Consultancy opportunity: An assessment of global economic policy formulation in relation to care economies, women’s rights and gender equality between At Christian Aid

Christian Aid is undertaking an evaluation that aims to understand what led to feminist economic justice advocates succeeding or not in influencing institutions towards adopting policies that advance feminist principles in the post-Covid 19 pandemic period. This exercise will consist in a mapping of broad feminist economic principles to the decision-making and praxis of selected international and regional economic institutions and fora between 2019 and 2023. By establishing what meaningful progress towards these feminist principles looks like for a selection of these institutions and analysing what and who has led to the current outcomes across different institutions, we aim to offer reflections to support feminist economic justice advocates to pursue effective strategies for change in future. We are seeking the support of a consultant for this important research, particularly by supporting primary data collection and the production of the research outputs. We are looking to onboard a consultant as soon as possible, to also help shape the overall design and direction of the research as it develops.

• Overview of the ResearchOverall Research Objectives:To contribute to the establishment of measurable benchmarks for analysing progress on integrating feminist economic principles in the practices of international and regional economic institutions and fora between 2019 and 2023.To investigate what shaped economic decision-making in relation to gender equality and women’s rights in selected global and regional institutions and fora between 2019 and 2023.To develop community-centric reflections among feminist economic justice advocates to help inform ongoing and future feminist advocacy strategies.Key research questions:
  1. Understanding the state of play: How did gender considerations show and evolve in the content and language of the policy and outcome documents of key global and regional economic forums and institutions between 2019 and 2023? What explicit and implicit narratives and ideologies underpin these considerations? What is the current status of implementation of feminist economic principles in the practices of key global and regional economic forums and institutions?
  2. Decision-making and power dynamics: What were the key drivers and who were the key actors that shaped global economic decision-making in relation to the care economy, women’s rights and gender equality in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic? Who drafted key policies? Who was consulted? Who were the key feminist economic advocates in these spaces? Which governments were involved and who was involved in those governments?
  3. Enabling context: What type of factors led to successes and failures in feminist economic policymaking in key global and regional economic forums and institutions between 2019 and 2023? What advocacy trajectories or strategies proved successful and what lessons can be learned to support feminist economic justice advocates in their engagement with key global and regional economic institutions?
  Research Methodology:This project will follow a qualitative research approach and a collaborative methodology. The overall research will be undertaken in four phases following distinct methodologies. The consultant will particularly contribute to Phases 3 and 4. Further details on the timelines and methodologies to be applied by the consultant are detailed further below.Phase 1 – Co-creation, Dec 2023 – Jan 2024Phase 2 – Literature Review and draft benchmarking, Feb-March 2024Phase 3 – Primary data collection, April-May 2024Phase 4 – Validating & producing outcomes, June-Sep 2024Institutional Scope:In first instance, this research will endeavour to better understand specific cases of policymaking in the following institutions between 2019 and 2023, at varying levels of depth, although these may be adjusted as the research develops:

1. In-depth analysis: IMF, World Bank Group, OECD
2. Medium-level analysis: ECLAC, UNECA, UNCTAD & UN Women
3. Top-level analysis: G20 and G7, selected regional development banks (IADB, AfDB), and the CEDAW Committee.EthicsThe proposed research is low risk. However, consultant(s) will be required to subject their research to scrutiny via the toolkits provided in section 3.2 of Christian Aid “Doing Research Ethically” Doing research ethically | Christian Aid

Consultant profile

• Proven understanding of the global financial and development architecture, how regional and global economic policy-making works and – critically – its gendered impacts. Knowledge of global economic policymaking during the Covid-19 pandemic is particularly valued.
• Proven understanding of feminist macroeconomic approaches, policy recommendations and at least basic knowledge of advocacy strategies to achieve these.
• Proven experience working directly or at least engaging with women’s rights organisations or movements working for women’s economic justice and a clear commitment to feminist ways of working.
• Demonstrable research experience, including research design, data collection through interviews and desk-based literature reviews. Knowledge of feminist research methodologies is a plus.
• Excellent writing skills.

How to apply

Proposals are to be submitted to eburgisser@christian-aid.org, lcaballero-sosa@christian-aid.org and jtom-kargbo@christian-aid.org by 8am GMT on Tuesday 5 March 2024. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by 5pm GMT on 6 March 2024 to arrange a 45 minute online call to discuss their proposal. Our preference would be for work to commence the third week of March.

We would be happy to answer any questions interested bidders may have. Please submit these to the above email addresses by midnight GMT on Tuesday 27 February 2024.We will share all questions received with their corresponding answers to all known bidders by 12noon on 29 February 2024.