TERMS OF REFERENCE (ToR) FOR UNPACKING BARRIERS TO GIRLS’ EDUCATION AND GENDER TRANSFORMATIVE PROGRAMMING
Consultancy Title | Consultancy Service for unpacking barriers to girls’ education and gender transformative programming by COSITA/GRIC in Tanzania. |
Geographical location | Arusha-Tanzania |
Appointment type and duration | Fixed Term Contract |
Expected commencement date | 7th – 9th July |
Application deadline | 23rd June |
Background
GRiC is a locally led nonprofit organization that partners with grassroots organizations and communities to create a holistic ecosystem that promotes sustainable education for children and youth in East Africa. At GRiC, we believe that education is a powerful tool for social justice and transformation and we apply a strong gender lens across all our work to ensure that no child is left behind.
However, for many children in the communities we serve, access to quality education remains a distant dream, particularly for girls who face deeply rooted systemic, cultural, and economic barriers. As a gender-responsive organization, GRiC is intentional about addressing these disparities by not only designing inclusive programs but also building the capacity of grassroots organizations and our internal team to understand and tackle gender inequality in education.
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Community Support Initiatives Tanzania (COSITA) is a local non-governmental organization located in Manyara, Tanzania, registered under NGO Act, 2002 with registration certificate number 00NGO/00004247 in the year 2010 to operate in Tanzania Mainland. The organization is working in local communities in the sector of health, education human rights and socio-economic to empower local communities especially women, youth and children. In implementing its activities, COSITA has come across different stakeholders, donors’ networks, and partners’ organizations.
Among many activities, COSITA is working local communities especially the girls education in secondary schools where young girls are supported through girls’ scholarship program. The girls scholarship program is an educational initiative designed to increase access to quality education for girls, particularly in underserved and marginalized communities. This program often target areas where cultural, economic or social barriers prevent girls from attending or staying in school.
By offering financial support, the program helps cover school fees, uniforms, books, and other necessary materials that families might otherwise struggle to afford. This support can be life-changing, especially in areas where education for girls is not prioritised. Scholarships can empower girls by not only enabling them to attend school but also by affirming their right to learn and grow.
To bridge this gap, we are committed to equipping grassroot organisations with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to champion girls’ education within their communities. Our work integrates gender-transformative approaches that challenge harmful norms, promote equitable learning environments, and create long-term opportunities for girls to thrive in and beyond school
About This Assignment
Through this assignment, the consultant will guide the participants to critically examine government policies on girls’ education, as well as the socio-cultural and economic barriers that keep girls out of school. Participants will be equipped with practical and community-driven strategies that challenge these barriers and promote inclusive, transformative education.
The consultant will equip them with practical, community-driven solutions that align with GRiC’s approach ensuring local ownership, sustainability, and lasting impact in the communities they serve.
Specific roles include:
- Review the government policies on girls’ education and barriers hindering girls’ access to education and translate them into clear, accessible language for diverse stakeholders.
- Conduct an interactive training session to explore policies on girls’ education and key barriers affecting girls’ education, equipping participants with knowledge and strategies for advocacy and intervention.
Deliverables
- Develop an information pack tailored for grassroots organizations. The facilitator’s guide should include simplified summaries of the following among others: i) simplified government policies on girls’ education, ii) socio-cultural and economic barriers affecting girls’ education iii) Key advocacy messages tailored for community-level engagement iv) Community action planning strategy.
- Conduct attaining session with grassroots organizations on: Interpreting and navigating policies affecting girls’ education, identifying local barriers and designing community-led advocacy, intervention strategies and action plans from the training
- Activity report showing next steps and way forward
Qualifications of the consultant
We are seeking the services of a consultant with:
- Preferably a master’s or PhD in Education, Social Sciences, or related studies from a reputable university.
- Proven experience in conducting policy and gender training, particularly in the education sector.
- Strong familiarity with Tanzania’s educational landscape, including policies on girls’ education and barriers to education, especially in marginalized and pastoralist communities.
COSITA & GRIC Do List
- Handle the training logistics including picking the venue, inviting the partners, arranging lunch and drinks and purchasing stationeries
- Shortlist and grant the contract to the best consultant
- Review the training content and suggest, comment, or provide inputs for improvement
- Process the agreed payment to a hired consultant involves 50% before the training and the other 50% upon the compilation of the training and submission of final report
Next steps
Interested and qualified consultants to submit a technical and financial proposal to, cositainfo@gmail.com,jackmushi487@gmail.com and info@gricafrica.org by 23rd June 2025 expressing their interest and the cost for delivering the assignment.
Given the anticipated large volumes of applicants, GRiC will only communicate with a consultant who demonstrates and meets the technical qualifications for this assignment. The selected consultant will have an inception meeting with the leadership at GRiC to clarify the assignment and deliverables in depth. All the materials developed in this process remain the property of GRiC and will be used for teaching and learning purposes in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
See also: Consultancy Opportunity at Rikolto