Gender Strategy Call for Consultant

Position description

Background

The Worldwide Foundation of Credit Unions (WFCU) is a 501(c)(3) that raises private philanthropic donations among credit union supporters and individuals to advance education and learning across the global credit union movement and to provide seed capital for pilot projects with the potential to advance scalable solutions.

The WFCU is in partnership with the World Council of Credit Unions (“WOCCU”), a nonprofit private sector association supporting cooperative financial institutions to reach underserved markets. WOCCU’s financial inclusion programs reach rural and remote areas through its unparalleled global footprint - a network of over 86,000 institutions owned by 375 million members in 118 countries. Driven by the belief that all people should have access to financial services and economic security, WOCCU has demonstrated success in developing inclusive financial ecosystems and service channels (including mobile banking), improving financial literacy, and boosting entrepreneurship to promote higher incomes among women. Globally, WOCCU has developed demand-driven products, advocated for an effective regulatory environment, and supported social responsibility, all rooted in our cooperative principles.

In collaboration with the WFCU, WOCCU empowers credit union staff who identify as women and promotes the professional growth of women in financial services’ roles through the Global Women’s Leadership Network (GWLN). GWLN aims to tackle credit union industry inequality gaps for women by mentoring talent, providing professional development, leadership skills, and service to community and credit union members around the world.

Location Remote

Position Summary

WFCU is seeking to hire a Gender Strategy Consultant to advise GWLN under the WFCU as the initiative on women’s empowerment, in addition to the broader WOCCU enterprise on strategies to enhance gender integration within the organization. This will be in alignment with existing WOCCU strategies on digitization, climate and sustainability and resilient livelihoods. This will include establishing the WOCCU enterprise overall gender strategy, advising on gender integration throughout its units including GWLN under WFCU, international projects and member services and enhance implementation of gender sensitive policies. The consultant will facilitate stakeholder research and help finalize GWLN 2.0 objectives and provide recommendations for women’s empowerment activities.

Scope of Work

Summary of key responsibilities:

• To review, survey and facilitate the development of a gender strategy for the entire WOCCU enterprise
• Assess current GWLN activities: 
• Conduct mapping of key stakeholders (internal and external feedback interviews with staff, advisory committee and GWLN members and volunteers)
• Develop and validate GWLN 2.0 metrics for success
• Provide key implementation guidance for engagement initiatives and activities, based on agreed upon GWLN 2.0 objectives, building upon lessons learned in We for She: Advancing Women’s Leadership in Credit Unions.
• Conduct a modified gender audit of international projects and make recommendations to strengthen women’s empowerment approach and activities, including design and implementation of gender gap analyses, learning agendas and monitoring and evaluation.

Deliverables

Expected outputs/deliverables:

• Provide a roadmap of a gender strategy for the WOCCU enterprise
• Provide a key GWLN 2.0 implementation guidance document incorporating proposed objectives, key findings and engagement initiatives
• Provide a gender audit findings document

Period of Performance

The services agreement will be for a period of 30 days beginning October 15, 2023 – January 15, 2024.  WFCU will seek to award contracts by October 15, 2023.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in gender, development studies or social sciences, or related area of study, or equivalent combination of study and experience.
• At least eight (8) years’ experience and skills in gender inclusive integrated programming, women’s economic empowerment through women’s leadership and financial inclusion, and/or conducting gender audits, and writing high-quality gender assessment reports.
• Ability to liaise with different groups at different levels, engagement experience with grass-root women’s organizations preferred
• Familiarity with financial services industry, economic growth/financial inclusion, and familiarity with credit unions or financial cooperatives preferred.
• Strong stakeholder management, interpersonal communication, and collaboration skills.

 

Selection Criteria

Selection will be made on a best-value basis. The number of points assigned to each criterion represents its weight in the evaluation process. While service rates are required as part of the submission, they are not evaluated against the selection criteria requirements. 

Candidate submissions will be evaluated by a committee. Selection will be made on a best value basis, per the ability of candidates to meet the qualifications as outlined above. While service rates are required as part of the submission, rates are not evaluated against any selection requirements.

Application instructions

Submission Requirements 

Qualified candidates must submit the following information per the instructions below. Only complete applications will be considered: 

1. A resume and cover letter that detail candidate’s relevant work experience and qualifications. If the applicant is a business entity, please submit a CV of one qualified illustrative consultant. 

2.  Candidate’s cover letter must:  

1. Address the responsibilities and qualifications within this posting  
2. Include the proposed daily and hourly rate in USD   

3. Resume must clearly outline at least three examples of gender strategy relevant work.
   1. Three (3) professional references: name, phone(s), and email   
4. Date available to start the consultancy

Should your application be selected for consideration, WFCU will contact the references provided within the submission. Applications missing references will have the opportunity to provide references on a case-by-case basis.   

 

Submission Instructions  

Application materials should be submitted via email with the subject line “WFCU_ Gender Strategy Consultant _2023” to [email protected]. Bidders must include all relevant materials within their proposals. Failure to do so may result in the disqualification of your proposal.

For any questions, please contact [email protected]. 

Deadline to Submit Application: September 15, 2023; 5:00 pm EST  

 

Disclaimer  

This bid solicitation in no way obligates the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions to award a contract, nor does it commit the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions to pay any costs incurred in the preparation and submission of the application. Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions reserves the right to vary any part of this bid solicitation at the time of award if it becomes necessary. Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions may cancel this solicitation or may reject any and all responses received. The issuance of this solicitation does not constitute award commitment by the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions.