Scoping Consultancy: Learning Journey on Women’s Influence in and through The Church

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Scoping Consultancy: Learning Journey on Women’s Influence in and through The Church

1. Background

CAFOD is initiating a learning journey to explore how it can support partners and communities to strengthen women’s influence through and within Church structures as a means to advance gender justice, with a focus on Latin America and Africa. CAFOD is already supporting promising initiatives that elevate women’s voice and leadership within Church spheres, such as the Africa Church Advocacy Programme (ACAP) which is catalysing collaboration between Religious Women and Bishops in East Africa, and engagement with CELAM and its Animating Commission of Women in the Church and Society in LAC. This learning journey aims to connect, compare and distil learning across these efforts, and clarify CAFOD’s unique role in advancing gender justice within Church contexts and beyond.

2. Why now?

The global Catholic Church is at a pivotal moment for women’s leadership, with the Synod on Synodality (2021–2025) affirming expanded roles for women and lay participation following on the Vatican’s opening of instituted ministries such as lector and acolyte to women in 2021. While the debate on women deacons continues, regional bodies like CELAM and ACWECA are actively amplifying women’s voices and promoting women’s leadership and participation. CAFOD’s commitment to gender justice, including strengthening and supporting women’s leadership, agency and voice, and the ongoing development of a new Gender Justice Strategy align with this momentum, making it an ideal time to deepen learning, clarify our added value, and ensure our efforts support meaningful change within and through Church structures.

3. Purpose of the Assignment

The consultant will conduct a desk review and engage with key partners, organisations, networks, and stakeholders in the faith and gender movements (especially those supported by CAFOD in LAC and Africa). The consultant will work closely with allocated contributors in the two regions, who will assist to gather information and relevant case study material as directed by the consultant. The goal is to identify the most relevant current initiatives and evidence on women’s leadership, agency and voice within and through Church structures (especially Catholic) across LAC and Africa, prioritise learning questions where CAFOD can add distinctive value, and propose next steps and potential partnerships (including an academic partner) for the learning journey.

4. Key Tasks

Desk Review: Analyse existing literature, reports, approaches, and evaluations on women’s influence in and through the Church, focusing on barriers, enablers, theological perspectives, and links to development and social justice

Stakeholder Engagement: Conduct/manage interviews and focus groups with relevant partners, communities, organisations and networks and supplement with wider online discussions, including those involved in CAFOD-supported initiatives (a list to be provided), and other regional, global or thematic actors.

Learning Questions: Refine and prioritise learning questions for the ongoing learning journey, such as: 

• What role and influence does the Church and related Church structures and networks play in advancing women’s meaningful participation and gender justice? [1]
• Which barriers exist for women’s influence in Church structures and how does this affect their work in their churches and in the wider community, particularly related to gender justice? 
• What are the signs and examples of hope and progress for women’s leadership, agency and voice in the Church, and how are recent synodal pronouncements and initiatives making a difference?
• What can we learn from examples of progress – particularly with male champions within the Church? What tactics, tools, processes or leverage points can be highlighted from these positive examples?
• How do women flourish as leaders and influencers within the Church, and what skills, qualities, and structural changes support their participation, and decision-making?
• What do women in the Church do with their influence and agency when they have it? What do they want to see happen? Does it get translated into wider gender and social justice initiatives within and through the Church? (Are there examples of this?)
• How can CAFOD and its partners best support, advocate for, and share learning about advancing gender justice and women’s leadership within faith communities?
• What is CAFOD’s added value and niche in advancing gender justice in and through the Church?

Mapping and Analysis: Identify current foundations, momentum, champions, and opportunities for collaboration or innovation on women’s influence and leadership.

Recommendations: Suggest tested entry or leverage points for change, tactics and tools for CAFOD and partners (could include further research, potential partners (including academic institutions), programming approaches, and next steps for the learning journey).

5. Deliverables

• Inception Report: Outlining methodology, stakeholders to be consulted, and a work plan.
• Desk Review Summary: Key findings from literature and existing initiatives – outlining current context, opportunities and critical gaps.
• Stakeholder Engagement Report: Insights from interviews/focus groups.
• Case Vignettes: 2-3 short case reports on what has worked, for whom, with what enablers.
• Learning Questions: Refined based on findings from scoping exercise.
• Final Scoping Report: Synthesis of findings, recommendations, and suggested next steps.
   

6. Timeline

Assignment to commence as soon as possible. An inception report should be presented for approval by mid March 2026 and the final scoping report delivered within 4 months of approving the inception report. 

Illustrative milestones:
   - Desk review completed: (mid April 2026)
   - Country engagement including KIIs and FGDs completed: (mid June 2026)
   - Vignettes, learning questions and report completed: (mid July 2026)
 

7. Consultant Profile

Essential

• Substantive expertise in faith and development, gender justice, and/or Church governance.
• Demonstrable experience with qualitative research and learning agenda design.

Desirable

• Spanish language skills (strongly preferred)
• Experience facilitating safe, inclusive conversations with Church actors and women.
• Familiarity with Catholic ecclesial structures in LAC and/or Africa.
   

8. Application Process

Interested consultants should submit a CV (including two references), a cover letter, and a brief proposal outlining their approach to the assignment.

• Please send your application and documents by email to: cgrant1@cafod.org.uk by the 22nd of February 2026.
• Interviews will take place the week commencing the 2nd of March 2026

[1] For CAFOD’s definition of gender justice “the full equality and just power relations between women and men in all their diversity, in every domain of life, socially, economically and politically.” For more information please refer to CAFOD’s Inclusion and Gender Programmatic Approach Paper.”