Individual Consultant to undertake rapid Impact Assessment on Fashion Expression “The Story She Wears” Programme in Kenya

The Position:

The purpose of this impact assessment is to assess and determine the impact of the project on the 15 young women targeted by the project in Phase 1 and document the project's outcome. The assessment will also contribute to accountability and transparency, ensuring that the project's resources were used effectively to address the critical needs of the targeted population in Kenya. The impact assessment for the PRADA Project is designed to rigorously examine the project's outcomes and effects, aiming to answer the pivotal question: To what extent did PRADA succeed in achieving its intended goals and promoting sustainable change in the lives of its beneficiaries.

The consultant will work closely with the UNFPA KCO gender, M&E  and communication teams and be supervised by the GBV/Gender Advisor. 

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

 

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

 

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

 

Background information 

According to the World Population Dashboard, Kenya’s population was approximately 55.1 million, with the gender distribution being approximately 48.9% male and 51.1% female, indicating a slightly higher percentage of females. There is a higher unemployment rate within the age bracket of 15-24, with 23% of young women in this age group being unemployed, compared to 21% of young men. The Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2022 report puts women who have experienced physical violence since age 15 years at 34 per cent and for sexual violence, it's at 13 percent. GBV includes various forms of violence, such as domestic violence, sexual harassment and abuse, and harmful traditional practices such as Female Genital Mutilation and Child Marriage. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on gender inequality and gender-based violence (GBV) worldwide and had several impacts that contributed to the widening of gender inequality and increased GBV, economic & educational disruption & healthcare access, which increased vulnerability and further marginalization of populations, especially women and girls. One of the key objectives of this partnership was to reduce the vulnerability of women and girls to the various challenges they may face, including sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), harmful practices, and gender inequalities.

The partnership between UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) and the luxurious fashion house, The Prada Group established in 2021, a project known as "Fashion Expressions: The “Stories She Wears," which is a collaborative initiative aimed at promoting gender equality, socio-economic empowerment of young women and girls and sexual and reproductive health and rights through the fashion industry. It is an innovative solution to uplift the lives of young girls and women by providing skills, nurturing talent, expression, and economic participation. The project was piloted in Kenya.

 

The UNFPA-PRADA project was initiated with the aim of providing 15 young women from Kitui County, Kenya, with knowledge and skills in fashion and design, as well as sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender-based violence (GBV). These beneficiaries, aged 16-28, come from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and varying levels of education, with most having completed primary school and some having some secondary education. Prior to the training, a baseline survey revealed limited knowledge and skills in garment construction and related areas, as well as in SRHR and GBV.

This partnership combines the fashion expertise of The Prada Group with UNFPA's knowledge and experience in gender-related issues and sexual and reproductive health and rights. 

It represents a unique opportunity to increase the social impact of fashion for the benefit of women and girls by bringing together the distinctive skills and resources of Prada Group, a leading actor within the fashion industry, and of UNFPA, the United Nations agency that is a leading international actor in advancing the empowerment and rights of every individual to make their own choices about their sexual and reproductive health. The vision for this partnership is to contribute towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and, more specifically, to transform the lives of women and girls through fashion education by promoting their economic empowerment. 

One of the transformative result areas for UNFPA Kenya 10th Country Programme (CP) is to end GBV and harmful practices to ensure the rights and well-being of women and girls and ultimately advance gender equality and women’s empowerment. Through empowerment initiatives, UNFPA supports the empowerment of individuals and communities to challenge GBV and harmful practices transform social, and gender norms that perpetuate their rights. The UNFPA-PRADA partnership is thus aligned with the CP and the SDGs. By empowering women and girls, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds, the project contributes to achieving these particular goals (Gender Equality (5), Quality Education (4), Good Health & Wellbeing (3), Decent Work & Economic Growth (8) which provides a framework for addressing global challenges and promoting sustainable development.

Consultancy Objectives 

The primary objectives of this impact assessment are to:

• Evaluate the project's success in achieving its stated objectives and targets.
• Assess the project's contribution to broader development outcomes, such as women's empowerment, gender equality, and improved sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Analyze the relationships between project activities, outputs, and outcomes, and explore the factors that contributed to or hindered the project's impact.
• Examine any unforeseen positive or negative effects of the project on beneficiaries and their communities.
• Draw out key lessons learned and provide evidence-based recommendations to inform future programming and policy decisions.

The impact assessment will focus on the following key areas, drawing upon the project's indicator framework:

1. Skills and Knowledge Acquisition: Assess the extent to which the beneficiaries have acquired and retained fashion and design skills (garment construction, pattern making, etc.) and knowledge of SRHR and GBV, aligning with the indicator of "Percent of trained young women who present a high level of knowledge on fashion and design skills."
2. Economic Empowerment: Evaluate the impact of the project on the beneficiaries' livelihoods, including income generation, employment opportunities, and entrepreneurial activities, referencing indicators such as "Number of direct programme beneficiaries linked with employment opportunities with fashion businesses" and "Most significant change stories documented on project’s impact on the beneficiary’s income generation." This will gauge progress towards the outcome of "Enhanced use of fashion concepts to advance social-economic empowerment of young women in Kenya."
3. Psychosocial Well-being and Empowerment: Examine the project's influence on the beneficiaries' self-esteem, confidence, decision-making skills, and overall sense of empowerment and agency, as indicated by "Percent of the targeted young women who feel empowered to negotiate and make decisions at the household and community level" and "Proportion of beneficiaries who feel empowered to exercise their rights and agency in Kenya."
4. Awareness and Advocacy: Explore the beneficiaries' understanding of SRHR and GBV and their role as "champions and ambassadors" for these issues, linked to the indicator "Number of GBV and SRH fashion and design champions and ambassadors." It will also assess the reach of advocacy materials ("Number and type of SRHR and end GBV advocacy materials distributed to women and girls").
5. Program Satisfaction and Sustainability: Assess beneficiaries' feedback on program content and structure ("Percent of the target young women who feel the contents are sufficient enough to build their capacity on fashion and design") and explore the potential for sustained impact, considering factors like continued engagement in the fashion industry and ongoing commitment to SRHR and GBV awareness, contributing to the project's Goal and Outcome.

 

The assessment will encompass the project's entire implementation period, spanning from May 2022 to September 2023. The scope of the assessment will include:

1. Meeting with the UNFPA team for a briefing on the project and the assignment/inception report.
2. Desk review: A review of project documentation, including the baseline report, final report, and M&E plan.
3. Data collection through key informant  interviews(KII)  and focus groups with project beneficiaries and stakeholders in Kitui and Nairobi counties.
4. Analysis of quantitative and qualitative data to measure the project's impact.
5. Prepare the draft assessment report and Present the report to UNFPA KCO and HQ through (face-to-face meeting and virtual-respectively) to receive review and inputs into the report.
6. Prepare and submit the final Rapid assessment report to UNFPA KCO.

Methodology for a Rapid Impact Assessment

The rapid impact assessment will employ a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis techniques to evaluate the Prada Project's outcomes and impact on beneficiaries. The assessment will be conducted in Kitui and Nairobi counties, Kenya, focusing on the 15 young women who participated in the program's first phase. The data collection methods will include:

1. A comprehensive review of existing project documentation, including the baseline survey report, project reports, monitoring and evaluation data, and any other relevant materials will be conducted. This will provide a foundation for understanding the project's design, implementation, and expected outcomes.
2. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with key stakeholders, including UNFPA staff, representatives from the Prada Group, Fashion Houses and local partners involved in project implementation. Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) will explore their perspectives on the project's impact, challenges, and lessons learned.
3. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) will be held with groups of program beneficiaries to gather their insights on the project's impact on their lives, skills development, economic empowerment, and overall well-being. FGDs will encourage open discussion and sharing of experiences among participants.
4. The 15 program beneficiaries will be interviewed in-depth to learn more about their individual experiences, challenges, and successes resulting from their participation in the project.
5. A brief survey questionnaire will be administered to program beneficiaries to collect quantitative data on key indicators related to skills acquisition, economic empowerment, psychosocial well-being, and awareness of SRHR and GBV.

 

Ethical Considerations 

The assessment will be conducted in an ethical and culturally sensitive manner, ensuring the confidentiality and anonymity of participants. Informed consent will be obtained from all participants, and any potential risks or harms will be assessed and addressed accordingly.

The following deliverables are expected from the impact assessment:

• An inception report outlining the timelines,  detailed methodology and data collection tools. This report should also include a proposed outline of the final report. 
• A draft report presenting the preliminary findings and conclusions.
• A final report with a comprehensive analysis of the project's impact, including recommendations for future action.
• A presentation summarizing the key findings and recommendations for dissemination to stakeholders.

This will be a deliverable based consultancy. It is expected to run for a period of two months (October –November 2024). 

Consultancy location

The assignment will be undertaken in Kitui and Nairobi County in Between October and November 2024

The consultant will be expected to travel to Kitui County and within Nairobi to collect data. UNFPA KCO will facilitate the field work logistics and will cover the travel related costs. 

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Social Sciences or related field: At least Master's degree in social sciences (such as sociology, anthropology, social work, psychology, or gender studies, demography/population studies, M&E) with a strong foundation in understanding social dynamics, human behavior, and the impact of interventions on individuals and communities.
• Research Methods: A strong background in both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies is crucial to design and execute a rigorous impact assessment that captures both the tangible and intangible outcomes of the project.
• Gender and Development: Expertise in gender and development issues, particularly in relation to GBV, is essential to understand the complex interplay of factors contributing to violence against women and to assess the project's effectiveness in addressing these issues.
  
   

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Monitoring and Evaluation: At least five years of experience in designing and implementing monitoring and evaluation frameworks for development projects, particularly those focused on social impact, will be highly valuable.
• Project Management: Familiarity with project management principles and practices will help ensure that the impact assessment is conducted efficiently and within the allocated time frame and resources.
• Fashion and Design: While not mandatory, an understanding of the fashion and design industry can provide valuable insights into the project's specific context and potential impact pathways.
• Experience in Kenya: Knowledge of the local context, cultural nuances, and specific challenges related to GBV in Kenya will be beneficial for conducting a culturally sensitive and contextually relevant impact assessment.
• Strong Analytical and Communication Skills: The ability to analyze complex data, draw meaningful conclusions, and communicate findings clearly and effectively to diverse audiences is critical.
• Cultural Sensitivity and Empathy: Demonstrated sensitivity to the needs and experiences of GBV survivors and the ability to build trust and rapport with young women participating in the project.
• Ethical Considerations: A strong understanding of ethical principles in research and evaluation, particularly when working with vulnerable populations.

Languages: 

Fluency in  English and Kiswahili is required. Expertise in English (Reading, Writing and – Speaking).

 

Interested consultants are requested to submit to UNFPA: 

a. Up‐to‐date curriculum vitae(s) and A recent sample of an assignment of similar nature, that you have developed as a consultant; (attach as one document)

b. Overall understanding of the technical proposal describing the methodology of undertaking the task. (attach the proposal in place of cover letter as you complete the application in the system)

 

The proposal should be attached before submission of the application (in place of cover letter) Proposals should not exceed 5MB 

 

Proposal Subject: Expression of Interest: Impact Assessment Consultancy of The Story She Wears” Programme in Kenya

 

Required Competencies: 

Values:

Exemplifying integrity, 

Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 

Embracing cultural diversity, 

Embracing change

 

Core Competencies: 

Achieving results,

Being accountable,

Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,

Thinking analytically and strategically,

Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

 

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

 

Disclaimer:

 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.