ToRs: Request for Expression of Interest: Consultancy to Support Campaign and Policy Influencing (Re-Advertised)
1.0 About Oxfam in Rwanda
Oxfam’s vision is a just world without poverty. We are a confederation of 20 member organizations working across the world as one Oxfam International on goals that support our shared vision. We want a world where people are valued and treated equally, enjoy their rights as full citizens, and can influence decisions affecting their lives.
Oxfam Rwanda Programme has developed its Country Strategy for the period of 2015 – 2020 and identified interventions which align with its mission – to ensure that poor women, men and youth enjoy equal rights and benefit from fair and inclusive development. Oxfam delivers a combination of long-term programme interventions, responses to humanitarian crises, and advocacy/influencing activities to drive the strategy outcomes. Oxfam in Rwanda is currently implementing projects in the following four pillar programmes: Gender Justice, Sustainable Livelihoods, Participatory Governance and Humanitarian response and preparedness.
2.0 About FEMNET
The African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) is a pan- African, feminist and membership-based network based in Nairobi with over 800 members across 48 African countries. FEMNET envisions an African society where gender equality is achieved, and women and girls enjoy all their rights and live in dignity. FEMNET exists to facilitate and coordinate the sharing of experiences, ideas, information, and strategies for human rights promotion among African women’s organizations through networking, communication, capacity-building and advocacy at the regional and international levels. FEMNET was conceived in 1988 but formally registered in 1993 under Kenya’s applicable incorporation laws and/or regulations.
Since inception in 1988, FEMNET has strategically positioned herself as a convenor, organizer and facilitator on dialogues around critical issues including women’s involvement in governance and leadership, promoting women’s economic justice, advocating for women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights, ending gender-based violence and harmful practices (such as female genital mutilation and child marriage) and strengthening the women’s movement in Africa.
3.0 About the project
The Strengthening Networks for Greater Impact – STITCH is four years (2019-2022) EU funded project, implemented by Oxfam in partnership with FEMNET. This initiative is being implemented in 7 countries in Africa namely: Kenya, Mali, Tunisia, DRC, Ethiopia, Mauritius, and Rwanda. The initiative is working with 13 local partners across the 7 countries. The project seeks to strengthen the institutional and operational capacities of women network organizations for coordinated actions at global, regional, and national levels.
Specifically, the initiative will
I. Strengthen institutional and operational capacity of FEMNET secretariat to lead effectively, coordinate, and support its wide membership and
II. SupportFEMNET 14 members in 7 countries on policy advocacy, campaigning, networking, and information sharing.
Upon completion of the project, the following result areas will have been achieved:
- FEMNET Secretariat has strengthened governance and management systems to mobilise, coordinate and carry out joint policy and advocacy with its members at national and regional levels.
- Institutional and operational Capacities of members of FEMNET built to effectively influence policies on women’s rights and gender equality in their respective countries.
- FEMNET members use emerging Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) to tell and document their stories and contribute to the body of knowledge on women’s rights and gender equality in Africa and globally.
- African women know about their rights and gender equality as recognized in key policy and development frameworks.
To ensure that African women know about their rights and gender equality as recognized in key policy and development frameworks, the project will be having a campaign in each of the 7 countries and in addition will engage in policy influencing around a country specific issue.
In Rwanda the project is being implemented in partnership with two women organizations namely Rwanda Women’s Network (RWN) and Young Women Christian Association (YWCA).
4.0 Purpose of Assignment
Oxfam in Rwanda and FEMNET are seeking for a consultant based in Rwanda to support its Implementing Partners; Rwanda Women’s Network (RWN) and Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) in Rwanda to develop and roll out i) a National Campaign and ii) Policy Influencing.
5.0 Scope of Work and Terms of Reference
The consultant will work with RWN and YWCA to undertake the following activities:
i. Assist RWN and YWCA to define and clarify the issues to be addressed in the national campaign and policy influencing. Where possible, the issue should be an issue affecting women and girls in the country and can be linked to either the Maputo Protocol, Agenda 2063, and or SDG 2030
ii. Support RWN and YWCA to develop
i. A campaign strategy and
ii. A policy influencing strategy in consultation with women and girls in the country and policy makers.
iii. Assist RWN and YWCA to design and include specific interventions enlisting men and boys for policy change at policy, institutional and community level in Rwanda.
iv. Attend and participate in regional workshops for campaign and policy influencing as a Trainer of Trainers (ToT) to provide one to one mentoring and support to RWN and YWCA as outlined in section 2 above.
v. Facilitate an in-country workshop with RWN and YWCA and their constituents to review and validate the campaign and policy influencing strategies
vi. Support RWN and YWCA to develop key messages and Information Education and Communication (IEC) /Behaviour Change Communication materials
vii. Support RWN and YWCA to develop either a briefing paper, or policy position paper for use in campaign and policy influencing
viii. Support RWN and YWCA to roll out a national workshop and launch for the campaign
ix. Support RWN and YWCA to roll out a national workshop to train and sensitize stakeholders on policy influencing with a key focus on Maputo Protocol, Agenda 2063 and SDG 2030 depending on country context
6.0 Key Deliverables and Outputs
i.Country specific campaign strategy
ii. Country-specific policy advocacy and influencing strategy
iii. Training materials for ToT on policy influencing
iv. Report from training on ToT policy influencing (Max 3 pages)
v. IEC / BCC materials
vi. Policy Brief or Position Paper on country issue (Max 2 pages)
7.0 Required Qualification, Skills and Competencies
I. Post graduate degree in development studied, gender, governance, or other relevant subject area
II. Excellent understanding of power, politics, and social change in the context of Rwanda and broadly in Africa.
III. Experience working with and understanding of feminist and social justice principles
IV. Demonstrable experience of leading, designing and delivering influencing, campaigning and advocacy assignments in Rwanda
V. A minimum of 7 years of working in the field of influencing, campaigns, and advocacy
VI. Excellent communication and influencing skills, with experience of external representation strategies, lobbying, networking, and advocacy
VII. Strong analytical and conceptual thinking skills; able to understand highly complex issues and translate them into simple, workable actions and plans.
VIII. Excellent written skills
IX. Relevant experience and proven track record in producing and managing high-quality research and policy papers and briefs
X. Experience of working in highly complex political environments.
XI. Understanding and experience of managing diverse partnerships with civil society, private sector, governments and international organisations.
8.0 Duration of Assignment
The assignment is for 30 days spread across a 3-month period
9.0 Application Process
Interested applicants should send the following
i. Technical proposal (not more than 5 pages responding to the scope of work outlined in 4 above). The technical proposal should include a workplan outlining how the consultancy days will be utilized.
ii. Please also Include not more than 1-page financial proposal.
iii. CV of not more than 3 pages with names and contacts of 3 professional referees
iv. Sample work from similar assignments
Applications are sent by e-mails only. Send your application to kigali@oxfam.org.uk Please indicate the reference on the subject line as Consultancy to Support Campaign and Policy Influencing. The deadline for submission of applications is Friday 19 February 2021 by 17:00 Kigali time.
Please note: Only candidates who have been selected for interview will be contacted.
Disclaimer: Oxfam and FEMNET value an intersectional approach and encourages young women, women with disabilities, sexual minorities, and marginalized groups to apply. FEMNET also encourages its members both individuals and organisations to apply.
