Consultant - Review of Policy Ecosystem at Christian Aid

Background
Christian Aid is leading a consortium to deliver the “Evidence and Collaboration for Inclusive Development” (ECID) programme, which is funded by DFID under UK Aid Connect. This programme aims to demonstrate an innovative approach to building civil society effectiveness in Myanmar, Nigeria and Zimbabwe. It is designed to generate and use subjective and objective data from the most marginalised people to amplify their voices in decision making at all levels – from local to global – and mobilising decision-makers around this evidence. The data and approach will foster connections and collaboration between a wide range of stakeholders (civic, government, private sector) to increase accountability, responsiveness and effectiveness, such that key target groups have improved access to services and participation in decision-making processes in Myanmar, Nigeria and Zimbabwe.

In each of the three countries, Christian Aid is planning a focused pilot programme, to design and test an appropriate digital data platform that will make a useful and innovative contribution to the country and sector by making available rigorous data on key marginalised populations and engaging with civil society and policymakers to utilise this evidence to effect change.

In Nigeria , the pilot will focus on Education (particularly Basic education) for Women/girls/People living with Disability (particularly girls) in Kaduna, North-west of Nigeria and Anambra, South East Nigeria.

Purpose and Scope

• The purpose of this assignment is to review the policy environment as relevant to the specific issues/sector of the pilot programme. Findings will be used by Christian Aid and the wider programme consortium to inform design of the data platform (the nature of the data gathered, ways in which evidence is presented, etc.) and strategies for engaging key policy actors around the evidence made accessible by the platform.

Objectives

• To map out key policy actors at different levels (e.g. government departments, government agencies, stakeholders at the local/state /national levels) - institutions and individuals in the educational sector around gender equality issues in consultation with relevant agencies like Ministry of Women Affairs in the states.
• To explore and understand the political economy dynamics within relevant institutions/ministries which will shape strategies for catalysing change in this sector and for the groups – including identification of any individual champions who may act as ‘gatekeepers’ or ‘cheerleaders’ for change
• To review existing secondary data and data sources relating to women/girls/female/PWDs (particularly female) in basic education in Kaduna and Anambra states.
• To understand the different ways in which these policy actors access and use data/evidence, and their development planning
• To map out key civil society actors at different levels – organisations and individual leaders with experiences in engaging government especially in result oriented advocacy using such relevant data
• To understand the influencing strategies of civil society, responsiveness of government and what opportunities and threats exist in the states
• Identify the roles and relationship of private sector with CSOs and the possible opportunities in working with the private sector in the sector and for the identified groups
• Review and document any success stories in any sector achieved through the use of data in advocacy, and lessons that can contribute to the project design

Expected Outputs

• Short report outlining key issues and implications for the pilot programme.
• Executive summary, maximum 2 pages..
• With relevant appendixes including names and contact details government, private sector and CSOs operators engaged with implication for this area of work

Submission dates:

• The consultant’s draft report should be submitted by 5th April 2019.
• Christian Aid will provide comments by 10th April 2019.
• The consultant should revise the report and submit a final report by 12th April 2019.

Review Management:

• Review commissioner: [Temitope Fashola]
• Reference group: [CA/consortium partners as relevant]

Time/Budget:

• Total 7-10 working days.