PROJECT CONSULTANT 66 views0 applications

etwork of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI)

Call for Applications: Consultancy to conduct a workshop on Maputo Protocol for African NHRIs

Ref: “Maputo Protocol Workshop Facilitator”

About the contracting organisation

The Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI) is the regional umbrella body that brings together 46 National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in Africa. NANHRI, whose Secretariat is based in Nairobi, Kenya, is registered under Kenyan law as an independent legal entity. The Network seeks to support and strengthen NHRIs in Africa as well as to facilitate coordination and cooperation among themselves and between them and other key human rights actors at the regional and international level.

Background and rationale

The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (‘Maputo Protocol’ herein ‘the Protocol’) was adopted by the Assembly of the African Union (AU) at its 2nd Ordinary Session on 11 July 2003. The adoption of the Protocol was aimed at providing more specific protection to the rights of women and girls in Africa through elimination of gender-based violence, discrimination and gender inequality. The Protocol seeks to address the peculiar challenges faced by women and girls in Africa’s context, which include various forms of gender-based violence and the needs for protection of women and girls in conflict situations among others.

Article 62 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Charter) read with Article 26 of the Maputo Protocol require State Parties to submit reports to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the ‘African Commission’), every 2 years, as an obligation. These are reports that explain the legislative, institutional and policy measures taken by the State Party in a bid to implement the obligations that the State has voluntarily assumed by ratifying the Charter and the Protocol.

NHRIs as national human rights protection mechanisms have a key role in ensuring the ratification and implementation of the Maputo Protocol at the national level. This includes promotion and protection of the rights of women and girls, as well as for ensuring States’ compliance to international standards and norms on human rights. The NHRIs also act as close allies to the regional and international human rights mechanisms hence contributing to their effectiveness at both the national and regional levels.

Out of the 48 NHRIs established in the continent, 30 have affiliate status with the African Commission. This status accords them an elevated relationship with the African Commission, with an obligation to support the Commission in its role of promoting and protecting human rights. This includes the submission of alternative reports that enable the Commission to assess a country’s situation of human rights, including the rights enshrined in the Maputo Protocol, when a State Party periodic report is being examined. Unfortunately, most NHRIs with the affiliate status to the Commission do not submit alternative reports, and the opportunities presented in respect of their affiliate status including cooperation with the Commission’s special mechanisms such as the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa (SRRWA), remain largely underutilized.

NANHRI in partnership with the Raoul Wallenberg Institute under the Regional Africa Programme is organising a workshop for African NHRIs and their staff, with the aim of strengthening their capacities to undertake monitor and report on the Maputo Protocol. This activity is financially supported by the Swedish Development Cooperation (Sida).

Objective

The workshop will seek to realise the following objectives:

i. To sensitise African NHRIs on the Maputo Protocol and related soft law instruments;

ii. To enhance capacities for NHRIs to develop and submit alternative reports to the African Commission on the Maputo Protocol; and

iii. To improve NHRIs capacities to engage States with the aim of accelerating ratification of the Maputo Protocol and State Party reporting to the African Commission, with particular focus on the application of the African Commission Guidelines for State Party reports on the Protocol

Scope of consultancy work

The consultant will be expected to:

i. Develop training materials and compile training programme;

ii. Facilitate the two-day in-person training to be held in Nairobi, Kenya; and

iii. Develop a completion report with indicators on delivery of the expected activity outputs

Duration of consultancy

This assignment shall be undertaken within a period 14 days.

Qualifications

Applicants for this consultancy should possess the following minimum qualifications:

a) A post-graduate degree in law, social/political sciences, international human rights law or any other related discipline;

b) Experience in facilitating trainings/workshops/seminars on monitoring and reporting under the Maputo Protocol;

c) A minimum of 5 years’ experience on national, regional and international human rights and governance issues and mechanisms;

d) Strong communication and facilitation skills (oral, written and presentation skills); and

e) Proficiency in written and spoken English language.

**Knowledge of the mandate and functions and/or experience in working with National Human Rights Institutions will be an added advantage