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01 April 2025

GOVERNMENT OF SIERRA LEONE
Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education
Request for Expression of Interest (REIO)
Consulting Services: Recruitment of Gender/Inclusive Specialist for the Sierra Leone Free Education Project (Individual Selection)
Country: Republic of Sierra Leone
Name of Project: Sierra Leone Free Education Project
Package No. SL-MBSSE-G/I S-1024
Grant Number: IDA-D 6810
Assignment Title: Consulting Services - Recruitment of Gender/Inclusive Specialist for the Sierra Leone Free Education Project for SLFEPS
Reference: Gender/Inclusive Specialist
Date of Issuance: March 19th, 2025
1.0 Source of Funds
1. BACKGROUND
The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education is currently implementing the Free Education project with funds provided by a Multi–Donor Trust Fund that is managed by The World Bank. The overall objective of the project is to improve the management of the education system, teaching practices, and learning conditions. The Free Education Project has five components as follows:
Component 1: Policy, Governance, Accountability and System Administration, which will strengthen the education system in areas of policy, governance, and administration. It will promote strategic initiatives in the areas of evidence-based policy and planning, curriculum and assessment, and gender equality and inclusive education.
Component 2: Teacher Management and Professional Development, which addresses the quality and management of the teaching workforce.
Component 3: School Level Education Development, which addresses the quality of the teaching and learning environment through performance-based school grants and physical improvements to the school environment.
Component 4: Program Management, Coordination and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) covers the cost of managing the project and M&E and learning activities.
Component 5: Contingent Emergency Response allows the government to request additional funds to respond to emergencies.
Component 6 [NEWLY ADDED]: COVID-19 Education Response
A Project Management Secretariat Unit (PMU) has been established at the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education within the framework of the project to ensure the successful implementation of the projects.
Component 7- Enhancing Access to Education and Supporting Foundational Learning for All: supporting measures to accelerate foundational learning competencies; improving learning opportunities for out-of-school children (OOSC); strengthening system to monitor OOSC; and NGO consortium supporting foundational learning and OOSC.
This Terms of Reference is to set the basis for the engagement of a Gender/Inclusive Specialist: by the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education who shall advise Senior Management on gender policies and trends and relevant linkages to the project. The Gender/inclusive Specialist works with the Assistant Directors in charge of the MBSSE Gender Unit and Special needs unit to provide analyses for formulation of strategies and briefings to Senior Management. The Gender/inclusive Specialist advocates for and represents the project in his/her area of expertise as requested by the Project Coordinator.
2. SCOPE OF SERVICES
The Gender/Inclusive Specialist: All available data indicates that girls are disadvantaged in education, especially those from remote rural communities. For a variety of reasons, girls underperform boys in every level of education, have lower retention rates and lower parity indices above the junior secondary level. Additionally, ‘sex for grades and gender-based violence directed against girls have been on the increase.
In some communities, a proliferation of illegal mining has resulted in much fewer boys than girls being enrolled in and completing schooling.
The Gender/inclusive Specialist will work to ensure the needs and priorities of marginalized groups of males and females are addressed and met, as well as their capacities in regard to risk reduction is recognized. Special attention will be given to the issue of gender-based violence. S/he will lead and identify key entry points and strategic approaches to address gender issues with a view to ensure gender inclusive analysis in the project’s programmes/interventions.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Advice and provide support to project management on gender related issues
2. Advice on policy and facilitation of knowledge building on gender issues
3. Provide advice and support to project management and programmes
4. Compile, analyse and interpretate statistical data on gender matters
Provide analyses and inputs to project and other strategic documents.
5. Provide policy advice and facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Knowledge building and mainstreaming of gender in related perspectives within project and actively participates in corporate knowledge creation.
- Policy options and high-quality advisory inputs to project to ensure these are responsive to national policies, priorities and strategic plans.
- Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice through identification of best practices and lessons learned.
6. In collaboration with project team, development and dissemination outreach materials such as brochures, fact sheets and presentations, ensuring they are gender sensitive and promote gender equality
7. Strengthen the understanding of the gender mainstreaming by providing appropriate training to community, government and other stakeholders, as required; and support the gender focal points in line ministries
8. Prepare gender mainstreaming reports as part of periodic project progress reports
9. Lead in prioritizing and implementing gender-equitable project interventions in the project location
10. Facilitate community consultation and document gender considerations to be incorporated in to action plan
11. An assessment of the country's gender policies and their impact on education.
12. Training and capacity building support for project staff and MBSSE officials on gender issues.
13. Ensure effective management of the project’s gender specific portfolio focusing on achieving the following results:
14. Translation of the project’s gender priorities into national interventions.
15. Effective monitoring and evaluation of the impact of the project’s gender interventions.
On Inclusive:
The Candidate must be able to Support the Government’s commitment toward achieving a more inclusive approach to education, increasing access to education, and improving the learning environment for children with disabilities.
Support to Comprehensive School Safety Policy and Provision of training for teachers,
school heads, and administrators in promoting an inclusive education environment.
The candidate must be able to conduct research on improving inclusive education outcome learning for the Ministry and educational sector.
4. Professional Competencies
- Project Management Skills
- Computer skills, particularly in relation MS Word, Excel and Power-point
- Competency in use of the internet and e-conference/e-meeting software
- Planning, mentoring and coordination inclusive school activities
- Excellent human and communication skills including report writing
- Inter personal relation skills
- Creative inclusive ideas
- Championing and promoting the Radical Inclusive education policy.
5. REPORTING REQUIREMENT
The Gender/Inclusive Specialist will report to Component 1, Coordinator and is accountable to the FEPS Project Coordinator. General Requirements:
- Operate within all MBSSE and Ministry of Gender’s Guidelines & Procedures/ Policies.
- Provide ongoing technical support, capacity building training & development as required.
6 QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION
Requirement:
- Minimum of a Master’s Degree in social science especially gender studies, or relevant discipline.
- At least 5 years of responsible professional gender/inclusive work experience.
- Extensive experience in quantitative and qualitative and measurement techniques as indicated by proven experience in conducting gender analysis of all types and related analyses.
- Substantial experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of gender/inclusive projects.
- Strong teamwork and effective cross-cultural interpersonal skills.
- High level of professionalism and an ability to work independently, when necessary, and under pressure.
- Exceptional communications and presentation skills in English and the ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, in order to communicate complex, technical information to both technical and general audiences, including strong policy advice skills on gender related issues.
- Cross cultural awareness and ability to work amongst a diverse group of staff, partners and donors.
- Extensive practical experience in leading gender mainstreaming and implementation of gender-sensitive projects and programmes.
- Practical expertise in designing training materials appropriate for community and government experts and provide trainings on gender analysis and mainstreaming and gender audit.
- Demonstrated strong interpersonal and motivational skills and sensitivity to the local environment as well as the ability to work with minimal supervision and proven ability to accomplish and present work with a high degree of accuracy and technical quality, in relatively short time.
- Experience in working in developing countries particularly in Africa would be an advantage as would knowledge of the education system of Sierra Leone and experience in working with school children.
- Required computer proficiency: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet.
- Demonstrated ability to train and build capacity of others.
- Willingness and ability to travel out of duty station
7. PERIOD OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The duration of the assignment is 12 Months initially, subject to review with a possibility of renewal, based on performance.
8. JOB LOCATION
The Consultant shall be based in Freetown-Sierra Leone but may be required to travel on official duties.
9. APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Interested candidates should send their applications accompanied by their curriculum vitae and copies of diplomas and certificates to:
The Project Coordinator
Sierra Leone Free Education Project Secretariat
Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education
126 SS Camp, Regent Road, Regent, Freetown
Sierra Leone.
- Application packages can also be forwarded by email to:
- Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Deadline: 16:00 GMT, 16th April 2025
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
This REOI will lead to the preparation of a short list of consultants
Expressions of Interest may take any format to represent the individuals’ qualifications and experience.
Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below in person or e-mail, on or before16:00GMT, 16th April 2025 (Sierra Leone Time).

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02 March 2025

GOVERNMENT OF SIERRA LEONE
MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE

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04 March 2025

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Date: 4th March 2025
BACKGROUND:
The Sierra Leone Rice Systems Capacity Strengthening Project aims to increase the adoption of sustainable, climate-smart practices in rice production among smallholder farmers in Sierra Leone. Knowledge sharing with Vietnam is central, targeting improved climate-resilient techniques on lowland (riverine, grassland) ecologies, targeting 12,000 smallholder rice farmers and 100 seed growers across four districts: Kenema, Tonkolili, Moyamba, and Kambia.

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25 November 2024

ORANGE SL CASHOUT NEW TARIFF GUIDE

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04 March 2025

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
DATE: 4TH MARCH 2025
BACKGROUND:
The Sierra Leone Rice Systems Capacity Strengthening Project aims to increase the adoption of sustainable, climate-smart practices in rice production among smallholder farmers in Sierra Leone. Knowledge sharing with Vietnam is central, targeting improved climate-resilient techniques on lowland (riverine, grassland) ecologies, targeting 12,000 smallholder rice farmers and 100 seed growers across four districts: Kenema, Tonkolili, Moyamba, and Kambia.

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18 November 2024

CRS JOB ADVERT – INTERNAL/EXTERNAL

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04 March 2025

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
DATE: 4TH MARCH 2025
BACKGROUND:
The Sierra Leone Rice Systems Capacity Strengthening Project aims to increase the adoption of sustainable, climate-smart practices in rice production among smallholder farmers in Sierra Leone. Knowledge sharing with Vietnam is central, targeting improved climate-resilient techniques on lowland (riverine, grassland) ecologies, targeting 12,000 smallholder rice farmers and 100 seed growers across four districts: Kenema, Tonkolili, Moyamba, and Kambia.

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Career Opportunity

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