Call for experts: Research project in Kenya
Introduction
Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) is the UK’s leading democracy support organisation, helping to make countries' political systems fairer, more inclusive, and more accountable. We do this by working with parliaments, political parties, electoral bodies and civil society. WFD also fosters improved democratic processes, bringing together individuals and institutions and encouraging them to work together to solve concrete problems, applying democratic values and principles.
WFD implements programmes in over 30 countries and territories globally. Through its Multi-Party Office (MPO), WFD also supports UK political parties in international partnerships, sharing experiences, learning, and best practices. These collaborations help smaller UK parties enhance internal rules and procedures, strengthen party branches, improve membership outreach, adopt evidence-based and inclusive policy development processes, and increase opportunities for historically marginalised groups.
WFD has engaged 20 Political Parties (PPs) in Kenya through the promotion of inclusive multi-party democracy. Currently, WFD is working with 5 PPs in Kenya to adopt democratic frameworks for greater transparency and inclusivity.
Background
Violence Against Women in Politics (VAWP) in Kenya is a persistent issue that undermines democratic participation and gender equality. Politically active women in Kenya face significant barriers, including physical, psychological, and online violence. The democratic backsliding and backlashes against rule of law, human rights and gender equality have led to increased political polarization, intolerance, misogyny and violence, online and offline. As a human rights violation and a barrier to women’s political participation, VAWP in Kenya is prevalent and presents a serious challenge to democracy and the peace and security.
A joint study by Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Africa Parliamentary Union (APU) in 2018 observed a pervasive culture of violence experienced by women parliamentarians, or MPs, and women parliamentary staff across Africa. After interviewing 137 women MPs from 50 African countries and one subregional parliamentary assembly, the report identified psychological, physical, sexual and economic abuse as the most common forms of intimidation and harassment experienced by the participants.
Specifically, 80 percent of women MPs said they experienced psychological violence, 67 percent have been subjected to sexist remarks, 42 percent received death, rape and abduction threats, 40 percent reported sexual harassment and 23 percent experienced physical violence. The report further revealed that most of the abuse was instigated by male parliamentarians from rival parties and occurred on and off the parliamentary floor and through social media.
The rise of social media and digital platforms has exacerbated tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), a form of VAWP that includes harassment, threats, and gendered disinformation aimed at delegitimizing women’s political engagement. Looking specifically at online VAWP in Kenya, #ShePersisted and the NENDO Social Listening Analysis have highlighted the impact of gendered disinformation, demonstrating how digital platforms are used to spread misogynistic narratives that deter women from participating in politics. These reports found that online narratives against women politicians often frame them as unfit for leadership, promoting sexist tropes and reducing their credibility. This coordinated online harassment disproportionately affects women politicians, contributing to their withdrawal from political spaces.
Observations from WFD programmes identify the perpetrators of VAWP to include political opponents, online trolls, party members, and – most frequently - fellow politicians. Research supports WFD’s observations that the vast majority of the VAWP that is perpetrated mainly by male colleagues within and outside their own parties. Male colleagues from the same political party have harassed women in 41% of cases, while those from different political parties have harassed them in 49% of cases. Widely referred to as intra-party violence, these attacks can be the most personal and difficult to address. These attacks often take the form of exclusion, threats, and smear campaigns.
The Role of Political Parties in Addressing Online VAWP and Gendered Disinformation
Political parties have a crucial role to play in combating VAWP and gendered disinformation. It is essential that parties have in place suitable rules, processes and structures to identify and respond to acts of violence against members of their party. These policies and measures should be adequately staffed and financed. If not, it will be impossible for a political party to ensure that acts of violence are not tolerated.
There must be a clear policy that violence against women is not acceptable. This may be achieved in several ways. It could be included in a code of conduct that also covers other issues. Codes of conduct are an important way to influence the culture of a party. Some parties may prefer to make this clear within their founding documents or rules. It is important to review policies regularly and update them to reflect new and emerging violent behaviour. There should be comprehensive definitions of violence against women in politics and effective measures to address violence within the party. Parties should publish these policies on their websites to encourage transparency and openness. This will also help to raise awareness and encourage other political parties to take similar steps.
Findings from the WFD Women Lead conference in 2024, the OSCE toolkit Addressing Violence against Women in Political Parties (2022) and research by the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford (2024) outlines what political parties could be doing to better protect women in politics.
Assignment
Despite growing awareness of VAWP, political parties in Kenya have not effectively addressed gender-based violence against their women candidates. Political parties have a crucial role in protecting their members, yet existing party structures and policies do not provide adequate safeguards against online and offline VAWP. The lack of accountability for perpetrators and insufficient support mechanisms leaves women candidates vulnerable, often forcing them to self-censor or withdraw from political participation altogether.
WFD intends to undertake a research project that will shine light on the nature of VAWP and gender disinformation in Kenya. WFD therefore seeks to commission an expert(s) to:
- Illustrate the nature and scale of the problem of VAWP in Kenya by using existing research, as well as conducting some primary research through surveys and interviews with political leaders in Kenya. The survey and interviews will build up extensive existing literature and assess how key institutions are responding to VAWP and gender disinformation.
- Collate existing positive strategies (best practices) that political parties can do to better protect women in their party during all points of the election cycle.
- Integrate learning from resourceful discussions at a 2-day participatory event to be hosted by WFD in the last week of March 2025, to facilitate political leaders to identify the positive actions their party can make to better protect women in politics.
Expected Project Output
The expected output of the research will inform public discussion on the nature and scale of VAWP and gender disinformation. This will lay foundations for commitments by political parties ahead of the party primaries likely to take place in early 2027 and the general election in August 2027.
Deliverables
The following deliverables are required from the expert researcher(s):
- Research Framework delivered by 13 March 2025, to include the research objectives, methodology, work plan, and stakeholder engagement strategy. This framework may include a Problem Statement and power analysis of relevant stakeholders. The Research Framework will be developed in consultation and agreed by WFD Kenya and WFD Head of Practice for Political Parties and Movements.
- Presentation of initial findings by 24 March 2025 to WFD Kenya and Head of Practice on Political Parties and Movements. This should include:
- Data collection on the views of politically active women in Kenya on what political parties can be doing better to protect women during all stages of the election cycle. This research should use tools such as interviews, surveys, and focus group discussions. The researcher must demonstrate sensitivity to women’s experience of trauma, threats, harassment and violence.
- Analysis of the current policies and practices within political parties in Kenya on the protection and safety of women in politics. This analysis can be drawn directly from women’s experiences, review of official party documentation, interviews with party officials, reports and the in-person event.
- Study of positive measures and best practices of political parties around the world to ensure the safety of women in politics. This should include findings from WFD’s existing research and OCSE ODIHR toolkit (2022). These positive measures must be appropriate and relevant for political parties in Kenya.
- Analysis of relevant stakeholders who can contribute to the better protection of women in politics in Kenya. This should include the specific role they can play and their level of authority and influence.
- Attend and capture the learning at 2-day in-person event in Nairobi (tentative date 27-28 March 2025). Some of the findings from the initial research, particularly on the positive measures identified for parties, will be used for group discussion during the in-person event.
- Final report of key findings, including learning and outcomes from the 2-day event, as well as recommendations for political parties and other stakeholders to address VAWP and gendered disinformation in Kenya. Final report to be no more than 20 pages.
- Policy Briefing summarizing the key findings and recommendations. No more than 4 pages.
Duration of the assignment
Twenty (20) days in March and April 2025.
Essential criteria/qualification for selection
The researcher(s) should have the following qualifications:
- Individual / researcher(s) with a post graduate qualification in a relevant discipline such as political sciences or any relevant discipline.
- Minimum of ten (10) years in political engagement, with demonstrable track record of high-quality research with a gender equality focus and experience using qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
- Proven track record of working on women’s political participation and VAWP.
- Intricate understanding of the workings of the Political Parties and other governance institutions in Kenya.
- Ability to work independently within stipulated timelines.
- Excellent analysis, writing and editing skills (Written and oral fluency in English is a requirement).
- Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and professional skills in interacting with government and development partners.
- For consultancy firms, one should have a legal status, a company profile, and tax registration and a confirmation of right to work in Kenya.
Quote submission
All proposals or quotes should be submitted by 7 March 2025 in writing and include:
- The expert researcher(s), status, company number, and registered office address.
- An overview of the expert's relevant experience, expertise, capability and capacity.
- A description of the service(s) to be provided and clear explanation as to how this meets the specification in this RFP.
- A detailed financial proposal in KES.
The Proposal should be submitted no later than 12pm (East Africa Time) on Friday 7 March 2025 to WFD Kenya: Mollen.Onyango@wfd.org and Cc Maureen.Oduori@wfd.org.
The email subject should read EOI – Research on the role of political parties in addressing VAWP and gendered disinformation in Kenya.