CALL FOR CONSULTANT – Farming Community Educational Trust (FACET)

 

Vacancy

Development of a policy brief on advancing Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) and
SRHR with Abortion Rights

Organizational Background

FACET- Farming Community Educational Trust (FACET) is a registered not for profit
organization founded in 2015 whose mandate is to empower farming communities through
education and strengthening family systems. The organization aims at empowering adolescents
and young people, with special focus on adolescent girls, to protect themselves from early
marriages, harmful cultural practices, gender-based violence, unwanted pregnancies, STIs and
HIV as well as promote equitable gender norms. FACET was established to address the structural,
economic and socio-cultural barriers to education in farming communities leading to early
marriages due to high school dropouts. The organization is currently implementing a project on
Sexuality Education for Transformation (SET) through the Girls Education Advocacy in the
Region (GEAR) Alliance which is aimed at advocating for inclusive and equitable education
systems and Access to SRHR and services for girls and young women in rural and farming
communities of Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique Zambia and Angola.

OVERVIEW OF THE ENGAMENT

FACET is a member of The Girls Education Advocacy in the Region (GEAR) alliance which is a
consortium of 9 organizations from Malawi, Zambia, Angola, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The
alliance was assembled to implement the GEAR project between November 2022 and November

2024.The alliance is implementing a project aimed at increasing girls and young women’s` access
to Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), menstrual health and youth friendly SRH services
targeting farming, rural and mining communities. The name of the project is Sexuality Education
for Transformation (SET) Project.

FACET is committed to advocating for the SRHR for all. Yet a multitude of barriers still exist,
resulting in shocking data on global health outcomes. In remote communities of Zimbabwe women
who want to avoid pregnancy do not have access to modern contraception. A number of women
have an unsafe abortion every year and one in three experience sexual violence at some point in
their lives. Adding on to that, in school it has been observed that some learners are resorting to
unhygienic menstrual management initiative to cost of sanitary wear. Victims of sexual abuse and
any other related SRHR violations are not going for health checkups or help due to unfriendly
health services for youth.

Governments worldwide have signed numerous international and regional political commitments
committing to universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights. However, these
promises have not yet been translated into urgent and costed actions. The recent COVID-19
pandemic has exacerbated this situation and brought to the fore the need to prioritize SRHR in
health care systems, the need to introduce comprehensive sexuality education in schools to ensure
equitable access to health care for all people and to ensure more resilient communities.
Gaps though persist in the integration of comprehensive SRHR in many southern African countries
as only a few services are prioritized, raising the need for strengthening advocacy efforts at
national, sub-regional and regional level to champion SRHR for all.
FACET, in collaboration with its GEAR alliance partners, through the SET project, aims to
advance comprehensive sexuality education, Mensural health management gaps and YFHS in
marginalized communities.

Purpose:
To this effect, FACET is looking to recruit a short-term consultant to develop a policy brief on
access to comprehensive SRHR focusing the on the three-focus area of the SET Project that is,
CSE, MHM AND YFHS. Specifically, the assignment will entail:
• A review of existing policies on SRHR in Zimbabwe and policy papers on SRHR to understand
the trends, opportunities and challenges for advancing CCSE, MHM and YFHS recommendations
in Zimbabwe.
• Assess the level of domestication and implementation of existing regional policy frameworks on
SRHR and identify the relevant National accountability mechanisms that can be implored as entry
points for advocacy on the same.

• Develop a policy brief detailing priorities, key messages, and strategies to advancing SRHR in
the three focus areas, CSE, MHM and YFHS in Zimbabwe.

Roles and responsibility

This will include:
– Conducting a quick desk review of key National policy instruments, available documentation on
countries progress towards advancing accesses to SRHR services for all
– Organizing meetings with key community stakeholders and national organizations and coalitions
advocating for SRHR including relevant UN Organizations (technical experts from the Ministries
of Heath, to understand gaps, opportunities and priorities for CSO engagement to advance SRHR
in marginalized communities and policy recommendations.
– Writing a policy brief using the above, outlining recommendations for advocacy to advance
comprehensive SRHR (focusing on the 3 SET project Focus areas)
The policy brief will include relevant community examples from at least one rural community and
farming community were necessary.

Timelines
The assignment is expected to take a maximum of 10 working days from 1 MAY to 20 May 2024

Deadline for applications is 24 APRIL 2024

Milestones and deliverables:
The milestones and specific tasks will be discussed and agreed with the selected Consultant.

Proven Ability and Skills:
• Essential: Excellent research and analytical skills
• Essential: Experience in advocacy for SRHR at National, regional and sub-regional
intergovernmental platforms

• Essential: Understanding of relevant policy and regulatory frameworks, including health
financing in the marginalized communities of Zimbabwe
• Essential: Excellent written communication skills, fluency in English or ability to partner with a
co-researcher with these skills

Personal Competence:
• Awareness of and sensitivity to the multi-cultural and diverse environment in which FACET
operates.
• Integrity and ability to maintain confidentiality at all times
• Understanding of and a commitment to safeguarding including child protection, in a local and
National context
• Supportive of a woman’s right to choose and to have access to comprehensive SRH services and
rights

Location:
The role is virtual, but someone based in Harare, Bindura or Glendale who could conduct meetings with partners were necessary, is desirable

Reporting
The consultant will report to the National Programs Coordinator for FACET

Budget:
The consultant is expected to propose a budget for the assignment covering both professional and
reimbursable costs

TO APPLY

Interested candidates are required to submit a cover letter, not exceeding three (3) pages clearly
outlining the proposed task.
a) A Profile or Curriculum Vitae, outlining the qualifications, experience in similar projects
and supporting team members, and
b) A methodology clearly describing the consultant’s understanding of the subject. This
should also cover the analytical and technical model framework that will be applied in this
task.

Mandatory Criteria

Consultants must meet all of the mandatory criteria below and must demonstrate in writing hoe
they meet the mandatory criteria and compliance with all ZIMRA Tax requirements
❖ The Consultants must send their CV and proposal highlighting their experience and
qualifications
❖ Preferred candidates ideally posses at least a master’s degree in directly related field ie
Education, Law, Public Policy or Social Sciences
❖ The Consultant must provide sample of public policy they have previously developed
❖ The Consultant must also provide the contactable referees
Applications not meeting the above criteria will naturally be disqualified from the process.