Research on Participation of Women and Girls with Disabilities in Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) Movements in East & Southern Africa

BACKGROUND OF THE ORGANIZATION

The Coalition on Violence Against Women (COVAW) is a Kenyan women’s rights non- profit organization founded in 1995 to address the silence surrounding violence against women and girls (VAWG). Dedicated to advancing women’s rights, COVAW envisions a society where women and girls enjoy equal rights, freedoms, and thrive in safe spaces. The organization works in four key areas: providing access to Sexual and Gender- Based Violence (SGBV) and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services, promoting women’s economic empowerment, fostering women’s leadership, and increasing access to justice for survivors of VAWG.

COVAW’s interventions deliberately address harmful norms, attitudes, laws, policies and practices that affect women and girls’ safety and well-being in general. This is done through the implementation of gender progressive practices and supporting the development of regulatory and institutional frameworks. Additionally, COVAW fosters consistent engagement with different actors to prevent and respond to VAWG and to hold perpetrators of these violations accountable.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Coalition on Violence Against Women (COVAW) and Disabled Women in Africa (DIWA) are implementing a United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women (UNTF) supported project titled “Inclusive and Empowered Feminist Movements in Africa”. The project is being implemented in Kenya, Malawi and Rwanda. Movements led by women with disabilities have often been excluded from mainstream and feminist movements, resulting in their advocacy efforts being seen solely as disability issues rather than being included in the broader women’s and feminist movements1. This exclusion has prevented EVAWG movements from accessing resources, expertise, and collaboration that could bring substantive results in tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) the East and Southern region of Africa.

1 https://www.hi.org/sn_uploads/document/B30-Powerful-yet-overlooked-REPORT-24Oct2024.pdf

Inclusive and Empowered Feminist Movements in Africa project aims to ensure that women and girls with disabilities are increasingly at the center of EVAWG efforts, rather than at the margins. The goal of the project is to ensure that the sub-regional EVAW/G movement of women and girls with disabilities in East and Southern Africa is strengthened and well organized to collaboratively and proactively advocate for their rights, participate and lead EVAW/G movements

The expected outcomes of the project are:

1. Women and girls with disabilities and mainstream EVAW/G actors collaborate effectively through strengthened capacity and joint advocacy to address violence against women and girls with disability in East and Southern Africa

2. Evidence-based advocacy strategies, informed by project learnings and data, strengthen sub regional efforts to end violence against women and girls with disabilities.

   PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY

COVAW seeks a consultant to:

• Map EVAWG Movements/Networks in East and Southern Africa.
• To identify unique forms of sexual and gender-based violence faced by women and girls with disabilities in East and Southern Africa.
• To assess the level of inclusion and participation of women and girls with disabilities in EVAWG movements in East and Southern Africa.We are seeking to understand level of representation and engagement of women with disabilities within existing EVAWG movements
• To investigate and analyze the barriers that hinder the participation of women and girls with disabilities in EVAWG movements.
• To collect and document best practices for strengthening the participation of women and girls with diverse forms of disabilities in EVAWG movements.

METHODOLOGY

The consultant will be expected to adopt a participatory feminist methodology in data collection, ensuring that the voices of women with diverse identities are prioritized and documented. In addition to statistical methods of data analysis, feminist theory is expected to inform the process.

The data collection methods should include both quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative methods will include, online surveys with structured questionnaires with closed-ended questions.

Qualitative methods will include:

• Interviews: In-depth interviews and key informant interviews with women with disabilities and EVAWG movement leaders.
• Focused group discussions with women with disabilities/organizations of persons with disabilities and EVAWG movement leaders.
• Desk review analysis to examine and analyze existing documents and data to gain insights into barriers to effective participation of women with disabilities in EVAWG initiatives.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

1. Inception Report: A detailed report outlining the consultant’s understanding of the terms of reference, work plan, methodology, data collection tools and timelines
2. Draft and Final Report: A comprehensive report outlining the key findings, and actionable recommendations for policy and practice.
3. Advocacy Brief: A succinct policy brief aimed at decision-makers and stakeholders outlining the main issues and providing concrete steps for inclusion.
4. Workshops/Webinars: Dissemination of findings through a series of workshops or webinars aimed at relevant stakeholders such as the ACT project partners, ACT Civil Society Regional Network- East and Southern Africa, disability advocacy groups, NGOs, and governmental agencies.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The consultant will be responsible for:

1. Holding an inception meeting (remotely if need be) with COVAW staff and reviewing any relevant documentation to gather background information

2. Conducting a thorough desk review to inform the study

3. Organizing all data collection activities for the targeted stakeholders in collaboration with COVAW

4. Composing and training a strong research team with an emphasis on safeguarding and quality.

5. Documentation and delivery of a final report with findings and actionable recommendations for policy and practice.

6. Disseminating the research findings to an array of the stakeholders in a validation workshop

7. Supervise the production of a video animation

   COVAW will be responsible for the following:

• Holding an inception meeting with the consultant
• Sharing the relevant COVAW background organizational information and providing contacts for the program team in charge
• To provide feedback on the developed interview tools for relevance.
• Review, discuss and improve the drafts produced from review
• Organizing interviews with project beneficiaries and other stakeholders to provide deeper insights for the research
• Providing the consultant with specific information and feedback within the stipulated time
• Offer support supervision during the data collection during interview on need basis.
• Validate the final report and knowledge product

TIMELINES

This assignment is anticipated to take a maximum of 40 days.

• Start: 21st April, 2025
• End: 30th May, 2025

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Skills and Qualifications

• Master’s degree in the field of international development, gender studies, gender and development studies, African Women’s Studies, social sciences, public health or other related area

Desired Experience

• At least 10 years of experience in research and programme development on gender equality and/or violence against women or relevant areas is desired
• Solid experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection and storing, interpretation and analysis using relevant software
• Experience with participatory design processes is an added strength
• Experience working in the East and Southern African region
• Fluency in English

The following information should be in the Expression of Interest:

• Technical Proposal: Outline and methodology for undertaking the research, as well as, the detailed work plan showing the assignment’s important activities and milestones
• Financial Proposal: Including a detailed quotation for the research and indicating all necessary costs in excel sheet
• Contact details of three referees
• The team’s composition, the assignment of responsibilities to each of its members and the CVs.

How to apply

Interested candidates are requested to submit an expression of interest to reach COVAW on or before 13th April, 2025 5.00 pm via email to recruit@covaw.or.ke with the subject: Research on Participation of Women and Girls with Disabilities in the Broader EVAWG movements.