Developing a Youth Engagement Strategy and Action Plan

 The Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development-PWWS

Terms of Reference (TOR)

Feminist Power in Action for Women’s Economic Rights (FEM-PAWER)

Consultancy for Developing a Youth Engagement Strategy and Action Plan

1.Introduction:

Young people of all genders constitute the majority of the population in Palestine and represent a vital human resource and a powerful social force capable of contributing to the building of a more just and equitable society. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS, 2023), youth aged 15–29 make up approximately 30% of the Palestinian population, reflecting a significant demographic presence. However, despite their potential, youth—particularly young women—continue to face limited opportunities for participation in development processes and decision-making, due to structural and societal barriers that hinder their full inclusion in institutional and developmental frameworks. For example, labor force participation among youth remains low, especially for young women: as of 2023, only 17% of young women aged 15–29 was active in the labor force, compared to 60% of young men in the same age group. Additionally, youth representation in political, civic, and institutional structures remains marginal, with limited access to platforms that support their voices and leadership.

2. About PWWSD:

The Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development (PWWSD) is a leading women’s rights organization that contributes to the feminist struggle against all kinds of discrimination entrenched by the prolonged Israeli occupation and patriarchal structures and norms of Palestinian society. Famous for its solid relationship with the grassroots, PWWSD is a reference for women, individuals, institutions, and CBOs interested in women’s rights. It works on creating a supportive public opinion of women's rights with a focus on promoting women’s rights on the base of human rights, women peace and security agenda, gender equality, social justice, and equal citizenship. PWWSD working in the all governorates in the GAZA STRIP and the West Bank including East Jerusalem

In line with the vision of the Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development (PWWSD)—which is grounded in the promotion of social justice, gender equality, and the empowerment of women and girls—there is a growing need to develop a comprehensive strategy for integrating youth of all genders into its programs and strategic plan. This integration should be based on rights, justice, and equality, and guided by the principles of participation and empowerment, recognizing young people as key partners in driving social change.

This document aims to provide a reference framework for developing a strategy to mainstream youth of all genders across the various areas of PWWSD’s work. It includes an analysis of the current context, an overview of challenges and opportunities, and the identification of strategic entry points to enhance meaningful youth engagement in alignment with the organization’s mission and strategic objectives

3. Purpose of Assignment:

Grounded in a comprehensive, contextually informed, rights-based approach, this consultancy aims to strengthen PWWSD’s strategic direction by advancing women’s economic rights through inclusive, gender-responsive planning. It recognizes the critical role of engaging youth of all genders in challenging patriarchal norms, fostering intergenerational dialogue, and positioning gender equality as a collective societal responsibility.

This Terms of Reference (ToR) outline the objectives, scope of work, key responsibilities, and expected deliverables of the consultancy, to ensure the effective enhancement of PWWSD’s organizational strategy and the integration of youth engagement as a core component.

4. Objectives of Consultancy:

The overarching objective of this consultancy is to develop a comprehensive Youth[1] Engagement Strategy and Implementation Plan that will be embedded within PWWSD’s Organizational Strategy. The strategy will facilitate youth involvement in the promotion of women’s economic rights, gender equality, and inclusive development.

Specific objectives of the consultancy include:

• Situational Analysis: Review PWWSD’s current youth engagement efforts, identifying gaps and opportunities for enhancing youth participation, with a focus on both young women and young men, and marginalized youth groups.
• Strategic Rationale for Youth Engagement: Define the strategic rationale for youth engagement, highlighting its importance for PWWSD’s mission and gender-focused goals.
• Theory of Change Development: Develop a clear theory of change showing how youth engagement will contribute to women's economic rights advancement.
• Strategic Vision and Guiding Principles: Develop a vision and guiding principles for youth engagement that reflect PWWSD’s feminist values, respond to local needs, and align with international best practices.
• Youth Engagement Pathways: Identify actionable pathways for engaging youth from all genders in PWWSD’s advocacy, governance, programming, and organizational development.
• Capacity Building Framework: Develop recommendations for building PWWSD staff capacity in youth engagement.
• Digital Engagement Strategy: Design digital and social media engagement approaches appropriate for Palestinian youth.
• Implementation Plan: Develop a practical implementation plan that outlines actions, resources, timelines, and institutional processes required for operationalizing youth engagement.
• Stakeholder Mapping: Identify key youth organizations and initiatives in Palestine to inform potential collaboration and partnership opportunities.
• Final Report: Produce a comprehensive final report summarizing the strategy, implementation plan, and monitoring and evaluation framework.

1. Scope of Work and Methodology:

Under the supervision of Programs Manager, the Consultant will undertake the following tasks:

• Methodology: Identify specific approach and methodology

Methodology should depend consist of qualitative and quantitative tools or methods to include: Minimum 15-20 key informant interviews across West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. At least 3 focus group discussions with different youth demographics. Online survey. Review of comparable organizations' youth engagement strategies.

• Review of Current Practices:
  • Conduct a review of PWWSD’s and POs existing youth engagement practices and strategies.
  • Identify challenges and successes in engaging youth from all genders, with particular attention to young women and marginalized groups.
• Development of Youth Engagement Strategy:
  • Design an inclusive and actionable strategy that outlines how youth can be meaningfully engaged in PWWSD’s initiatives.
  • Incorporate a feminist, human rights-based approach to empower youth from all genders in contributing to local development.
• Implementation Plan:
  • Develop a clear implementation plan with detailed steps for realizing the strategy. This includes timelines, resources, and institutional mechanisms for integrating youth engagement into PWWSD’s ongoing and future activities.
• Monitoring and Evaluation Framework:
  • Develop an M&E framework that includes gender-sensitive indicators to assess the success and impact of youth engagement efforts.
  • Ensure the framework can track progress in empowering youth across gender lines.
• Stakeholder Mapping:
  • Conduct a mapping of youth-focused organizations and networks across Palestine, with a focus on those promoting youth rights, women’s empowerment, and youth leadership.
  • Identify potential partners and collaboration opportunities.

5. Deliverables:

Key deliverable: Youth Engagement Strategy & Implementation Report, up to 30 pages excluding annexes, and including a short Executive Summary (1-2 pages). In both languages Arabic and English

The envisioned process is as follows:

• One-page Strategy Summary: For broad dissemination to partners and donors.
• Desk Research Completion and Documentation:
  Report summarizing findings on youth engagement practices and local context. (5-7 pages)
• Theory of Change Diagram: Visual representation of how youth engagement will lead to desired outcomes.
• Consultation Meetings with Stakeholders:
  Document detailing insights and outcomes from consultations with youth representatives, PWWSD staff, POs and local organizations. (5-7 pages)
• Implementation Toolkit: Templates and tools for PWWSD staff to use.
• Draft Report on Youth Engagement Strategy and Implementation Plan:
  Includes proposed pathways, actions, and the overall strategy framework. (30 pages)
• Consultation on the Draft Report, Strategy, and Implementation Plan:
  Summary of feedback from stakeholders and suggested revisions. (2-4 pages)
• Revision of the Draft Report, Strategy, and Implementation Plan:
  Finalized strategy reflecting changes based on stakeholder feedback.
• Finalization of the Youth Engagement Strategy and Implementation Report:
  Comprehensive strategy, implementation plan, and final recommendations. (30 pages excluding annexes)
• Presentation of Findings and Recommendations:
  Summary presentation of key points, findings, and actionable recommendations

1. Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)

The consultant will develop an embedded Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework to ensure the relevance, effectiveness, and sustainability of the Youth Engagement Strategy.

Key Indicators:

• Number of stakeholder consultations with gender and geographic diversity.
• Percentage of youth, particularly young women and marginalized groups, participating in strategy development.
• Number of strategic youth engagement pathways identified.
• Percentage of institutional frameworks integrating youth engagement elements.
• Number of youth-led or youth-serving organizations mapped as potential partners.
• Percentage of positive feedback from internal and external stakeholders regarding strategy utility.
• Quality indicators: Depth of youth participation in decision-making processes.
• Sustainability indicators: Number of institutional mechanisms established for ongoing youth engagement.
• Innovation indicators: Number of digital/technology-enabled engagement approaches developed.
• Impact indicators: Projected increase in youth participation in PWWSD programs within 12 months.
• Data Collection Tools: Surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, validation sessions, and internal progress tracking.

1. Timeline:

The consultancy will be conducted over a period of 3 months, with the following key milestones:

• Week 1-2: Desk research and review of current youth engagement practices.
• Week 3-5: Stakeholder consultations and data collection.
• Week 6-8: Data analysis and initial strategy drafting
• Week 9-10: Strategy revision and validation sessions
• Week 11-12: Finalization of all deliverables and submission of the final report.

1. Qualifications:

The consultant should possess the following qualifications and experience:

• Education: A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in social sciences, international development, gender studies, or a related field.
• Experience:
  • At least 7 years of experience working with youth engagement, gender equality, and women’s empowerment, especially in Palestine and /or in the MENA region.
    Proven experience in designing and implementing gender/ youth engagement strategies for NGOs, civil society, government or international organizations.
  • Knowledge of feminist, human rights-based, and context-sensitive approaches to youth empowerment and gender equality.
  • Experience with digital engagement strategies and social media organizing.
  • Demonstrated ability to facilitate youth-led processes and intergenerational dialogue.
  • Existing relationships with Palestinian youth organizations (preferred but not mandatory).
  • Deep understanding of Palestinian cultural dynamics and generational differences.
• Skills:
  • Strong analytical, research, and writing skills
  • Ability to facilitate participatory consultations and workshops.
  • Fluency in English and Arabic is required.
  • Familiarity with Palestinian socio-economic and political dynamics and challenges related to youth and gender.

9. Application Process:

Interested candidates are invited to submit a comprehensive proposal that includes the following:

• Technical Proposal: A brief outline of the proposed methodology, work plan, and approach to deliver the consultancy objectives.
• CV: Updated curriculum vitae of the consultant, highlighting relevant experience in youth engagement, gender equality, and strategic planning.
• Portfolio or Work Samples: three examples of previous assignments or strategies developed in similar contexts (preferably in the MENA region or Palestine).
• Financial Proposal: A detailed budget in US, inclusive of all costs and applicable taxes.
• The contractor should submit source of deduction certificate, if not, 10% will be deducted from the total amount of the contract.

10. Evaluation Criteria: 100%

Technical proposal: 70%

• Approach and methodology (30%).
• Relevant experience and qualifications (20%).
• Understanding of Palestinian context (20%).

Financial proposal (30%).

Applications should be submitted no later than 26/06/2025 to the following email address:
 [email protected]

For further inquiries, please contact:
Mr. Samhan Samhan, Programs Manager

[email protected]

Youth refer to individuals aged 15-29, right? with particular focus on young women (15-29), young men engaged in gender equality advocacy, and university students…etc.