Mennonite Economic Development Associates is hiring a
Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) invites applications for a Gender Equality & Social Inclusion & Human Rights (GESI-HR) Partner.
MEDA’s work is built on a foundation of Mennonite business roots and faith-based values, within the global context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We believe business solutions are effective interventions to address poverty. Through a market-systems approach and strategic partnerships, MEDA enables access to finance and provides business and technical expertise to build transformative agri-food market systems that create decent jobs, allowing traditionally excluded groups to become active participants in a sustainable economy. MEDA welcomes all who share our values and want to join us in our mission. To find out more about MEDA, please visit our website at www.meda.org
Background
In the Philippines, MEDA is implementing a five-year initiative, Resilience and Inclusion through Investment for Sustainable Agrikultura (RIISA). The project seeks to facilitate increased resilience and inclusive economic growth for women and men cacao smallholder farmers (SHFs) and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Mindanao, Philippines, through strengthening cacao market systems supported by investment. With a focus in Davao Region and potential activities in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the RIISA Project will respond to multiple challenges in the Philippines cacao sector by drawing on MEDA’s expertise in market systems development, gender lens investing (GLI), gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), and environment and climate change (ECC).
Specifically, the RIISA Project aims to address cacao SHFs socio-economic challenges and contribute to market systems
resilience (MSR) by:
1. Mobilizing Gendered (G)1 Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG)-focused investment capital for cacao sector SMEs and financial intermediaries (FIs)
2. Strengthening the capacity, including GESI, human rights (HR), and ECC, of local business service providers (BSPs) to deliver improved services and products to cacao and cooperatives.
3. Strengthening the capacity of cacao cooperatives and SHFs for environmentally sustainable, equitable, and inclusive farming and business practices and promoting transformation of gender norms and the realization of human rights
4. Improving the key enabling environment actors’ awareness of G-ESG practices in the cacao market system. MEDA expects that RIISA’s investment and TA will directly benefit more than 5,400 SHFs (40% women), while indirectly impacting more than 30,000 members of cacao SHF households, and employees of cacao and cooperative members
5. Contribute to a more equitable and inclusive investment and market system enabling environment through the project’s Strategic Learning Agenda (SLA)
To accelerate increased awareness of gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), human and women’s rights by women and men farmers in cacao and deepen the impact of investments for smallholder farmers, their households, and cooperatives, RIISA Project will engage two (2) organizations or institutions to become GESI-HR Partner that will provide technical expertise on gender equality, women and human rights (including Indigenous Rights) to cacao small-holder farmers, their households and community. The engagement of GESI- HR partner is expected to facilitate surfacing of systemic gender, age, and ethnic- based constraints and co-development of affirmative actions through GESItransformative approaches and activities. Ultimately, these activities will lead to achieving intermediate outcome of improved farming business performance with inclusive socio-economic dynamics for SHFs and co-operatives in the cacao market system in Mindanao particularly in Davao Region and BARMM.
Scope of Work
Guided by MEDA’s GESI In Market System framework jand approaches, the GESI-HR Partners will generally provide expertise to address the technical needs and knowledge gaps of SHF clients and their household on gender equality, equity, inclusion, and women’s and human rights in 11 cooperatives in Davao Region and BARMM. In so doing, the intervention aims to facilitate behavior changes and gendered- transformative practices that enable women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples (IPs) access to economic resources and opportunities, assumption of active leadership roles, participation and decision-making in households and cooperatives affairs.
Cognizant of the uniqueness in cultural landscapes of Davao Region and Bangsangmoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the scope of work and coverage are clustered into two (2) Lots to ensure inclusion of intersectional gendered and human rights concerns specific to the regional geography and context like conflict and normalization, multiple discriminations from cultural classifications and the like. Lot 1- would be a cluster of five (5) cooperatives- within Davao Region and Lot 2, would cover two (2) exposure cooperatives in BARMM and three (4) cooperatives in Davao Region with existing or potential business expansion in BARMM Region. The Proponent GESI-HR Partner can apply in either one or both Lots (lot 1 and/or Lot2), provided that organizational competency, project staffing and expertise required for each Lot is met. The selected GESI-HR partner/s covering Lot 1 and 2 areas will specifically perform the following responsibilities unless otherwise stated.
1. Provide capacity building activities enhancing awareness and knowledge of Smallholder Farmers (SHF)s and their
households on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion and Human Rights (GESI-HR)
a) Develop and /or enhance customized scoping tools e.g TNA and administer the same to assess knowledge gaps among farmers and SHF households of covered cooperatives.
b) Utilizing result of capacity and knowledge assessments, perform gender and human rights-based analysis to determine intersectional issues, affecting inclusion of women, youth and indigenous peoples and inform the development and or revision of training designs and learning materials.
c) Design three (3) customized thematic training- workshops to challenge and dislodge manifestations of gender biases that are limiting or excluding women, youth, and indigenous people from accessing economic opportunities in cacao industry. Among the thematic areas include Basic Gender Equality and gender sensitivity, highlighting healthy masculinities and femininities; human rights – underscoring rights to ownership of agricultural assets and economic opportunities; rights to freedom from all forms of gender-based violence of
marginalized sectors; and women’s economic empowerment.
d) Manage and facilitate implementation of the training workshops identified in item 2.1.1c using context-specific and appropriate participatory, gender and culture sensitive training methodologies to at least 300 SHF (25-30 SHF per cooperative).
2. Conduct of Intra-Household Transformative activities to select SHF households in covered cooperatives (except in
BARMM)
a) Review and enhance session guides/ manuals to include gender transformative approaches such as Gender Action Learning Systems (GALS) or gender model families in intra-household dialogues to address unequal and abusive power relations within the households.
b) Implement at a minimum, the five (5) topic -sessions of intra-household gender-transformative activities to at least 300 identified SHF households /families in covered cooperatives, apart from the BARMM Region.
3. Implement the Gender Equality Champions (GEC) or other similar gender-transformative approaches.
a) Scoping and identification of promising SHF based on agreed selection criteria - to become local champions of gender equality and human rights in the cooperative and community, with at least 2 GECs per cooperative or community in Davao Region. Specific to Lot 2, covering BARMM Region- GESI Partner is encourage to
b) Review and enhancement of capacity assessment tool, capacity development plan, training designs and modules for GECs.
c) Conduct one capacity building on community facilitation for GECs based on the GEC’s capacity development plan.
d) conduct at least one (1) coaching session to supervise and support the GECs in conducting community
dialogues.
5. Partnership, Coordination, and support to implementation of RIISA’s over-all GESI Strategies
6. Documentation and Reporting
Approach & Methodology
MEDA strongly adheres to the principles of inclusion, participation, gender equality, diversity, and collaboration in all project
activities. The GESI-HR Framework for RIISA Project provides strategies on how these principles are seamlessly incorporated
in the processes and approaches challenging systemic and structured gendered issues confronting small holder farmers,
women, men, youth and indigenous peoples in the communities. The proposed strategies, approaches and methodologies should be adhered to MEDAs values and GESI-HR framework.
Key Deliverables
LOT 1: Deliverables and Outputs
Covering 5Cooperatives in Davao Region
TRANCHE 1: Mobilization
1. Inception Report -detailing proposed strategies and methodologies in carrying out the assigned responsibilities. The proposed inception report must incorporate adjustments to strategies following the clarifications of TOR, levelling sessions with other contracted BSPs for cooperatives; results of initial scoping activities in covered cooperatives and desk reviews of data and documents pertinent to RIISA project.
2. Final detailed work schedule and financial plan showing interrelationship of activities and financial requirements; The plan should also reflect contingency actions and mechanism in place to adapt to the changes in post- pandemic situation and special considerations such as travel restrictions and security protocols.
3. Appointment of representative to MEDA-RIISA’s Project Technical Advisory Council through letter or resolution.
TRANCHE 2: Pre-Implementation Preparations and
Implementations of participatory training- workshops on gender equality and human rights
1. Reviewed and enhanced tools and training designs/ manuals and activity documentations
a. Enhanced/ revised TNA Tool for cooperatives SHF tailored to the context of locality where most members are located.
b. Enhanced/ revised TNA tool for potential GEC.
c. Competency enhancement plan for GECs
d. Training Design and learning materials used for GEC training.
e. Enhanced activity design and learning materials of thematic GESI-HR training conducted.
f. List of actors/ players in cooperatives and communities working in GESI-HR spaces
g. List of GECs who signified commitment
2. Accomplishment Report detailing progress in key activities scheduled for the period:
a. Administration of TNA of key SHFs cooperative and community leaders identified as GECs
b. Scoping and consultation activities with cooperatives leaders, community, and cooperative’s GAD focals of GESI-HR issues in cacao market systems and exploration of possible collaboration and convergence point with LGUs, NGAs and other actors working the region
c. Conduct of one (1) GEC training
d. Conduct of two (2) thematic GESI-HR training to select SHF five (5) cooperatives
TRANCHE 3: Pre-Implementation Preparations and
Implementations of participatory training- workshops on gender equality and human rights and community dialogue
1. Reviewed and enhanced tools and training designs/ manuals and activity documentations
a. Enhanced activity design and learning materials used in community dialogues, intra household activities.
b. Customized activity design and learning materials of remaining thematic GESI-HR training conducted.
c. Updated list of actors/ players in cooperatives and communities working in GESI-HR spaces
d. Activity documentation of GESI-HR trainings and activities conducted.
e. GEC’s coaching session design
f. enhanced intrahousehold activity designs and learning
materials.
2. Accomplishment Report detailing progress in key activities scheduled for the period with complete attachments:
a. Conduct of remaining thematic GESI-HR training to select SHF in 5 cooperatives.
b. conduct of one (1) community dialogues in each of the selected 3 (three) converging and strategic communities
among covered cooperatives
c. conduct coaching / mentoring session of GECs
d. conduct of initial sessions of intra-household transformative activities to select SHF in 5 cooperatives
TRANCHE 4: Preparations and Implementations of remaining community dialogue and intrahousehold follow through sessions.
Accomplishment Report detailing progress in key activities scheduled for the period with complete attachments:
a. conduct of one (1) community dialogues in 3 converging and strategic communities among covered cooperatives with the GECs
b. conduct coaching / mentoring session of GECs following cofacilitation of community dialogues.
c. conduct of follow-through sessions of intra-household transformative activities to select SHF in 5 cooperatives!
d. Conduct of learning sessions / coaching with GECs
TRANCHE 5: Final Report’/ Terminal Report indicating results in intervention conducted to include:
a. Co-facilitate GEC’s community of Practice.
b. Lessons learned from the activities conducted.
c. Changes in behaviors / practices of the GECs and SHFs as
observed during follow-through training and coaching sessions.
d. Other notable significant progress in cacao SHF households and community in addressing GESI-HR issues as expressed in the trainings / sessions facilitated
LOT 2: Deliverables and Outputs
Covering 4 Cooperatives in Davao Region and 2 Cooperatives in
BARMM
TRANCHE 1: Mobilization
1. Inception Report -detailing proposed strategies and methodologies in carrying out the assigned responsibilities. The proposed inception report must incorporate adjustments to strategies following the clarifications of TOR, levelling sessions with other contracted BSPs for cooperatives; results of initial scoping activities in covered cooperatives and desk reviews of data and documents pertinent to RIISA project.
2. Final detailed work schedule and financial plan showing interrelationship of activities and financial requirements; The plan should also reflect contingency actions and mechanism in place to adapt to the changes in post- pandemic situation and special considerations such as travel restrictions and security protocols.
3. Appointment of representative to MEDA-RIISA’s Project Technical Advisory Council through letter or resolution.
TRANCHE 2: Pre-Implementation Preparations and
Implementations of participatory training- workshops on gender equality and human rights
1. Reviewed and enhanced tools and training designs/ manuals
and activity documentations
a. Enhanced/ revised TNA Tool for cooperatives SHF tailored to the context of locality where most members are located particularly for the BARMM Region
b. Enhanced/ revised TNA tool for potential GEC – incorporating peculiarities of BARMM covered cooperatives.
c. Competency enhancement plan for GECs for BARMM
d. List of GECs who signified commitment in all areas covered.
e. Training Design and learning materials used for GEC training.
f. Enhanced activity design and learning materials of thematic GESI-HR training conducted.
g. List of actors/ players in cooperatives and communities working in GESI-HR spaces
2. Accomplishment Report detailing progress in key activities scheduled for the period:
a. Administration of TNA of key SHFs cooperative and community leaders identified as GECs.
b. Scoping and consultation activities with cooperatives leaders, community, and cooperative’s GAD focals of GESI-HR issues in cacao market systems and exploration of possible collaboration and convergence point with LGUs, NGAs and other actors working the region.
c. Conduct of one (1) GEC training
d. Conduct of two (2) thematic GESI-HR training to select SHF six (6) cooperatives
TRANCHE 3: Pre-Implementation Preparations and Implementations of participatory training- workshops on gender
equality and human rights and community dialogue
1. Reviewed and enhanced tools and training designs/ manuals and activity documentations
a. Enhanced and customized activity design and learning materials used in community dialogues for BARMM and Davao Region based cooperatives and communities.
b. Enhanced session design and materials for intrahousehold activities for cacao SHF in Davao Region areas
c. Customized activity design and learning materials of remaining thematic GESI-HR training conducted to
BARMM Region
d. Updated list of actors/ players in cooperatives and communities working in GESI-HR spaces, especially in BARMM Region.
e. Activity documentation of GESI-HR trainings and activities conducted in both Davao and BARMM
f. GEC’s coaching session design for BARMM Region
2. Accomplishment Report detailing progress in key activities scheduled for the period with complete attachments:
a. Conduct of remaining thematic GESI-HR training to select SHF in 6 cooperatives.
b. conduct of one (1) community dialogues in each of the selected 3 (three) converging and strategic communities
among covered cooperatives preferably one community in BARMM
c. conduct coaching / mentoring session of GECs in BARMM
d. conduct of initial sessions of intra-household transformative activities to select SHF in 4 (four)
cooperatives in Davao Region
TRANCHE 4: Preparations and Implementations of remaining community dialogue and intrahousehold follow through sessions.
Accomplishment Report detailing progress in key activities scheduled for the period with complete attachments:
a. conduct of one (1) community dialogues in 3 converging and strategic communities among covered cooperatives with the GECs
b. conduct coaching / mentoring session of GECs following co-facilitation of community dialogues in BARMM and
Davao Region communities
c. conduct of follow-through sessions of intra-household transformative activities to select SHF in 4 cooperatives in Davao Region Conduct of learning sessions / coaching with GECs
TRANCHE 5: Final Report’/ Terminal Report indicating results in
intervention conducted to include:
a. Co-facilitate GEC’s community of Practice and use result to supplement learning agenda particularly in BARMM
b. Lessons learned from the activities conducted.
c. Changes in behaviors / practices of the GECs and SHFs as observed during follow-through training and coaching sessions.
d. Other notable significant progress in cacao SHF households and community in addressing GESI-HR issues as expressed in the trainings / sessions facilitated particularly in the BARMM Region
e. Certificate of Completion of work attested by approving persons
Duration of Engagement
Each GESI-HR partner will be contracted for up to 20 months commencing 1 August 2023 upon issuance of Notice to Proceed and will end by 30 March 2025 to complete all intended activities, reportorial requirements and exit plans and turn-overs. A Certificate of Full Completion of Work shall be issued upon complete turnover and submissions of documents, data, and outputs. The Proponent GESI-HR Partner can apply in either one or both Lots (lot 1 and/or Lot2), provided that organizational competency and expertise required for each Lot is met. All deliverables must be implemented within the agreed timeframe as guided by the timeline sets out in agreement with the Global Affairs Canada (GAC). As each output / deliverable build on each other, delays in submission of outputs may result to deferment of the succeeding tranche/ phase to the following year. A request for an extension may be granted at a maximum allowable period, subject to review of Contracts and Grants Officer and approval of Country Director.
Governance, Institutional Arrangement & Accountability
Duty Station
Price & Schedule of Payment
The contract price is based on a fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specific duration of the engagement. Proponent GESI-HR Partner should indicate in its financial proposal the total amount for the delivery of activities and expected outputs section 2 and 4. The amount shall be inclusive of all projected expenses such as daily professional fees of resource persons, admin/logistic personnel involved, travel and accommodation of staff, training costs and materials, communications, food and transportation of participants – all to be detailed in work and financial plan. Payments shall be done in tranches upon satisfactory completion specific outputs indicated in in Item 4. The amount to
be paid for each tranche shall be equivalent to the level of effort required to complete the outputs. All outputs will be reviewed and certified by the GESI-HR Specialist and RIISA Project Team prior to release of payments.
Qualifications & Criteria of Evaluation
Minimum Qualifications:
Proponent’s institutional capacity and experience / Expertise.
Proposed strategies, methodologies, approaches and implementation plan
Management Structure and Key Personnel for the engagement
The Financial Proposal will be evaluated in parallel to technical evaluation.
Proposal Submission
A. PROPOSAL OUTLINE/ Template
I. Contact Information
a) Organization’s Legal Name:
b) Mailing Address:
c) Main Contact Person and Title:
d) Telephone:
e) Email address:
f) Website, if available (Facebook Page, twitter):
II. Qualification of Proponent GESI-HR Partner and Statement of Motivation (maximum 2 pages): The Proponent must
describe and explain how and why they are the best entity that can deliver the requirement of RIISA Project of MEDA by
detailing the following:
a) Provide understanding of the TOR and how your company can best respond to the requirements.
b) Profile- describing the nature of business, field of expertise, licenses, certifications, accreditations and other
documents indicating compliance to government standards and recognitions and awards for the services rendered
c) Business Licenses-Registration Papers, Tax payment Certification, etc.
d) Summary of Findings as per Latest Audited Financial Statement-Income statement and balance sheet to vouch its
financial stability, liquidity, and credibility.
e) Track Record to include list of clients for similar services as those required in this TOR and MEDA, indicating
description of contract scope, contract duration, contract value and contact references.
III. Proposed Methodology for the Completion of Deliverables (maximum of three (3) pages). The Proponent GESI-HR
Partner must describe how it will address/deliver the demands of the TOR and demonstrate the appropriateness of
proposed methodology to the local context and detailed description of key performances, reporting and quality assurance
mechanisms to be established. Specific context-based strategies such as target deliverables for BARMM like developing
Champions (GECs) community dialogues, intra-household activities or similar gender-transformative approaches
IV. Qualifications of Key Personnel and Project Management Structure. (1 Page).
Describe composition and structure of project team that will be in-charge of the delivery of target results – indicating the
Team Lead and the supporting staff
a) Indicate names of key personnel who will be involved in the engagement and describe their qualifications and
expertise.
b) CVS demonstrating qualifications must be submitted if required by the TOR
c) Written confirmation from each personnel indicating their availability for the entire durations of the engagement
V. Detailed Cost of Engagement and Work Plan (maximum of one page). Outline the activities, timeline- (Gantt Chart),
expected outputs, and the expertise and resources needed. Also briefly discuss your organization’s/company’s
contingency plan and mechanism in place to adapt to the post pandemic situation and possible security and safety
conditions. The detailed Cost of the Engagement shall be presented in in matrix format itemizing budget lines and
B. Annexes to the Proposal/ Offer:
a) SEC Certificate of Incorporation or DTI Certificate of Registration or CDA Registration, Business Permit, and BIR
Certificate of Registration
b) Audited Financial Reports for the recent two (3) reporting periods or 3 years
c) Resume or CV of BSP staff/s who will focus on this engagement.
d) Work sample/s of BSP and the assigned staff/s
e) Relevant tools and templates
f) List of past and present projects and consultancy engagements with list of donors
Presentation & Submission of Offer
Interested Service Providers are requested to submit their proposals/offer to MEDA via BambooHR by 4:00pm ET on June 9, 2023.