Development of a MenEngage Africa (MEA) Advocacy and Communications Strategy (2024-2027)

Sonke Gender Justice (Sonke) is looking for a consultant to develop a MenEngage Africa (MEA) Regional Advocacy and Communications Strategy. The purpose of the Strategy is to give an advocacy and communications blueprint on the key themes identified in the MEA Strategic Plan 2024-2027. The Advocacy and Communications strategy will act as a guide for the implementation of all advocacy and communications efforts relating to laws, policies, programmes, and other interventions on MEA’s thematic areas. It is anticipated that the strategy will facilitate effective and results-based deployment of communications and advocacy expertise, assets, and resources towards Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timebound (SMART) advocacy actions at the national and international level. Successful deployment of this strategy will result in the advancement of gender justice, human rights, and social justice in key thematic areas for the MEA.

Background

Sonke Gender Justice, established in 2006, is an organisation that strives to reduce the spread and impact of HIV and AIDS, and promote gender equality and human rights. Sonke works in South Africa and in 24 countries across Southern, Eastern, Central and Western Africa through its partners under the MenEngage Africa Alliance. Globally, Sonke works in partnership with United Nations agencies, International Nongovernmental organisations as well as other regional and international networks and affiliates.

Sonke is a co-founder of MenEngage, a global alliance made up of 6 regions, over 70 country networks across the world and hundreds of non-governmental organisations as well as UN partners. MenEngage works collectively and individually towards advancing gender justice, human rights, and social justice to achieve a world in which all can enjoy healthy, fulfilling, and equitable relationships and their full potential. The global Alliance consists of representatives from each continent who in turn coordinate the country networks in their respective continents. Sonke is also the secretariat of MenEngage Africa (MEA) Alliance, which consists of 24 countries. Sonke provides capacity building and technical support to partners within the MEA Alliance.

MEA, the regional network of the MenEngage Global Alliance, is a network of civil society organisations and activists formed in 2006 with the goal of working in partnership to promote the engagement of men and boys in achieving gender equality, preventing HIV, promoting human rights and reducing violence at all levels across the continent, including questioning the structural barriers that drive gender inequalities. The membership of MEA consists of a range of civil society organisations representing women’s rights, HIV/Aids, LGBTQIA+ rights, youth and child rights, refugees and migrants, and social justice constituencies. All 22 MEA country networks strive to build stronger, working relations with feminist women’s rights, child rights and youth movements, LGBTQIA+ rights movement and other social justice movements, as well as local and national governments and UN agencies, which are seen as strategic partners. The country networks aim to undertake joint programming, research, and policy and advocacy activities to contribute to the achievement of gender equality.

The MEA Strategic Plan provides a comprehensive profile of key thematic areas of focus. The proposed Advocacy and communications Strategy (2024-2027) will focus on the key themes outlined in the new MEA Strategic Plan (2024-2027). These key thematic focus areas are as follows: Sexual reproductive health rights (SRHR), mental health, emergency situations, human rights, and gender justice, MenCare Africa, gender-based violence, peace and security, climate justice, meaningful youth participation, and Social and structural drivers (SSD) approach to advance gender justice.

Objectives of the assignment

Develop an advocacy and communications strategy to guide advocacy efforts by MEA at country level and at the international level. The strategy will provide a framework for strengthening the alliance’s advocacy and communications work, collaborations, and partnerships for effective advocacy and communication at all levels of engagement by alliance members and their partners. In addition, the strategy will work as a catalyst to raise public awareness and understanding about the MenEngage Africa mandate.

Scope of the work

The successful candidate is expected to make sure that the Advocacy and communication Strategy is inclusive and participatory by delivering on the following:

1. Consult and agree with Sonke on the structure and content of the Advocacy and Communications Strategy.
2. Carry out consultations with key staff and network partners on the advocacy work, challenges, capacity gaps and identifying advocacy priorities.
3. Take inventory of key internal strategies and evaluation reports on MEA to guide proposal of strategy actions that will work.
4. Conduct a mapping exercise to identify advocacy issues, gaps and the requisite roles for country network partners and Sonke as lead secretariat. This mapping effort is expected to outline existing campaigns and propose new potential campaign themes in line with the MEA Strategic Plan (2024-2027). 
5. Consult with key staff, to better understand expectations at each stage of strategy development. 
6. Outline key mainstream and social media tools, dissemination channels, theme-related social media messages and a crisis communication strategy for efficiently delivering critical messages to targeted audiences.
7. Identify and profile the most effective targets, influencers, and stakeholders, including contact details relevant for each MEA thematic area at the regional and international level. An addendum of key contacts per thematic area will be attached to main strategy as a resource.
8. Consult with Sonke and network partners to Identify key messages (harmonised) for each thematic campaign area and communication action. A messages profile by theme addendum will be attached to the main strategy as a resource.
9. Identify and profile key international and regional routine calendar activities on human rights, gender including commemorative events, outlining the requisite dates, and proposed advocacy activities in line with the MEA Strategy. An addendum will be attached to the strategy.
10. Include a UN advocacy strategy element in the strategy as an addendum, this includes a summative outline of all relevant advocacy guidance with treaty bodies, special procedures, human rights council, UPR, OHCHR etc, as aligned with the MEA Strategic Plan.
11. Design a costed communications plan, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation plan covering each campaign theme.

Key Deliverables

Consultant will work closely with the Regional Campaigns and Advocacy Specialist and Regional Communications Coordinator to ensure completion of the following deliverables.

1. An inception report outlining methodology, timeline, proposed strategy structure and delivery dates.
2. Zero draft of the MEA Advocacy and Communications Strategy for feedback and comments
3. Validation meeting – Consultant will organise and facilitate a validation meeting to present the advocacy strategy to Sonke, stakeholders, and the MEA. After the validation meeting, the consultant will deliver (d) and (e) below.
4. A final clean copy of the MEA Advocacy and Communications Strategy 2024-2027 including the following: submission of a report covering the validation workshop and a comprehensive section on key learning to inform Sonke of future and current dynamics relevant to MEA advocacy work.

Timeline

The project should be completed within 20 days.

Required Expertise

• University degree preferably in social sciences, law, communications, or any relevant qualifications.
• A strong work profile on similar work with traceable references and samples.
• Expert knowledge and extensive experience in regional and international advocacy on gender equality and gender justice work.
• Proficient English language skills.
• Good research, analytical and presentation skills.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills, with strong demonstrated ability to convey complex ideas in a clear, direct, and lively style.
• Strong understanding of feminist and gender transformative language and approaches.

Consultancy fee and payment

The consultancy is for a period of 15 days and proposals are expected to highlight their daily rate. Where applicable, Sonke Gender Justice will enter negotiations regarding suggested fees to align with available budget lines. Payment will be in South African rands (ZAR) as follows:

• 20% on submission of an inception report.
• 60% on submission of an acceptable zero draft strategy.
• 20% on submission of a final clean copy of strategy and the learning report.

Procedure for submission of an expression of interest (EOI)

Should you wish to submit an EOI, please send a detailed proposal, remuneration rate, and CV no later than 15 October 2023.

Rumbidzai Chidoori
Regional Campaigns and Advocacy Coordinator
Email: rumbi@genderjustice.org.za