Tenders Are Invited For Strategic Analysis Of Gender And Youth In Transhumance Systems

Tenders are invited for Strategic Analysis of Gender and Youth in Transhumance Systems. Closing Date: 10 Oct 2025 Type: Consultancy Themes: Climate Change and Environment/Gender Organization: Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Presentation of the organization The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is an American non-profit organization founded in 1895 that works to preserve wildlife and wildlife by identifying critical problems, developing science-based solutions, and carrying out conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term engagements in dozens of landscapes, a presence in more than 60 countries, and experience in establishing more than 150 protected areas around the world, WCS has accumulated biological and socio-cultural knowledge of the affected areas, and built strong partnerships, to ensure that wild spaces and wildlife thrive alongside local communities. In collaboration with local communities and organizations, this knowledge informs our strategies for managing species, habitats, and ecosystems, which are critical to improving the quality of life of poor rural people whose livelihoods depend on the direct use of natural resources. The Sudano-Sahelian region (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Nigeria and Chad) offers an unprecedented opportunity to play a direct role in preserving some of the worlds last intact wilderness areas, and to contribute significantly to the safety of people and wildlife. The regions savannahs, forests, and wetlands are home to key populations of elephants, northern giraffes, lions, elk, chimpanzees, gorillas, and endangered bongos. Hundreds of species of birds are present in the area, including the shoebill and the crowned crane. Communities also depend on this land for their livelihoods, through animal husbandry, agriculture, fishing and hunting. WCS has a strong presence in the Sudano-Sahelian region, where it has a long history of conservation and a proven track record in the management of protected areas. We are actively working to support protected area management and wildlife law enforcement, local livelihoods, develop partnerships between conservation and security, strengthen anti-trafficking activities, and implement our policy and science agendas. Project: PAIRIAC (Programme to Support Regional Integration and Investment in Central Africa)) Localization: Northern Cameroon or Chad Estimated duration: 30 business days over a 3-month period, ideally as early as November 2025 Budget: 15 000 EUR 1. Background and Rationale The PAIRIAC project is a cornerstone of WCSs overall strategy for the Sudano-Sahelian region, which aims to strengthen socio-ecological resilience in landscapes that are critical to biodiversity and human livelihoods. One of the central axes of this strategy is to address the challenges and opportunities of transhumant pastoralism. Our approach aims to mitigate resource-related conflicts, secure pastoral mobility, strengthen community-based governance of natural resources, and reduce pressure on protected areas. Experience shows that gender-neutral conservation and development interventions are not only inequitable, but also ineffective. They fail to truly build community resilience because they neglect the roles, knowledge, vulnerabilities and contributions of half the community. However, women have an important role in pastoralist societies. They manage household feeding, are key actors in dairy and small ruminant value chains, and have unique knowledge of water resources and rangelands. Similarly, young people represent the future of pastoralism, but their disengagement from traditional livelihoods and governance structures can lead to conflict and unsustainable practices. To ensure a thorough and robust consideration of gender and youth in the PAIRIAC project but also in WCSs pastoral strategy, we need to go beyond simple participation indicators. We need a detailed understanding of the power dynamics within households and at the community level that shape access to and control over resources. Thus, this consultancy is not an isolated gender study, but a strategic analysis to identify key levers. It will provide the data needed to directly integrate gender and youth issues into our core conservation strategies, ensuring their equity, impact and sustainability. 2. Objectives General objective: Inform WCSs pastoral strategy and PAIRIACs resilience-building objectives by generating a nuanced analysis of gender and youth dynamics, identifying key barriers and opportunities to their empowerment within natural resource management systems. Specific objectives: Synthesize existing knowledge and past interventions: conduct a targeted review of existing data and project evaluations on gender and pastoralism in the region, specifically analyzing the successes and failures of past interventions to integrate women and youth into natural resource management. Analyze power, roles, and livelihoods: Map the distinct roles of women, men, and youth pastoralists in natural resource management and key pastoral value chains (e.g., livestock, dairy, non-timber forest products). It is crucial to analyze the underlying power dynamics, decision-making authority, and control of assets and incomes within pastoral households and community institutions. Identify systemic barriers to inclusion: Assessstructural barriers (cultural norms, land tenure, institutional biases, workload, security concerns, etc.) that limit the meaningful participation of women and young pastoralists in resource governance. Analyze how conservation activities themselves may inadvertently reinforce these barriers. Identify strategic levers: Identify concrete and actionable opportunities and good practices to strengthen the role of women and youth in conflict mitigation, sustainable rangeland management, and conservation-compatible businesses, directly aligning these opportunities with WCS strategic priorities. Develop a strategic action plan: formulate a set of practical and context-specific recommendations, structured in the form of an action plan that can be directly integrated into the annual work plan of PAIRIAC and the broader pastoral strategy of the WCS. 3. Tasks The consultant will: Conduct a desk review focusing on lessons learned from past and current regional projects. Submit an initial report detailing a robust and blended methodology, gender-responsive tools, and a clear work plan that links research questions to strategic objectives. Conduct targeted fieldwork with selected communities in WCS landscapes in Cameroon or Chad. The methodology should go beyond simple questioning and include a participatory analysis of the following: Decision-making processes in pastoralist community governance structures. Gender-based impacts of competition for resources and conflicts. Value chains where women and young pastoralists are active, mapping of opportunities and constraints. Analyze qualitative data to identify systemic patterns, power imbalances, and strategic entry points for WCS interventions. Write a concise, analytical, and action-oriented report that prioritizes policy recommendations over a lengthy description. Facilitate a strategic workshop with the WCS team and other pastoralist actors to present the results and collaboratively refine the proposed action plan. 4. Expected deliverables An initial report submitted within 10 days of contract signing, outlining the refined methodology, tools, and work schedule. A draft report submitted to WCS for review and comments. A final report (maximum 25 pages excluding annexes) in French, with a summary in French and English, the document review and detailed recommendations. A PowerPoint presentation for the final workshop of the project. 5. Qualifications and Experience Required Education: Masters degree in gender studies, sociology, anthropology, rural development or a related field of social sciences. Professional experience: At least 5-7 years of professional experience in conducting strategic gender analyses and social assessments, not just descriptive studies. Proven expertise in qualitative research methods and power analysis in a culturally sensitive manner. In-depth knowledge of conservation, climate adaptation and natural resource management issues is essential. Experience working with pastoralist communities in the Sahel or Central Africa is a strong asset. Languages: A perfect command of French (oral and written) is essential. A good working knowledge of English is preferred. Knowledge of local languages (e.g., Fulfulde) would be a considerable advantage. How to apply 6. Application Process Interested candidates are invited to submit an application package including: Technical proposal (maximum 4 pages) detailing their understanding of these terms of reference, a methodology focused on identifying actionable recommendations, and a work timeline (with the final report and presentation expected before the project closes in March 2026). Detailed curriculum vitae (CV), including at least two references for similar assignments. Detailed financial proposal with a clear breakdown of costs (fees, travel, per diem, visa fees, etc.). Applications should be sent to [email protected]. no later than October 10, 2025. [Disclaimer: The above text is machine translated. For accurate information kindly refer the original document.] Tender Link : https://reliefweb.int/job/4176823/analyse-strategique-du-genre-et-de-la-jeunesse-dans-les-systemes-de-transhumance