CONSULTANT FOR RWVL POLITICAL ECONOMY ANALYSIS (PEA)

Background 

The Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership Nigeria (RWVL-N) Project is a five-year initiative (2024–2029) funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by ActionAid Nigeria. Building upon the successes of the initial phase, which supported over 100 women led organizations and over 7 million women and girls across Nigeria. The RWVL-N Project aims to further strengthen the capacity of at least 188 women led organizations (WROs) and their networks. The project focuses on enhancing institutional and programmatic capacities of WROs, promoting gender equality, and supporting feminist movements across Bauchi, Kebbi, Kwara, Enugu, Cross River, Lagos, Imo, and Benue States.   

Purpose of the Political Economy Analysis (PEA) for the RWVL-N Project 

The primary objective of this consultancy is to undertake a comprehensive Political Economy Analysis (PEA) in the RWVL-N project implementation states to generate evidence that will strengthen ActionAid Nigeria’s efforts in promoting gender equality and supporting Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs), WHRD and their Movements. This analysis seeks to critically examine the enabling and constraining factors within the political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal contexts that shape the landscape of women’s rights programming and gender equality advancement in Nigeria, with specific focus on the RWVL-N project states 

The study aims to: 

1. To understand the political, economic, and social dynamics that influence the performance, sustainability, and impact on WROs WHRD and Movement to be supported by the RWVL-N project. 

2. To analyze the distribution and exercise of power among critical actors—such as government institutions, civil society, traditional leaders, and the private sector—and how these dynamics affect policy decisions, resource distribution, and implementation. 
3. To generate evidence-based and context-specific recommendations to enhance the RWVL-N project’s strategic planning, policy engagement, and intervention design to achieve greater impact in advancing women’s rights and feminist leadership. 
4. To Identify key formal and informal structures, actors, and power relations that affect gender equality and women’s rights, including those that either advance or obstruct transformative feminist action 
5. To provide practical, evidence-based recommendations to inform the design, adaptation, and implementation of RWVL-N strategies and interventions, ensuring they are politically smart, context-responsive, and effective in driving transformative change. 

The primary objective of this consultancy is to conduct a comprehensive Political Economy Analysis (PEA) in the RWVL-N project implementation states and provide evidence to support ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) in the following areas: 

Scope of Work 

The consultant will conduct a comprehensive desk review as a foundational component of Political Economy Analysis. This will involve a detailed analysis of existing literature, reports, datasets, and policy documents produced within the last five years related to gender equality, women’s rights, and civil society in Nigeria. The desk review will establish contextual understanding and further inform data collection and stakeholder engagement. 

The review should cover, but not be limited to, the following: 

• Analysis of existing literature, reports, and data related to gender equality, women's rights, and civil society in Nigeria with the last 5 years. 
• Mapping of Feminist Movements in Nigeria, analysing evolution, gains, challenges, and opportunities for collective actions that advance women’s rights. 
• Funding landscape for Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs), Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs), and Feminist Movements.  
• Review of gender and women’s rights related policies, laws, and frameworks at national, state and institutional level particulary looking at existence,status of implementation, gaps, opportunities for  womens rights organisations to leverage on low aning fruits to drive their agenda.  
• Examine gender and women’s rights-related policies, laws, and frameworks at national, state and institutional level  with a focus on their existence, implementation status, gaps, and strategic entry points that women’s rights organizations can leverage to advance their advocacy and influence policy change. 
• Provide actionable recommendations for effective development, passage and implementations of gender and women rights related policies. 
• Analyse the following: 
• Progress made, gaps, challenges and opportunities in Increasing women and girls’ participation in leadership and decision-making platforms RWVL states. 
• Efforts toward achieving women’s economic empowerment and justice, identifying key trends, barriers, and enabling factors. 
• Interventions addressing gender-based violence and their effectiveness, inclusion prevention, response, and survivor support mechanisms. 
• Status of women’s SRHR, including access to services, rights awareness, and policy implementation 
• Progress and gaps in promoting girls’ access to and retention in quality education. 
• Inclusion of women and girls in the digital economy, including access to digital tools, digital literacy, and participation in tech spaces. 

1. Fieldwork: 

• Conduct field visits to the RWVL-N Project states: Bauchi, Cross River, Enugu, Lagos, Kwara, Kebbi, Benue, Imo, and the FCT to carry out indebt analyses.  
• Engage with key stakeholders, including WROs, WHRD, networks and Movements, Women and Girls in conflict regions, women with disability and other marginalized groups, government agencies, policy makers traditional and religious leaders, and community members. 

2. Stakeholder Analysis: 

• Identify and map key actors, their interests, influence, and relationships. 
• Assess the roles of different stakeholders in promoting or hindering gender equality. 

3. Power Analysis: 

• Examine the formal and informal power structures affecting WROs, WHRD, Women rights Networks, movements, and marginalized groups. 
• Analyze how these dynamics influence policy implementation and women's participation in decision-making processes, gender-based violence, women’s sexual and reproductive health rights, women’s economic empowerment and Justice and Funding of women movements and organizations 

4. Risk and Opportunity Assessment: 

• Identify potential risks and challenges facing WROs. 
• Highlight opportunities for strategic engagement and advocacy. 

5. Reporting: 

• Prepare a comprehensive PEA report with findings, analyses, and recommendations. 
• Present findings to ActionAid Nigeria and relevant stakeholders. 
• Provide Actionable recommendations targeting RWVL partners and stakeholders. 

Source:  

The consultant is expected to conduct a desk review and carry out informal interviews with key staff, representatives of relevant NGOs/CSOs, ActionAid Nigeria partners and networks, as well as government institutions and agencies. If the consultant chooses to work with a team, they will be fully responsible for the recruitment, management, and payment of team members, as well as for all direct and indirect actions of the team. 

Expectations  

• The consultants will be expected to provide periodic updates on progress of the assessment to the RWVL Programme Team.  
• The final PEA report should be clear, concise and relevant, with a maximum length of 70 pages, and should contain tables, charts, mapping documents, and comprehensive list of stakeholders as annexes to the document. 
• A summarised report of not more than 20 pagest highlighing the methodology, key findings, and recommendatons.  

Délivrables 

Reporting and Supervision 

The consultant will report directly to the RWVL-N Project Manager at ActionAid Nigeria. Regular updates will be provided to ensure alignment with project objectives. 

Qualifications and Experience 

• PhD in Gender or Advanced degree in Gender Studies, Development Studies, Social sciences and any other related fields. 
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in conducting political economy analyses, preferably in Nigeria or similar contexts. 
• Strong understanding of feminist programming, research and evaluation, gender equality, women's rights, and civil society dynamics in Nigeria. 
• Strong relationships and experience in engaging relevant stakeholders such as policymakers, government officials, and opinion leaders. 
• Proven experience in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. 
• Excellent analytical, writing, communication and presentation skills. 

Application Process 

Interested candidates should submit the following: 

• A detailed CV highlighting relevant experience. 
• A technical proposal outlining the approach and methodology. 
• A financial proposal detailing the consultancy fee and any other costs. 
• Samples of previous work related to political economy analysis or similar assignments. 
• Proof of registration with relevant tax authorities 

Confidentiality 

All information obtained during the consultancy will be treated with the utmost confidentiality. The consultant will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement prior to commencement. 

Ethical Considerations 

The consultant must adhere to ActionAid Nigeria's ethical guidelines and policies, ensuring respect for human rights, gender equality, and cultural sensitivities throughout the assignment. 

Submission of EOI: Expression of Interest should be submitted electronically to Procurement.Nigeria@actionaid.org not later than 20th of May 2025 as late submissions will not be accepted 

Ensure the subject line of your email "EOI: Terms of Reference (ToR) Consultant for Political Economy Analysis (PEA)” 

(PEA)Note: This ToR is subject to revisions based on feedback from stakeholders and evolving project needs. 

Only successful applicants will be contacted for the next stage of the procurement process.