A. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

Program title: Relief to Recovery II (R2R II): Transitioning conflict-affected families in Syria from relief towards recovery and self-reliance

Project donor: Austrian Development Agency (ADA)

Country: Syria (Homs, Hama)

Partner organizations: Caritas Austria (CAUT), Caritas Syria (CS)

Tentative timeframe of assignment: May – September 2025

Gender equality remains a critical component for achieving sustainable development and fostering resilience within conflict-affected communities. In Syria, the prolonged conflict has significantly affected the social, economic, and political landscape, with women and girls bearing a disproportionate share of the consequences. Gender disparities in access to resources, decision-making power, and economic opportunities continue to hinder women’s full participation in the country’s recovery efforts.

Recognizing these challenges, Caritas Austria (CAUT) and Caritas Syria are committed to promoting gender equality within the framework of its "Relief to Recovery II" (R2R II) project. This project, which aims to support vulnerable households in transitioning from reliance on basic assistance to achieving self-reliant and sustainable livelihoods, adopts a gender-responsive approach to address the distinct needs and opportunities of women and men in the context of business development.

The purpose of these Terms of Reference (ToR) is to commission a consultant with creating a gender analysis and a corresponding action plan, which provides evidence-based recommendations for strengthening gender equity and protection in project implementation, review capacities of implementing partner in gender-sensitive and safe programming and develop a capacity development plan accordingly. The consultancy should help to guide the R2R project team in better understanding the gendered dimensions of livelihood strategies in Syria, with a specific focus on the two governorates Homs and Hama. The consultant should help identifying and analyzing gender gaps, protection risks, inequalities, and barriers while highlighting the factors that perpetuate these disparities. By examining social, cultural, political, and economic determinants, the consultant will provide actionable recommendations as part of a report to enhance the project’s gender responsiveness, ensuring more equitable access to resources, opportunities and decision-making power for all community members.

R2R Logical Framework:

Outcome: Vulnerable women and men in the governorates of Hama and Homs have improved ability to protect and sustain their lives and engage in sustainable livelihoods activities towards enhanced household livelihood security and increased self-reliance.

Output 1: Highly vulnerable Syrian households (HH), MHH and FHH, particularly taking into account vulnerabilities specific to FHH, are able to meet their basic needs, cope with sudden shocks and chronic stress, and are stabilised to participate actively in their own poverty graduation process.

Output 2: Vulnerable women and men start-up and re-start businesses and engage in market-oriented self-employed income generation activities through start-up and re-start businesses, specifically promoting opportunities for women, or expand their business through additional financial support.

Output 3: Sustainable market linkages among developed businesses are enhanced through the provision of business development services including market information provision, networking and coordination and enhanced access to capital.

Output 4: The mindset of female and male project participants towards women participation in entrepreneurship opportunities is positively promoted.

B. OBJECTIVES

The main objective of the consultancy is, with the help of a comprehensive gender analysis in the form of a written report (work package 1) as well as a corresponding action plan (work package 2), including a training that, based on the finding of the report, provides information to the R2R project team on gender gaps, inequalities, as well as needs, constraints and opportunities of women and men in Syria. The analysis should also support the R2R team to understand causes for inequalities through defining the social, cultural, political and economic factors that perpetuate them, it should contextualize the impact on the outcomes of the programme, and give recommendations to address them in line with the project outputs mentioned above. In particular:

The gender analysis (work package 1) should focus on the business development component of the project, providing insights that will strengthen strategies for engaging the most vulnerable groups, particularly women and female-headed households. It should also contribute to the design of interventions that challenge harmful gender norms, promote women’s empowerment and safeguard the well-being of all beneficiaries. Findings and recommendations of the analysis should help Caritas Austria and Caritas Syria foster practices for more inclusive, equitable, and resilient communities in areas of intervention.

More specifically, the gender analysis should:

• enhance project impact, efficiency and effectiveness from a gender perspective,
• define gender responsive strategies to reach out to the most vulnerable, particularly women and female headed households,
• identify solutions to overcome and address gender related barriers that influence the ability of women to access and control resources and decision making,
• help understand gender power dynamics and their impact on relations between and among women and men, including safety and protection issues,
• define opportunities for challenging gender inequalities, stereotypes while ensuring safety and protection of all,
• define mitigation strategies to avoid potential negative impact from project implementation and strategies and ensure the alignment with the project’s ‘no harm policy’.

The action plan (work package 2) should build on recommendations from the gender analysis and propose targeted interventions to promote equal participation of project beneficiaries, address discriminatory practices in the fields of intervention and enhance women’s economic empowerment. This should include the creation of clear indicators and mechanisms to track progress and measure the impact of implemented actions. In addition, as part of this work package, the consultant should propose, implement and follow up on the building of capacities of partner staff, amongst other with the help of a gender sensitivity training and monthly meetings with staff to follow up on the action plan.

C. SCOPE AND FOCUS OF WORK

The consultant should provide qualitative information, sex-age and disability disaggregated data and analysis on the gendered living conditions of women, girls, men and boys, including people with disabilities, in Syria. The gender analysis and action plan should focus on the situation in the project target locations in Homs (Homs city and Meshrifeh) and Hama (Hama city, Suqailabiyeh and Masyiaf), taking into account gender equality as well as protection concerns (e.g. SGBV) in the field of business development.

Gender Analysis (work package 1):

At minimum the gender analysis should include the following aspects:

1. An overview of the gender equality situation in the field of business development in Homs and Hama. This would include:

• Presenting key recent statistics on the situation of women and girls, men and boys in Syria,
• Mapping of knowledge / information gaps (e.g. sex-age-disability disaggregated statistical information) with respect to business and economic activities,
• Analyzing legislative environment from a gender perspective to define constraints, discriminatory articles (e.g. inheritance law) and or opportunities, particularly against the backdrop of the changed political situation in Syria.
• Outlining social norms, gender power dynamics that impede/ facilitate realization of gender equality.
• An updated mapping of relevant key actors with mandate and capacity to act for gender equality and protection services (NGOs, donors, International Organizations, line ministries, etc.), e.g.:
• Overview of project activities to address gender inequalities,
• Potential areas for collaboration and
• Lessons learned in addressing gender gaps and challenges.

2. Define intersectional variables that impact women and men interaction, power relations, roles and abilities to access resources at community, business and household levels and outline differences:

• Roles, responsibilities and division of labor: Who (women, men, girls and boys, including people with disabilities) does what (productive or reproductive activities, paid or unpaid)? Collecting data on the participation of men and women in different areas of business activity, including employment, training, and leadership roles. This data should be used to track progress toward gender equality and identify areas for improvement in project implementation? Identify differences between men, boys, girls, women in generating income and/or accessing economic activities (Type of economic activities and scope and size of businesses).
• Ability to access and control resources: What resources do men and women access? Who uses/owns/controls these resources? Who is excluded from use/ownership/control? Who benefits from resources accessed and or attained and who uses them?
• Enjoyment of rights and protection: What are the key differences in how women,girls, men and boys exercise their rights? Which rights are most at risk or denied across these groups, and how are the most vulnerable protected? What protection mechanisms exist to address gender-based violence? How has the recent political shift in Syria affected the protection and rights of women, girls, men, and boys?
• Ability to participate in decision making processes and voice their needs and interests: Who is represented in decision making processes at home and at work? How are women voices accounted for in decision taking? Who takes what decision at household/business levels? How are women engaged in business negotiations? Who controls income?

3. Describe social, cultural, political and economic factors that influence power relations, division of labor, ability to access resources and control them, level of realization of rights within businesses, e.g. related to:

• Assessing of vulnerability to protection concerns of women participating in business development activities, including sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and defining barriers and constraints that women face in conducting income generating activities and/or businesses,
• Identifying the different capacities that women and men may need to better engage in business activities, for example: enhancing women’s negotiation skills, self – confidence – financial literacy etc.,
• Outlining the particular opportunities and advantages and catalyzing effects that women can bring to entrepreneurial development, and
• Characterizing attitudes and perceptions, including stereotypes of gender roles and aspirations, that impede men and women participation in business development activities.
• Assess partner capacities in gender-sensitive and safe programming.

Action Plan (work package 2):

1. Based on the Gender Analysis, formulate clear, actionable recommendations aligned with the project outputs to ensure gender-responsive design, implementation and monitoring:

• Strengthen the project’s gender responsiveness in the nexus approach to business development.
• Enhance the inclusion, participation and decision-making power of women in the areas of intervention (especially business development).
• Overcome key barriers and prevent potential risks that might hinder the participation of men and women in project activities (including social norms, legislative, institutional capacity, political will etc.)
• Create feedback and complaints mechanisms to allow community members to voice concerns related to gender inequality or discrimination and ensuring that these concerns are addressed promptly.
• Support the achievement of project results and optimize, where possible, the realization of gender equality and pave the way towards transformative change.

2. Capacity Building and Implementation Follow-Up:

• The consultant should design and deliver a five day capacity-building training for the project team on gender sensitivity and gender mainstreaming, ensuring all staff members have the necessary skills and knowledge to consider gender perspectives when planning, implementing and monitoring project activities. In addition, staff should be aware of unconscious bias and inclusive business practices.
• The consultant should also follow up with the team throughout the project period (with the help of monthly meetings) to ensure the implementation of recommendations, to offer guidance regarding addressing challenges and to make necessary adjustments to enhance gender responsiveness in the project.

D. GEOGRAPHICAL FOCUS

Project target areas (sub-district level) in Homs and Hama Governorates, Syria.

E. METHODOLOGY AND APPROACH

The research methodology of the gender analysis should include a desk study and field research. The detailed methodology and methods should be outlined in the inception report, and should include as a minimum:

• Desk review of selected and relevant documents available on national and local level. This should also include a compilation of a list of reference documents as extensive and detailed as possible.
• Primary data collection (qualitative), might comprise KII, FGDs etc. and include the private sector, relevant government bodies, NGOs, women groups, experts, implementing partner staff and beneficiaries (female entrepreneurs). Staff of the implementing partner organization Caritas Syria will facilitate data collection and access to the target group.
• Mapping of key informants covering a wide range of stakeholders (e.g. government, CSOs, academic institutions, private sector).

D. DELIVERABLES

Work Package 1:

1) Inception report: Including a detailed outline of the methodology (main research methods, data collection tools, proposed sources of data, procedures for data collection and analysis) and detailed table of contents. The report should outline how the methodology will protect women and men while ensuring that their voices are reflected in the recommendations and outcomes. The proposed methodology will be discussed and approved by CAUT in a meeting before data collection commences. The maximum number of pages should not exceed 15 pages (excluding annexes, e.g. tools for data collection)

2) Draft Report: To be reviewed by CAUT.

3) Final Report: The final gender analysis report will be an analytical and operative document based on qualitative and disaggregated quantitative data. The report should include a section explaining the methodology. All used instruments, such as interview guide, focus group guide, list of documents and institutions/ persons involved in the analysis, agenda of the meetings (if applicable), and mapping of key actors should be annexed to the report. The maximum number of pages should not exceed 35 pages (excluding annexes).

4) Electronic copy of all data collection tools and raw data set.

5) Translation of the final report in Arabic.

6) Workshop for partners on findings.

Work Package 2:

1) Action plan: Propose targeted interventions to promote equal participation, address discriminatory practices and enhance women’s economic empowerment. Establish clear indicators and mechanisms to track progress and measure the impact of implemented actions.

2) 3-5 day full-time training session for program staff on gender sensitivity and gender mainstreaming, unconscious bias and inclusive business practices such as accessibility and safe work environments, pay equity, inclusive messaging, etc.

3) Monthly meetings with the project team to follow up on the implementation of the action plan and to address challenges.

E. DURATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The duration of the assignment will be from May till September 2025 with an estimated work load of approximately 25 days (work package 1 – to be outlined in the offer).

May: Publication of ToR; submission of proposals by applicants; assessment of proposals and selection by CAUT; Contracting

June: Kick-off meeting; desk review of existing project documents and data; submission of Inception Report; Capacity building for CS field team: Conduct training on the data collection tools

July: Field Research and data collection

August: Preparation and submission of draft report; feedback by Caritas; incorporation of feedback

September: Submission of final report and action plan; presentation workshop on findings by consultant

Until the end of the project (March 2027): Conduct monthly meeting with the field team to follow up on the action plan.

F. DATA OWNERSHIP AND CONFIDENTIALITY

Ethical standards & quality: All consultants for CAUT should maintain high standards on ethical issues and respect and apply basic human and social rights. CAUT reserves the right to reject quotations provided by applicants not meeting these standards. CAUT shall ensure that the gender analysis is designed and conducted respecting and protecting the rights and welfare of target communities, and ensure that the research and analysis is technically accurate, reliable, legitimate, useful and conducted in a transparent and impartial manner, contributing to organizational learning and accountability.

Confidentiality of information: All documents provided to the consultant(s) and all data collected during field research (e.g. through interviews) must be treated as confidential and used solely for the purpose to facilitate analysis. Respondents shall not be identified or quoted in reports without their explicit written permission. Photos, videos and other research data that can be traced back to individual participants shall be anonymized, unless agreed otherwise in writing with the concerned person.

Ownership of data, findings, products: CAUT retains full ownership of all data, findings, and products produced as part of this consultancy. However, CAUT is committed to disseminating findings and contributing to debates on gender related interventions in general, and in Syria in specific, and is principally open to suggestions by the consultant(s) on ways to jointly disseminate findings.

Support by CAUT and partners: CAUT as a national partner, will support consultant(s) in logistics where requested and facilitate field research based upon agreed methodology and approach. Relevant contacts of other stakeholders will be shared upon the consultant(s)’ request. The consultant(s) will manage their own schedule and make appointments for interviews with external stakeholders where necessary, while keeping CAUT in copy.

Access to project data: All relevant documents including narrative proposal, reports, etc. will be provided for the consultant(s).

Safeguarding and protection: Since data collection might involve interactions with project beneficiaries, the consultant(s) commits to safeguarding and protection policies and procedures as well as complaint handling policies and procedures that are shared and reiterated during the preparatory phase.

Distribution policy: Intended users of deliverables are CAUT, as well as the wider sector. All deliverables generated through this gender analysis will be subject to approval by CAUT before public dissemination. Results will also be shared with the project donor, the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

G. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• An advanced degree in social sciences, gender, or another relevant field;
• Minimum of 5 years’ relevant professional experience in research (including data collection) and in gender analysis and gender mainstreaming in humanitarian and development programmes.
• Strong background and demonstrable experience in qualitative data collection and analysis.
• Technical expertise in assessing gender related issues and the ability to draw strong and valid conclusions.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Ability to travel inside Syria and to access target locations in Homs and Hama governorates.
• Excellent communication and report writing skills in English and Arabic
• Experience in delivering high quality workshops and trainings and knowledge of innovative training methods.

How to Apply:

H. HOW TO APPLY

Qualified applicants are requested to submit all required documents listed below to Bewerbung-COE@caritas-austria.at with the subject line ‘Gender Analysis R2R II 2025_NAME of consultant’. In order to ensure a fair selection process, we cannot respond to requests for further details or clarifications.

The application should include as a minimum:

• CVs of all consultants involved incl. professional references.
• Completed application sheet (Annex 1) incl. profile, track record, methodology, financial proposal (only EUR), signed declaration.
• At least two samples of a recently completed gender analysis.

Applicants can access the Annex documents under this link:

https://wolke.caritas.at/s/SGWM79PJZ2gLcn8

Password: R2RGENDER2025

All candidates will receive a confirmation of receipt of the proposal and will be informed on the outcome of the selection process.

Within Caritas Austria there is no space for exploitation, abuse, discrimination, or corruption. The successful candidate(s) will be required to sign and adhere to Caritas Austria’s Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Policy.

Selection Criteria & Contract

Your submission will be evaluated on both quality and ability to deliver the tasks (Service Specification) as outlined in Application Template. In accordance with Caritas Austria’s procurement rules a selection committee with qualified members from both Caritas Austria and Caritas Syria will select the best offer regarding price and quality. Price and quality will be weighted with 30% (price) and 70% (quality). The successful bidder will be informed within 8 working days after the deadline for submission of offers.

Contract

Before carrying out the Gender Consultancy, a written contract (based on the ToR for the Gender Consultancy) has to be signed between Caritas Austria and the respective consultant(s). The Gender Consultancy Contract will be drafted by Caritas Austria.

We look forward to receiving your application!