National Individual Consultant to Design the Framework for Gender Accountability

Procurement Process

IC - Individual contractor

Office

UNDP-RWA - RWANDA

Deadline

18-Jun-25 @ 12:00 PM (New York time)

Published on

04-Jun-25 @ 12:00 AM (New York time)

Reference Number

UNDP-RWA-00265

Contact

Procurement Office - procurement.rw@undp.org This specific tender is managed via the new supplier portal system of UNDP Quantum. If you are interested in submitting a bid for this tender, you must subscribe following the instructions in the user guide. If you have not registered a profile with this system, you can do so by following the link for Supplier Registration.

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Introduction

Country: Rwanda

Description of the Assignment: Recruitment of a National Individual Consultant to Design the Framework for Gender Accountability in Civil Society in Rwanda

Period of assignment / services: 50 working days spread over 4 months.

1. Background

In Rwanda, the framework for Civil Society Organization (CSO) accountability is built upon a robust legal and regulatory foundation. The Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) plays a central role in emphasizing CSOs' contributions to effective service delivery, policy development and reform, and citizen empowerment. While the Rwanda Civil Society Platform (RCSP) is primarily responsible for coordinating civil society activities, CSOs are also mandated to hold both the public and private sectors accountable on various socio-economic issues.

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Rwanda play a vital role in advancing gender equality and accountability through advocacy, awareness campaigns, and direct contribution to service delivery. Their efforts have contributed to policy reforms, improved access to resources, and the empowerment of marginalized groups, particularly women and girls. However, there remains a critical need for a structured framework to systematically promote gender equality and strengthen accountability mechanisms across the civil society sector.

According to a 2020 mapping study by the Rwanda Civil Society Platform (RCSP), data from the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) revealed that 1,508 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) were operating across the country, including 1,335 national NGOs and faith-based organizations, and 173 international NGOs. This significant presence underscores the need for clear and structured guidelines to effectively promote gender mainstreaming and enhance gender accountability within the civil society sector.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Gender Monitoring Office (GMO) and the Private Sector Federation (PSF), have been implementing the Gender Equality Seal (GES) certification program. To date, more than 40 entities, including large corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and public institutions have been certified. This program has made a significant contribution to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace as it provides a structured framework that enables participating organizations to assess their current gender-related practices, identify areas for improvement, and implement changes that foster more inclusive and equitable work environments. Additionally, the dimensions, standards, and benchmarks of the Gender Equality Seal have been integrated into the newly developed Rwanda Standards Board’s (RSB) Gender Equality Standard, RS 560: Gender Equality - Requirements for Promotion, Implementation, and Accountability.

Against this backdrop, UNDP intends to hire a national individual consultant to support the Gender Monitoring Office (GMO) to develop a comprehensive framework and define clear guidelines for promoting gender equality and gender accountability within civil society

organizations in Rwanda. The goal is to enhance organizational effectiveness and foster inclusive citizen participation.

2. Objectives of the Consultancy Overall objective:

The overall objective of the consultancy is to develop a comprehensive framework for gender accountability within Rwandan civil society, aimed at strengthening gender-responsive governance among CSOs. The framework will provide clear principles and guidelines for gender-responsive programming, strengthened transparency, promotion of inclusive participation, institutional capacity strengthening, and socio-economic transformation.

The framework to be developed will be used by both relevant regulatory