Terms Of Reference (TORS) For Reviewing Fawe Rwanda Chapter Constitution Consultancy tender at Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE)

1. BACKGROUND 

DEADLINE: 26th August 2025 AT 10:00am (CAT) 

The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) is a pan-African non-governmental organization founded in 1992 by five women ministers of education. Its mission is to promote girls' and women's education in sub-Saharan Africa, aligning with the Education for All initiative. FAWE works to ensure that girls and women have access to schools, complete their studies, and achieve their dreams. With headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, FAWE has a network of 34 National Chapters in 33 countries. 

Established in 1997, FAWE Rwanda Chapter boasts of a rich history rooted in a visionary commitment to gender equity in education. FAWE Rwanda has been unwavering in its mission to promote gender equity and equality in education in Rwanda by fostering positive policies, practices and attitudes towards girls' education. As an integral member of a broader network across Sub-Saharan Africa, the chapter in Rwanda has actively collaborated with government entities, local communities, schools, and international organizations to foster an inclusive educational environment. 

Our Vision: Empowered Rwandan women and girls participate and make their contribution as equal members of society. 

Our Mission: Empowerment of girls and women through gender equity in education and livelihoods, policies and programs. 

2. OUR OBJECTIVES 

FAWE Rwanda Chapter has the following objectives: 

Influencing education policies for gender responsiveness with special emphasis on improving girls' access, retention and performance in education. 

Demonstrating through interventions on the ground how to improve access, retention and performance of disadvantaged girls with a view to influencing replication and mainstreaming of emerging best practices into the Rwandan education system. 

3. THE CONTEXT OF THE CONSULTANCY 

The current FAWE Rwanda Chapter Constitution was amended in January 2021, however, after that there has been many changes in the legal and policy dynamics and frameworks within Rwanda and regionally specifically with FAWE Africa fraternity. The revised constitution should address, amongst other things, a more efficient 

4. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THIS ASSIGNMENT 

FAWE Rwanda Chapter wishes to engage a qualified consultant to review, revise, and update FAWE Rwanda's Constitution, ensuring that: 

• The Rwanda Chapter compliances with current Rwandan NGO legislation and labor regulations; 

Alignment with FAWE Africa and the entire FAWE fraternity standards and global governance norms; 

To have clarity on structure, decision-making, roles, membership, and accountability 

To incorporate feedback and ideas from our key stakeholders especially during the validation process. 

5. SCOPE OF ASSIGNMENT 

The main objective of this consultancy is to revised and update the current constitution for FAWE Rwanda Chapter that takes into account the current internal and external operating environment in order to enhance FAWE Rwanda's effectiveness and sustainability in the area of promoting girls' education and women economic empowerment in Rwanda. The constitution review process will take into account the usual document review by analyzing the current Constitution against Rwandan NGO/legal frameworks and FAWE'S broader constitutional documents. 

Gap Analysis & Benchmarking activities during revision of FAWE Rwanda Chapter Constitution shall entail the identification of deficiencies or ambiguities and compare with peer NGO constitutions in Rwanda and in the region. The third major assignment activity shall involve the drafting of the revisions. Propose updated clauses on governance bodies, membership criteria, election processes, powers, finance, ethics, dispute resolution, amendment procedures, dissolution, etc among others. 

Another key activity to be done by the consultant is the stakeholder consultations. The revision process shall gather information from engaging relevant FAWE Rwanda Chapter stakeholders through interviews or workshops to gather input and suggestions. The consultant is expected to present the final draft constitution for validation and approval at technical level. It is at this level where he or she will collect feedback via a validation meeting, and integrate adjustments into a final version. The consultant from here is expected to provide guidance to FAWE Rwanda Chapter management and executive committee the next steps they should follow on how the revised Constitution is to be adopted. 

6. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE 

The consultant should have: 

Advanced degree in Law, Governance, Gender studies, Social Sciences, Public Administration, or related field; 

Proven experience in constitutional/legal review for NGOS (Rwanda context preferred) present at least three certificates of good completion on similar assignments which do not exceed 5 years; 

The consultant will draw from best practices within similar assignments for other non- governmental organization 

The consultant will draw from best practices within similar assignments for other non- governmental organization 

Track record of developing guidelines and legal instruments for civil society and NGOs for at least the last three years. 

Strong understanding of nonprofit governance, Rwandan legal frameworks, and FAWE'S regional norms; 

Excellent analytical, consultative, and drafting abilities. 

7. DELIVERABLE OUTPUTS 

An inception report detailing how the consultant understands the assignment, the methodology/ approaches and timelines associated with this consultancy assignment and analysis of the current Constitution 

Gap Analysis & Benchmarking Report 

Draft Revised Constitution (track-changes version + clean consolidated version) 

Validation Meeting Summary 

Final Revised Constitution 

8. TIMELINE AND MANAGEMENT 

The estimated duration of the assignment is thirty working days (30 days), starting from the days of signing the contract. Any extension will require prior approval. 

9. SUPERVISION/REPORTING 

The Consultant /firm will report to FAWE Rwanda Chapter National Coordinator and engagement style shall be a mixed approach of both physical meetings, online or hybrid, depending on agreement. 

Experience with assignments related to institutional/organizational culture and policy analysis is an advantage. 

10.HOW TO APPLY 

Interested parties are kindly requested to send; 

Technical proposal (including understanding, methodology, tentative work breakdown schedule) CV(s) and relevant samples of similar work (at least three certificates of good completion); Financial proposal with clear fee breakdown quoted in Rwandan francs. 

Tax payer identification number 

Attached at least three recent certificates of good completion of similar work in Rwanda. 

Please submit two separate documents (technical and financial proposals) sealed in two envelopes to: FAWE Rwanda Chapter Office in Kimironko in REB Premises not later than 26th August 2025 at 10:00am 

Approved by: 

Alice Buhinja Mutesi National Coordinator 

FAWE Rwanda Chapter