Terms of Reference for Development of AATF Gender Strategy

INTRODUCTION

1. About African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF):

Introduction

AATF is an international not-for-profit organization that is empowering smallholder farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa with a wide choice of agricultural innovations that contribute to food and nutrition security to generate health and wealth for their families and communities. Established in 2003 as an African-led entity, AATF works with public and private partners across the full food value chain to access, develop, deliver, and commercialize innovative technologies that bring meaningful change to Africa’s agriculture.

To foster its contribution in meeting the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) expectations for a continent free of hunger and poverty, AATF institutionalized a robust gender strategy aimed at ensuring equitable access to innovative agricultural technologies, resources, opportunities and benefits for women and men, youths and vulnerable groups in Africa. The AATF’s value proposition for agricultural transformation in Africa is anchored on advancing gender equity in each of the AATF strategic objectives as outlined in the 2023-2027 Business Plan. The proposition includes creation of opportunities for women, men, youths, disadvantaged and marginalized people, and communities so they can participate in, and benefit from agricultural development. It is this inclusive growth and social cohesion that will lead to vibrant and sustainable agricultural development and rural transformation in Africa.

To facilitate gender inclusivity and mainstreaming among AATF staff, partners, and broader stakeholders, AATF is seeking a consultant/firm to support the review and alignment of AATF gender strategy for the year 2023-2027 with the Institutional strategy.

2. Key points to note:

1. AATF seeks to have a gender strategy that is inclusive and aligns with the institutional strategy.
2. The consultant is expected to work with select subject matter experts to get an understanding of the AATF organizational context and gender approach/goal.
3. The assignment will involve review of the 2023-2027 institutional strategy and 2018-2022 gender strategy vis-à-vis emerging global gender equality advocacy trends and discourse with the gender working team, and consultations with relevant AATF project teams and stakeholders.  

3. The consultant/firm will be responsible for the following:

1. Carry out a comprehensive analysis, and audit of the current AATF Gender Strategy based on vison and mandate of AATF and its contribution to CAADP.
2. Identify some gaps and opportunities to enhance gender across AATF activities.
3. With the support of the Gender Working Group develop the gender strategy for the period 2023-2027.
4. Support the Gender Working Group in designing appropriate metrics to best align with identified gender priorities.
5. Draft and finalize AATF’s gender strategy and an implementation plan and its costing.
6. Overall project management:
   • Participate in an initial kick-off meeting with the AATF Gender Technical Team to discuss the assignment, validate and agree on critical and learning objectives, and to develop a work plan to guide the project to completion.
   • Work with the AATF Gender lead to understand existing content/ strategy.
   • Provide continuous updates to the AATF Gender lead on the progress of the assignment.

4. Required Experience:

1. The leading consultant should have a minimum master’s degree in gender and development studies or related field.
2. The consultancy firm’s team composition must have qualified experts and be gender balanced with more than 5+ years of demonstrated track record in developing gender and youth strategies.
3. Have an overall understanding of agricultural technology (agriculture biotechnology, bio innovation, mechanization, digital tools). 
4. Strong understanding of agricultural development issues and needs of farmers in Africa.
5. Good knowledge of the trends in the global agriculture sector especially in Africa in line with AATF area of work.
6. Capability and capacity to deliver against set objectives within a stipulated budget and agreed schedules.
7. The firm should have strong project management abilities and excellent communication skills.

5. Application Criteria:

Interested and qualified consultants and firms should submit a proposal with the following:

1. A comprehensive technical proposal not exceeding 7 pages covering.

• Capacity statement.
• Demonstrated understanding of the terms of reference.
• Proposed methodology.
• A detailed workplan (maximum three months after the award).
• A comprehensive financial proposal including all the relevant costs, applicable taxes and payment terms (not more than 1 page)
• A list of three referees where the consultants or team members have undertaken similar work in the last three years. Recommendation letters will be an added advantage.
• Samples or links of past work.

6. Submission:

• A full package of the proposal should be sent to: procurement@aatf-africa.org no later than 15^th May 2023

7. Terms and conditions of the proposal:

AATF reserves the right to request new or additional information regarding each service provider and any individual or other persons associated with its project proposal. AATF reserves the right not to make any appointment from the proposals submitted. Service providers shall not make available or disclose details pertaining to their Project proposal with anyone not specifically involved unless authorized to do so by AATF. Service providers shall not issue any press release or other public announcement pertaining to details of their project proposal without prior written approval.

AATF Service providers are required to declare any conflict of interest they may have in the transaction for which the tender is submitted or any potential conflict of interest. AATF reserves the right not to consider further any proposal where such a conflict of interest exists or where such a potential conflict of interest may arise.

8. Confidentiality Statement

All data and information received from AATF for the purpose of this assignment are to be treated as confidential and are only to be used in connection with the execution of these Terms of Reference. All intellectual property rights arising from the execution of these Terms of Reference are assigned to AATF.