International Consultant to Conduct capacity gap and Needs assessment of Government Ministries of African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI) target countries

Background:

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

Under the supervision of the AGGCI program coordinator and technical guidance of the monitoring and evaluation specialist at UN Women AU Liaison Office (AULO), the Consultant will be responsible for carrying out a capacity gap and needs assessment of the Government Ministries including (Education, Gender/Women’s affairs and ICT) of the 10 target countries.

Following and taking into consideration the key findings from the baseline study, which was conducted in 2022, the objective of the assessment is to identify existing strengths, gaps, needs and opportunities of the three relevant Ministries related to the integration of Gender, ICT, and Coding into national education systems or curricula. Based on the findings, the consultant will also design and develop a responsive plan to address identified gaps and needs of the three institutions/ministries.

The consultant will work closely with the AGCCI program coordinator, as well as designated programme focal points within the relevant UN Women Country Offices, who will facilitate coordination with government counterparts in each country. The 10 target countries participating in this assessment and capacity-building initiative include: Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa, Senegal, Mali, Burundi, Mozambique, Niger, and Tanzania The African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI) is  a  flagship,  multi-stakeholder  initiative which  was commissioned by UN Women, the International Telecommunication Union (lTU) in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, (HHSD) Department of Women, Gender and Youth Division (WGYD) and Department of Education, Science Technology and Innovation (ESTI). The initiative strategically contributes to the realization of the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 16–25) , the AU Digital Education Strategy and the broader Agenda 2063 goals on inclusive, equitable, and transformative education systems.

By targeting young girls aged 14–25, AGCCI addresses the critical intersection of gender, technology, and education, directly responding to CESA’s Strategic Objectives:

•   SO 2: Expand access to quality and relevant education and training;
•   SO 3: Harness the capacity of ICT to improve access and quality of education;
•   SO 7: Strengthen STI and research capacity across all levels;
•   SO 9: Promote gender equality and equity throughout education systems.

AGCCI is designed not merely as a training programme but as a systemic intervention to shift institutional cultures, educational content, and national policy landscapes toward gender- responsive, digitally driven education.

The initiative has four key pillars namely: (i) Coding camps provide hands-on coding and ICT training to equip girls with critical 21st-century skills. (ii) Mainstreaming of ICT, gender and coding into the national curricula, ensuring institutionalization beyond the life of the programme (iii) National media and advocacy campaigns and (iv) Use of the e-Learning and Mentorship platform.

Since 2018, AGCCI has adopted a phased and scalable model. Phase I, supported by the Government of Denmark, trained over 600 girls from 20+ countries. Phase II (2022–2023), supported by the Governments of Belgium and Siemens AG, expanded to 11 AU Member States. Coordination through the UN Women Liaison Office to the AU and UNECA, in partnership with national governments and AUC departments, has ensured policy alignment, national ownership, and strategic integration.

AGCCI also contributes directly to Agenda 2063 Aspiration 1: “A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development,” particularly its goal to build well-educated and skilled citizens and close the gender gap in all sectors of society—including in the digital and innovation economies.

To ensure the sustainability and impact of the African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI), UN Women Liaison Office to the African Union seeks to engage an International Consultant to conduct a rapid capacity gap and needs assessment of the three relevant Ministries mentioned above and develop a responsive plan based on the key findings

The international Consultant will report to the Special Representative to AU and ECA

DUTIES AND  RESPONSIBILITIES 

Under the direct supervision of the program coordinator and with the technical support of the monitoring and evaluation specialist at UN Women AULO and in close collaboration with the respective UN Women country offices and partners, the consultant will be responsible for carrying out the capacity gap and needs assessment of the three relevant Ministries from the
10 target  AGCCI  countries.  This engagement  must  be  strategically  aligned  with  broader
continental and global development frameworks. The consultant will be expected to ensure that  the  design and  implementation  of  the  response  plan  are  not  only  informed  by the assessment findings but are also responsive to Africa’s 21st-century development challenges in  education,  gender  equality,  and  youth  empowerment. This  includes  aligning with  and contributing to  frameworks  such  as the  Education  Strategy  for  Africa (CESA)  framework, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) strategies, and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, ensuring that the approach supports long-term systemic transformation and sustainable development outcomes. The consultant will be expected to perform the following specific key tasks:

1.   Designing the capacity gap and needs assessment: Define the scope, purpose, and key  questions  for  the  capacity  gap  assessment.  Prepare  an  inception  report detailing the overall capacity gap assessment and the capacity building training with a detailed work plan.
2.    Develop Data Collection Tools: Develop a survey questionnaire and submit the draft for review.
3.   Data analysis and report writing analyze the collected data, interpret and produce areport
Develop a response plan: Based on the findings of the assessment, develop a comprehensive response plan to address the identified gaps. The response plan should include a monitoring framework with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

DURATION OF THE CONSULTANCY

The assignment shall span a period of two months (six weeks) starting from the date of recruitment (first week of July)

PAYMENT MILESTONE
The consultant shall receive a negotiated lump sum fee on an installment basis upon satisfactory performance and delivery of the tasks under this TOR.

Deliverables

Competencies :

Core Values:

Core Competencies:

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework: 

Functional Competencies:

Education:
•     Master’s  degree  or  equivalent  , gender equality,  Education  or education and training policy, social sciences or other related areas is required.

• English (Mandatory), Level – Fluent
• Working knowledge of the French is also mandatory

Statements :

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)

Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.