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Consultancy Terms of Reference and Person Specification:
Capacity Building Lead, La Pépinière: DFID DRC Adolescent Girls Programme
Summary
Social Development Direct (SDDirect) is currently looking for a Capacity Building Lead to lead the
development of and ensure effective, timely and high quality delivery of the capacity building component of
“La Pépinière”, DFID DRC’s Programme for Adolescent Girls, aiming to empower adolescent girls and young
women. We encourage qualified applicants to apply as soon as possible.
We encourage applicants to apply immediately. A version of this Terms of Reference can be made available
in French upon request.
Start Date: June 2015
Duration of contract: to September 2017
Travel: Involves regular travel to Kinshasa
Reporting to: Team Leader
Indicative number of days: inception 50, implementation 50 (total 100, timing to be agreed with Team
Leader)
Background
La Pépinière is a programme of learning, capacity building and innovation with the overall objective to
promote the economic empowerment of adolescent girls and young women in the Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC). The programme is supported by the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
A consortium led by SDDirect working in partnership with the Centre Régional de Recherche et de
Documentation sur les Femmes, le Genre et la Construction de la Paix dans la région des Grands Lacs
(CERED-GL) in Kinshasa and M&C Saatchi World Services was selected through a competitive process to
implement the initial three-year inception period of the programme from April 2015 to September 2017.
This phase is focused on learning and capacity building, to produce the evidence and engagement to design
effective innovations in a future phase of La Pépinière from 2017. In the first instance, the programme is
focused on Kinshasa province.
In the inception period of this first phase of La Pépinière, from April to December 2015, the capacity building
stream will deliver an initial stakeholder mapping, and scoping of programmes relevant to adolescent girls
economic empowerment in the DRC, a capacity needs assessment and feasibility study and as well as a
capacity building strategy and some initial capacity building activities . The learning workstream will deliver
an evidence paper on what works’ to support adolescent girls’ economic empowerment; a media and
communications landscape survey; and a situation analysis (based on qualitative and quantitative research)
of adolescent girls and their economic empowerment in Kinshasa, and a proposal for ‘mini-pilots’ based on
this evidence. In the inception period, both a physical and a virtual hub will be established to enable both
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dissemination and uptake of research as well as provide a shared working and learning space and,
potentially, a venue for capacity building activities. The 21-month implementation period (from January
2016 to September 2017) will deliver targeted capacity building activities as well as a series of further
research studies and evidence papers and implement some mini-pilots, all of which will inform the design of
the second phase, to include an innovation fund.
Role purpose and responsibilities
The role of the Capacity Building Lead is to oversee the development and implementation of a capacity
building strategy for key stakeholders in DRC including DFID programme partners, other donors, GODRC and
civil society to enable them to improve the design and delivery of policies and programmes for adolescent
girls in particular, and promoting gender equality, in general. In addition, the Capacity Building Lead will
liaise with and help build the capacity and interest of organisations outside DRC who may be interested in
engaging in DRC in the area of girls’ economic empowerment.
The capacity building lead can be based internationally or in Kinshasa. The role requires an estimated 100
days of work over May/June 2015 to end September 2017, of which approximately half would be during the
inception phase. Depending on location, he / she will be line managed by the overall Technical Lead for La
Pépinière (in UK) or the Team Leader (based in Kinshasa for the implementation phase from January 2016).
He/she will work closely with and oversee the activities of the Capacity Building Manager based in Kinshasa
and potentially other consultants as needed to deliver the capacity building plan and related activities.
The detailed responsibilities and deliverables below relate to the inception phase. Roles and activities for
the implementation phase will be confirmed at the end of the inception phase subject to programme and
client requirements.
Key responsibilities and deliverables
Deliverables for which the Capacity Building Lead will be directly accountable:
(Inception Phase: 9 months)
 Developing good working relationships with and influencing key stakeholders relevant to adolescent girls
in DRC – donors, government, civil society, and the private sector
 Initial stakeholder mapping and networking process and selection of organisations for future capacity
building support1
 Design and management of Capacity Needs Assessment and feasibility study, working with in country
capacity building manager
 Development of capacity building strategy and plan for La Pépinière
 Contributing to the setting up and smooth running of the physical hub, which will be a working space for
La Pépinière team as well as a resource and knowledge space for training and exchange
 Contributing to the setting up and smooth running of the virtual hub
 Ensuring synergies between capacity building and communications and research uptake activity
(Implementation Phase: 21 months)
 Oversight, design and sometimes direct delivery of of specific capacity building activities and training on
programming to support adolescent girls’/ women’s economic empowerment in line with agreed
capacity building strategy - with key DFID partners, other donors, GODRC and civil society (ongoing,
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This activity is already underway.
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activities to be identified). Setting up systems for and ongoing management of a responsive ‘expert
pool’ to deliver capacity building activities / training/ advisory services
On-going maintenance of good working relationships with and influencing key stakeholders relevant to
adolescent girls in DRC – donors, government, civil society, and the private sector
Oversight and sometimes direct delivery of early engagement and mentoring/ capacity building activities
with potential grantees to ensure a pipeline of suitable innovation projects (2017)
Skills and Competencies
Essential

A postgraduate degree in development, gender or related field

Expertise in gender and women’s empowerment, preferably with a specific understanding of economic
aspects of empowerment

At least ten years experience working in international development

Expertise in carrying out needs assessments for capacity building purposes and of developing capacitybuilding strategies, or demonstrable equivalent experience

Experience of designing, managing and delivering training and capacity building interventions

Commitment to girl-led participation principles and experience of empowering and participatory
approaches to working with young people or other social groups

Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain strong working relationships with donors, government
officials and civil society organisations and of convening multi-stakeholder dialogues

Flexible and responsive ways of working to take advantage of opportunities and respond to emerging
needs

Experience of working in a francophone African context, preferably DRC

Fluency in French and English – both oral and written

Strong oral and written communications skills and team working skills

Willingness and ability to travel periodically to Kinshasa
Desirable
 Experience and expertise in one of more of the following sectors: markets based livelihoods; education;
health and family planning; water and sanitation
 Knowledge of DFID policies and programmes on women and girls
 Specific expertise on adolescent girls (e.g. research, programming, policy)
 Specific knowledge and experience of working in the DRC context
 Previous experience of working for DFID
To apply
Please apply by cover letter and CV. Applications in French or English will be accepted. Your cover letter
should clearly outline how you meet each of the qualifications listed above. Please send to
nicole@sddirect.org.uk as soon as possible. Applications for this role will be reviewed on a rolling basis as we
are looking to fill this role immediately.
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