Terms of Reference: Consultant/trainer for Training sessions on transnational advocacy, social accountability, human rights-based programming, gender and social inclusion || ZINECDA

DUE: 13 SEP 2024

Terms of Reference: Consultant/trainer for Training sessions on transnational advocacy, social
accountability, human rights-based programming, gender and social inclusion
Virtual training over 2.5 days

Background
ZINECDA has been a part of the Transnational Networks Advocacy Capacity (TRANAC) project, a
capacity-building initiative aimed at improving legislation and policies on Early Childhood
Development and Education (ECDE) in Southern Africa. Since 2020, the project’s objective has been to
foster stronger and more vibrant ECDE in the region by advocating for transparent and accountable
governments, improved financing, and inclusive policies. The TRANAC project has been implemented
by a consortium of organizations consisting of ZINECDA-Zimbabwe, NECDOL-Lesotho, and the ECDC
Coalition of Malawi, which have achieved significant successes in enhancing ECDE legislation and
policies. The project is also working with the EDCE Network of Eswatini, RDPI- Mozambique and
ZANEC- Zambia. The overall objective of Phase 2 is to enhance and establish vibrant national and
transnational Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) networks/coalitions that effectively
influence, hold governments and southern African regional bodies accountable and transparent in
ECDE gender-sensitive and social inclusive legislation, policies and strategies related to SDG 4.2 and
GPE priorities. This will strengthen the capacity of ECDE networks in six countries, namely Zimbabwe,
Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Eswatini.

The project aims at building the capacity of national ECDE networks to ensure inward accountability
of the governments of Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Eswatini, Mozambique and Lesotho to the citizens
as well as ensure the participation of ECDE stakeholders at transnational level in ECDE policy advocacy
in their diversity through enabling healthy debates and deliberations on ECDE policy interventions.
The capacity building activities will enhance ability of the national ECDE networks to generate
information, influence and engage education policy makers for improved ECDE policy and systems
development and implementation. Establishment of functional social accountability measures leading
to improved transparency and social accountability on ECDE will enhance leadership and decision
making for coordination of ECDE implementation. Advocacy work will influence the development of
comprehensive and inclusive ECDE policies, legislation and systems by governments thereby guiding
and sustaining scale up in implementation of ECDE service in Southern African countries.
ZINECDA as the project lead will therefore facilitate the implementation of a training session with the
6 national networks on transnational advocacy, social accountability, human rights-based
programming, gender and social inclusion virtually on the proposed dates. ZINECDA therefore seeks
the expertise of a consultant/trainer to conduct these training sessions with the project teams of the
6 national ECDE coalitions, virtually, over 2 and a half days.

Objectives
The right to education with its underlying four principles emphasizing that children are active agents
in their own learning. This project adopts a gender-sensitive approach recognizing that policy makers
and educators need to be trained in gender-responsive programming to improve ECDE performance.
The project design is premised on the human rights-based approach (HRBA), guided by the regional
and global frameworks such as SDGs, UNCRC and ACRWC. The human rights principles of nondiscrimination and equality promote accountability and transparency, participation, empowerment,
and the right to education guiding and organizing all aspects of learning, from policy to the classroom.
The HRBA is adopted to the project strategy to guarantee that every child receives a quality education
that upholds and supports their right to dignity and healthy development.

Hence, the training sessions are aimed at achieving the following:
• To increase the national ECDE coalitions’ knowledge on the principles of transnational
advocacy, social accountability/gender and social inclusion and human rights-based
programming
• To enhance the national ECDE coalitions’ skills base to collect and package information for
evidence- based ECDE advocacy
• To strengthen the national ECDE coalitions’ capacity to engage/influence EDCE stakeholders
and policy makers in their countries on developing and implementing ECDE policies that are
based on the premise of human rights -based programming, social accountability,
gender/socially inclusive

Expected Outcomes
• Increased capacity of the EDCE networks on transnational advocacy, social accountability,
human rights-based programming, gender and social inclusion
• Enhance the national ECDE skills’ on collecting and packaging information for evidence- based
ECDE advocacy
• Strengthened capacity of the national ECDE coalitions’ capacity to engage/influence EDCE
stakeholders and policy makers in their countries on developing and implementing ECDE
policies that are human rights-based, gender/socially inclusive and socially accountable

Methodology
The training sessions will be conducted virtually, utilizing participatory methodology over a period
of 2 and a half days, covering the session topics i.e. advocacy, social accountability, human rightsbased approach, gender and social inclusion for ECDE.

Expected deliverables
• The training agenda developed and shared with ZINECDA for review.
• Quality and relevant training materials developed and shared with ZINECDA.
• Lead, facilitate and deliver quality training.
• Brief training report covering the content developed including feedback from participants and
shared with ZINECDA.

Role and responsibilities of the lead consultant/trainer
• Design of the training agenda covering all the session topics that is relevant to the project.
• Develop relevant training material
• Facilitate/deliver the training.
• Submit to a quality training report on the content covered including feedback from the participants.
• Conduct all of the above in a timely and responsive fashion.

Requirements and selection criteria for the lead consultant/trainer
• At least an advanced degree in relevant social sciences.
• Proven experience conducting advocacy, social accountability, gender/social inclusion and
human rights-based approach capacity strengthening with NGO/INGO/CSO or development partners.
• Proven experience in planning and/or implementing development projects with NGO
NGO/INGO/CSO or development partners related to advocacy, social accountability,
gender/social inclusion and human rights-based programming.

The consultant/trainer/s will be assessed against the following:
• The trainer/s capacity against the minimum requirements outlined above.
• Demonstrated understanding of the TOR and quality of the proposal to meet the needs of the
review to a high standard.
• Ability to work in collaboration with the contracting agency.

TO APPLY
Bid Requirements
To apply, please submit the bid package, as one (1) PDF document not more than 10 pages, that
must contain the following:
1. Cover letter inclusive of a suitability statement that expresses commitment to availability for
the entire period of the assignment, of not more than 1 page.
2. Summary of lead consultant/trainer’s resume (which should include at least 2 referees),
3. Technical bid, with proposed methodology and detailed budget (which includes rate/day for consultation fees)
4. Preliminary proposed programme for the training.
5. At least 1 sample highlighting your specific experience in training NGOs/INGOs/CSOs or
development partners in the relevant session topics.
Please email your response to [email protected] by 1300hrs on 13 September 2024.