Terms of Reference Consulting Subject-Matter Expert Gender-based violence + Technology-facilitated gender-based violence India

Top Line Objective:

Girl Effect is seeking a consultant/agency/organisation with expertise in gender-based violence (GBV) and technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) as a subject matter expert for our programme on TFGBV.

Who We Are

Girl Effect is an international non-profit that connects girls to the resources and support they need to overcome barriers, see themselves differently, and unleash their full potential. We believe that the most powerful force to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty is GIRLS. When you connect girls to what they need, unleash the limits communities set for them, and change how girls see themselves — they change the world. That’s the Girl Effect.

Our approach redefines what girls think they can and should do. We do this by building digital and media technologies that girls want, trust, and need. From chatbots and applications to chat shows and TV dramas, our approach uses modern technologies to reach girls where they are today.

Our reach is 50 million and counting.

We are girl-centered. We engage girls through evidence-based social and behavior change. We meet girls where they are today — in the spaces, on the platforms, and on channels they trust and love. We work with governments to transform systems to work for HER.

We reach girls across the world, both online and offline, to support them at the critical moments in life when choices around their health, education, and economic future need to be made.

We use our expertise in behavior change science to motivate and equip girls with information and support, helping them see a different future for themselves, act on those choices, and drive greater demand for the opportunities and services available to them.

Our youth brands, such as Chhaa Jaa in India, Tujibebe in Tanzania, and Yegna in Ethiopia, exist across multiple channels — digital (Meta, Google, and other social media platforms), TV, radio, print, and offline. Where required and relevant, we also use white-label brands for specific campaigns.

Our Approach

Girl Effect uses a branded media approach towards delivering behavioral change programs. We reach girls across the world, where they are — online and offline — to support them at the critical moments in life when choices around their health, education, and economic future need to be made.

We leverage our expertise in behavior change science to equip girls with the information and support they need to see and act on a different future for themselves. This drives greater demand for the opportunities and services available to them.

TFGBV

Girl Effect India will empower adolescent girls and young women to navigate the digital world safely, free from harassment and technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). Through digital literacy education, awareness campaigns, and partnerships, we will equip girls with knowledge of their rights while engaging boys, parents, educators, and communities to recognize and mitigate TFGBV. By collaborating with government bodies, law enforcement, and civil society organizations, we will facilitate access to support services for survivors. Our holistic approach integrates learning, awareness, support, and policy advocacy. Girl Effect will lead programme design, content creation, and digital engagement while partnering for on-the-ground implementation and scale-up.

Objectives

Through this programme, Girl Effect aims to empower women and girls to learn, lead, and thrive in the digital world free from harassment and technology-facilitated gender-based violence. Key objectives include:

1. Enable Safe Digital Access for Girls: Equip adolescent girls and young women with digital literacy skills and knowledge of their rights.
2. Increase Awareness of TFGBV: Build awareness and knowledge among girls, boys, parents, educators and community members on TFGBV and ensure their active participation in mitigating risks.
3. Facilitate linkages to support services: Facilitate and enable service access through collaborations and partnerships with community-based organisations, government, police, legal and support services that have already established support systems and resources for survivors of online harassment and abuse.

What You’ll Do

We are inviting applications from consultants/agencies/organisations with subject matter experts on GBV and TFGBV to join our advisory panel. If you are interested, the following will be the scope of the work:

1. Guiding and reviewing: You will help with curating resources, conducting a timely review of draft versions, and guide our GBV and TFGBV messaging and behavioural change objectives.

• Review and input into the SBCC key messaging framework and contribute to developing behavioural change messages.
• Provide guidance to identify and mitigate risks to ensure Girl Effect does no harm to the target group through its programming.
• Review materials and content at every step of the programme.
• Support documentation, reporting, and presentations for internal use within and external use outside of Girl Effect.

2. Content creation and vetting:

• Support Girl Effect and our production agencies, content writers, and graphic designers in developing appropriate and factual key messaging and content for our target audience on GBV and TFGBV, including prevention, response, and redressal mechanisms.
• You will also be responsible for vetting the final content of all produced media content to ensure that there is no misrepresentation of information on GBV and TFGBV.

Most importantly, as you review and vet our content, you will use a lens that is aware of gender norms in India, youth-friendly, body and sex-positive, gender inclusive, that adopts a rights-based approach towards girls.

Expected Commitment

This will initially be a part-time consultancy contract for 3 months. The consultant is expected to commit a minimum of 16 hours/week, which can vary depending on our budget and your fee requirement.

Location

The consultant will be based in India (preferably Mumbai or Delhi).

Management

This engagement will be managed by the Communications and New Projects Lead, who will work with the consultant to ensure its timely and thorough execution.

The language of the materials and reports shall be English. The contract supervisor shall approve all deliverables submitted before any payment is made.

Procurement Timeframe

• Terms of reference published:13 March 2025
• Deadline for responses: 21 March 2025
• Supplier selection, contracting and briefing: Early April 2025
• Project commencement: Mid-April 2025

Who You Are

Experience

• Degree in a relevant field such as gender studies, anthropology, sociology, psychology, social work, or another similar field.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience working on projects addressing GBV and/or TFGBV.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience with adolescents and/or young girls & women, especially from vulnerable, marginalised, low-income communities.
• Experience developing, adapting and designing content for different audiences, especially those not well-versed in technical literature.
• Experience with addressing SRH concerns in the digital and offline worlds.
• Experience meaningfully involving young people or beneficiaries in the design, delivery, and governance of programming is also desirable.
• Good understanding of gender-specific issues affecting adolescent girls and how SRH-based programming can contribute to girls’ empowerment.

Skills and expertise

• Excellent knowledge of gender transformative approaches and their application to programme design, implementation and/or measurement.
• You are someone who is sex-positive and can guide our content without any judgment and personal beliefs coming in when talking about sensitive issues like premarital sex, contraception, abortion, etc.
• Proficiency in Hindi and English is essential as the position requires designing (and translating) training materials in Hindi and English.
• Effective communicator and writer in English and Hindi with the ability to synthesize, communicate and simplify complex concepts as per the needs of the target audience.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and experience working in a multicultural team across multiple countries. Sensitivity to cultural differences is essential.
• Personal qualities of integrity, results-oriented, credibility, and a commitment to and passion for development.
• Ability to be flexible within a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Commitment to realizing the potential of girls and to the vision and values of Girl Effect.

Proposal Submission

Your application, should you be interested (Max 10 pages), should cover:

• Your understanding of the brief and why you feel you are well-placed to work on this.
• CV/Credentials – Please showcase any previous work that you consider relevant to what we are trying to achieve, how we approach our work, and the audience we cater to. Describe the qualifications, experience, and capabilities of the firm or consultant in providing the requested services.
• Reference – Provide at least three references for similar contracts with a description of the service provided, the value of the contract, and the contract periods of performance.
• Breakdown of Costs with applicable taxes and other charges clearly identified in INR. Consultants should provide their daily or hourly billing rate. All applicable taxes should be quoted separately.

In their application, the candidate must demonstrate an understanding of the requirements described in the TOR and demonstrate how the applicant will meet the requirements of the deliverables.

Please note that Girl Effect is not liable for any cost incurred during the award/contract preparation, submission, or negotiation of the award/contract. All submitted documentation and/or materials shall become and remain the property of Girl Effect.

VALIDITY of the proposal shall be for 90 days from the date of bid closure.

Evaluation Criteria

The criteria against which proposals will be evaluated are listed below:

Technical Evaluation

• Experience and qualification as outlined in your CV/Credentials – 30%
• Demonstrated technical knowledge in the topics mentioned – 30%
• A short note explaining why you will be best suited for this, including your schedule/timings and the days of your availability – 10%

Financial Evaluation

• Value for money/proposed budget breakdown – 30%

Tax

Girl Effect India is obliged by the Indian tax authorities to ensure all taxes are charged where applicable. Applicants are advised to ensure that they have a clear understanding of their tax position regarding provisions to Indian tax legislation when developing their proposals.

Equal Opportunities

Girl Effect is committed to equal opportunity regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression. We are proud to be an equal-opportunity workplace.

We are committed to building an organisation that is truly representative of the communities that we serve. To this end, due regard will be paid to procuring consultancy services of organisations and individuals with a deep understanding and experience of our programming markets and with diverse professional, academic, and cultural backgrounds.

Safeguarding

Girl Effect has zero tolerance for all forms of violence and abuse against children, beneficiaries, and staff. You may be required to undertake safeguarding checks. Shortlisted consultants will be assessed on our organisational values at the interview stage. The consultant will be expected to adhere to our safeguarding policy. Please read and understand our safeguarding Code of Conduct which outlines expected behaviour from our staff, consultants and visitors.

Copyright

All materials/documents arising from this consultancy work shall remain the property of Girl Effect.

Disclaimer

GE reserves the right to determine the structure of the process, the number of short-listed participants, the right to withdraw from the proposal process, the right to change this timetable at any time without notice and reserves the right to withdraw this tender at any time, without prior notice and without liability to compensate and/or reimburse any party. GE shall inform ONLY successful applicant(s). The process of negotiation and signing of the contract with the successful applicant(s) will follow.

Please note: We will evaluate only proposals submitted following the application process outlined in the TOR and using our specified email address ([email protected]).