to site reference as required. For primary source of data sampled partners of each of working area will be selected for data collection. Appropriate tool (DCI) will be used for data collection in consultation with CSISA-MEA’s MEL team and Gender focal person. In addition, relevant stakeholders in National, regional and local level need to be consulted for contextual, structural and socio-economical review. Study findings will be transformed to recommendation with priority scaling for possible implementation under CSISA-MEA but not limit to other initiative in this sector.

Technical requirements:
The report will be used for CIMMYT partners’ and donor’s (USAID) website. The report should be written in good quality English maintaining an international standard and inserting high quality photographs of field work.

Qualifications, Competencies and Experience:

• Knowledge and understanding of the development sector.
• Previous experience of working with gender related studies.
• Affiliation with USAID’s development projects is preferable.
• Excellent verbal and written skills both in Bangla and English.
• Ability and willingness to travel to the remote areas of CSISA-MEA.

Milestones and deliverables:

Payment and Condition:

The payment will be done as per the milestones through online transfer to the account details provided by the service provider. Around 10% will be deducted as tax.

Obligation: All the images, reports, documents, papers, or any other related materials produced under the agreement will be the property of CIMMYT and consequently confidential; and should be handed over to the organization. Therefore, the outputs/deliverables or any part of it will be strictly prohibited to share, sell, use or produce/reproduce by any means without the prior permission of CIMMYT. The organization's written consent will be required to utilize the findings or any other related matters for/by any other purposes or institutions.

Reporting: The service provider will report to the contact person mentioned in this TOR.

Contact person for the study:
AKM Saiful Islam
MEL manager
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)
House 10/B, Road 53, Gulshan 2, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Cell: 01714041708, Email: a.s.islam@cgiar.org