Background:
UN 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.
UN Women, FAO, UNIDO and UNEP are jointly implementing the \"Enabling Gender-Responsive Circular and Sustainable Blue Economies for Kenya’s Coastal Communities\" project funded by the Canada through the Multi-Partner Trust fund. The joint programme aims to support the Kenyan economy to become an early and successful adopter of a just and inclusive circular and sustainable blue economy transition. The project is a joint initiative under the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) implemented in partnership of the national government of Kenya and the County governments of Kwale and Lamu, Ministry of industry and trade, Ministry of environment, climate change and forestry, Ministry of mining, blue economy and maritime affair, Ministry of gender, children and social services, Ministry of planning and lands, parastatals, private sector, civil society and academia.
The project recognizes Kenya’s blue economy as a critical pillar for sustainable development, with the potential to contribute USD 4.8 billion to the economy and create over 52,000 jobs in the next decade. It holds immense potential for growth, but significant barriers hinder its development. The triple planetary crisis—climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution—poses significant threats to Kenya’s marine and coastal ecosystems, impacting livelihoods and economic opportunities. Coastal communities face threats from illegal fishing, pollution, declining fish stocks and inadequate infrastructure. Additionally, gender disparities are a critical issue, with women, despite playing key roles in the sector, facing limited access to resources, exclusion from decision-making processes, and heightened vulnerability to climate change impacts. The blue economy’s benefits are distributed unequally, with gender disparities deeply embedded in Kenya’s coastal regions. Women, who play vital roles in fishing, aquaculture, and post-harvest processing and trade, face systemic barriers that limit their full participation and contributions. The World Poverty Clock indicates that 4.1 million women live below the $1.90 poverty line, compared to 3.7 million men. Additionally, 65% of women are multi-dimensionally poor, and the gender wage gap shows women earning 18.4% less than men. Coastal counties exhibit high income inequalities, with a 1Gini coefficient of 0.565 in Kwale and 0.471 in Lamu. Access to education is concerning, as women in unskilled labor are twice as likely as men and 33% of women aged 15-49 experienced sexual violence from their partners. Women, youth and LNOB groups face disproportionate adverse effects of climate change, face barriers of entry and ownership of resources such as land, equipment and tech; gender pay gaps in labor division and tourism, burden of care services, various forms of gender-based violence, harmful cultural norms and lack of adequate implementation of gender quotas or gender mainstreaming in policy implementation and institutional capacity, and limited access to leadership positions to participate in decision making. In Kwale for example, low levels of literacy among women at 47% compared to men at 67% and a combination of the above factors and various cultural and social norms are barriers to women to engage in meaningful decision making in the community that leads to further segregation and gender-based discrimination in decent green jobs. This highlights structural and systemic issues affecting women's rights.
The Enabling Gender-Responsive Circular and Sustainable Blue Economies for Kenya’s Coastal Communities project aims to address these challenges through three main pillars:
Pillar 1: Enhance gender responsive financial inclusion through sustainable funding mechanisms.
Pillar 2: Strengthen ecosystem protection and restoration by developing gender responsive policies, governance, and institutional frameworks ensuring inclusive participation and sustainable management of marine resources for all communities.
Pillar 3: Building skills and capacities for inclusive green jobs, circular business models and access to high value market opportunities.
Through these interventions, the project will drive inclusive and sustainable growth in Kenya’s coastal communities, aligning with SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water).
The Blue Economy refers to the sustainable use of ocean, seas, lakes and rivers for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of the ecosystem. The Circular Economy aims to eliminate waste and the continual use of resources by promoting the reuse, repair, refurbishment, and recycling of materials and products. In line with these emerging sectors, Kwale County has immense potential for both Blue and Circular economies, particularly with its coastal ecosystem, fisheries, agriculture, and waste management sectors. However, there are significant gender inequalities in these sectors that affect the participation of women, youth, and marginalized groups. In particular, women often face limited access to decision-making processes, economic resources, and opportunities within the Blue and Circular Economy sectors.
Objective
The GBA+ will examine the current status of women and marginalized groups in the blue and circular economy in the context of the Kenya in general and specifically in the Coastal region focusing on Lamu and Kwale Counties. The GBA+ will assess the capacity of duty bearers and rights holders in gender mainstreaming, harmful cultural norms and ongoing/potential changes that reduce gender biases, aspects of gender responsiveness in the mangrove restoration, and scrutinize critically the investments, policies, strategies, plans and committees in the blue and circular under a gender lens in the GBA+ methodology.
Expected Outputs
The consultant is expected to deliver the following:
1. Inception Report detailing the methodology, tools, and work plan for the assignment.
2. Data Collection Tools: Provide technical input in the MEAL framework and design MEAL tools for interviews, focus groups, and surveys to ensure the collection of comprehensive gender data.
3. Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) Report: A detailed report with findings and analysis on gender and intersectionality within the Blue and Circular economies.
4. Policy Recommendations: Concrete, actionable gender-responsive recommendations for policy and program interventions in the Blue and Circular economies in Kenya and in Kwale and Lamu County.
5. An assessment of the current access levels of LNOB groups in the affirmative actions that include but not limited to Affirmative Government Procurement, private sectors affirmative procurement, etc.
6. Gender Mainstreaming Strategy: A strategy document for stakeholders, proposing steps to integrate gender considerations in future initiatives and a presentation on the same.
Activities/Scope of Work
Under the direct supervision of the Team Lead of the Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Unit and with technical support from participating UN Agencies and supported by Monitoring and Evaluation Unit the consultant will be responsible for:
a) Undertaking an assessment on the impact of blue economy on socio-economic and wellbeing of women and girls, by identifying the specific needs, capacities including participation, ownership and control of resources and coping strategies of women, men, girls, boys and persons with disabilities affected by such activities.
b) Gendered security assessment in Kwale and Lamu.
c) Generate key recommendations and lessons learned to inform gender responsive blue and circular economy in Kenya.
d) Share findings and lessons learned with key stakeholders including the relevant government agencies, development partners, UN agencies, CSOs, and research institutes and finalize the report and finalize the report.
The consultant will also work closely with relevant stakeholders at both national and county level, especially in Kwale and Lamu County, also in collaboration with representatives of the Participating UN Organizations (PUNOs).
Scope of Work
The consultant will be required to:
i. Data Collection & Analysis:
- Conduct field research in Kwale County to gather quantitative and qualitative data from key stakeholders including women, men, youth, and marginalized groups.
- Analyze gender and intersectional data to assess how different social identities influence access to resources, decision-making, and opportunities in the Blue and Circular economies.
- Identify gender-based gaps and opportunities in these sectors.
ii. Gender Analysis Framework:
- Apply the Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) framework to identify how gender interacts with other factors (e.g., age, disability, ethnicity) to shape people’s experiences and access to the Blue and Circular economies.
- Assess the role of traditional gender norms and power relations in shaping opportunities in the identified sectors.
iii. Stakeholder Engagement:
- Engage with key stakeholders including local authorities, community leaders, civil society, private sector actors, women’s groups, youth, and people with disabilities.
- Facilitate focus group discussions, interviews, and consultations to gain insights into local gender dynamics within the Blue and Circular economy sectors.
iv. Policy and Program Recommendations:
- Identify and list current blue and circular economy policies and projects both at national and county level that have potential gaps in gender mainstreaming and list possible gender mainstreaming strategies for key ones.
- Provide concrete recommendations for gender-responsive policies and programs including in financial inclusion, that can be adopted by stakeholders to improve gender equality in the Blue and Circular economies.
- Develop an action plan to support the integration of gender into the county’s Blue and Circular economy strategies.
v. Report Writing:
- Produce a comprehensive report outlining the findings of the gender analysis, including data analysis, key gendered barriers and opportunities, and recommendations for improving gender equality in the Blue and Circular economy sectors.
- Develop a gender mainstreaming strategy for this project, based on the findings.
Timeline and deliverables
The primary assessment deliverables are:
Deliverable
Expected completion
time (due day)
Payment Schedule (optional)
Inception report with a work plan. The report should
5 working days
1stinstalment of the
capture relevant information such as proposed
consultancy fee - 15%after
methods, data collection procedure, schedule of task
submission of the inception
matrix, and background information. In addition to the
report2
work plan, including questions about the tools used in
2ndinstalment of the
data gathering
consultancy fee - 85%upon
the submission of the
Desk Review, including the final list of interview
approved Final Gender Based
questions, and approved list of key informants as well
as a desk review of all relevant literature and sources.
Analysis Plus (GBA+)Report.
Elaborate sampling design
2 working days
Field work (enumerators'
Survey Personnel Training and Training Report
3 working days
fees) shall be paid as follows.
Gender analysis study data collection tools (including
5 working days
1stinstalment of the field
the data collection tools) in all the project locations.
work - 100% upon submission
Draft Gender Analysis + draft report
5 working days
of the inception report and
Cleaned and raw end-line data accompanied by Stata
2 working days
signed enumerators’
do-files
contracts.
Conduct a stakeholder’s workshop to review and
2 working days
validate the GBA+draft report.
Revise GBA+ draft incorporating feedback from the
2 working days
stakeholder’s workshop. Prepare and submit a final
Gender Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) baseline report
Final Gender Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) report
2 working days
Updated annex 1
2 working days
2 Inception report should include: i. Refined data collection tools that were used during the gender analysis study (soft copy and mobile-based) and developed an analysis plan to enable the study to be conducted. Ii. Prepare the list of the respondents/households (treatment and control) that were visited during the study. Iii. Develop the model, parameters, and econometric regressions (in STATA) to be utilized for analysis in the study including the development of the period for data collection.
Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel
This is a home-based consultancy. As part of this assignment, there will be a maximum of 2 trips to the field.
Competencies :
Core Values:
- Integrity;
- Professionalism;
- Respect for Diversity.
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 Values and Competencies Framework:
Functional Competencies:
- Very strong background in gender and climate change/humanitarian sector;
- Experience in assessing the impact of policies, strategies and measures from a gender perspective;
- Proven analytical and research skills with an understanding of quantitative/qualitative methods and data analysis;
- Ability to manage time and meet tight deadlines;
- Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
- Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills.
Required Qualifications
Education and Certification:
- Master’s degree or equivalent in Gender Studies, Economics, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Environmental Studies, or a related field is required.
- A first-level university degree in a relevant field in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
- A programme management certification would be an added advantage.
Experience:
- At least 7 years of progressively responsible work experience in conducting gender analysis and research in the context of the Blue and Circular economies, or related sectors (e.g., sustainable development, natural resource management, waste management, fisheries, agriculture).
- Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing gender-responsive policies and programs, particularly in the context of environmental, economic, and social development.
- Strong knowledge of GBA+ methodology and its application in real-world settings.
- Experience working in the Kenyan coastal counties or similar contexts is an added advantage.
- Ability to engage with a variety of stakeholders, including government, civil society, and private sector actors.
Languages:
- Fluency in English and Kiswahili is required.
Statements :
In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.
Diversity and inclusion:
At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.
If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.
UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)
Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.
- Fluency in English and Kiswahili is required.