The overall objective of this assignment is to ensure the effective execution of the gender audit for SPAC, covering the preparation, implementation, and closing phases.

The audit aim to assess how well gender equality is integrated into the policies, programs, project budgets, processes, institutional structures, and culture of both institutions. They will identify gaps and challenges in applying gender-responsive policies, programs, and budgets, and provide recommendations to strengthen gender-mainstreaming efforts.

In agreement with SPAC and AFD, the gender audit will be carried out in two phases: a first phase focused on four support units/directorates, followed by a second phase extending the audit to the rest of SPAC once the new organizational structure is officially adopted.

1)      Specific objectives

The audit will be led in coordination with the JNCW, which is excepted to provide the methodological framework, technical guidance, and access to existing tools and materials. It is also expected that JNCW will also serve as a facilitator in building dialogue and shared understanding around audit goals and expected outcomes. In this regard, close coordination will be established with JNCW throughout the entire duration of the consultancy.

Phase I (October-November 2025): the audit will cover the following SPAC units/directorates:

1.       HR and Institutional Development Directorate

2.       Financial and Administrative Management Directorate

3.       Communication and Media Unit

4.       Legalization Unit

These units were identified by SPAC as part of the current organizational structure, while the three core operational directorates will be integrated into the scope of the audit at a later stage, once the new structure is in place.

Phase II (November 2025-January 2026, pending validation of the new SPAC structure): the audit will be extended to SPAC’s core operational directorates, ensuring a more comprehensive coverage aligned with the institution’s mandate.

While the JNCW provides the normative reference and overarching methodological approach, a technical assistance will be mobilized to specifically carry out:

·       The development a structured benchmark of international indicators and standards for gender audits in the public sector, to inform the recommendations and corrective measures for the SPAC;

·       The conducting of gender audit for SPAC broke down in phases I and II. The gender audit will result in providing actionable recommendations to address any gender equality gap the audit may reveal;

·       Hold presentation workshops to share the main findings and recommendations of the audits, facilitating ownership of the results (one shorter session to present the results and recommendations to the main stakeholders, and another longer session to present the key corrective-measures suggested – this last session will be prepared in coordination with the JNCW);

2)      Anticipated results

As the gender audits will serve as both diagnostic and transformative capacity-building tools, enabling SPAC to assess their internal practices and their role in mainstreaming equality and inclusion in civil service management and training, it is expected that the gender audit of SPAC will result in the institutionalization of inclusive HRM standards and practices.

This activity will also feed into broader efforts to institutionalize change: the audit findings and linked deliverables will support each institution in the identification of shortcomings and corrective measures that could be align with the HRM bylaw and the National Strategy for Women. Where possible, these findings will be used to inform planned capacity building activities for the SPAC.

However, it should be noted that the first deliverable (November 2025) will have a limited scope, as it will focus on support functions rather than SPAC’s core directorates. A more comprehensive and policy-relevant audit will be achieved only once Phase II is implemented.

II.      Description of the assignment

1)      Planned activities

The service provider must perform the following activities:

Component I – Assignment preparation (October 2025)

·       Examine the pertinent documentation (i.e. new HR bylaw etc.);

·       Ensure coordination with JNCW and Expertise France to address any questions or clarifications related to the assignment.

·       Submit the inception report of SPAC’s audit with a detailed work plan after initial consultations with SPAC and JNCW

Component II – Provide the benchmark of international indicators and standards for gender audits in the public sector (October – December 2025)

Component III – Conduct SPAC’s gender audit – Phase I focused on support directorates (October–November 2025)

·       Kick-off meeting with the SPAC and JNCW to outline the auditing process, establish a detailed timeframe, and clearly specify the roles and responsibilities;

·       Conduct the audit with JNCW support and assistance. It is required that the consultant(s) shall at least undertake a document review, a preliminary diagnosis, the collection of qualitative and quantitative data, an in-depth analysis and the development of recommendations;

·       Limit the scope of this first phase to the following four support directorates/units:

1)      HR and Institutional Development Directorate

2)      Financial and Administrative Management Directorate

3)      Communication and Media Unit

4)      Legalization Unit

·       Conduct a workshop to verify the findings with the SPAC and the JNCW;

·       Submit the interim gender audit report by mid-November 2025, featuring preliminary findings, key recommendations and the corrective action-plan to address the gaps of the gender audit.

Component IV – Conduct SPAC’s gender audit – Phase II covering operational directorates (November 2025-January 2026, pending validation of the new SPAC structure)

·       Extend the scope of the audit to include the three operational directorates (core functions);

·       Collect complementary data, refine the analysis, and integrate additional findings into the audit report;

·       Conduct a workshop to verify the consolidated findings with the SPAC and the JNCW;

·       Submit the final gender audit report covering the whole institution, with a comprehensive set of recommendations and a corrective action plan.

Component V – Conduct SPAC’s gender audit presentation workshops (January 2026, pending validation of the new SPAC structure)

·       Prepare the workshop based on SPAC’s gender audit results in coordination with the JNCW;

·       Conduct a workshop to present and verify the findings of the gender audit at SPAC’s facility (or at a venue booked by Expertise France);

·       Provide a workshop report with specific sets of recommendations and final corrective action plan based on the workshop’s results if applicable.

a.       Anticipated deliverables

The deliverables need to be provided in both Arabic and English languages.

b.      Coordination

The service providers shall designate a single contact person for assignment implementation purposes.

The gender audit experts will coordinate with and report to Expert France: either to the technical assistance project manager (contact details to come), or to the HQ project officer in charge of the project (Karini LEFORT, karini.lefort@expertisefrance.fr, Geographic Department of Expertise France HQ). They both will provide guidance during the consultancy. Therefore, regular exchanges must take place with the project manager of project officer on assignment progress and any difficulties that may be encountered.

The gender audit expert(s) will coordinate with the JNCW and the SPAC with the support of Expertise France’s staff.

A launch meeting shall be held between Expertise France, the JNCW and the SPAC after the contract award has been notified.

5)      Place, duration and terms of performance

a.       Estimated implementation periods:

Benchmark of international indicators and standards for gender audits in the public sector: October to December 2025 (estimated date);

SPAC’s gender audit interim report: October to mid-November 2025;

SPAC’s final gender audit report: January 2026 pending validation of the new SPAC structure

Workshop: January 2026 pending validation of the new SPAC structure.

b.       Estimated start date: October 2025

c.       Estimated end date: January 2026 – pending validation of the new SPAC structure

d.      Estimated schedule/programme:

The provisional programme for assignment implementation is as follows:

6)      Required expertise and profile

a.       Number of expert(s) per assignment: one or two expert(s) may be assigned to the consultancy, provided that the total estimated number of man-days is respected.

b.      This call for proposal is intended for one or two individual expert(s) to deliver the services described in this ToR. Applications from companies, consortiums, or unregistered groups will not be considered.

c.