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FAWE

Terms of Reference (TOR) For a Consultancy to Develop an Advocacy Strategy for the FAWE/Mastercard Foundation Phase II Scholarship Program

  1. About FAWE

The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) is a pan-African non-governmental organization founded in 1992 to promote girls’ and women’s education across sub-Saharan Africa. FAWE works through a network of 34 national chapters to ensure that African girls access, complete, and benefit from quality education and skills development. FAWE’s mission is to foster gender-responsive education systems that empower all learners, particularly girls and young women, to reach their full potential. Through evidence-based advocacy, partnerships, and innovative programming, FAWE seeks to transform education to be more inclusive, equitable, and transformative.

  1. Programme Context

The FAWE/Mastercard Foundation Phase II Program, titled Second Chance Pathways for Increased Access to Tertiary Education for Marginalized Young Women and Men, is a seven-year initiative (2024–2030) implemented across ten countries: Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Malawi, Ghana, Liberia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, and Senegal. The program seeks to support over 10,000 marginalized young people aged 15–25 years— including young people with disabilities and refugees—to transition from secondary education to tertiary education and, subsequently, into dignified and fulfilling employment or entrepreneurship. The initiative aligns with the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works Strategy, which seeks to enable 30 million young people, particularly women, to secure dignified and fulfilling work by 2030. FAWE’s overarching approach emphasizes innovation to create pathways for access to tertiary education, skilling, and dignified work for both young women and men. The program’s key objectives include:

  1. Expanding tertiary education access and skills development opportunities for marginalized youth;
  2. Introducing bridging programs and strengthening partnerships with tertiary institutions;
  3. Promoting gender-responsive teaching, learning, and institutional practices; and
  4. Supporting young entrepreneurs with training and start-up funding to foster job creation and inclusive growth.

To strengthen these outcomes, FAWE seeks to develop a comprehensive Advocacy Strategy that will guide coordinated, evidence-based advocacy and stakeholder engagement efforts across the 10 participating countries.

  1. Purpose of the Consultancy

The consultancy aims to develop an Advocacy Strategy that articulates FAWE’s priorities, approaches, and partnerships for influencing education, gender, and employment policies under the Mastercard Foundation Phase II Program. The strategy will serve as a roadmap for advancing systemic and sustainable changes by:

  1. Identifying policy and institutional reforms to expand equitable access to tertiary education and dignified work;
  2. Strengthening FAWE’s engagement with national governments, education institutions, private sector actors, and civil society; and
  3. Promoting visibility, policy dialogue, and stakeholder collaboration at national, regional, and continental levels.
  1. Scope of Work

The development of the Advocacy Strategy is a critical component of the FAWE/Mastercard Foundation Phase II Scholarship Programme, designed to translate the program’s objectives into actionable advocacy priorities and stakeholder engagement pathways. As a programme-specific strategy, it must be grounded in a thorough understanding of the Phase II proposal—its goals, expected outcomes, and implementation approach. Accordingly, the consultant will be expected to review the Phase II program proposal and other relevant documentation to extract and align the advocacy elements embedded within the program’s design. This review will inform a coherent strategy that clearly articulates what FAWE and its national chapters should advocate for, who the key targets and partners are, and how advocacy will contribute to achieving the programme’s broader outcomes on tertiary access, gender equality, and youth employability. The advocacy strategy should therefore:

  • Refine the core advocacy focus areas and desired policy or system-level changes based on the program’s priorities;
  • Identify strategic entry points for influencing education, gender, and employment policy agendas across the ten participating countries;
  • Articulate clear advocacy goals, messages, and approaches tailored to national and regional contexts;
  • Propose mechanisms for leveraging FAWE’s networks, evidence, and partnerships to amplify influence; and
  • Ensure alignment with Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy and FAWE’s broader gender-transformative education agenda.

This approach will ensure that the advocacy strategy serves as both a guiding framework for action and a tool for accountability and learning throughout programme implementation.

Thus, the consultant or consulting firm will undertake the following tasks:

  1. Proposal review: In liaison with the Advocacy Unit, review the program proposal to understand the advocacy requirements.
  2. Situational and Stakeholder Analysis
  • Review relevant program documents, FAWE advocacy frameworks, and Mastercard Foundation strategies.
  • Analyze national and regional policy landscapes in the 10 program countries.
  • Map key stakeholders and assess opportunities and challenges for policy influence.
  • Development of the Advocacy Strategy
  • Define the vision, objectives, and guiding principles of advocacy work.
  • Identify priority themes (e.g., inclusive tertiary education, gender-responsive teaching, youth employability, and entrepreneurship).
  • Propose regional and country-level advocacy entry points, strategies, and partnerships.
  • Develop key messages, policy influence pathways, and communication approaches.
  1. Implementation and Monitoring Framework
  • Design an actionable plan outlining activities, timelines, and roles at regional and country levels.
  • Develop a monitoring and learning framework with indicators for tracking progress and outcomes.
  1. Validation and Finalization
  • Present the draft strategy to the FAWE Regional Secretariat and the FAWE Chapters for input.
  • Incorporate feedback and finalize the Advocacy Strategy and Implementation Plan.
  1. Expected Deliverables
  1. Inception Report detailing the consultant’s understanding, methodology, and work plan.
  2. Situational and Stakeholder Analysis Report.
  3. Draft Advocacy Strategy, including the strategic framework, themes, and communication approach.
  4. Implementation and Monitoring Framework.
  5. Final Validated Advocacy Strategy Document.
  1. Duration and Timeline

The assignment will be conducted over eight to ten (8–10) weeks, commencing on November 20, 2025, with the final submission of the strategy expected by February 28, 2026. A detailed timeline will be agreed upon during the inception phase.

  1. Consultant Qualifications and Experience

The ideal consultant or firm should possess the following qualifications:

  1. Advanced degree in Education, Development Studies, Gender, Public Policy, or related fields.
  2. At least 7 years of relevant experience in developing advocacy or policy influence strategies, preferably in education, gender equality, or youth empowerment sectors.
  3. Demonstrated experience working with multi-country or regional programs in Africa.
  4. Strong understanding of gender-transformative and inclusive education frameworks.
  5. Proven facilitation, analytical, and strategic communication skills.
  6. Excellent written and oral communication in English and/or French.
  1. Reporting and Coordination

The consultant will report to the FAWE Regional Secretariat’s Executive Director and will work closely with the Senior Advocacy and Partnerships Officer. In addition, the Consultant will closely interact with the Programs Department in charge of the FAWE/Mastercard Foundation Programme, and the Executive Directors in the 10 countries.

  1. Application Process

Interested consultants or firms are invited to submit:

  1. A technical proposal detailing their understanding of the assignment, methodology, and work plan;
  2. A financial proposal, including a detailed budget (in USD) and all applicable taxes; and
  3. A profile highlighting relevant experience and examples of similar assignments.

All submissions should be sent by email to the Executive Director, FAWE Africa, emailed to; procurement@fawe.org  with the subject line: ADVOCACY STRATEGY FOR THE FAWE/MASTERCARD FOUNDATION PHASE II PROGRAM to reach FAWE not later than midnight 12th November, 2025. Only email applications and firms that meet the set requirements will be considered. Responses shall only be sent to successful firms.

  1. Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

  1. Technical understanding and methodology (40%)
  2. Relevant experience and qualifications (35%)
  3. Work plan and timeline (10%)
  4. Financial proposal (15%)
  1. Expected Start Date

The assignment is expected to commence on November 25th, 2025

 

To apply for this job email your details to procurement@fawe.org.