Terms of reference
The LocNet team seeks a gender policy consultant/s to work with us on Gender Integration in Policy and Regulation for community-centred connectivity within the Local Access and Community Networks (LocNet) initiative. The LocNet initiative is a collective effort led by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) and Rhizomatica. This initiative aims to contribute to an enabling ecosystem for the emergence and growth of community networks and other community-based connectivity initiatives in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). It is part of a multi-year, multi-donor strategy envisaged to address the human capacity and sustainability challenges – along with the policy and regulatory obstacles – that limit the growth of community-centred connectivity initiatives. This project aims to contribute to our vision of digital inclusion: rural, remote and marginalised communities have the opportunities, capacities and resources to achieve and shape meaningful community-centred connectivity that contributes to strengthen local well-being, economies and cultures.
The main purpose of the assignment
We are looking for a gender policy consultant/s to work with our team and to conduct an assessment of the priority and opportunity areas and for the development of a report which will support Gender Integration in Policy and Regulation for Community-Centred Connectivity. The consultancy will start on 1 November 2024 and run through to 28 February 2025.
This assessment will support the policy and gender leads of the LocNet team to design and plan workshops for the integration of gender in policy and regulation for community-centred connectivity. Working with the LocNet initiative team, the consultant/s is/are expected to develop a proposal of their work plan and a consolidated budget, conduct the assessment, and write a report of the findings. The proposal will include the objectives, methodology, assessment and mapping instruments, and a detailed time log of the consultancy. The proposal will be reviewed and approved by the LocNet team members responsible for this area of work.
The report document will include a background section on the current regulatory ecosystem for community-centred connectivity, the status of gender in community networks, along with the specific opportunity areas for gender integration in policy and regulation in Africa. The assessment will also consider specific regional indicators, including existing policy and regulatory frameworks for community-centred connectivity and gender digital divide projects.
The deadline for submitting the report document is 22 February 2025. The consultant/s will be responsible for the below deliverables in the form of a written report:
- Conduct the mapping of existing gender mainstreaming guidelines in ICT data, research, policy and/or regulation.
- Identify gender and community networks documents in policy related to ICTs and community-centred connectivity.
- Identify actors working in the intersecting areas of policy, community-centred connectivity and gender.
- Interview stakeholders in the field to get their impressions on what is needed and what is helpful.
- Analyse the existing work of gender in ICT policy and document and players, what elements are seen as successful, where there remain gaps.
- Identify opportunities and spaces where the topics of gender integration in policy and regulation related to ICTs and community-centred connectivity are discussed.
- Identify recommendations on how LocNet can address gaps in Africa, as well as in LAC and Asia.
Qualifications, background, and experience
We are looking for an experienced consultant or team of consultants who has/have worked with international networks and international civil society organisations (CSOs) in Africa on gender assessment approaches in ICT. Knowledge and understanding of the policy and regulatory ecosystems in Africa, the internet, telecommunications industry, digital technologies, human rights, community dynamics and development issues are essential. LocNet is a virtual team and we expect the evaluation to be conducted mainly through online platforms. The consultant(s) should have excellent English communication skills.
Duration of the assignment
The assignment period is from 1 November 2024 through 28 February 2025.
Interested consultants are invited to send a proposal outlining:
- Their approach and methodology for the assessment (as outlined above).
- An estimate of the number of days required for completing the consultancy and day rates.
- Their CVs with information about qualifications, competence and experience relevant to the assignment.
- A sample of previous work reports and deliverables that demonstrate the assessment approaches, methodologies and contexts in which they have worked.
- Two references: names, relationship, contact details; at least one of which should be related to a recent evaluation conducted.
Please send this information via email with the subject line, “Consultant – LocNet Gender Integration in Policy” to: locnet@apc.org by 18 October 2024.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.