Founded in 2006, Sonke is a womxn’s rights organisation that is committed to feminist principles, using a rights-based and gender transformative approach to achieve human rights and gender justice. Our vision is a poverty-free world in which womxn, children, men and gender non-conforming individuals enjoy equitable, caring, healthy and happy relationships that contribute to the development of gender just and democratic societies. Sonke strengthens governments, civil society and citizen’s capacity to advance gender justice and womxn’s rights, prevent gender-based violence and reduce the spread of HIV and the impact of AIDS, and in this way contributing to social justice and the elimination of poverty. One of Sonke’s key strategies is the establishment of and support coalitions, alliances, and movements. Sonke co-founded the MenEngage Global Alliance (year) and has supported MEA to become the largest regional network of the Global Alliance.
MenEngage Africa (MEA) Alliance was formed in 2006, as one of the regional networks that make up the MenEngage Global Alliance, to work in partnership with local, national, regional and international Civil Society Organizations towards achieving gender equality, preventing HIV, promoting human rights and reducing violence at all levels across the continent. In particular, the network aims to promote collaboration and resource sharing among organizations, support joint advocacy initiatives, and build capacity and leadership on gender equality within Africa. For more details, please visit: www.menengage.org
The network comprises 22 country networks and over 350 civil society organisations that, among other strategies, engage men and boys in tackling negative masculinities and deconstructing patriarchal structures that exacerbate gender inequalities. These country networks bring together partner organisations working on gender-based violence, sexual abuse and sexual exploitation, women’s rights, youth and child rights, masculinities, HIV, fatherhood, sexual and reproductive health and rights, maternal health, refugees and migrants, and other human rights issues. The networks undertake community mobilisation, joint programming, research, and policy and advocacy activities.
Objectives
The overall objective of this consultancy is to develop a MenEngage Africa Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Strategy (2021 – 2026) that will ensure that MEA fulfils its mandate and as well help keep members of MEA working towards the same long-term goals. The new strategy should among others:
- Review and analyze Sonke, MEA and MEA Youth existing strategic plans, FGM and Youth Advocacy Strategy documents and key project documents with a focus on understanding where MEA is and what we seek to achieve?
- Conduct consultative forums with MEA Steering Committee, Sonke staff supporting MEA, MEA member organizations, key stakeholders, to synthesis MEA key learnings and identify strategic opportunities in the current environment with a focus on understanding “Where do we want to be? How will we get there?”
- Through a consultative process and application of an appropriate tool of analysis, identify focus areas and develop Vision, mission strategic objectives and key result areas.
- Develop a short term – medium-term and long-term work plan and timeline against the vision, mission and objectives identified in (1). Specifically:
- Outline key programmes for MEA to deliver on SRHR,
- Develop results framework with key indicators to measure the strategy implementation within the 5-year timeframe including a risk and mitigation register
- Layout the overall advocacy strategy of SRHR and its approach linking national advocacy efforts to the global, and regional
- Develop a resource mobilisation framework for the planned period.
- Layout how MEA can mobilise additional funding for sustainability
- Develop a full result framework for the strategy
- Define MEA network proposition, its strategic priorities and action plans to achieve these priorities
- Draft the Strategic Plan and present it to the MEA Steering Committee and key stakeholders for validation and approval after necessary revisions.
Proposed Methodology
The consultant is at liberty to propose a methodology that would adequately result in the expected deliverables outlined in this ToR. A participatory approach together with a critical reflection by the Sonke, MEA Steering Committee/MEA SRHR Working Group, MEA members, and key stakeholders will make the process meaningful. The following steps are highly recommended for the process.
- Development of Strategic Planning guidelines and discussion with Sonke and MEA Steering Committee/MEA SRHR Working Group.
- Inception meeting with Sonke and MEA Steering Committee/ SRHR WG to review the Strategic plan guidelines, following which the consultant will prepare an inception report outlining the key steps, specific deliverables and timelines agreed upon for the strategic plan development process.
- Review and analysis of existing documents, including but not limited to Sonke, MenEngage Africa, MEA Youth Strategic Plans and key project documents, relevant sector/partner/donor publications, critical research on the SRHR landscape. The aim is to identify focus areas and develop strategic objectives and key result areas for the same as well key opportunities and gaps, national, regional and global priorities, and what works.
- Undertake stakeholder mapping and analysis; Through a consultative process and application of an appropriate tool of analysis, the consultant will conduct consultations/FGDs with Sonke, MEA SRHR WG/Steering Committee, MEA members and key stakeholders to identify key strategic areas, critical issues, opportunities and gaps to be addressed in the Strategic Plan.
- Develop and administer a questionnaire to MEA members to include a participatory approach to the development of the Strategic plan.
- Develop Draft one of Strategic Plan guided by the following questions:
- What is the purpose of MEA as an organization?
- Where does MEA want to go in 2021-2026?
- What does MEA want to achieve during this period?
- Who does MEA need to collaborate and partner with to achieve its vision and goals?
- How will MEA work to deliver its targets?
- How will MEA get there?
- Which risks might MEA encounter and how will they be mitigated?
- How will MEA know when it gets there?
- What is the context in which MEA is working?
- Review and validation of the draft Strategic Plan. MEA SRHR WG/Steering Committee, Sonke Staff will receive and review the draft of the Strategic Plan in a session with the consultant. The consultant will modify the draft based on feedback and share the second draft. Further modifications may be required, but these should be minimal. A strategic development workshop may be considered to enable the process consultative and engaging.
- The MEA Steering Committee and Membership will formally approve the final document once satisfied and adopt
Supervision of the work/ institutional arrangement
The consultant will work under the direct and overall supervision of the Regional SRHR Coordinator at Sonke Gender Justice.
The coordinator will provide all relevant documentation for the assignment, including but not limited to MEA youth SRHR strategy, documents related to Sonke SRHR work, MEA reports/policies, MEA current M& E framework e.tc. Sonke/Coordinator shall be responsible for the coordination and facilitation of meetings and other activities under the consultancy.
In the event of travel, Sonke will cover all the consultant’s travel and accommodation expenses as per the agreements.
Key deliverables
- An inception report outlining the steps and methodology to be used in developing the Strategic Plan.
- Agenda and participant list for the consultative workshop.
- Conduct FGD/interviews with key stakeholders to identify key strategic and program priority issues
- A comprehensive report of document review and analysis
- provide reports on the processes including meetings held with the different stakeholders/committees
- Draft Strategic Plan for review and feedback (with a clear vision, mission, TOC, strategic objective)
- Feedback session from Sonke and MEA SRHR WG/Steering Committee
- Approval from MEA Steering Committee
- Final Strategic Plan document that includes: Executive summary, background (including SP development process), internal and external analysis, vision and mission statement, organisational values and guiding principles, strategic priorities, metrics to assess progress in the attainment of these strategic priorities(Results and Resources Framework), budget, PESTEL and SWOT Analysis and Operational plan.
Requirements
Academic Qualification
At least a master’s degree in a relevant field in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Public Health, gender or development studies.
Skills and Competencies
The ideal Consultant will have knowledge of and/or proven expertise in:
- Experience with participatory approaches in conducting assessments and facilitating strategic planning processes.
- Proven excellent communication and facilitation skills, including in multi-cultural settings.
- Highly motivated and committed to the values of transparency and integrity.
- Strong interpersonal skills – including but not limited to – the ability to work under pressure with restrictive timelines and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people;
- Ability to take initiative and to work independently – as well as – part of a team;
- Capacity to organise and facilitate senior-level consultative meetings;
- Fluency in English (written and spoken); fluency in another language especially French highly desirable.
Professional Qualification
- Minimum of 5-10 years of experience in strategic planning; experience in organizational and change management an advantage
- Familiarity with the Theory of Change approach
- Experience in working with women’s rights and human rights, feminist and SRHR organizations.
- Knowledge of knowledge and understanding of the women’s rights movement and on the workaround men and boys for gender equality
- Good knowledge of the sexual and reproductive health and rights field in Africa and globally; understanding of networks.
Timeframe
This assignment is expected to be carried 30 working days during July and August 2021
Application process
The consultant is expected to interpret this ToR and submit an expression of interest with a technical and financial proposal for the delivery of the expected outputs and the cost implications in terms of professional fees, respectively.
Send an application responding to the Terms of Reference that includes a CV, a proposed methodology (maximum 4 pages), an activity schedule and a financial proposal/ budget to proposals@genderjustice.org.za and CC jude@genderjustice.org.za with the subject “Development of MEA SRHR Strategic Plan”
Applications should be submitted by 30th July 2021
