Background

N Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

Insert a paragraph on the background and context of the engagement. Include which priorities govern or provide direction for the work of the consultant to demonstrate link between UN Women’s priorities and the consultancy’s expected outcomes.

Following the enactment of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act in 2022, Sierra Leone has achieved a historic 30.4% female representation in parliament. In parallel, financial assistance and resources have been extended to women farmers, seeking to bolster their role in agriculture and improve productivity. These dual advancements in women’s representation and economic engagement provide a timely opportunity for an impact assessment to analyze the legislative productivity gains from increased female representation and the outcomes of targeted agricultural support for women.

This study aims to provide evidence-based insights into the impacts of these interventions, with a view to informing policy and programmatic decisions by the government and international par

The purpose of this consultancy is to conduct an in-depth assessment of:

1. The impact of increased female representation in parliament on legislative productivity.

1. The outcomes of financial support to women farmers in enhancing agricultural productivity and economic empowerment.

1. The synergies between women’s political representation and economic empowerment, particularly in rural and agricultural sectors.

Insert a paragraph on organizational setting, reporting and collaborators.

The consultant will be reporting to the Head of Office , and will be supported by Programme Specialist Leadership Governance and Political Participation, who will be the point of contact on the contract and payment issues. The Consultant will work closely with the UN Women Partners in the Institute of Governance Reform .

Duties and Responsibilities

he consultant will be responsible for:

1. Assessing the extent to which female MPs contribute to legislative productivity, focusing on attendance of both women and men.
2. Evaluating the impact of government financial assistance on women farmers, specifically in terms of agricultural productivity, food security, and household income.

Analyzing linkages between women’s increased representation in parliament and the prioritization of policies benefiting women in agriculture and rural development

1. Providing actionable recommendations for leveraging female political and economic empowerment to promote sustainable development in Sierra Leone.

The consultant will perform the following tasks:

1. Literature Review and Context Analysis

1. Review relevant literature, policies, parliamentary records, and government reports on gender, legislative productivity, and agricultural development in Sierra Leone.

1. Contextualize findings within the legislative and agricultural sectors to establish a baseline understanding.

1. Quantitative and Qualitative Data Collection

1. Design and conduct surveys of women farmers who received financial assistance, gathering data on productivity, income, and food security.

1. Develop structured interviews and focus group discussions with female MPs, government officials, rural women, and community leaders to capture qualitative insights on legislative engagement and agricultural productivity.

1. Case Studies and Field Visits

1. Conduct case studies in selected districts to examine the impact of these initiatives in local settings.

1. Facilitate focus groups to capture community-level feedback on the effects of increased female representation and targeted agricultural assistance.

1. Data Analysis and Reporting

1. Analyze quantitative and qualitative data to assess the correlation between female representation in parliament and legislative productivity.

1. Evaluate the outcomes of financial assistance on women farmers and agricultural productivity.

1. Synthesize findings into a comprehensive report with evidence-based recommendations.

1. Presentation of Findings

1. Present preliminary findings to UN Women for feedback.

1. Submit a final report and make a formal presentation of the findings and recommendations to stakeholders.

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is a consultancy based in Freetown Sierra Leone. The assignment is mainly Desk Based and the Consultant will engage stakeholders at a national level in Freetown and may need to travel to the Districts in Sierra Leone

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Leading by Example

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies:

https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment/application-process#_Values

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:

• Strong knowledge of gender equality and women’s rights issues, political science , law and development .
• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with government representatives of Member States as well as CSO representative ;

Proven networking skills, and ability

• Strong writing skills .
• Knowledge and understanding of UN system and familiarity with inter-governmental processes.
• Strong IT skills, including databases, extranet and office software packages.

Strong analytical and interpersonal skills

Required Skills and Experience

Education and Certification:

• Master’s degree or higher in Economics, Gender Studies, Political Science, Development Studies, Agricultural Economics, or a related field.
• A project/programme management]certification would be an added advantage.
• Candidates may be requested to provide samples of previous work when invited for interviews

Experience:

• At least 7 years of experience in research, impact assessments, or development projects, particularly in governance.
• Demonstrable experience conducting qualitative and quantitative research in political or economic empowerment.
• Familiarity with the policy and legislative environment in Sierra Leone or West Africa.
• Excellent analytical skills with strong drive for results and capacity to work independently.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Personal CV or P11 (P11 can be downloaded from: https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Employment/UN-Women-P11-Personal-History-Form.doc )
• A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page)