Вакансія: Short-term consultancy opportunity for a gender consultant

For: Design of a mentorship framework and training materials for enhancing women’s leadership and business growth in Ukrainian credit unions and their communities.

Location:  Kyiv, Ukraine

Contract duration: February 17, 2021 – August 01, 2021

Submit by: February 03, 2021

1. BACKGROUND

The Credit for Agriculture Producers (CAP) Project, implemented by World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) and funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID), seeks to revitalize the credit union sector in Ukraine by creating a more transparent legal and regulatory framework for credit union operations in Ukraine to both promote growth and reduce risks, while improving access to finance for agricultural and rural micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through credit unions.

2. SCOPE OF WORK

WOCCU is currently seeking a consultant to support the professional growth of women both at the credit union and the community levels to promote both women’s leadership and business growth.

The consultant will develop a mentorship framework and develop training materials for credit union women focused on (1) enhancing leadership and negotiation skills at the credit union level, and (2) promoting entrepreneurship and business planning skills at the community level to support women entrepreneurs. Specifically, the consultant will:

Phase 1:

1. Design a 2-year mentorship program for a group of credit union women to become coaches/mentors on: (1) leadership and negotiation skills among women colleagues within the credit union network, and (2) entrepreneurship, business planning skills for women within their local communities;
2. Establish the criteria and design a questionnaire to select a group women mentors/coaches for the above purposes;
3. Organize and hold an introductory meeting with the group of coaches;
4. Prepare initial training materials on raising awareness about women’s leadership and other gender-related aspects (can be based on international materials provided by CAP’s international partners, if applicable) to be shared with the group of selected coaches and their communities.

Phase 2:

1. Based on implementation and lessons learned from the initial training materials developed under Phase 1, design additional materials for the full leadership, negotiation and entrepreneur training (including PPT-presentations and follow-up handouts). The design of the training methodology and materials will follow a training of trainers approach, in order for these mentors/coaches to be able to further train and share the materials within the credit union movement and within their communities;
2. Based on materials developed, hold the following two trainings:
   1. 1-day training/workshop for the mentors/coaches on approaches to strengthen leadership and negotiation skills among the credit union women;
   2. 1-day training/workshop for the mentors/coaches on entrepreneurship and business planning skills for subsequent mentoring of women within the local communities where the credit unions operate;
3. Design “homework” for the group of mentors/coaches based on the leadership and negotiations training materials, and provide feedback on the follow-up work provided;
4. Design a questionnaire for the mentors/coaches use to receive feedback on the entrepreneurship and business planning training from the women in the communities. Per feedback, work with the mentors/coaches to adjust materials for future trainings.

   3. REQUIREMENTS

The consultant’s qualifications should meet the following requirements:

• Expertise in providing training on gender-related topics and/or leadership skills;
• Experience in providing trainer of the trainers training;
• Experience in working with adult audience, including entrepreneurs;
• Understanding of Ukrainian credit union market specifics;
• BA or higher degree in gender studies, psychology, finance, economics or other related fields;
• Proven experience of cooperation with international technical assistance projects, USAID-funded preferably;
• Ability to analyze written materials in English.

4. TIMING 

Phase 1 is expected to be fulfilled in February 2021 (10 working days), while Phase 2 fulfilment is planned for June 2021 (10 working days). However, allocation of time across the two phases will be reviewed upon finalization of the work plan in coordination with CAP.

5. DELIVERABLES

Phase 1:

• Mentorship program for the group of women coaches covering leadership and negotiation, entrepreneurship and business planning topics;
• List of criteria to form the group of women coaches;
• Questionnaire to select the group participants;
• PPT-presentation for the introductory meeting;
• Gender-related handouts for the group participants.

Phase 2:

• PPT-presentation and/or other relevant materials for a 1-day training/workshop on leadership and negotiation topics for credit union women audience
• PPT-presentation and/or other relevant materials for a 1-day training/workshop on entrepreneurship and business planning skills for subsequent mentoring of women in the community;
• Follow-up handouts for the group participants related to the topics covered;
• “Homework” for the group of mentors/coaches on the leadership and negotiation training, as well as feedback on the homework; and
• Questionnaire for the mentors/coaches to receive feedback on the entrepreneurship and business planning training from the women in the communities. Subsequent recommended changes to the materials per feedback.

6. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

To apply, please submit the following to [email protected] and specify “CAP: Gender/Women’s Leadership” by February 03, 2021.

• A copy of your CV;
• A cover letter detailing why you can do the work, including your relevant work experience, as well as your approach/preliminary work plan to address the tasks;
• Proposed pricing proposal indicating your daily rate;
• Should your application be selected for consideration, WOCCU will request contact information for 2-3 references.

DISCLAIMER

This bid solicitation in no way obligates World Council of Credit Unions to award a contract, nor does it commit World Council of Credit Unions to pay any costs incurred in the preparation and submission of the application. World Council of Credit Unions reserves the right to vary any part of this bid solicitation at the time of award if it becomes necessary.