CHAMA CHA WAANDISHI WAHABARI WANAWAKE TANZANIA

P. O. Box 741, Tunguu Zanzibar,

Mobile No: 0772378378

info@tamwaznz.or.tz

TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)

Assignment Title: End-of-Project Review Consultant

Project: Strengthening Women in Leadership (SWIL)

Location: Zanzibar

Duration: Four (4) Weeks

Expected Completion Date: 31^st August 2026

1. Background

Tanzania Media Women’s Association Zanzibar (TAMWA ZNZ) is a national non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting gender equality, women’s rights, democratic governance, and social justice in Zanzibar. Since its establishment and subsequent independent operations in Zanzibar, TAMWA ZNZ has worked extensively to empower women and marginalized groups through advocacy, public awareness campaigns, capacity development, research, media engagement, and strategic partnerships with government institutions, civil society organizations, community leaders, and development partners.

Despite notable progress in advancing gender equality and women’s rights, women in Zanzibar continue to face significant barriers to meaningful participation and leadership in political, social, and governance processes. Deeply rooted socio-cultural norms, gender stereotypes, unequal access to resources and opportunities, limited representation in decision-making structures, political violence, and discriminatory practices continue to constrain women’s ability to influence public affairs and participate fully in democratic processes. These challenges are particularly pronounced for young women, women with limited economic resources, and those living in rural and underserved communities.

In response to these challenges, TAMWA Zanzibar, with financial support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy, has been implementing the Strengthening Women in Leadership (SWIL) Project, a strategic initiative aimed at promoting women’s participation, representation, and influence in leadership and democratic governance. The project was designed to address structural and socio-cultural barriers that hinder women’s engagement in leadership while strengthening the capacity of key stakeholders to advocate for and support gender-responsive governance.

Through a combination of advocacy initiatives, leadership capacity development, stakeholder engagement, media interventions, and support to women’s leadership structures, the project has worked with a diverse range of actors, including women leaders, women’s wings within political parties, cross-party platforms, civil society organizations, media practitioners, policymakers, government institutions, religious leaders, and community influencers. The project has also promoted public dialogue on women’s political participation and supported efforts to create a more enabling environment for women’s leadership at community and institutional levels.

Since its inception, the SWIL Project has implemented a broad range of interventions aimed at strengthening leadership skills among women, enhancing collaboration among women leaders across political divides, increasing public awareness of the importance of women’s participation in governance, improving media engagement on gender and leadership issues, and influencing policies and practices that promote inclusive democratic participation. These efforts have contributed to strengthening networks, increasing visibility of women leaders, and fostering greater recognition of women’s roles in leadership and decision-making processes.

As the project approaches its completion in 2026, it is important to undertake a systematic and independent assessment of its performance, achievements, and contribution to observed changes. Such a review will provide an opportunity to examine the extent to which the project has achieved its intended outcomes, identify factors that facilitated or constrained progress, and generate lessons that can inform future interventions aimed at advancing women’s leadership and democratic governance.

In line with the accountability, learning, and reporting requirements of the grant agreement, TAMWA Zanzibar seeks to commission an Independent End-of-Project Review. The review will assess the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and contribution of the project to strengthening women’s participation and influence in leadership and democratic processes in Zanzibar. It will further examine the extent to which project interventions responded to identified needs and priorities, identify good practices and implementation challenges, and assess the likelihood of sustaining achieved results beyond the project period.

The review is expected to generate robust and evidence-based findings, conclusions, and recommendations that will support organizational learning, strengthen accountability to stakeholders and beneficiaries, and inform the design of future programmes and strategic interventions. The findings will also contribute to reporting requirements and provide valuable insights to TAMWA Zanzibar, the Royal Norwegian Embassy, and other stakeholders working to promote gender equality, women’s leadership, and democratic governance in Zanzibar

2. Purpose of the Review

The overall purpose of the End-of-Project Review is to assess the extent to which the Strengthening Women in Leadership (SWIL) Project has achieved its intended results and contributed to enhancing women’s participation, representation, and influence in leadership and democratic processes in Zanzibar. The review will provide an objective and evidence-based assessment of the project’s performance, achievements, challenges, and lessons learned throughout the implementation period.

The review is intended to serve both accountability and learning purposes. From an accountability perspective, it will assess progress made against the project’s planned outputs, outcomes, and indicators as outlined in the project results framework and implementation plans. From a learning perspective, it will generate insights into the effectiveness of different intervention strategies, identify good practices and implementation challenges, and provide recommendations to strengthen future programming on women’s leadership, gender equality, and democratic governance.

Specifically, the review will:

• Assess the extent to which the project achieved its intended outputs and outcomes and contributed to the overall objective of strengthening women’s participation and leadership in democratic processes.
• Examine the relevance of project interventions in addressing the needs, priorities, and barriers faced by women aspiring to participate in leadership and decision-making processes.
• Analyze the effectiveness of project strategies and approaches in strengthening the capacities of women leaders, women’s wings, civil society organizations, media actors, and other key stakeholders engaged in promoting women’s leadership and political participation.
• Assess the contribution of project interventions to observed changes in knowledge, attitudes, practices, institutional capacities, stakeholder engagement, and public discourse related to women’s leadership and democratic participation.
• Identify factors that facilitated or constrained the achievement of project results, including contextual, institutional, political, socio-cultural, and operational factors.
• Determine which interventions, approaches, and partnerships were most effective, sustainable, and scalable, and identify areas requiring improvement.
• Assess the efficiency with which project resources were utilized to achieve intended results and whether implementation arrangements supported effective delivery.
• Evaluate the sustainability of project achievements, including the extent to which strengthened capacities, partnerships, advocacy mechanisms, and leadership structures are likely to continue beyond the project period.
• Document key lessons learned, innovations, and good practices that can inform future programming, policy engagement, and institutional strategies related to women’s leadership and democratic governance.
• Generate practical, evidence-based recommendations for TAMWA Zanzibar, the Royal Norwegian Embassy, and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen future interventions and maximize impact.

The review will adopt a contribution-oriented approach, recognizing that changes in women’s leadership, democratic participation, policy environments, and social norms are influenced by multiple actors and external factors. Consequently, the review is not expected to establish direct attribution between project interventions and broader societal changes. Instead, it will assess the extent to which the project plausibly contributed to observed changes and outcomes, drawing on multiple sources of evidence and stakeholder perspectives.

The review shall ensure that all findings, conclusions, and recommendations are evidence-based, clearly substantiated, and derived from systematic analysis of available data and stakeholder consultations. Particular attention should be given to understanding not only whether results were achieved, but also how and why changes occurred, for whom they occurred, and what factors influenced their success or limitations. This will enable the review to provide meaningful insights for future programming and strategic decision-making.

3. Review Questions

The review shall address the following key questions:

Evaluation Criterion	Review Questions
Relevance	To what extent were the project objectives and interventions relevant to the needs, priorities, and aspirations of women leaders and other key stakeholders in Zanzibar? How effectively did the project respond to the barriers and challenges affecting women’s participation in leadership, decision-making, and democratic processes?
Effectiveness	To what extent were the planned outputs and outcomes achieved within the project implementation period? Which project interventions were most effective in achieving the intended results, and what factors contributed to their success? What factors facilitated or constrained the achievement of project objectives and outcomes?
Contribution to Change	What evidence exists that the project contributed to changes in women’s participation in leadership, advocacy engagement, capacity development, and democratic participation? What evidence demonstrates the project’s contribution to strengthening women’s wings, cross-party collaboration platforms, media engagement, and stakeholder support for women’s leadership and democratic governance?
Efficiency	To what extent were project resources (financial, human, and technical) utilized efficiently to achieve the intended results?
Sustainability	To what extent are the results and benefits achieved through the project likely to be sustained beyond the project period? What mechanisms, capacities, partnerships, networks, or institutional structures established by the project are likely to continue after project funding ends?
Learning and Recommendations	What key lessons learned, good practices, and innovative approaches emerged during project implementation? What recommendations can inform the design and implementation of future interventions aimed at strengthening women’s leadership, political participation, and democratic governance in Zanzibar?

4. Scope of Work

The consultant will undertake an independent End-of-Project Review of the Strengthening Women in Leadership (SWIL) Project covering the implementation period from January 2024 to August 2026. The review will be conducted in both Unguja and Pemba and will assess the project’s relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and contribution to strengthening women’s participation and leadership in democratic processes in Zanzibar.

The consultant will be responsible for carrying out the following tasks:

4. Desk Review

Conduct a comprehensive review of relevant project documentation and secondary data to gain an in-depth understanding of the project context, objectives, implementation approaches, achievements, and challenges. Documents to be reviewed will include, but not be limited to:

• Project proposal and results framework/logframe
• Baseline assessment report
• Annual and progress reports
• Monitoring and evaluation data
• Activity and training reports
• Communication and advocacy products
• Relevant national policies, strategies, and legal frameworks
• Any other documents relevant to the review

4. Review Methodology

Develop a robust and practical review methodology that combines qualitative and quantitative approaches to generate credible and evidence-based findings. The methodology should clearly describe:

• Data sources and review framework
• Sampling strategy and selection criteria
• Data collection methods and tools
• Data analysis and triangulation approaches
• Quality assurance measures
• Ethical considerations and informed consent procedures
• Potential limitations and mitigation measures

4. Stakeholder Consultations

Undertake consultations with a representative range of stakeholders to gather perspectives on project achievements, challenges, lessons learned, and sustainability. Methods may include key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and other appropriate participatory approaches.

Key stakeholders shall include:

• Women leaders and project beneficiaries
• Political party representatives
• Women’s wings and cross-party platforms
• Media practitioners
• Religious and community leaders
• Government institutions and policymakers
• Civil society organizations
• Community representatives and other relevant stakeholders

4. Data Analysis

Analyze information collected from document reviews, interviews, discussions, and other data sources. The consultant shall triangulate evidence from multiple sources to assess project performance and develop objective, evidence-based findings.

The analysis should clearly distinguish between:

• Verified findings supported by evidence
• Stakeholder perceptions and opinions
• Assumptions and limitations
• Conclusions derived from the available evidence

4. Validation of Findings

Prepare and present preliminary findings to TAMWA Zanzibar and relevant stakeholders through a validation meeting or workshop. The purpose of the validation process will be to verify factual accuracy, obtain stakeholder feedback, and strengthen the quality and credibility of the final report. The consultant shall incorporate relevant comments and feedback into the final review report before submission.

5. Methodological Expectations

The review shall adopt a contribution-oriented approach, recognizing that changes in women’s leadership and democratic participation are influenced by multiple actors and contextual factors. Rather than seeking to directly attribute broader societal, political, or social norm changes to the project, the review should assess the extent to which the SWIL project contributed to observed results and outcomes.

The consultant shall apply a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data from document reviews, stakeholder consultations, monitoring data, and other relevant sources. All findings, conclusions, and recommendations must be evidence-based and supported through triangulation of multiple data sources.

The review should identify what worked well, what did not work well, key enabling and constraining factors, and the sustainability of project results, while ensuring gender sensitivity, inclusiveness, ethical standards, and confidentiality throughout the review process.

6. Deliverables

The consultant will be expected to deliver the following outputs within the agreed timeframe:

6. Inception Report

Within one week of contract signing, the consultant shall submit an inception report outlining the proposed approach to the assignment. The report should demonstrate a clear understanding of the review objectives, scope, and methodology and serve as the guiding document for the review process.

The inception report should include:

• Detailed review methodology and approach
• Evaluation matrix aligned with the review questions
• Data collection tools and instruments
• Sampling strategy and stakeholder selection criteria
• Work plan and implementation schedule
• Data analysis and quality assurance plan
• Ethical considerations and risk mitigation measures

The inception report must be reviewed and approved by TAMWA Zanzibar before commencement of fieldwork.

6. Draft Review Report

Upon completion of data collection and analysis, the consultant shall submit a draft review report presenting preliminary findings, conclusions, lessons learned, and recommendations. The report should provide a clear assessment of the project’s relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and contribution to observed changes, supported by evidence gathered during the review.

6. Validation Presentation

The consultant shall prepare and deliver a presentation of key findings and recommendations to TAMWA Zanzibar and relevant stakeholders during a validation meeting or workshop. The presentation should facilitate discussion, verification of findings, and collection of feedback to strengthen the quality and accuracy of the final report.

6. Final Review Report

Following the validation process, the consultant shall submit a final review report (maximum 15 pages) incorporating comments and feedback received from TAMWA Zanzibar and stakeholders. The report should provide evidence-based findings, conclusions, lessons learned, good practices, and practical recommendations for future programming.

The final report should include, at a minimum:

• Executive Summary
• Introduction and Background
• Review Methodology and Limitations
• Findings against the Review Questions
• Evidence-Based Conclusions
• Lessons Learned and Good Practices
• Recommendations
• Annexes, including data collection tools, list of stakeholders consulted, and terms of reference

In addition to the final report, the consultant shall submit all relevant datasets, interview notes (where appropriate), presentation materials, and any other supporting documents generated during the assignment.

7. Quality Assurance and Approval

The consultant shall ensure that all deliverables meet professional evaluation standards and are based on credible, verifiable, and triangulated evidence. Findings, conclusions, and recommendations should be clearly linked to the evidence collected and presented in a logical, transparent, and objective manner.

The consultant will report to TAMWA Zanzibar’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Specialist throughout the assignment. Regular communication will be maintained to ensure adherence to the agreed scope, methodology, timeline, and work plan. The MEL expert will provide oversight, technical guidance, and quality assurance throughout the review process, and provide feedback on key deliverables, including the inception report, draft review report, validation findings, and draft final report.

 The quality assurance process will include:

• Approval of the inception report by TAMWA Zanzibar prior to commencement of fieldwork.
• Technical review by the MEL expert of the draft report to assess methodological rigor, accuracy, completeness, and quality of analysis, providing comments and suggestions.
• All key stakeholders should be presented with the preliminary findings to give comments and verify factual accuracy and provide additional insights.
• All comments must be adequately addressed, and recommendations must be included in the report, if not adhered to within the text.
• The final draft review report shall be submitted to TAMWA Zanzibar for comments before finalized. The final report shall be considered complete when all comments and quality assurance requirements have been satisfactorily addressed.
• The final report will be formally shared with the Royal Norwegian Embassy as part of the project’s accountability and reporting requirements.

8. Budget Framework

Interested consultants shall submit a detailed financial proposal covering:

• Professional fees
• Fieldwork costs
• Travel and accommodation
• Data collection costs
• Data analysis costs
• Validation workshop costs
• Applicable taxes

The budget should clearly indicate all cost assumptions and provide a breakdown by budget line.

***Indicative Budget: The maximum available budget for this assignment is TZS 11,000,000 (Tanzania Shillings Eleven Million Only) for the Consultant and TZS 8,800,000 (Tanzania Shillings Eight Million Eight Hundred Thousand Only) for the Assistant Consultant, inclusive of all applicable taxes and associated costs, and proposals should demonstrate value for money while ensuring the effective delivery of all required outputs under the scope of work.

Timeframe

The end-line survey is expected to be completed within four weeks from 1^st August 2026.
The final report should be submitted by 31^st August 2026.

9. Required Qualifications

The consultant or firm should demonstrate:

• At least five years of experience conducting evaluations or reviews of governance, democracy, gender, or human rights programmes.
• Experience applying qualitative and mixed-method evaluation methodologies.
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills.
• Knowledge of Zanzibar’s governance, gender, and political context.
• Experience working with donor-funded projects.

10. Submission of Proposals

Interested consultants/firms are invited to submit:

1. Technical proposal outlining methodology and approach
2. Financial proposal
3. CV(s) of lead consultant(s) and team members (with gender balance)
4. Two references from similar assignments

All interested consultants and firms are required to submit their complete proposals no later than 5^th July 2026 at 23:59 EAT. Late submissions will not be considered. Applicants are encouraged to submit their proposals well in advance of the deadline to avoid any last-minute technical or logistical challenges.

Proposals must be sent electronically to info@tamwaznz.or.tzwith copies to mohammed@tamwaznz.or.tz and sabrina@tamwaznz.or.tz, clearly indicating the subject line: “Endline Review Consultancy – SWIL Project”. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further evaluation.

11. Procurement and Submission Procedures

To ensure fairness, transparency, equal treatment, and compliance with procurement requirements:

• All proposals must be submitted electronically before the stated deadline.
• Proposals received will remain unopened and inaccessible until the submission deadline has passed.
• Evaluation of proposals will commence only after the deadline.
• No proposal will be reviewed, scored, or assessed before the official closing date.
• All applicants will be treated equally and confidentially throughout the procurement process.
• Late submissions will not be considered.

Important Note:

This Terms of Reference must receive approval from the Royal Norwegian Embassy before being publicly advertised or distributed to potential consultants.