Sonke Gender Justice (Sonke) is looking for a consultant to produce a community mobilisation strategy on engaging men and boys to advocate for an end to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The strategy is designed to inform and capacitate MenEngage Africa (MEA) Alliance partners and CSOs on how to mobilise and engage men and boys in their diversities on ending FGM.
Background
Sonke Gender Justice, established in 2006, is an organisation that strives to prevent domestic and sexual violence, reduce the spread and impact of HIV and AIDS and promote gender equality and human rights. Sonke’s work is in all of South Africa’s nine provinces and also in 22 countries across Southern, Eastern, Central and Western Africa, and globally in partnership with United Nations agencies, members of the MenEngage Alliance and other international networks and affiliates.
Sonke recognises that effecting sustained change to gender roles and relations requires addressing the forces that shape attitudes and community norm and practices – traditions and cultures, government policies, laws and institutions, civil society organisations, the media as well as underlying economic, political and social pressures. Thus, Sonke works closely with a range of organisations and individuals nationally and within the region to promote gender equality.
Sonke is a founding member of MenEngage, a global alliance made up of dozens of country networks across the world, 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 and co-chair of MenEngage Africa (MEA) Alliance, which consists of 22 countries. Sonke provides capacity building and technical support to partners within the MEA Alliance.
MEA seeks to contribute to the elimination of all forms of discrimination, violence and harmful practices against all women and girls including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). FGM is internationally recognised as a violation of womxn’s rights. In common with other forms of gender-based violence (GBV), it is considered a breach of a woman’s fundamental right to life, liberty, security, dignity, and equality. The practice is perpetuated by an entrenched sense of social obligation and is endorsed for perceived cultural, social, economic, religious, or hygienic reasons, including marriage suitability, controlling womxn’s sexuality and rites of passage. Rigid gender norms and harmful practices that determine individuals’ behaviour, causing GBV and gender injustice, are upheld and reinforced by the community, civil society, and state institutions alike.
In this regard, as part of its initiatives to address FGM under UNFPA-UNICEF Spotlight Initiative, MEA seeks to develop a community mobilisation strategy as it is imperative to mobilise communities and particularly men and boys to challenge the practice of FGM , as they wield so much influence in communities as gate keepers, decision makers, fathers and siblings.
Consultancy Objectives, Purpose and Expected Results
Overall Objective
The overall goal of the consultancy is to develop a FGM community mobilisation strategy to inform partners and other similar minded stakeholders on how mobilise men and boys to advocate for an end to FGM. It is intended to inform partners on how to engage with men and boys in their diversities as they implement activities under the UNFPA Spotlight Initiative. The community mobilisation strategy should take into account aspects such as how to mobilise religious and traditional leaders and policy makers in addressing FGM.
Deliverables
The consultant will be expected to deliver the following outputs:
- An inception report setting out the approach and timelines for the delivery of the scope of work
- A comprehensive FGM Community Mobilisation strategy
Location and Timing
The consultant will work from where they are based.
Timelines
The project should be completed within 10 days.
Required Expertise
- Strong conceptual and research/analytical skills with the ability to quickly analyse data and information from different sources and produce coherent reports.
- Exceptional written and oral communication skills, with strong demonstrated ability to convey complex ideas in a clear, direct, and lively style.
- Understanding of community mobilisation.
