Gender Analysis Consultant-Fallujah, Ramadi, and Heet – Al – Anbar Governorate, Iraq

Introduction

Oxfam in Iraq envisions climate justice in a way that is feminist, equal, and free from conflict, promoting human rights, and expanding civic space. This requires a locally led and owned and systematic approach which considers the fragile context and intersecting inequalities. Specifically, Oxfam supports equitable socio-economic transformation, inclusive and accountable climate governance, and climate adaptation and resilience measures which protect those who are highly vulnerable and most exposed to the climate consequences. 

Background

Iraq is among the countries most affected by and most vulnerable to climate change globally and is the fifth most vulnerable to reduced water and food availability, extreme temperatures, and associated health problems^[1]. It is one of four countries that depend on the Euphrates–Tigris River basin for its water supply, which over recent years has experienced high levels of water stress and environmental degradation, resulting in increased water scarcity for countries dependent on it, including Iraq^[2]. With the impacts of climate change, drought in the area continues to increase in duration and intensity, together with growing desertification and more frequent sandstorms and flash floods, all of which affect agricultural yields^[3].

Funded by GIZ, Oxfam is implementing a project with the aim to support local government and communities in three districts of Anbar governorate in the Kurdistan region of Iraq to have improved understanding of climate change and capacity to implement, strategically, adaptation and mitigation measures. The project aims to improve access to information on the implications of climate change, raise awareness of the increasing risks resulting from climate change, establish improved dialogue between local government and communities, and improve the preparedness of targeted communities to address the future impacts of climate change while contributing to more peaceful coexistence among communities.

Al-Anbar Governorate

Anbar is the largest of Iraq’s governorates and one of its most sparsely populated. The governorate is made up of seven districts: Ana, Fallujah, Haditha, Heet, al-Qaim, Ramadi, and al-Rutba, and borders three neighbouring countries, Syria, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. The capital city of Anbar is Ramadi. As of 2019, the estimated population of Anbar is 1,818,318 people. The governorate is predominately inhabited by Sunni Arabs^[4]. Anbar leads the unemployment rate for youth aged 15-24 in Iraq at 33.3%^[5] following the ISIS occupation, which led to the widespread destruction of infrastructure, markets, and factories, and minimal support to businesses that might create job opportunities for young people. Anbar was one of the hardest hit governorates in the conflict, and whilst its rural areas have a long history of agricultural production and its urban areas of skilled crafts and trades, especially in the construction sector, the ISIS conflict negatively affected the framework conditions for business and disrupted the market, resulting in a standstill for these industries and further undermining employment opportunities. The resulting high rate of unemployment affects predominantly women and youth, with approximately 43% of these groups neither in work nor in education or training.

Climate impacts women and men differently, existing gender inequalities are usually enhanced, and women are more vulnerable to its effects whilst being excluded from decision-making processes[6]. Oxfam is looking for a consultant to conduct a gender analysis in the targeted districts (Fallujah, Ramadi, and Heet) to further understand how climate change differently impacts women and men. This gender analysis will cover the four key sectors, i.e., water, agriculture, transport and mobility, and energy, in both urban and public spaces in Fallujah, Ramadi and Heet districts in Anbar governorate. Understanding gender equality and gender dynamics in the Climate Change issues and consequently mainstreaming gender components into policy instruments, decision making processes, planning, and budgeting processes and overall development processes related is very important to reduce the impact of climate change and how to increase resilience and adaptability. One of the major outputs of the proposed project is to generate, document and disseminate knowledge, both scientific and traditional, on climate change implications on the population, specifically the most vulnerable groups, taking into account cross-cutting issues such as gender.  

Purpose of the Consultancy

Oxfam is seeking consultancy services of a Gender Expert to undertake a Gender Analysis on Climate Change in three districts of Al-Anbar Governorate in Iraq: Fallujah, Ramadi, and Heet. The Consultant will work closely with the Gender Justice Lead, the Climate Justice and Innovation Lead and the Climate vulnerability assessment and adaptation Consultant the Gender analysis will inform better policy, institutional change, programming and specific interventions as well as mitigate risk and foster learning and capacity building.

The main objective of the current assignment is to conduct a gender analysis to assess:

1. the overall differential impact of climate change and adaptability in three districts of Anbar governorate (Fallujah, Ramadi, and Heet) on women and girls, men and boys.
2. role of women in contributing towards gender responsive planning and building resilience at the community level; and
3. Barriers (cultural and institutional) and policy gaps, that need to be addressed to strengthen and foster mainstreaming gender into climate management interventions.

Scope of Work/Specific Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the Gender Justice Lead, the Climate Justice and Innovation Lead and the Climate Adaptation Consultant and other project staff, the Consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

Desk review

• Stakeholder mapping
• Review relevant documentation and information as provided by Oxfam Iraq

Inception report:

• Prepare an inception report summarizing the objectives, scope and outputs of the assignment, organisation, and methodology for achievement of the outputs, including the schedule.

Gender analysis

• Assess how climate change impacts women and men differently in the three designated districts of Anbar.
• How women and girls, men and boys manage risk and adapt to climate change.
• How to contribute to mitigation and increased adaptation and resilience for women and girls and men and boys.
• Assess the existing policies and gender mainstreaming instruments and tools regarding Climate Change adopted in Iraq: statutory and customary laws, laws, policies, regulations and institutional practices.
• Identify and assess how cultural norms and beliefs differently affect the lives of women and girls and men and boys.
• Assess what women and men do in the productive and reproductive spheres: roles, responsibilities, how time is used during paid and unpaid work as well as in community service activities.
• Assess women and men’s access to and control over assets such as land and housing, income, social benefits, health, water, energy, technology and information (including financial and civic literacy).

Expected Outputs/Key Deliverables:

• Inception Report summarizing the objectives, scope and outputs of the assignment, organization and methodology for achievement of the outputs, documentation review, meetings, findings, and setting out a detailed planning of the assignment, including the schedule.
• Conduct Gender Analysis
• Report – Gender Analysis: A situational analysis of the differential impact of climate change on women, girls, men, and boys in Anbar governorate in Iraq

Timeline for implementation

All reports are to be submitted in English unless otherwise stated. Where specifically stated, translation into Arabic will be done only after the English version is approved by Oxfam Iraq and for the respective deliverables. All deliverables will only be accepted if they meet highest quality standards. Documents, including drafts, have to be well structured and written. Data collection, analysis and presentation are expected to meet highest standards. All final documents have to be proofread and professionally edited before submission. 

Proposal requirements  

Oxfam is requesting the service providers to hand in a proposal of maximum three (3) pages, which should highlight the methodology and analytical approaches that the consultant will employ for acquiring and analysing data; the types of data(sets) that will be used; an analysis plan; and a workplan. The proposal should also include a succinct description of consultant’s capacities and any relevant experience related to the ToR. The 3-page proposal does not include biographies, CVs, diplomas, sample work and references, which should be submitted separately. Proposals not fulfilling the minimum criteria will be excluded from the tender procedure and will not be assessed

[1] https://www.unep.org/resources/global-environment-outlook-6?_ga=2.118495561.1336518399.1641386645-2043264144.1641103432

[2] https://www.stimson.org/2021/joint-working-group-on-international-and-eu-water-diplomacy-in-focus-the-euphrates-tigris-river-basin/   

[3] https://arabcenterdc.org/resource/mitigating-conflict-over-water-in-the-euphrates-tigris-basin/ 

[4] https://easo.europa.eu/country-guidance-iraq-2021/anbar

[5] As per Ministry of Planning

[6] https://unfccc.int/documents/494455

Advance degree in Sociology, Gender studies, Environmental Science, Development studies or any other relevant field. Academic training or degree combining social studies and climate science and climate change related matters is highly preferable.

Knowledge:

In-depth knowledge of the constraints and best practices on gender equality and the particular barriers women face in fully benefiting from and participating in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies in developing countries.

Experience:

• The consultant should have significant knowledge and experience in conducting high quality multi-dimensional gender analysis.
• Experience in mainstreaming gender into climate risk management, development and related field is highly valuable.
• Experience in undertaking policy analysis and preparing policy instruments for gender mainstreaming into climate and disaster risk management and related field is highly valuable.
• Experience on research on climate vulnerability and adaptation planning is preferable.
• Experience in the MENA region is an asset.  
• Capability to collect primary data efficiently in Iraq.  
• Proficiency in English and in Arabic.   

Selection Process

Step 1: Technical Criteria  

Evaluation scores will be awarded for each of the components. Combined Scoring method – where the qualifications and methodology will be weighted a max. of 70%, and combined with the price offer which will be weighted a max of 30%. Only candidates scoring 70% (i.e. 49 points) in the technical evaluation will be considered for financial proposal evaluation. The proposal will be assessed based on the following selection criteria: 

Step 2 – Financial Criteria  

The criterion of assessment is “the best price for the proposed level of quality” with a maximum grading of 5. 

Step 3 – Weighting 

The assignment will be awarded to the service provider with the most economically advantageous tender. The most economically advantageous tender is determined based on the evaluation criteria of price and quality. The final score will be weighted 70% on Technical and 30% on Price. If scores of service providers are equal, priority will be based on the total scores that were given for the technical criterion.  

Timeframe  

The assignment will be for a period of 40 working days, inclusive of the submission of the final deliverables defined within, starting June 24^th 2024, until August 6^th 2024 (40 days). Weekly meetings will be held to discuss findings and direction of the gender analysis.

Disclaimer

Oxfam is not obliged in this tender procedure to make a contract award decision or to conclude a contract with a participant. Participants in the tender procedure cannot claim compensation from Oxfam, any affiliated persons, or entities, in any way, in case any of the afore-mentioned situations occur. By handing in a proposal, participants accept all terms and reservations made in this ToR, and subsequent information and documentation in this tender procedure.

Required minimum mandatory documents (in addition to the proposal requirements) which must be submitted to the email below:

1. Technical proposal.
2. Signed stamped detailed financial proposal, including the payment terms and payment methods.
3. Consultant CV.

How to apply:

The interested parties should send all the required documents listed above to the address: [email protected].

TOR Link: https://jobs.oxfam.org.uk/vacancy/21076/description

Deadline for submission of offers:

The deadline for submitting the offers is: 01 June 2024 (17:00 hr Iraq Time.).