Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) is an international economic development organization whose mission is to create business solutions to poverty. MEDA was founded in 1953 by a group of Mennonite entrepreneurs. MEDA partners with people living in poverty to start or grow small and medium-sized businesses in developing regions around the world. MEDA works alongside partners and clients, projected by both private and institutional donors to find business solutions to poverty. With funding from the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada, the Youth Entrepreneurship and Women’s Empowerment in Northern Nigeria project (Nigeria WAY) was designed with an ultimate outcome to increase contribution by entrepreneurs (ENs) and small-scale businesses (SSBs), particularly those run by women and youth, to Nigeria’s economic growth. Efforts in the sixth year of project implementation focused on strengthening gender equality and actions geared towards sustainability of the Project activities. One of the strategic steps towards sustainability included the establishment of Empowerment Learning Centers (ELCs) across the seven LGAs.
The ELCs serve as a hub for the exchange of knowledge. The ELCs comprised champions in the various thematic areas of MEDA interventions (Gender Action Learning System (GALS) Champions, Village Agents (VAs), Women in Business Forum (WIBFo) within the LGAs and MEDA Desk officers existing LGA facility. The leadership of the ELCs in the LGAs was selected by all MEDA clients to serve as the working committee to oversee the affairs of the ELCs. The function of the ELCs requires ELCs leadership as well as members to have a corresponding capacity to govern effectively, expanding operation and participation. It requires individuals that are selfless and passionate about development of their local communities. MEDA acknowledges that effective management and focused leadership is vital in addressing organizational and community challenges. Leadership is built on solid management skills and therefore the Nigeria WAYs seeks to enhance the existing organizational strengths of the ELCs through training; on good leadership and governance principles (participation, accountability, transparency, efficiency, and dynamism) to support their ability to make sound responsive decisions on behalf of their team and the entire people of the communities. This training is a capacity building activity to enhance a set of skills to develop a clear and structured 3-5- year strategic plan for ELC sustainability and continuity.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Consultant – Implementing Inclusive Leadership Empowerment Action for Development (iLEAD) Methodology
Location: Bauchi
Employment Type: Contract
Expected to Collaborate with: The Gender Coordinator at MEDA and the local organizations.
Proposed Period and Duration of Consultancy: Assignment will run for period of 20 days from May 2nd – May 29th, 2023
Objective of the Consultancy
- Nigeria WAY is recruiting competent and experienced Consultants that will facilitate the Inclusive Leadership Empowerment Action for Development (iLEAD) methodology drawn from the Gender Action Learning System (GALS) method for training of ELC Leadership.
- The proposed capacity building training aims to provide the essentials necessary for supporting and sustaining leadership qualities and management performances of ELC leadership. It will support participants find a balance between achieving results and developing their teams as the key to successful management.
- The objective of the training is to enable ELCs to support organizational growth, and development of her leaders so that they can perform their role effectively and efficiently.
- The training is critical for the sustainability of the ELCs, and other interventions supported by MEDA. It will also help ELCs to build on the principles of transformative leadership and distributed/participative/collaborative leadership.
Scope of the Assignment
This assignment entails supporting and sustaining ELC leadership qualities and management performances. It will support participants to find a balance between achieving results and developing their teams as the key to successful management.
To this end the following tasks are envisioned:
- Training using phased iLEAD phased method of 10 ELCs leaders in 7 LGAs
- Support ELCs to develop strategic plan through training taking into consideration gender mainstreaming.
- Build awareness on good governance and leadership structure.
- Introduce good governance principles (inclusion, accountability, efficiency, transparency, anti-corruption, and rule of law).
- Reflect on the key components of a robust good governance with a focus on participation, equity, and inclusiveness.
- Seek women’s and youth’s full participation, increase their leadership skills, and enhance their participation in informal and formal decision-making processes.
The assignment covers the period from May 2nd – May 29th, 2023. and it is expected to have approximately 20 days level of effort.
Expected Outcomes
- Leadership vision and strategies for ELCs
- Establish trusting relationships across ELCs members.
- Improved right leadership skills and mindsets.
- Commitment to governance principles including diversity & Inclusion.
Deliverables
The following deliverables are expected during and at the end of the activities:
- Inception report with the training schedule for 7 LGA ELCs (10 people each), materials for iLEAD training and development of toolkit for iLEAD training
- 70 ELC leaders trained in the phased iLEAD method.
- 7 LGA level ELC vision, Mission statements, Objectives and Co-values for ELC development.
Reporting:
- The Consultants are expected to collaborate with the Gender Coordinator at MEDA and the local organizations.
Expertise Required
The Consultants must have:
- A Degree in a related field.
- Experience in using GALS methods with at least 5 years in the implementation of GALS methodology/approach in the agricultural sector.
- Experience in facilitation using adult participatory learning methods.
- Experience in Training of Trainers methods and adult learning.
- Understanding of gender issues.
- Good report writing skills.
- Knowledge of the local context.
- Knowledge of Hausa is preferred.
Application Closing Date
3rd April, 2023.
Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Expression of Interest to: [email protected] using the Job Title as the subject of the mail.
Important Information
The Expression of Interests should include:
- Cover Letter documenting experience, 2 references of previous work and detail availability for this assignment over the next 10 months.
- 2-page CVs indicating qualifications and work experience.
- Daily rate for consultants with history of this rate.
