Africa Human Capital Development Plus (HCD+) headquartered in Abuja Nigeria is looking for the services of consultants to design an Education and Skills Development Advocacy Strategy for Sierra Leone, covering the entire country. Africa HCD+ is a continental platform that provides technical assistance to regional economic communities and member states in the Human Capital Development ecosystem. It has been designed to act as an African voice for advocacy, accountability, and transparency on HCD and seek to accelerate political commitments, decision-making and funding for key priorities towards realizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) #1 – 6 in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The organization, through increased HCD advocacy, focuses on five thematic areas/pillars:

•  Health and Health Security
•  Nutrition and Food Security
•  Education, Skills Development and Labor Participation

4) Entrepreneurship, Financial Inclusion and Digital Economy

5) Gender Transformative Human Capital Development

Background

It has been proven that the combination of knowledge, skills, and health, the human capital that people invest in and accumulate throughout their lives, enables them to realise their potential as productive members of society. Thus, countries around the globe are encouraged to pursue adequate and consistent investments in human capital development. These investments improve citizens’ productivity, resulting in faster economic growth and more inclusive societies.

Over the last 15 years, African countries have progressed in different sectors, contributing to human capital formulation and development. However, the African continent is lagging in human capital development compared to every other region in the world. Several drivers have been identified, which include inadequate investments in sectors that directly drive human capital development, multidimensional poverty, social cohesion, fragility, conflict, violence, quality of institutions and most significantly, inequality – income and gender.

Gender inequality has severe implications for human capital development on the continent. According to the African Development Bank, 62.8 per cent of the world’s extremely poor women live in Sub-Saharan Africa. 57 per cent of all maternal deaths occur on the continent, even though Africa has reduced maternal deaths by 41 per cent between 1990 and 2010. The gendered human capital performance, measured by various indices produced by reputable organisations such as the World Bank, the United Nations, the African Development Bank and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), shows profound disparities between human capital development for males versus females. According to McKinsey & Company, Africa could add $316 billion or 10 per cent to GDP by 2025 if each country advances in women’s equality to match the country in the region that has achieved the most progress towards parity. According to ECOWAS, closing the gender parity gap could bring about USD 105.7 billion to the ECOWAS GDP by 2030. It is evident that closing the gender gap across all human capital development pillars makes social and economic sense.

To contribute to correcting this situation, HCD+, an independent platform funded by various donors, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), was established to serve as an African voice for advocacy, accountability, and transparency on HCD. It aims to incubate a regional advocacy and technical assistance hub on human capital development advocacy towards increasing African Governments’ commitment, decision-making, funding, and accountability to developing human capital across the continent in line with realising SDGs #1 – #6 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Leveraging a mix of advocacy methods, the platform will focus on five pillars: (i) Health and Health Security; (ii) Nutrition and Food Security (iii) Education, skills development, and labour participation; (iv) Entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and digital transformation and (v) Gender transformative HCD.

The organisation currently actively operates in three countries: Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Sierra Leone, and it is determined to intervene in other African countries. These terms of reference have been developed to engage qualified consultants who will:

•  Develop a detailed gender transformative HCD framework for Sierra Leone.
•  Create a detailed gender transformative HCD results tracker.
•  Formulate a comprehensive gender transformative HCD strategy and an abridged version.
•  Deliver a workshop on gender transformative HCD.

Brief Background

Sierra Leone has made significant strides in gender equality, particularly in education, health, and political participation. Key policies such as the National Gender Policy (2018) and the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy (2020) have been instrumental in promoting gender parity and empowering women. Legislation like the Domestic Violence Act (2007), the Sexual Offences Act (2012, amended 2019), and the Child Rights Act (2007) provides a robust framework for protecting women’s rights and ensuring their safety. The recent Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act (2022) aims to further accelerate progress by ensuring women’s representation in public and private sectors, promoting equal access to education, and enhancing women’s economic opportunities. Additionally, the new Child Marriage Act (2024) seeks to eradicate child marriage by setting a minimum age for marriage and implementing stricter penalties for violations. These efforts have contributed to increased enrolment rates for girls in schools, improved maternal health services, and greater representation of women in governance. Economic empowerment initiatives, including microfinance and vocational training programmes, have also supported women’s participation in the economy.

Despite these achievements, significant challenges persist. Gender-based violence remains pervasive, with cultural norms and stigma often preventing survivors from seeking justice. High rates of child marriage and adolescent pregnancy continue to undermine girls’ education and health outcomes. Women, particularly in rural areas, face substantial barriers to economic participation, including limited access to finance and markets. Furthermore, women’s political participation is hindered by socio-cultural attitudes and institutional biases. Addressing these challenges requires sustained and multifaceted efforts. Developing a gender transformative Human Capital Development (HCD) framework, results tracker, strategy, and workshop will be crucial in advancing gender equality and creating a more inclusive society in Sierra Leone.

Objectives of the Assignment

The objectives of this consultancy are to:

•  Establish a robust framework that integrates gender considerations into all aspects of human capital development in Sierra Leone.
•  Formulate a comprehensive strategy to guide the implementation of gender-transformative HCD programmes.
•  Develop a results tracker to monitor and evaluate the impact of gender-transformative HCD initiatives.
•  Conduct a workshop to disseminate knowledge and build capacity among key stakeholders on gender-transformative HCD practices.

Scope of Work

•  Development of a Gender Transformative HCD Framework

Developing a gender transformative Human Capital Development (HCD) framework is essential for integrating gender equality into all aspects of HCD in Sierra Leone. This framework will guide policymakers and stakeholders in designing initiatives that address the needs of women and girls, ensuring equitable access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. Informed by stakeholder consultations and evidence-based practices, the framework should foster inclusive policies and programmes. Thus, this consulting engagement should:

•  Review and Analysis:
• •  Conduct a thorough review of relevant guiding documents on gender issues in Sierra Leone leveraging the framework for Gender Transformative HCD and accompanying generic results tracker developed by HCD+.
  •  Assess the current state of gender disparities in HCD within Sierra Leone, focusing on (i) Health and Health Security; (ii) Nutrition and Food Security (iii) Education, skills development, and labour participation; (iv) Entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and digital transformation and other critical areas.
•  Stakeholder Engagement:
• •  Conduct consultations with key stakeholders, including government officials, NGOs, community leaders, and beneficiaries, to gather insights and ensure alignment with local needs and priorities.
•  Framework Development:
• •  Draft a detailed framework that outlines the key components, principles, and methodologies for implementing gender-transformative HCD initiatives.
  •  Ensure the framework incorporates evidence-based practices and lessons learned from similar initiatives globally and within the region.
•  Validation:
• •  Facilitate validation workshops with stakeholders to refine and finalise the framework.
  •  Incorporate feedback and ensure the framework is practical, context-specific, and actionable.
•  Formulation of a Comprehensive Gender Transformative HCD Strategy

A comprehensive gender transformative HCD strategy will guide the implementation of initiatives aimed at empowering women and girls in Sierra Leone. This strategy will outline clear goals, objectives, and action plans, covering areas such as education, health, and economic empowerment. Developed through stakeholder consultations, the strategy will be context-specific and actionable, with an abridged version for broader dissemination. Thus, this consulting engagement must:

•  Strategy Development:
• •  Develop a detailed strategy document that outlines the goals, objectives, and action plans for gender-transformative HCD initiatives in Sierra Leone.
  •  Ensure the strategy addresses key areas such as education, health, economic empowerment, policy advocacy, and capacity building.
  •  Ensure alignment with strategic national and international gender equality goals.
•  Implementation Plan: eVZu9II BIpnb
• •  Draft a clear implementation plan with timelines, responsibilities, and resource requirements to be included in the strategy.
  •  Include risk assessment and mitigation strategies to ensure the effective execution of the strategy.
•  Abridged Version:
• •  Create an abridged version of the strategy for broader dissemination among stakeholders and the public.
  •  Ensure the abridged version is concise, easily understandable, and highlights the key components of the strategy.
•  Creation of a Gender Transformative HCD Results Tracker

Creating a results tracker is crucial for monitoring and evaluating the impact of gender-transformative HCD initiatives. This tool will collect and analyse data on key performance indicators (KPIs) reflecting gender outcomes, providing a comprehensive view of progress. By using this tracker, stakeholders should be able to make data-driven decisions, identify areas for improvement, and ensure accountability in promoting gender equality. Thus, this consulting engagement will include:

•  Indicator Development:
• •  Identify and define key performance indicators (KPIs) that reflect gender-transformative outcomes in HCD.
  •  Ensure indicators are aligned with national and international standards, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
•  Tracker Design:
• •  Develop a detailed results tracker template incorporating qualitative and quantitative metrics.
  •  Design user-friendly data collection tools and methodologies to ensure accurate and consistent tracking of progress.
•  Training:
• •  Develop a comprehensive manual and guidelines for the use of the tracker.
•  Workshop Delivery on Gender Transformative HCD

Delivering a workshop on gender transformative HCD will build capacity and raise awareness among stakeholders. The workshop will cover key aspects of the HCD framework, results tracker, and strategy, offering participants a thorough understanding of gender transformative principles. Through interactive sessions, stakeholders will be empowered to apply these principles in their work, advancing gender equality in Sierra Leone. Thus, this consulting engagement should cover:

•  Workshop Design:
• •  Design a comprehensive workshop curriculum that covers the key aspects of the gender transformative HCD framework, results tracker, and strategy.
  •  Include interactive and participatory sessions to engage all participants effectively.
•  Facilitation:
• •  Conduct the workshop, ensuring it is inclusive and accessible to all relevant stakeholders.
  •  Use a variety of training methods, including presentations, group discussions, case studies, and practical exercises.
•  Materials:
• •  Develop and distribute workshop materials, including presentations, handouts, and toolkits.
  •  Ensure materials are clear, informative, and tailored to the needs of the participants.

Deliverables:

The consultant/firm is expected to deliver:

•  A detailed gender transformative HCD framework for Sierra Leone.
•  A full-length gender transformative HCD strategy document and an abridged version.
•  A comprehensive gender transformative HCD results tracker.
•  Successful workshop delivery on gender transformative HCD, including all relevant materials.

Timeframe

The assignment is to be delivered over a 12-week period.

Week

Activities

Deliverables

Week 1-2

Conduct literature reviewStakeholder consultationsReview documentsStakeholder insights

Week 3-4

Develop a draft frameworkIdentify KPIsDraft strategy documentDraft HCD frameworkDefined KPIsDraft strategy

Week 5-6

Develop results trackerCreate an abridged strategyPrepare for validation workshopsResults tracker templateAbridged strategyWorkshop prep

Week 7

Conduct validation workshopsRefined HCD framework and strategy

Week 8

Finalise framework and strategyFinalise results trackerFinal HCD frameworkFinal strategyResults tracker guidelines

Week 9-10

Design workshop curriculumPrepare workshop materialsWorkshop curriculumWorkshop materials

Week 11

Conduct workshopCompleted workshop

Week 12

Collect feedbackPrepare final reportWorkshop feedbackFinal report

Budget and Payment Schedule:

The total budget for this consultancy is being determined. Payment will be made in instalments based on milestone completion: Payment will be made in instalments based on milestone completion in the table below: Payment

Amount

Due Date

Deliverables

Part 1

30%

Upon signing

Literature review, stakeholder consultations, review documents, stakeholder insights report (Inception Report)

Part 2

40%

End of Week 7

Draft framework, KPIs, results tracker, draft strategy, validation workshops, refined documents

Part 3

30%

End of Week 12

Final framework and strategy, results tracker, workshop materials, completed workshop, final report

Conclusion

The development and implementation of a gender transformative Human Capital Development (HCD) framework, results tracker, strategy, and workshop in Sierra Leone is a critical step toward promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls. This consultancy will leverage existing documents, stakeholder insights, and best practices to create comprehensive and actionable tools and strategies.

The structured 12-week timeline ensures that all deliverables are developed methodically and with stakeholder engagement at each stage. The three-part payment schedule aligns financial incentives with the successful completion of key milestones, ensuring accountability and timely delivery.

By integrating gender considerations into all aspects of HCD, this project will help Sierra Leone address persistent gender disparities, enhance the effectiveness of its development initiatives, and create a more inclusive and equitable society. The consultant’s work will lay a solid foundation for sustained progress in gender equality and human capital development, benefiting not only women and girls but the entire nation.

•  Evaluation Criteria:

The below table details the required documents to support with the evaluation S/N

Description of required documents

1 Detailed research firm profile with registered address, functional email, telephone numbers and point of contact. F or an individual consultant, detailed cover letter and curriculum vitae addressing our request capturing proven experience in developing frameworks and strategies related to human capital development, gender equality, and transformative approaches.

2 C context: Strong understanding of the socio-economic and cultural context of Sierra Leone and Excellent stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills.

3 Academic Qualifications: Attached CVs of consultants detailing clearly their academic qualifications and experience.

4 Experience in HCD and gender transformative projects. Attached copies of previous services/work contract.

5 Detailed work plan – Demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality reports and conduct impactful training sessions and a detailed work plan on how you intend to implement your proposal.

6 Financial Budget – Give a financial breakdown of both professional services fees for the consultant and other operational costs.

Reporting and Coordination:

The consultant/firm will report directly to the Chief Operating Officer at Africa HCD+ in Abuja and any other assigned Programme Staff. He/she or the firm will coordinate with the relevant departments/teams within HCD+.