‘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’).
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.
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.
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.
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.
NANHRI is therefore seeking to contract a consultant with expertise and wide experience working on SOGIE issues to guide the development of 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.
- 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.
- The consultant should have a post-graduate degree in Human Rights, Law, Development Studies, Public Administration or a related discipline.
- 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.
- Proficiency in English
- French is an added advantage