FEMNET Consultancy-Development of the Women in Political Participation (WPP) Continental Media Tool Kit: Apply!!
- About FEMNET
The African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) is a pan-African, feminist and membership-based network based in Nairobi, Kenya with over 800 individual and institutional members across 50 African countries and in the diaspora. FEMNET envisions a society where African women and girls thrive in dignity and well-being, free from patriarchal and neoliberal oppression and injustices.
Founded in 1988, FEMNET exists to facilitate and coordinate the sharing of experiences, information, and strategies for human rights promotion among feminists, activists and women’s rights organizations as a strategy for collective organizing; policy influencing & advocacy; strategic communication; capacity strengthening as well as feminist solidarity and movement building. For more information, visit www.femnet.org.
2. Background
The project: Enhancing the inclusion of women in political participation in Africa also known as the WPP project is implemented through a consortium of seven organizations under the leadership of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance International IDEA)
The overall goal of this project is to increase the political participation and representation of women in Africa, in line with the Maputo Protocol of 2003, various associated sub-regional protocols and standards, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Over the years, women’s representation, voices, and influence have been sidelined in key political decision-making spaces. This has greatly impacted the achievement of gender equality and formulation of gender-responsive policies in the sub-Saharan Africa. For example, in Kenya, women constitute 51% of the population however their representation in parliament is stagnating at approximately 23%, the lowest in East Africa despite the affirmative actions enshrined in the 2010 Constitution.
This under-representation is further exacerbated by intersecting systemic, cultural and structural issues; oppression, political exclusion, injustices, violence, harassment, limited access to [financial] resources, feminine responsibilities, knowledge gaps, patriarchy, negative portrayal of women in media cultural and religious beliefs are among factors that continue to undermine women’s meaningful political leadership. The weight of these political gender inequalities leaves women leaders physically, socially, economically and emotionally broken, drained, pained and wounded to the detriment of exercising their full potential and thriving in their leadership journey.
3.Objective/Purpose of Assignment
FEMNET is seeking services of a consultant with proven track record in developing a Media Toolkit. The consultant is expected to develop the media toolkit for Women in Political Participation (WPP) that aligns to the continental instruments. The aim of the toolkit is to ensure that all media engagement and communications uphold the highest standards of safeguarding the rights of women in politics while upholding dignity and ethical conduct.
The toolkit will guide in redefining and remodelling Feminist transformative Leadership to effectively dismantle patriarchal narratives and myths. Further, it will equip like-minded partners and stakeholders with practical gender responsive media engagement strategies and resources – press releases, articles, stories and advertisements to amplify the voices of women politicians in the media landscape.
4.Scope of Work and Terms of Reference
The toolkit will inform prioritization, respect and enforcement of online safety in all media interactions to enhance collaboration between women in politics and journalists who uphold professional ethics in content creation while emphasizing editorial values that uphold women’s dignity.
The tasks and responsibilities of the consultant will include:
Conducting a needs assessment: Identify the specific needs and priorities of journalists, media outlets, and organizations in relation to reporting on women’s political participation ensuring that the organizations uphold the highest standards of safeguarding women’s rights.
Developing the toolkit: Create a comprehensive and user-friendly media toolkit that includes all of the components outlined in the purpose of the assignment.
5. Key Deliverables and Outputs.
The Key deliverables for this assignment are:
- A situational analysis on framing of women in politics by the media in Africa highlighting the pros and cons.
- Strategies and approaches for effective collaboration between women in politics and the media, including case studies
- National, regional and global instruments and protocols that complements women’s political discourse and objective media coverage.
- Guiding media framework that informs the framing of stories, articles, press releases, etc on women in political participation. The framework will incorporate:
- Key element of understanding and working with the media, notably talking with the media, selecting the right media, developing story angles etc
- Incorporate samples and templates of media resources that will aid in the development of compelling stories, press releases that showcase the unique experiences and perspectives of women political leaders from diverse backgrounds. These will include but not limited to press releases, opinion pieces, Op-Eds, interview guidelines, talking points, letter to the editor etc.
- Database of journalists whose niche is women’s political participation and leadership from across the continent for women politicians to leverage.
6.Required Qualifications, skills and Competencies.
The call is open to individual consultants. Teams/firms with the appropriate mix of skills are also eligible but should demonstrate justification and added value. The required skills and competencies for the assignment are:
- Hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a recognized university in a relevant field such as Communications, Journalism, Development Studies, Gender and Development, or equivalent.
- At least 7 years of being in the communications/media industry.
- Deep understanding of women’s rights advocacy and programming, particular around FEMNET’s key focus areas: Transformative Leadership, Economic Justice, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, Climate Justice and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls.
- Deep understanding of women’s rights advocacy and programming, particularly around Gender Equality and Women in Politics.
- Skills and experience in development communication.
- Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues in the organization to understand needs and objectives for the media toolkit.
- Agility so as to work effectively with the Communication and Information Lead and the WPP Coordinator.
- Creative and innovative with an eye for detail to ensure accuracy and quality in all our work.
- Ability to meet strict deadlines.
7. Duration of Assignment.
The Consultancy will be undertaken over a period of 30 (working) days from Mid-September 2024 Work will commence upon signing of the contract.
8. Liaison, Coordination and Reporting.
The consultant will work closely with Communication and Information Lead and WPP Coordinator at FEMNET Secretariat. Prior to the start date, the consultant will be required to have a briefing session with the mentioned staff to discuss the assignment and expected deliverables.
9. Selection of Consultant.
The consultant shall be contracted by FEMNET. The contract will include Withholding Tax (WHT) deduction in line with laws of contracting where FEMNET is headquartered. A WHT certificate will be issued to the consultant. Payment will be done through bank transfer to the consultant bank account. FEMNET will not meet the costs of bank charges. Payment schedule will be agreed upon with the consultant upon successful selection. In case of team/firm applicants, a designated assignment contract manager will be the contact between FEMNET and the team and responsible for all deliverables.
10. Intellectual Property Rights.
The consultant expressly assigns to FEMNET any copyright arising from the outputs produced while executing the service contract. The consultant may not use, reproduce, disseminate, or authorize others to use, reproduce or disseminate any output produced under the service contract without prior consent from FEMNET.
11.Terms of Service.
This is a non-staff contract and therefore the consultant is not entitled to insurance, medical cover or any other status or conditions as FEMNET staff.
How to apply
Application Process.
Interested applicants should send the following:
- CV and references for similar work.
- Cover Letter indicating your Daily Costs
- Two samples of work from similar assignments done.
Applications are by e-mails only, sent to: [email protected]. Please indicate the reference on the subject line as ‘FNT/EOI/36/2024 – Development of the WPP Media Toolkit . Deadline for submission of applications is 13/09/2024***.***
Please note: FEMNET is committed to prevention any type of unwanted behaviour including sexual harassment, exploitation, abuse, and lack of integrity as well as other ethical breaches. All staff and consultants are expected to share this commitment through our code of conduct and Safeguarding Policy. Offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and fraud.
We welcome people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, culture and experience. We will make any practical adjustments to enable people with disability participate fully in an inclusive working environment.
By submitting your application, you acknowledge that you have given consent to the collection, use and/or disclosure of your data by us for the purposes set out in this job description. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
