Consultant – SIHA Strategic Plan Facilitator 89 views0 applications

Position: Consultant – SIHA Strategic Plan Facilitator

Location: Remote with travel to Kampala for in-person engagement

Reporting to: Senior Management Unit

Timeline: 45 days from the beginning of the process

Note: Three days in person moderating the SIHA strategy and placing the starting outlines in simulations with SIHA board selected staff members and selected SIHA grassroots members (Total of 25-30 participants). The rest of the work will be done remotely in consultation with the SIHA team.

Application Deadline: May 06th 2024, 12:00AM EAT

Introduction:

The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) is seeking a qualified facilitator to lead the development of its strategic vision for the period 2025 – 2028. This TOR outlines the responsibilities, qualifications, and application process for this role. The facilitator will guide the strategic planning process, ensuring alignment with SIHA’s mission, vision, and values and adapting to the changing context of the Horn of Africa.

Background:

SIHA, a network of civil society organizations working towards gender justice and the empowerment of women and girls in the Horn of Africa, has been at the forefront of addressing issues related to gender-based violence, economic empowerment, and access to justice. With its roots deeply embedded in feminist principles, SIHA has been instrumental in mobilizing grassroots movements and advocating for policy changes to enhance the lives of women and girls across the region. Building on the successes and learnings from its current strategic plan January 2021 to December 2024, SIHA recognizes the need for a dynamic strategic outlook that responds to the complex and changing socio-political landscape of the Horn of Africa.

The timing of the strategic plan update is critical as the current context for promoting women’s rights and gender equality globally and in the Horn of Africa is rapidly shifting and transforming. Global attention to gender inequality and women’s issues has dramatically increased and gained importance in the past decades. The #metoo movement has been particularly central to the increased attention, shining a light on the prevalence and pervasiveness of sexual violence, political instability, and backlash towards women’s human rights and peace and security situations. The daily life of women across geographies and socioeconomic status in the region is becoming more complex.

In the Horn of Africa and other parts of the continent, the impact of ongoing armed conflicts, fraction of power structures and the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war while the brutality and violence against women and civilians have expanded into new territories is affecting women and girls and emancipating prevalence of violence into an imaginable way. Thus, the presence of SIHA as an active feminist grassroots network and the investment in it is membership and affiliates in the different countries across the region becomes critical to maintain the pact accomplishments and to continue struggling for an egalitarian and just future for the women and the communities across the region.
At the same time, the funding environment for programs addressing women is experiencing a shift towards more direct funding to feminist organizations and movements rather than funding single women’s projects. This situation could have some advantages, but it also carries a huge responsibility, as it is putting the burden on the feminist groups to become very updated and savvy in their capacity to navigate such complex reality and to lead communities across the region.

In addition, more funding is also becoming available to CSOs and NGOs based in the country or region, and there is a growing discourse on the need for a shift of power from the north to the south. This corresponds with a sharp increase in civil action and awareness in the region and globally.

On the other hand, failure to fulfil and deliver obligations often leads to unrest, tensions, and pockets of conflict, as is the case in Ethiopia. On the other hand, the competing and fractured power structures are leading to a campaign of atrocities and violence against civilians in the case of Sudan. These 2 situations reflect severe setbacks and backlash on the conditions of women, which require strong civil society and women movements response and actions. Other countries in the region also struggle to sustain volatile stability and post-conflict situations.

Conversely, in reaction to the increased violence and civil unrest, many regional governments have been driven to close the political space and place ever greater constraints on people’s freedom. With the shifting global political funding environment in mind, SIHA is contracting a consultant to lead it through the strategic planning process. The consultant will lead SIHA board members, select staff, and program advisors through a 3-day workshop that aims at developing a revised strategic plan for the next 4 year period, taking into account the shifting context and defining in more detail the methods and approach SIHA should utilize to achieve its overall mandate and mission.

Scope of Work:

1. Preparation Phase (May 2024):

• Review SIHA’s current strategic documents and relevant reports.
• The consultant will develop a questionnaire for SIHA staff, board and selected members based on a SWOT format to assess the strengths and weaknesses of operations as they relate to achieving the outcomes desired.
• Consult with key SIHA stakeholders to understand their perspectives and expectations.
• Design a participatory process for the strategic planning workshop.

2. Strategic Planning Workshop (1st week in June 2024):

• Lead a 3-day strategic planning workshop with SIHA’s strategy team and other stakeholders.
• Facilitate discussions on SIHA’s vision, mission, thematic priorities, and strategic approaches for 2025 – 2028.
• Guide the identification of strategic objectives, key result areas, and performance indicators.

3. Post-Workshop Phase (July – August 2025):

• Compile inputs from the workshop and draft the strategic plan document.
• Coordinate a review and feedback process with SIHA’s board and key stakeholders.
• Finalize the strategic plan by incorporating feedback and preparing a presentation for SIHA’s board approval.

Activities:

• Assess the working context, including country-specific contexts (political, socio-economic, governance and operational environment), global funding environment, and women’s rights and gender equality.
• Review SIHA’s current strategic plan and related documents to understand the organization’s mission, vision, thematic areas, and past strategic approaches.
• Facilitate participatory workshops with SIHA stakeholders, including board members, staff, partners, and community representatives, to gather input on the strategic direction and priorities for 2025 – 2028.
• Conduct individual and group consultations with key SIHA stakeholders to refine the strategic priorities and gather specific feedback on the draft strategic framework.
• Assess and discuss institutional implications (financial, capacity, structure, etc.)
• Compile and draft the strategic plan, incorporating stakeholder feedback and aligning with SIHA’s mission and vision for 2025 – 2028. The draft plan should include an Advocacy Plan and an M&E Framework.
• Present the draft strategic plan to the SIHA team and board for feedback and conduct a review session to finalize the plan based on the feedback received.
• Finalize the strategic plan document, incorporating all feedback from the SIHA team and board, and prepare a final presentation of the strategic plan for endorsement.

Deliverables:

• An inception report outlining the strategic review methodology, including stakeholder engagement plans and a detailed timeline for the strategic planning process.
• A report summarizing the workshop discussions, key insights, and preliminary strategic priorities identified by stakeholders.
• A synthesized document detailing the refined strategic priorities, objectives, and key initiatives based on stakeholder consultations.
• Draft strategic plan document, including the proposed Advocacy Plan and M&E Framework, ready for SIHA team review and feedback.
• PowerPoint presentation summarizing the draft strategic plan, followed by a facilitated review session to gather and incorporate feedback.
• A comprehensive strategic plan for 2025 – 2028, including an advocacy plan and a detailed implementation framework.
  A presentation for SIHA’s board summarizing the strategic plan and its key components.

Qualifications:

• Proven experience in facilitating strategic planning processes for civil society and particularly feminist organizations in the world’s southern hemisphere.
• Deep understanding of the socio-political context of the Horn of Africa and its implications for women’s rights and gender justice.
• Strong participatory facilitation skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders in meaningful dialogue.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and presentation skills.
• Fluency in English is required; knowledge of languages spoken in the Horn of Africa is advantageous.