Réf. 0526
TOR: REVIEW AND REDESIGN OF THE WOMEN SCHOOL OF LEADERSHIP (WSOL) CURRICULUM
Fairtrade Africa · Kenya - Kenya
Publié le 2 octobre 2026Expire le 15 octobre 2026
Fairtrade Africa
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Description du poste
## **Background**
Fairtrade Africa (FTA) represents Fairtrade-certified producers and workers across 29 countries. Since 2016, its Women School of Leadership (WSOL) has been a flagship, experience-based (non-academic) gender programme, delivered by trained facilitators and Trainers of Trainers who cascade learning to wider groups. Over nine years it has trained 536+ participants directly across West Africa, Kenya, Malawi and Ethiopia, with cascading reaching over 25,952 people across 258 communities.
## **Rationale**
A 2026 Mid-Term Evaluation of the NORAD-funded Kenya WSOL project shows the programme has opened women's voices without yet fully shifting power: strong participation and confidence gains, but leadership uptake, decision-making influence, and verifiable skills outcomes lag behind targets. Combined with a changed operating environment (climate shocks, digital gaps, safeguarding standards, mental health needs) and distinct lessons from Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana and Malawi, FTA is commissioning a comprehensive review and redesign of the WSOL model — not only its curriculum.
## **Scope of the Assignment**
The assignment covers the WSOL as a leadership development system, spanning six components:
- Curriculum and learning journey (the 10 WSOL themes)
- Facilitator development and certification (currently no formal accreditation)
- Cascading approaches to wider groups of women and men
- Mentorship and alumni engagement
- Leadership pathways for graduates within SPOs and HLOs
- Mechanisms for sustainability and institutional ownership
*The consultant will also independently assess whether the programme name remains appropriate across all contexts, including HLO settings.*
## **Key Objectives**
- Diagnose the current WSOL model, including cascading ratios and leadership barriers
- Redesign the model into two tailored tracks (SPO and HLO), integrating climate resilience, digital financial literacy, GBV/safeguarding and mental wellness
- Strengthen the learning architecture (sequencing, core/optional content, practice projects, graduation criteria)
- Develop implementation-ready facilitator and participant materials for low-literacy, low-connectivity settings
- Strengthen MEL for transformative, largely qualitative outcomes
- Strengthen the organisational enabling environment for women's leadership
- Pilot, validate and finalise the redesigned programme in at least two country contexts (one SPO, one HLO)
## **Timeline and Travel**
The assignment runs approximately 15 weeks across five phases: Inception and Diagnostic (Wks 1–2), Participatory Consultations and Co-Creation (Wks 3–6), Model Redesign (Wks 7–12), Piloting and Validation (Wks 12–13), and Finalisation and Handover (Wks 14–15). In-person travel, accompanied by the FTA Gender Coordinator, is required to Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire and Kenya (Naivasha); Ethiopia and other contexts are consulted virtually.
## **Consultant Profile**
- Advanced degree in Gender Studies, Adult Education, Development Studies or related field
- 7+ years designing gender-transformative, participatory curricula for low-literacy adults
- Experience with cascading/ToT models and facilitator certification in agricultural or cooperative contexts
- Strong participatory research track record (FGDs, KIIs, storytelling) with women and marginalised groups
- Experience developing qualitative MEL frameworks for transformative outcomes
- Working knowledge of French desirable (Côte d'Ivoire); Portuguese an advantage
Fairtrade Africa (FTA) represents Fairtrade-certified producers and workers across 29 countries. Since 2016, its Women School of Leadership (WSOL) has been a flagship, experience-based (non-academic) gender programme, delivered by trained facilitators and Trainers of Trainers who cascade learning to wider groups. Over nine years it has trained 536+ participants directly across West Africa, Kenya, Malawi and Ethiopia, with cascading reaching over 25,952 people across 258 communities.
## **Rationale**
A 2026 Mid-Term Evaluation of the NORAD-funded Kenya WSOL project shows the programme has opened women's voices without yet fully shifting power: strong participation and confidence gains, but leadership uptake, decision-making influence, and verifiable skills outcomes lag behind targets. Combined with a changed operating environment (climate shocks, digital gaps, safeguarding standards, mental health needs) and distinct lessons from Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana and Malawi, FTA is commissioning a comprehensive review and redesign of the WSOL model — not only its curriculum.
## **Scope of the Assignment**
The assignment covers the WSOL as a leadership development system, spanning six components:
- Curriculum and learning journey (the 10 WSOL themes)
- Facilitator development and certification (currently no formal accreditation)
- Cascading approaches to wider groups of women and men
- Mentorship and alumni engagement
- Leadership pathways for graduates within SPOs and HLOs
- Mechanisms for sustainability and institutional ownership
*The consultant will also independently assess whether the programme name remains appropriate across all contexts, including HLO settings.*
## **Key Objectives**
- Diagnose the current WSOL model, including cascading ratios and leadership barriers
- Redesign the model into two tailored tracks (SPO and HLO), integrating climate resilience, digital financial literacy, GBV/safeguarding and mental wellness
- Strengthen the learning architecture (sequencing, core/optional content, practice projects, graduation criteria)
- Develop implementation-ready facilitator and participant materials for low-literacy, low-connectivity settings
- Strengthen MEL for transformative, largely qualitative outcomes
- Strengthen the organisational enabling environment for women's leadership
- Pilot, validate and finalise the redesigned programme in at least two country contexts (one SPO, one HLO)
## **Timeline and Travel**
The assignment runs approximately 15 weeks across five phases: Inception and Diagnostic (Wks 1–2), Participatory Consultations and Co-Creation (Wks 3–6), Model Redesign (Wks 7–12), Piloting and Validation (Wks 12–13), and Finalisation and Handover (Wks 14–15). In-person travel, accompanied by the FTA Gender Coordinator, is required to Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire and Kenya (Naivasha); Ethiopia and other contexts are consulted virtually.
## **Consultant Profile**
- Advanced degree in Gender Studies, Adult Education, Development Studies or related field
- 7+ years designing gender-transformative, participatory curricula for low-literacy adults
- Experience with cascading/ToT models and facilitator certification in agricultural or cooperative contexts
- Strong participatory research track record (FGDs, KIIs, storytelling) with women and marginalised groups
- Experience developing qualitative MEL frameworks for transformative outcomes
- Working knowledge of French desirable (Côte d'Ivoire); Portuguese an advantage