NANHRI Consultancy for Development of SOGIE Training Toolkit

Terms of Reference
 

Consultancy for Development of SOGIE Training Toolkit

‘The Experience of Rights Engaging with People and Communities who face Discrimination on the Basis of Sexuality, Gender Identity or Expression’

Background: Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is a common phenomenon in Africa. Currently 37 countries on the continent criminalize same sex intimacy (including 4 which provide for the death penalty for certain offences; and two which have enacted laws against ‘LGBTI propaganda’). 

Other African nations use public order provisions such as vagrancy; impersonation laws; and/or public nuisance to harass LGBT/GNC (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender / gender nonconforming) people. 

 

The depth and severity of this persecution and discrimination was finally recognized in the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (the African Commission) April 2014 Resolution 275 on Protection against Violence and other Human Rights Violations Against Persons on the Basis of Their Real or Imputed Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity.

In light of this development, the Network of African Network of Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI) has identified SOGIE rights as a key area of regional advocacy and capacity building for African NHRIs. 

The Network’s coordination role is critical in bringing together National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) to develop and share resources and advocacy tools for the protection and promotion of the rights of LGBT/GNC people and communities across the continent. 

NANHRI has designed a project that seeks to support NHRIs and their staff to engage more effectively with SOGIE issues and communities within their jurisdiction.

Project: The first, and key phase of this project, is the development of a toolkit which is flexible in its design to be used across several jurisdictions concurrently. 

The toolkit will form a training platform which guides participating NHRI staff through a series of content and skills based exercises which build on existing knowledge; challenge and enhance institutional practices around SOGIE advocacy; and foster the development of new policy frameworks which are inclusive of local LGBT/GNC communities and activism.

Although the international and regional legal and policy contexts are critical in guiding reform, and challenging state treatment of LGBT/GNC people, the toolkit will focus on local and national dynamics, cultures and legal frameworks, with aim of building the capacity of local human rights institutions to engage more critically with the lived experiences of LGBT/GNC people in their jurisdictions.

As part of the larger project, it is expected that the toolkit shall be utilised by NHRIs through phases 1 and 2 of the project. 

NHRIs will utilise the toolkit to identify gaps in access to fundamental citizenship rights – including constitutional or other rights provisions to basic rights to tenancy, work, health care and voting. 

These rights should not be affected by perceived or actual sexual orientation or gender identity, even where same sex sexual activity may be criminalised. 

Similarly, it is expected that the completed toolkit can be utilized in the future by NHRIs as a training tool for new staff, and to input into regional rights platforms, and international Human Rights body reporting requirements. 

The toolkit also will produce a benchmark for each participating country, and can be used in the future to track progress.

NANHRI is therefore seeking to contract a consultant with expertise and wide experience working on SOGIE issues to guide the development of the toolkit. 

African NHRIs, as the main users of the toolkit will constitute the working group that will work together with the independent consultant to develop the toolkit.

 Their roles and experiences working on SOGIE issues will significantly contribute to the information and strategies adopted in the toolkit.

Objectives of the Consultancy

• To develop the content and training materials of a toolkit;


• To identify a cost effective electronic platform which supports the training; and


• To upload the training materials.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Consultant
 

The consultant will:

• Undertake literature review about the role of African NHRIs in protecting the rights of LGBTI/GNC people, based on their mandate of human rights protection and promotion;


• Design data collection tools to facilitate gathering of data from NHRIs;


• Assess the current NHRIs capacity and knowledge needs in the region in relation to human rights protection and promotion for LGBTI/GNC communities;


• Identify an appropriate, cost-effective online training platform and upload the materials;   


• Identify and form an expert SOGIE Reference Group of between 3 – 5 members who can advise on the content and regional specificities as well as validate the toolkit prior to the official launch; and


• Prepare and make presentations in person in the project inception and validation meetings;


• Engage regularly with the members of the SOGIE Reference Group during the development phase of the toolkit; and


• Submit all the materials developed after the successful completion of the project.

Qualifications Required
 

Education

• The consultant should have a post-graduate degree in Human Rights, Law, Development Studies, Public Administration or a related discipline.

Experience

• At least 5 years of proven experience of work at a regional level and engaging with policy makers on human rights related issues;


• A good undertaking of technical policy-focused research related to human rights promotion and protection, public policy, NHRI functions and operations; and


• Practical experience in rights based approaches to service delivery and especially issues related to LGBTI.

Language

• Proficiency in English


• French is an added advantage

Duty Station: The assignment will be home-based but will require the Consultant to travel for a validation meeting. 
 

Project period: The project will be implemented between April to June 2016. This includes the validation meeting of the toolkit.
 

Submission of Applications
 

Qualified candidates are required to submit technical and financial proposals.
 

The technical proposal should provide clear timelines within which the consultant will undertake the assignment.
 

Submission of applications is open from 15th to 29th February 2016.
 

Applications should be sent electronically to: info@nanhri.org with a copy to bchakaya@nanhri.org by 29th February 2016.