1. Introduction
Women’s Empowerment Link (WEL) is a nonprofit, non-partisan, non-governmental women’s right organization that is committed to empowering women and girls to realize their full potential, worth, and strength politically, socially and economically through advocating for opportunities that explore their potential. WEL prides in contributing to the national and local agenda that promotes gender equality and women’s empowerment on social, political and economic spheres.
WEL has four (4) priority areas (pillars) viz. ; Transformative leadership, which seeks to increase the number of women in leadership positions (decision making positions), be they appointed, elected or nominated; Elimination of Violence against Women & Girls, a focus areas that aims to facilitate development, promotion and enforcement of appropriate mechanisms for prevention, protection and response to violence against women; Sustainable Livelihoods for Women, focusing on strengthening the livelihoods base of women, especially their capacity to engage in successful business enterprises; and Institutional Development, an inward looking area of focus that seeks to assure the organizational wellbeing of WEL – to be a dynamic, effective and sustainable women and girls’ rights organization.
WEL in the past spearheaded the development of the Kenya Women’s National Charter and the subsequent National Action Plan in collaboration with 43 likeminded partner organizations under the auspices of Mwamko Mpya: Uongozi Bora Initiative bringing together the National Gender & Development Commission, currently the National Gender & Equality Commission, Ministry of Gender and Social development currently State Department of Gender Affairs Under the Ministry of Public Service Youth and Gender Affairs through a consultative process with 21 counties.
The Charter was developed in an effort to promote women’s substantive recognition as citizens whilst ensuring that the gains in the constitution are implemented. The information contained in the Charter encompasses women’s political, social, economic and cultural women rights. The Charter’s Preamble locates the theory and ideology for advancing women’s empowerment and gender equality. It, acknowledges the progress within each of the themes, notes the gaps and urges actions from both government and civil society in respect to the promotion and the realization of these rights of women. It is a tool developed for collective advocacy, accountability and monitoring to promote transformative leadership and good governance that is gender sensitive. This tool sets the women’s agenda on social, political and economic issues that must be addressed for the wellbeing of the Kenyan family unit. It is a demand tool that facilitates accelerated women gains in the Kenyan Constitution.
The National Democratic Institute (NDI) – Win with Women Global Action Plan outlines practical recommendations to help political parties broaden their appeal by becoming more inclusive and representative. Conceived at the 2003 Win with Women: Strengthen Political Parties Global Forum, the Plan comprises the experiences and advice of women political party leaders from around the world.
The Plan is organized around four main themes which address women’s participation as voters, political party leaders, candidates and elected officials.

2. Promoting women’s participation as candidates in the 2017 elections Project Overview
WEL in partnership with NDI under the Kenya Electoral Assistance Program (KEAP) component two will running a program aimed at strengthening the capacity of upcoming women leaders to effectively engage in transformative leadership and governance. The project will undertake policy advocacy within political parties to promote strategic placement of women in ‘winnable’ positions.
Specifically, this project seeks to address the challenges facing women in Kenya’s political processes and leadership by ensuring that political parties go beyond the mere inclusion of gender quotas in their policy documents into a realm that brings them into decision making organs as a strategy for empowerment. It also aims at developing deliberate programs for positioning women to engage meaningfully in politics. Women candidates will be engaged in advocating for an enabling policy-driven environment that has the potential of integrating them in main-stream political parties and leadership processes. The aim of this advocacy will be to enhance coordination, capacity building thus enhancing visibility of the women movement, propelling women issues within political parties.

3. Background to the project
The Constitution of Kenya espouses the rights of women as being equal in law to men, and entitled to enjoy equal opportunities in the political, social and economic spheres. Article 81 (b) which refers to the general principles of Kenya’s electoral system states ‘the electoral system shall comply with the following principle – (b) not more than two-thirds of the members of elective public bodies shall be of the same gender. Article 27 goes further to obligate the Government to develop and pass policies and laws, including affirmative action programs and policies to address the past discrimination that women have faced. The government is required to develop policies and laws to ensure that, not more than two-thirds of elective or appointive bodies shall be of the same sex. Despite Article 177 ensuring that Articles 81(b) and 27 (8) of the CoK, 2010 are complied with at the County Assemblies through the nomination of representative of the marginalized and minority. Unfortunately, there are no such provision for the National Assembly and the Senate.
Despite these provisions, Kenya is yet to fully achieve equality at all levels and more so at the political leadership front as reflected in the 2013 general elections where only 53 women were elected into parliament, and 33 nominated on various affirmative action provisions. The total number of 86 women legislators out of the 418 Members of Parliament (20.1%) still falls short of the envisaged two third gender rule in the constitution. The deficit in number of women in parliament poses a challenge for parliament as it renders the current parliament unconstitutional. Various proposals have been brought forth solve this impasse but to date there is no definite way forward on the two thirds gender rule.
To ensure that there is a change in the narrative and that there is equality in leadership, there is need for deliberate efforts to continuously support and build the capacity of women leaders to participate and be represented in political leadership.

4. The consultancy
This Consultancy Contributes to one of the three Project objectives. The Consultancy seeks to enhance support for women leaders within political parties through advocacy for enforcement of party laws for inclusion of women in party structures and inclusive, transparent and fair elections processes. This has been envisioned as a process that is anchored by the Kenya Women’s National Charter and the NDI global women action plan for women in politics[1] to develop a Women’s political Parties Charter.
This Women’s Political Parties Charter will be a women’s advocacy tool for enabling women’s effective engagement in Political Parties. The tool will consolidate the advocacy agenda to ensure parties observe the principles set out in the Constitution, electoral laws, party policies and international obligations. This will enhance women’s engagement so as to address gender inequality, ensure women’s equal participation in governance within the parties, through the pre, during and post elections period including the composition of National and County Legislative institutions.
5. Specific terms of reference
a. To Develop the Women’s political Parties Charter through a Consultative process that draws its mandate from the Women aspirants, Legal advisors and CSOs
b. Facilitate a national congress of women from Political Parties that will validate the tool and adopt the charter as the official women document for advocacy
6. Scope of work of the consultant
The consultant will use universally agreed Laws and Collaborative approaches to develop the Women’s Political Parties Charter. The consultant will undertake the following activities to inform the completion of the Charter:
1) Develop and an inception report that will outline the proposed methodology to undertake this assignment to achieve the specific terms of reference outlined above.
2) In consultation with WEL staff, develop a Charter Communication Strategy that will result into shared vision and action amongst the stakeholders to produce a widely accepted Charter.
3) Carry out a needs assessment for women aspirants that will flag out issues to address and gaps that undermine women’s effective engagement with political parties and opportunities for expanding existing spaces
7. Deliverables for the consultancy
1) Inception report detailing the methodology to be employed in conducting the assignment to achieve the expected deliverables.
2) A widely accepted Women’s Political Parties Charter
3) A final Report indicating the process and recommendations for Dissemination.
8. Requirements for the consultancy
1) Experience with Elections Management Legal and Operating Environment
2) Experience in Development of Joint/ Shared Strategies for Governance and Leadership
3) Experience in Gender Equality and Rights Based Approaches
4) Demonstrated ability to work in a team as well as independently
5) Excellent written and oral communication skills.
6) Ability to build networks drawn from different sectors and background.
7) Ability to manage crisis , Conflict, and problem solving
9. WEL’s support for the assignment
The consultancy shall be managed by WEL. In addition, WEL will provide the following:
1) Documents of reference relevant to the assignment.
2) Logistical support to the consultant while undertaking the assignment.
3) Support in the review of the Charter development process and final deliverables of the consultancy in addition to ensuring quality assurance.
4) Pay for the consultancy upon completion of major milestones and submission of the deliverables to WEL.

10. Duration of consultancy.
The maximum number of days allowable for the assignment shall not exceed twenty (20) days, and (in any case) the consultancy must be finalized on or before 16th December 2016. The consultant must be ready to start work immediately upon engagement and can be an individual or a firm.

11. Expression of interest
Consultants who meet the above requirements should submit their proposal that include the following:
1. A capability statement (not exceeding one page), including a firm commitment to be available to undertake the entire assignment.
2. An understanding and interpretation of the ToR including methodology to be used in undertaking the assignment.
3. Time and activity schedule.
4. A detailed financial proposal, including consultant’s fees. The financial proposal should include cost per major activity. Quote in Kenya Shillings
5. Updated Company Profile/curriculum vita that clearly spells out qualifications and experience.
6. Executive summaries of 2 reports of previous work conducted in relevant assignments.
7. Contacts of at least 2 organizations previously worked for.
[1] https://www.ndi.org/files/Global_Action_Plan_NDI_English.pdf

HOW TO APPLY:
Interested and qualified consultants should submit EOI by 31st October 2016 5.00pm by email to:info@wel.or.ke containing the technical and financial proposals. Please indicate the consultancy you are applying for in the title of your email.
The proposals should be addressed to:
The Procurement Committee,
Women’s Empowerment Link
P.O. Box 22574 00100
Nairobi, Kenya