Gender Index Consultancy

The Gender Violence Recovery Centre (GVRC) is a leading non-profit organization in Kenya, established in 2001, dedicated to addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV). GVRC provides comprehensive support to survivors and their families, including medical care, psychosocial support, legal guidance, and advocacy. With a history of supporting over 65,500 survivors directly and 180,000 through its emergency response program, GVRC has been instrumental in shaping national laws, policies, and practices in GBV management.

GVRC is a key partner in the Accelerate project, which aims to contribute to the ICPD25 promise of zero unmet need for contraception, zero preventable maternal deaths, and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices. The Accelerate project focuses on 13 underserved counties in Kenya, addressing challenges such as high adolescent pregnancy rates, low access to youth-friendly SRHR services, and high incidences of GBV. The project's goal is to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity, reduce the unmet need for SRHR, and contribute to the reduction in the prevalence of GBV.

As part of its commitment to evidence-based programming and advocacy, GVRC, through the Accelerate project, seeks to develop and institutionalize a Gender Index. This index will serve as a tool to measure, track, and report on the state of gender equality and empowerment within the project's focus counties and at a national level. Given that GVRC has not previously generated a gender index, this consultancy is critical in conceptualizing, developing, and operationalizing this important initiative.

Objectives

The primary objective of this consultancy is to develop a comprehensive Gender Index for GVRC.

Specific Objectives:

• Conceptualize and define a robust Gender Index relevant to the Kenyan context and aligned with the goals of the Accelerate Project.

• Develop a clear methodology for the Gender Index, including identification of data sources, data collection methods, and calculation procedures.

• Produce the inaugural Gender Index report and establish a system for quarterly generation and dissemination.

Scope of Work

The consultant or firm will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Conduct a desk review of existing gender indices and best practices.

• Consult with GVRC staff and key stakeholders to understand the project needs and local context.

• Develop an inception report detailing the conceptual framework, methodology, and work plan for the Gender Index.

• Develop the Gender Index tool, including selection and weighting of indicators, data collection instruments, and database systems for data management.

• Lead the collection of baseline data using both internal and external data sources.

• Analyze collected data and generate the first Gender Index.

• Prepare the inaugural Gender Index report with findings and recommendations for policy and program interventions.

• Develop reporting templates for future quarterly reports.

• Train GVRC staff on methodology, data collection, analysis, and reporting to ensure sustainability.

Deliverables

The consultant or firm will be expected to deliver the following:

• An inception report detailing the conceptual framework, methodology, and work plan.

• A Gender Index toolkit containing the final index, domains, indicators, data collection tools, and user guide.

• The inaugural Gender Index report with baseline data, analysis, and recommendations.

• A reporting template for quarterly Gender Index reports.

• A final consultancy report summarizing activities, achievements, challenges, and recommendations for sustainability.

Duration of the Consultancy

The consultancy is expected to be completed within 6 months from the date of signing the contract. A detailed implementation timeline will be developed in consultation with the selected consultant.

Qualifications of the Consultant

The ideal consultant or firm should have the following qualifications:

• For firms, at least 5 years of experience in gender and development, research, and monitoring and evaluation.

• For individual consultants, a Master’s degree in a relevant field such as Gender Studies, Social Sciences, or Development Studies, with at least 7 years of relevant experience.

• Demonstrated experience in developing and working with composite indices, particularly in the field of gender.

• Strong quantitative and qualitative data analysis skills, including proficiency in statistical software such as SPSS, Stata, or R.

• Excellent research, writing, and communication skills in English.

• Familiarity with the Kenyan context and the field of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is highly desirable.

Submission Requirements

Interested consultants or firms should submit the following:

• A technical proposal (maximum 10 pages) outlining understanding of the TOR, proposed methodology, and work plan.

• A financial proposal with a detailed budget.

• CVs of the lead consultant and any other key personnel.

• At least two examples of similar work previously undertaken.

Submission Deadline

Applications should be submitted by 22nd May 2026.