Gender and Ageing Advocacy Consultancy in Kenya – Kenya

About HelpAge

HelpAge International is a registered charity in the UK, leading an international network focused on ageing issues and supporting older people globally. HelpAge works with 171 partners in 90 countries to help older people claim their rights and challenge discrimination and poverty, so that they can lead dignified, secure, active and healthy lives. HelpAge operates through a Global Team with staff based across the world. Through this structure HelpAge delivers its Strategy 2030.

Overview

The 2030 strategy recognises the complexity, diversity, and varying contexts of older age, that gender intersects not only with age but with race, class, geography, disability, and sexuality, and indeed, that ‘gender is increasingly viewed as being on a spectrum and the need for sensitivity to gender identities that are not expressed within binary (man and woman) categories.’

The 2030 Strategy commits HelpAge to achieving impact on the wellbeing, dignity, and voice of older people in their diversity, noting that: Gender should therefore not be treated as a separate issue, but rather as a “lens” through which HelpAge views and plans all work. As a minimum, gender-sensitive work is about redressing imbalances and tailoring activities to the specific needs and interests of women, men, and people of other genders. At HelpAge International, our aim is for our advocacy to be gender transformative.

The Gender and Ageing Advocacy Framework has three overarching objectives:

1. To promote a gender lens in all HelpAge’s advocacy work on ageing.
2. To advocate for an ageing lens with specific organisations working on gender advocacy.
3. To advocate for a gender lens with specific organisations working on ageing advocacy.

Objective

The purpose of the consultancy is to scope, identify and recommend the opportunities for advancing HelpAge International’s gender and ageing advocacy in Rwanda. The consultancy will highlight opportunities and constraints and provide recommendations for HelpAge International’s engagement on advancing gender and ageing advocacy in Kenya.

Scope

• Thorough desk review of the national policy framework on gender and ageing in Kenya with due reference to global and regional gender and rights frameworks.
• Review and mapping of existing actors and processes on and relevant to gender and ageing in Kenya within the context of the African Union.
• Analysis of the opportunities for embedding ageing in the gender and human rights agenda in Kenya including the human rights frameworks, policies, and guidelines.

Specific tasks and deliverables

1. Brief scoping report, according to an agreed outline/template, providing a summary of information collected through desk review and consultations (key informant interviews), as well as triangulation and analysis of all information received.
2. PowerPoint presentation during the validation stage with a clear analysis of the issues, actors, targets, gaps, opportunities, and draft recommendations for HelpAge’s engagement in gender and ageing advocacy in Kenya.
3. A national gender and ageing strategy, according to an agreed outline/template, with a clear analysis of issues, policies, actors, targets, opportunities and tactics. The strategy will include recommendations, with suggested influencing pathways and MEAL plan for HelpAge International’s engagement in gender and ageing advocacy in Kenya that is responsive to our 2030 Strategy, and the Gender and Ageing Advocacy Framework.

Approach and methodology

The scoping will include a desk review and key informant interviews with external stakeholders, and HelpAge selected staff across the team. Detailed methodology will be discussed and agreed with the selected consultant. Consultation shall be with HelpAge staff and network members in Kenya with the details agreed with the consultant at the inception meeting.

Qualifications/requirements of consultant

• A postgraduate qualification (Masters or above) in Law, Humanities and Social Sciences, International Relations, or related fields
• Minimum of 7 years’ relevant professional experience in social sciences, human rights, women’s rights and gender, and/or research
• Broad based knowledge of policy advocacy methods and tactics at the regional, subregional, or national level
• Demonstrable experience, preferably gender advocacy experience, in engagement with the African Union, its mechanisms and its constituent institutions will be an added advantage
• Demonstrable experience, technical skills, and expertise in rights and/or policy analysis and/or advocacy at the regional, subregional, or national level
• Knowledge of the African Union human rights treaty monitoring and policy landscape
• Knowledge of the issues, rights and policy frameworks on gender, human rights, and/or gender in Kenya
• Knowledge and experience on working on ageing and issues of older persons will be an added advantage
• Excellent skills in research and analysis
• Strong communication skills
• Excellent facilitation, communication and report writing skills in English. Knowledge and ability to work in Swahili will be an added advantage

Timeframe and budget

The consultancy is expected to be completed by May 31, 2023, with a budget ceiling of £3,500-4,000.

Equal Opportunities

HelpAge International is committed to creating an inclusive working environment, promoting and providing equal opportunities and respecting diversity in employment. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of their age, disability, sex, civil/marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief.

Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policy

The consultant will be working on behalf of HelpAge and will be required to sign and adhere to the HelpAge Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Policy.

The consultant will assure the participants the confidentiality and will assure the data is protected and used for agreed purpose only. As regards the documentation, the title rights, copyrights, and all other rights of whatever nature in any materials used or generated under the provisions of this consultancy will exclusively be vested with HelpAge International.

Diversity and Inclusion

HelpAge International is dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for all its employees/consultants while extending the culture of inclusion into our work.

We believe that our workforce should reflect the wide diversity of the communities we serve, and that diverse voices should be elevated and intentionally integrated into our work. We embrace difference and diversity of identity, experience, and thought, and actively strive for inclusive behaviours across our organization and work regardless of gender, race, disability, age, nationality, ethnic/national origin, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, marital status, pregnancy, social status, and political beliefs.

How to apply

To apply for a consultancy at HelpAge, please read the details of the TOR via www.helpage.org , study the requirements and submit your Expression of Interest (EOI) to include:

• A one-page cover letter addressing the selection criteria listed above
• CV (maximum three pages)
• Technical proposal (maximum 3 pages) including: understanding of the TOR, methodology, workplan and key contacts from similar work carried.
• Financial proposal: The financial proposal should provide cost estimates for services rendered including professional fees (daily rates x number of days) and other costs (if any) to carry out the assignment, noting the budget ceiling of £3,500-4,000.

To georgina.veitch@helpage.org by Sunday 2nd April Midnight (GMT).

Please use the title ‘Consultant – Gender & Ageing Advocacy in Kenya’ on your email. Selection of the consultant will be undertaken by a panel and based on the experience of the consultant, the quality and relevance of the Technical and Financial proposals. Only selected/shortlisted consultant(s) will be contacted.