Scope of Work and Deliverables:

The consultant will provide technical expertise to assess, strengthen, and operationalize SESEHA’s GAP, ensuring gender equality is systematically integrated across all project components. The assignment will combine desk review, field consultations (limited to 5 sites), and participatory analysis with SESEHA’s project team, responsible parties, and key stakeholders.

1. Gender Analysis and GAP Assessment

• Review SESEHA project documents, including the Gender Action Plan (2025–2027), Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), monitoring reports, and other relevant studies.

• Conduct a gender-based situational analysis to determine how current project activities, outcomes, and benefits differ for women, men, and vulnerable groups (Returnees, PwDs, IDPs).

• Undertake limited field visits or sample surveys (where feasible, up to 5 SESEHA project sites, balancing between health and educational facilities) to collect qualitative and quantitative data reflecting gendered access to energy-enabled health and education services.

• Identify gaps, constraints, and opportunities in the implementation of the GAP, including institutional and contextual barriers.

2. Recommendations and Strategic Guidance

• Develop actionable recommendations to enhance gender integration across the SESEHA project cycle—planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation.

• Recommend targeted strategies to strengthen the participation of women and girls, especially in the operation and maintenance (O&M) component and decision-making processes.

• Provide guidance on integrating gender-responsive budgeting within SESEHA’s Annual Work Plan (AWP).

3. Capacity Development and Knowledge Sharing

• Design and conduct at least one practical training session or workshop for SESEHA project staff and responsible parties on gender mainstreaming principles, GBV/SEAH risk mitigation, and gender-sensitive reporting.

• Prepare easy-to-use guidance tools or checklists to support ongoing gender integration and monitoring within SESEHA.

4. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting Framework

• Review SESEHA’s existing gender indicators and propose refinements for alignment with UNDP’s Gender Marker system and KfW’s gender reporting framework.

• Strengthen mechanisms for gender-disaggregated data collection, analysis, and reporting to ensure consistency and reliability.

• Develop a concise monitoring and evaluation (M&E) matrix to track gender-related results, outcomes, and lessons learned.

Institutional arrangement: The national consultant will be mainly responsible for review the developed, Gender Mainstreaming Action Plan for SESEHA project to promote equality, equity, and inclusion, and provide strategic advisory to contextualize strategic advice and recommendations to ensure gender is integrated in all phases across the project and that both women and men can participate in and benefit from the development effort. This work will be performed under the guidance of the SES Specialist, SESEHA Project, and in close coordination with the technical associates across the eight regions.

Payment: Daily based

Duty station: Kabul City, Afghanistan (with travel to eight regions, only if/when required)

Travel Cost and DSA: The salary is inclusive of telecommunication, DSA, and Travel expenses.

Duration of the Assignment: The duration of the contract will be 30 working days over two months and is expected to start on 20 November 2025 and be completed by 19 January 2026.

KEY DELIVERABLES AND SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS: 

Payment will be made upon acceptance/approval of key deliverables shown below:

Deliverable Description Indicative Timeline Payment (USD)

1. Inception Report Detailing methodology, work plan, and data collection approach (including sample survey plan and stakeholder consultation list). Within 1 week of contract start – 27 November 2025 700 (20%)

2. Gender Analysis & GAP Assessment Report Comprehensive assessment of gender integration status in SESEHA, including field findings, gap analysis, and key issues. Within 4 weeks of contract start – 19 December 2025

3. Recommendations & Strategic Guidance Note Practical, prioritized recommendations for improving gender integration, including proposed updates to the GAP and gender-responsive budgeting inputs. Within 6 weeks of contract start – 03 January 2026 1,750 (50%)

4. Capacity-Building Workshop & Tools Delivery of one training session for SESEHA team and submission of supporting materials (slides, guidance tools, or checklists). Within 7 weeks of contract start – 10 January 2026

5. Revised Gender M&E Framework Updated set of gender indicators, M&E matrix, and template for gender-responsive reporting aligned with UNDP and KfW systems. Within 8 weeks of contract start – 17 January 2026 1,050 (30%)