medica mondiale e.V. is a German based feminist women’s rights organisation supporting women and girls in war and conflict regions. medica mondiale provides medical consultation, psychosocial and legal counselling and protection as well as programmes promoting the generation of income – both through its own projects and in co-operation with local women’s organisations. At a political level, medica mondiale actively advocates the enforcement of women’s rights and interests and demands consistent punishment of crimes as well as effective protection, justice and political ownership for women survivors of violence.
Background
Since 2006, medica mondiale has been implementing a community based, multi-sector and multi-level programme in rural areas of Liberia, tackling the consequences of sexualised and other forms of gender based violence. To increase women’s capacities to assert their rights, strengthen their protection and facilitate their access to adequate institutional responses, the organisation has set up a community based protection network in close cooperation with almost 400 community women elected as focal points against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), and involving elders and chiefs, police, court officials, health sector personnel and government officials. Through a referral system, community actors are linked to institutional responses and income generation opportunities. Capacity development enhances the quality of health, justice and security sector responses. Sensitising the wider community and involving local decision-makers aims at increasing awareness and respect for the rights and needs of women, changing attitudes and behaviour and ultimately social norms.
While the programme is successful in terms of immediate support to women affected by SGBV, political advocacy for protection of their rights and implementation of existing laws and policiesis not yet being undertaken very strategically. Being in very close contact over many years with community women and thus learning about their realities in Southeast Liberia positions medica Liberia very uniquely in the country. Data, case stories, and reports exist, yet they have not been used enough to inform policy and decision makers. This consultancy aims at increasing medica Liberia’s capacity to advocate for women’s rights at community, county and national level and link community level response more strategically with national level advocacy.
Position summary
The consultant will guide the team of medica Liberia to develop an advocacy strategy for the next years, based on the experiences, needs and objectives of their SGBV work. She will give an overview of potential advocacy methods, tools and instruments. In the workshop, she will jointly with the team elaborate advocacy objectives, methods and tools and identify potential partnerships. She will give clear recommendations to medica Liberia and medica mondiale about how to develop medica Liberia’s capacities to successfully advocate for and with the women in Southeast Liberia and how to strengthen the beneficiaries’ agency to advocate for their own needs and rights. The trainer possesses broad experience in advocacy for women’s rights, strong training and interpersonal skills and passion to build local capacities.
Key responsibilities
- Develop a multi-annual advocacy strategy including indicators and measurement tools in a workshop with key staff of medica Liberia.
- Facilitate a workshop and consult with key staff and partners on advocacy priorities for the organization.
- Together with the key staff, develop a Theory of Change for women’s rights advocacy.
- Contribute to staff’s increased knowledge about analyzing data and context.
- Support the team to develop effective internal processes and work flow that link community level concerns to county and national level advocacy.
- Share advocacy methods, tools and instruments.
- Jointly identify potential partners for building collective power.
- Identify capacity building needs for the staff of medica Liberia to do effective advocacy work.
- Recommend which kind of print materials, communication materials etc. is needed to strengthen the advocacy impact of medica Liberia.
Required knowledge and experience
- At least 5 years proven experience in advocacy for women’s rights, preferably in West Africa or Liberia
- Strong SGBV programming skills
- Solid training experience and method-knowledge and a passion to build local capacities
- Analytical thinking and a pro-active approach
- Sound knowledge of community-based approaches, and a creative and innovative approach to working on women’s rights with a proven commitment to women participation and empowerment methodologies
- Substantial understanding of Monitoring and Evaluation
- Excellent conceptual and analytical skills
- Proven ability to design and deliver on advocacy strategies
- Fluent in spoken and written English
- Length of Assignment: minimum 10 days (2 days preparation, 4 days workshop, 4 days finalization of the advocacy strategy and final report)
- Time: To be mutually agreed: 10 days between mid October and mid November
HOW TO APPLY:
Please email your application to recruitment(at)medicamondiale.org(Cover letter, CV, references, expected salary and the earliest date to start work). Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
The selection process will be finalized by 20th of August.
