Consultancy – Training on on Advocacy and Influencing, Civic Space, and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (INT9761)

TRAINING OF NON-GOVERMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, YOUTH GROUPS, ACTIVITS ON ADVOCACY AND INFLEUNCING, CIVIC SPACE, AND SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS.

 

Project: Masarouna/ Our pathway

Country: Iraq – Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI)

Preferred typology of the consultancy: in person

Background 

Oxfam is an international confederation counting 22 organizations working together with partners and local communities in more than 90 countries.

Oxfam has been working in Iraq since the 1990s with both an expanding and contracting presence. At present, Oxfam works through eight offices across the country.

Oxfam in Iraq’s strategy is shaped around 3 key pillars 1) Humanitarian response 2) Governance and 3) Equality. Within each of these pillars, intervention covers the following sectors: Emergency Food Security and Vulnerable Livelihoods, Water and Sanitation and Hygiene, Gender and Protection, Emergency lifesaving support, and Local Humanitarian Leadership.

In this framework, Oxfam in Iraq is implementing the Masarouna/Our pathway project aiming at supporting young people’s advocacy to achieve their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).

Masarouna program 

In a context where securing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights is challenging, the Masarouna  program will mobilize the power of young people (YP), for collective action to support their fight for greater freedom of choice and respect for their SRHR.

The program is implemented in six countries/territories of the MENA region. Masarouna identifies two main interlinked pathways to achieve the desired change. Pathway one is focused on the direct influencing of decision-makers and society to address inadequate legislation and harmful traditional social and cultural norms through strengthened youth engagement. Pathway two is focused on strengthening civil society, reclaiming civic space, and the formation of new partnerships and alliances.

In the specific context of Iraq, young people face a series of challenges that limit their full enjoyment of SRHR: lack of evidence-based information about SRHR, limited access to information, lack of YP-friendly SRHR services, discrimination, and stigmatization.

In this context, the Masarouna project in Iraq supports YP in the access to their SRHR, with a specific geographical focus on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Through increased knowledge and the building of alliances and solidarity, Masarouna in Iraq will equip young individuals with the tools and knowledge to demand their SRHR and to create a supportive environment to enjoy these rights.

Overview of the trainings

Against this backdrop Oxfam has provided a number of trainings over the past two years. These trainings were mainly centred around topics on SRHR, advocacy, and civic space.

The Masarouna project is supporting young people as change makers who participate in – and lead movements that develop creative solutions. As a part of that greater goal the initiative introduced in this document aims to support Local NGOs, activist groups and youth volunteers in improving their knowledge on Advocacy and Influencing, specifically around topics on Reproductive Health and Rights. The initiative specifically targets groups of individuals with the willingness and capacity to launch SRHR promoting initiatives and to carry out advocacy and influencing activities on SRHR related topics. The ultimate goal of advocacy efforts is to raise awareness about SRHR issues, mobilize support from stakeholders, influence policies and practices to better address common issues, and ultimately improve the health and well-being of affected individuals, families, and communities. Despite challenges, we believe in young people as change makers who have the capacity to challenge harmful ideas and practices that hinder the development and enjoyment of fair and stable human rights, and to come up with creative and innovative solutions to overcome common obstacles on this way.

Objectives of the consultancy  

The consultant, or consultant team will be in charge of conducting three rounds of trainings on advocacy and influencing, civic space, and SRHR directed for two different target groups working and focusing on separate aspects of SRHR. The aim of these trainings is to mainly capacitate the pre-selected participants on the identified topics and help further develop their advocacy ideas/initiatives which they will implement after receiving the trainings.

The language of the training will be either in Kurdish or Arabic depending on the participants. Proficiency in English is required to communicate with Oxfam throughout the consultancy.

 

The training duration for each topic should be 2 days, flexibility is possible depending on the prepared materials and deliverables.

The goal of each training is further explained below;

Advocacy and influencing:

• Understand the concepts of Advocacy and influencing
• Increase understanding of various advocacy methods, strategies, tactics and tools, both online and offline. This includes how to do context analysis, power and risk analysis, and development of evidence-based messages for developing impactful advocacy ideas and initiatives.

SRHR:

• Increase knowledge and awareness on SRHR
• Increase knowledge on advocacy and influencing for SRHR and how it can empower participants to share their voices on SRHR through utilizing their influencing and advocacy knowledge and skills concerning KRI. This should contribute their ability to identify risks, and challenge and utilized opportunities and working with relevant stakeholders.

Civic Space:

• Understanding Civic Space, its specification to the context of KRI and the topic of SRHR.
• Unpacking different dimensions of civic space and how it impacts organizations/teams. And knowing how to identify the civic space dimensions and the associated risks and mitigation measures that are relevant to the proposed advocacy ideas by the participants

The goals of the session can be expanded or reduced as per suggestion and recommendation by the consultant/team of consultants and in agreement with Oxfam.  The consultant/team need to ensure creating flow and connection between the three main topics, mentioned above, in relation to the training overall objective.

Methodology

The consultant shall conduct three rounds of trainings on the topics mentioned above. The trainings will be given separately to two target groups.

During the trainings, the consultant should alternate between frontal sessions, scenarios, practical exercises, and group activities, where each participant is engaged and gets the chance to interact and showcase their understanding of the training content and knowledge gained. The training module and approach should use examples and exercises that are SRHR focused/related as possible, with connection to the context in KRI.

A final evaluation and feedback form should be designed by the consultant and filled by participants at the end of each training. At the end of the trainings a comprehensive analysis report on the results of the training evaluations must be submitted.

Ethical requirements, safeguarding and confidentiality

Do no harm. The consultant will adopt a gender-sensitive approach, inclusive of all participants, culturally sensitive and participatory, he/she/they will ensure the application of the “do no harm” principle.

The consultant shall respect the Oxfam code of conduct and the guidance regarding safe programming.

Lastly, the service Provider shall not use or disclose to any person during or at any time after service provider’s engagement by Oxfam any information relating to Oxfam’s business and operations or any other matters which may come to Service Provider’s knowledge whilst providing the Services and which may reasonably be regarded as confidential (Confidential Information).

Deliverables and timeframe 

The expected date of start of this consultancy is early August, however the trainings will start in the month of September and shall be completed by November, delivery before such date is considered a plus.

N.	Deliverables
1	Define the outline of each training topic for the target groups
2	Carry out a risk assessment together with Oxfam staff to decide on proper mitigation measures for each target group.
3	Prepare training materials (inclusive of evaluation and feedback form) and PowerPoint presentation for each topic
4	Conduct three trainings of 2 days each for each of the target groups mentioned
5	The final report is submitted along with the key findings from the feedback forms and recommendations to Oxfam on the advocacy initiatives and ways forward

 

Please note, there will be multiple rounds of feedback on content and language. The service provider is expected to have the flexibility for amendments and adjustments after the delivery of the first draft of the outline, training materials, and PowerPoint presentation which will be defined during the month of August.

Supervision and management 

The Masarouna Project Manager and the Oxfam Gender Justice Program Manager will provide technical and practical supervision to the consultant/ consultant team.

Logistics 

The consultant/consultant team will organize the day-to-day logistics related to the arrangement of venues and distribution of materials during the training.  All the fees related to the training (accommodation of participants, transportation and per diem of participants, venue rental, lunches and coffee-break) should be included in the financial offer.

Identifying and Selection of the Participants 

The identification of the participants will be done by Oxfam Masarouna Team in a stage prior to the trainings. A list with the participants details will be provided to the consultant/ consultant team.

Competences and qualifications

Skills and experiences: 

• Proved experience in design and conduction of training packages on advocacy and influencing, civic space, and SRHR topics in the context of the region.
• Expertise in gender and human rights-based approaches is a plus
• Background in psychology, social sciences or a related discipline is preferred
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills

Language: 

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Iraqi Kurdish is mandatory
• Knowledge of Arabic is an asset
• In case of lacking Kurdish language skills, a translator is required to be part of the consultant’s team