Terms of Reference (TOR): Assessing the Impact of Job Creation Initiatives on Women’s Economic Empowerment in the Somali Regional State

Location: Somali , Ethiopia

Deadline: December 25, 2025

Job Description

1. Background

Gudina Tumsa Foundation (GTF) is a not-for-profit civil society organization registered with the Authority for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO) with the mandate to operate at the national level in Ethiopia. GTF was established by the family and friends of Reverend Gudina Tumsa to carry on his vision through rendering holistic service to the marginalized communities in Ethiopia. The foundation was formed in 1992 and started delivering development services in 1994. The foundation has implemented different projects in nine regional states of Ethiopia.

GTF envisions empowered communities that perceive themselves as capable human beings, equipped to actively engage in all aspects of human life. This is in line with the Reverend Gudina Tumsa’s own words, stated below:

“… an integral human development, where the spiritual and physical needs are seen together is the only right approach to the development question in our society.”

GTF has developed and implemented different projects that promote the holistic development vision of the organization. The organization was formed to create a better world for those people who have been left behind and most vulnerable in our society, to help them live with dignity and hope.

GTF engages in different thematic areas that are life-changing. Accordingly, the foundation engages in the following program areas:

• Women and child support services whereby education, healthcare, and other essential services are provided to marginalized women and children,
• Education program focusing on building schools, production of materials and supplies, and teacher supports,
• Health, Water, and Environment program focusing on promotion of health services and prevention of disease, WaSH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), and environmental protection and conservation through planting trees, etc.
• Livelihood enhancement through different economic empowerment and job creation initiatives for women and youth.
• Policy Advocacy focuses on influencing regional decision makers towards evidence-based, effective, and responsive policy formulation and implementation.

Recently, GTF has commenced the implementation of a project titled “Healthcare and Livelihood Improvement Advocacy Project in Oromia and Somali (HaLIAPOS)” with the funding secured from the Gates Foundation (GF). The project is implemented in Oromia and Somali regional states over 3 years, from January 2024 to December 2026, in collaboration with the two regional states. GTF has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the respective Presidents’ Offices of the Oromia and the Somali regions to guide the implementation of the project activities in the regions.

The Goal of the project is to contribute to the increased use of evidence and policy analysis by decision-makers, leading to the adoption of policies broadly favorable to agricultural productivity, healthcare and nutrition, financial inclusion, and women’s economic empowerment.

The project employed competent experts in project management, policy analysis, and data analysis who are working as a team. The activities of the project are enormous, and hence it requires external experts/consultants to undertake studies and research on identified topical issues. One of these studies to be outsourced is entitled, “Assessing the Impact of Job Creation Initiatives on Women’s Economic Empowerment in the Somali Regional State.”

2. Purpose of the Assignment

In the Somali Region, women face systemic barriers to economic participation, including restrictive social norms, limited access to skills training, inadequate financial services, and weak linkages to formal job markets. Despite these challenges, recent years have seen the introduction of job creation initiatives led by government programs, NGOs, and private sector actors. These initiatives include vocational training, micro-enterprise development, labor-intensive public works, and support for women-led cooperatives. However, little evidence exists on the actual impact of these job creation efforts on women’s economic empowerment, especially regarding income generation, decision-making power, and socio-cultural acceptance of women’s roles in the economy.

This study will generate evidence to inform future strategies, policies, and investments to ensure that job creation initiatives effectively contribute to women’s empowerment in the Somali Region.

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of job creation initiatives on women’s economic empowerment in the Somali Region of Ethiopia, with a focus on identifying opportunities, challenges, and pathways to maximize the benefits for women.

3. Objectives

3.1 Overall Objective

To assess the effectiveness of job creation initiatives in advancing women’s economic empowerment in the Somali Region.

3.2 Specific Objectives

• To evaluate the role of job creation initiatives in enhancing women’s economic participation and income levels in the Somali Region.
• To identify the opportunities and challenges women face in accessing and benefiting from job creation programs, including socio-cultural barriers.
• To assess the relationship between different types of job creation opportunities (formal employment, micro-enterprises, cooperatives, public works, etc.) and women’s overall economic empowerment.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations to strengthen the design and delivery of women-centered job creation initiatives.

4. Scope of Work

The consultant/firm will:

• The assessment covers the last 7 years of Job Creation progress and achievements status.
• Conduct a desk review of existing national and regional job creation policies, women’s empowerment frameworks, and program evaluations.
• Map and evaluate ongoing and past job creation initiatives targeting women in selected zones/woredas of Somali Region.
• Collect primary data through surveys, focus group discussions (FGDs), case studies and key informant interviews (KIIs) with women participants, community leaders, program implementers, private sector actors, and government officials.
• Analyze the economic, social, and cultural impacts of job creation initiatives on women’s empowerment, including changes in income, decision-making, and social acceptance.
• Document success stories and lessons learned to guide scale-up and replication.

5. Methodology

The study will adopt a mixed-methods approach, combining:

• Quantitative surveys with women beneficiaries to measure income changes, employment status, and empowerment indicators.
• Qualitative research through FGDs, case studies and KIIs to capture lived experiences, challenges, and socio-cultural dynamics.
• Comparative analysis of different types of job creation initiatives and their respective impact.

6. Deliverables

The consultant/firm is expected to deliver:

1. Inception Report – outlining Research methodology, sampling framework, data collection tools, work plan, and team composition.
2. Draft Research Report – presenting initial findings and analysis.
3. Presentation of Findings – to GTF and regional stakeholders in Jigjiga.
4. Final Research Report – including an executive summary, detailed analysis, and actionable recommendations.
5. Policy Brief – highlighting key findings and recommendations for decision-makers.

7. Timeline

The assignment is expected to be completed within two months from contract signing, including desk review, fieldwork, analysis, and reporting.

8. Required Qualifications

The consultancy firm should comprise a team of professionals with the necessary expertise and experience to ensure the successful implementation of the study. The proposed team must, at a minimum, include:

• Lead Consultant (Principal Investigator): PhD in Economics or related fields with a minimum of 7 years of proven research experience in Financial Services, and related areas.
• Data Analyst/Manager: Master’s degree in Statistics or related field with 7 years of proven experience in quantitative research and data management
• Gender Expert: Master’s degree in Gender Studies or related field, with 7 years of proven research experience in gender analysis in financial services.
• Policy Analyst: Master’s degree in law or related fields with 7 years of proven experience in policy analysis.
• Strong expertise in gender studies, labor markets, and women’s economic empowerment.
• Proven experience in conducting impact assessments or program evaluations in Ethiopia or the Horn of Africa.
• Solid understanding of the Somali Region socio-cultural and economic contexts.
• A multidisciplinary research team with backgrounds in gender, economics, and social sciences.
• Excellent writing and analytical skills, with a track record of producing high-quality research and policy reports.
• Proficiency in Afaan Oromo and English is mandatory

N.B.: Please do not apply if you do not meet all the criteria listed above.

9. Timeframe

The assignment should be delivered within 60 days.

10. Evaluation

The proposal will be generally evaluated from 100% as follows:

• 70% for technical proposal
• 30% for financial proposal

Below are some of the evaluation criteria:

• Understanding of the assignment
• Proposed methodology
• Relevant experience and qualifications of the consultant/team as attested by testimonials
• Technical soundness and feasibility of the work plan
• Alignment of the financial proposal to the methodology and cost-effectiveness

How to apply

Potential consultants or consulting firms should submit their detailed technical and financial proposals, including:

• Detailed CVs and valid experiences
• A copy of their renewed business license
• A copy of their Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
• A copy of their VAT Certificate

All application documents should be sent electronically to: jobs@gtfound.org with the subject line “Assessing the Impact of Job Creation in Somali” in PDF format.

Submission Deadline: December 25, 2025

For more information, please contact us at the following address:

Email: teshome.b@gtfound.org

Tel: +251969355555

Important Notes:

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• GTF reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, in whole or in part, without providing any reason whatsoever.
• Late submissions will not be considered.