Background
In the context of sustainable agricultural development, agricultural extension has a crucial role. However, Nigeria’s existing public agricultural extension service has many shortfalls, such as grossly inadequate and untimely funding and a weak research-extension-farmer ratio. There are weak farmers’ linkages to the inputs system; the extension system is still top-down, utilizing supply-driven extension approaches with poor targeting of women, youths, and vulnerable groups.
Gender inequalities limit agricultural productivity and efficiency and, in so doing, undermine development agendas. Failure to recognize the different roles of women and men is costly because it results in misguided projects and programmes, foregone agricultural output and incomes, and food and nutrition insecurity.
Nevertheless, discriminatory social and cultural norms continue to limit the participation of women and girls in economic life, particularly in rural areas. Traditional roles that assign women as the primary caregivers and their reproductive responsibilities often restrict their ability to engage in economic activities fully. It is, therefore, imperative to consider the critical contribution and role of women in agricultural production to move women, as the main farmers and producers in many parts of the world, including Nigeria, beyond production for subsistence into higher-value, market-oriented production.
To further integrate gender considerations into its interventions, AGRA plans to conduct capacity-building initiatives for Community -Based Advisors (CBAs), who serve as crucial community focal points. These CBAs are instrumental in mobilizing and reaching a broader network of farmers with sensitization messages. This effort builds on previous capacitybuilding actions, such as training on the digitization of CBAs (Crop In App, where about 400 CBAs were trained in June 2022. AGRA investments in Nigeria have also supported capacity building for CBAs along the Value chains. The study by IGNITE on the performance of CBAs involving 713 CBAs on the gender-informed approach to recruiting, training, and scaling the CBA model to increase the reach and impact of services provided to small-scale producers
The objective of the Consultancy
This consultancy aims to enhance gender integration practice in AGRA priority programs, projects and interventions.
The Specific objectives are to:
The Scope of Consultancy
This consultancy seeks to contribute to the following:
Prepare Facilitators’ Manual and accompanying Learners’ Manual on gender integration.
Expected Results and Deliverables
The expected outcomes of the training will be as follows:
a) Facilitators manual for gender integration training produced
b) Participants manual (with tasks, tools, and reading materials aligned with the facilitators manual) Specific Tasks
Qualifications and Experience
The Consultant will be required to have the following qualifications:
(i) Hold an advanced university degree (at least a Masters) in gender studies, social sciences, law, or a related field, with a minimum of 10 years of experience or equivalent, including at least 5 years of professional experience.
(ii) Have substantial experience in adult education and participatory learning approaches.
(iii) Have prior experience working on or supporting agricultural projects.
(iv) Experience in conducting similar assignments is an asset.
(v) Possess strong knowledge of gender integration and its practical applications.
(vi) Excellent facilitation, presentation and writing skills
(vii) Languages: fluency in spoken and written English is essential.
