A. ABOUT SCIDaR
Solina Centre for International Development and Research (SCIDaR) is an indigenous African non-profit institution that works to accelerate positive health, social and economic reforms through high-quality program design and implementation, capacity building, implementation science research and knowledge generation, as well as agenda setting and stakeholder convening across human development sectors. Our work seeks to benefit primarily disadvantaged and under-served populations. We implement transformation programs in Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan African countries including but not limited to Chad, Niger, Madagascar, DRC, and Guinea Bissau, and are currently working towards ensuring that these programs are gender-intentional and ultimately transformative. Our project portfolios span ~50 projects across themes including Health Security; Primary Healthcare; Public Health and Nutrition; Health Systems Strengthening; and Gender, Demand and Behavior change.
B. BACKGROUND
Sustaining Action for Gender Equality (SAGE) is a four-year investment facilitated by the Gates Foundation (BMGF) designed to facilitate the integration of gender expertise and strategies into SCIDaR’s core work, with a focus on women and girls. This initiative stems from the Gender Integration Incubation & Acceleration Lab, launched by the Foundation in 2022 to invest in gender transformative projects that align with programmatic goals across various Program Strategy Teams (PSTs).
SCIDaR also recognizes that incorporating gender considerations into program delivery practices can alleviate gender-related barriers for both healthcare workers providing services and for the vulnerable populations – mostly women and children – to whom services are delivered. Thus, SCIDaR seeks to leverage the SAGE investment to accelerate progress toward gender equality by integrating gender into SCIDaR’s approaches across our core institutional functions and ultimately, all our impact areas.
Specifically, SAGE seeks to achieve the following objectives:
- Strategically integrate a gender lens into SCIDaR’s organizational and program goals, and strategies
- Establish enabling institutional systems that integrate a gender perspective into policies, programs and processes
- Rapidly enhance staff capacity to effectively source, design, implement, and measure gender-intentional and transformative programs
- Document and track gender equality outcomes for accountability and monitoring, and as a means of continuous learning
C. WORK CONTEXT
The ultimate goal of the gender audit is to identify opportunities for improving gender responsiveness within SCIDaR’s institutional policies, processes and across our projects, ensuring that they align with National and Global health goals and address the specific needs of women and girls. Additionally, the audit will assess the feasibility of implementing intentional strategies within the local context, considering factors. The selection of specific documents and programs for the audit will be based on predetermined criteria established by the Consultant in collaboration with SCIDaR’s Senior management, Talent and SAGE teams.
D. OBJECTIVES
The primary objective of this engagement is to conduct a comprehensive baseline gender audit of SCIDaR’s institutional processes and existing SCIDaR projects in Anglophone and Francophone West Africa with a focus on Nigeria and Chad. The audit will assess the current state of gender mainstreaming efforts and identify areas for improvement.
E. SCOPE OF WORK
The consultant will conduct desk reviews and stakeholder consultations/interviews to understand existing systems and identify gaps and opportunities for mainstreaming gender across SCIDaR’s institutional processes and projects.
