ICT Training

1. About FEMNET

The African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) is a pan-African, feminist and membership-based network based in Nairobi, Kenya with over 800 individual and institutional members across 50 African countries and in the diaspora. FEMNET envisions a society where African women and girls thrive in dignity and well-being, free from patriarchal and neoliberal oppression and injustices.

FEMNET recognizes that the commitment to alter relations of power, structural injustices, and systemic oppression lies at the heart of feminism. FEMNET is therefore committed to pushing towards altering power structures that perpetuate gender inequality by nurturing the African women’s movement to enable women and girls in their diversity to effectively claim, affirm, and use their collective power to end all forms of exclusion, oppression, exploitation, and injustices against them.

Founded in 1988, FEMNET exists to facilitate and coordinate the sharing of experiences, information, and strategies for human rights promotion among feminists, activists and women’s rights organizations as a strategy for collective organizing; policy influencing & advocacy; strategic communication; capacity strengthening as well as feminist solidarity and movement building.

Over the years, FEMNET has strategically positioned herself as a convenor, organizer and facilitator of critical dialogues around women’s economic justice and rights; transformative women’s leadership; sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR); climate justice and natural resource governance as well as, ending all forms of violence and harmful/ discriminatory practices against women and girls.

FEMNET continues to be intentional in influencing decisions made at national, regional and global levels, constantly ensuring African women voices are amplified and their needs, priorities and aspirations are prioritized in key policy dialogues and outcomes that have direct and indirect impact on their lives. FEMNET mobilizes African women to hold their States accountable to women’s rights and gender equality commitments.

2. About the STITCH Project

The Strengthening Networks for Greater Impact – STITCH is a four years (2019-2022) EU funded project implemented by FEMNET and Oxfam. This project is being implemented in 7 countries in Africa namely: Kenya, Mali, Tunisia, DRC, Ethiopia, Mauritius, and Rwanda. The project is working with 13 local partners across the 7 countries. The project seeks to strengthen the institutional and operational capacities of women network organizations for coordinated actions at global, regional, and national levels. The project’s outcomes are:

1. FEMNET Secretariat has strengthened governance and management systems to mobilize, coordinate and carry out joint policy and advocacy with its members at national and regional levels.
2. Institutional and operational Capacities of members of FEMNET built to effectively influence policies on women’s rights and gender equality in their respective countries;
3. FEMNET members use emerging Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) to tell and document their stories and contribute to the body of knowledge on women’s rights and gender equality in Africa and globally; and
4. African women know about their rights and gender equality as recognized in key policy and development frameworks.

This consultancy focuses on realizing outcome No. 3 which seeks to ensure FEMNET members use emerging Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) to tell and document their stories and contribute to the body of knowledge on women’s rights and gender equality in Africa and globally.

3.Background

1. In September 2021 an ICT needs assessment was conducted by Oxfam and FEMNET for all 13 implementing partners in 7 countries.
2. This consultancy seeks to build on the findings of the assessment to equip FEMNET members with key skills to use emerging Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) to tell and document their stories and contribute to the body of knowledge on women’s rights and gender equality in Africa and globally.

4. Objective/ Purpose of Assignment

Oxfam and FEMNET are seeking the services of a consultancy firm to support the delivery of ICT training to staff of partner organizations in Tunisia.

The specific training objectives will be:

1. To enhance the capacity of STITCH partners and Women Rights Organisations (WROs) to effectively use ICTs including social media platforms to engage with policy makers at national and regional levels
2. To enhance the capacity of STITCH partners and WROs to effectively use ICTs to monitor implementation of commitments made for the promotion of gender equality and women’s rights
3. To enhance the capacity of STITCH partners and WROs to effectively document experiences and stories on a variety of platforms for use in advocacy prior to, during and after key moments in their countries
4. To enhance the capacities of STITCH partners and WROs to effectively use ICTs for collaboration, networking and sharing of information

5. Methodology and Scope of Work

• The training targets at least 30 staff members from each of the partner organizations in Tunisia. The consultancy firm will familiarize with findings from an assessment conducted in September 2021 which aimed at understanding the ICT needs and priorities of partner organisations
• Whenever necessary, the consultancy firm will conduct ICT needs and priorities assessment to partner organisations as may be required
• The consultancy firm will identify and analyse ICT capacity needs based on the input and feedback provided
• The consultancy firm will work with FEMNET and Oxfam to fine tune the workplan and delivery methodology as per identified needs and priorities
• The consultancy firm will prepare training modules and materials based on the results of the assessment and Oxfam and FEMNET priorities
• The consultancy firm will provide a series of online and offline training sessions to select staff of partners in the countries mentioned above. Training sessions should feature a presentation, activity when relevant, and group discussions to apply those concepts to their day-to-day ICT4D (ICT for Development) programming
• At the end of the sessions, the consultancy firm will conduct another survey to help assess the level of knowledge retention and skills acquired by the program participants during the training
• The training will be delivered in English and French

6. Key Deliverables and Outputs

The expected deliverables for this assignment:

1. A participatory ICT needs assessment and synthesis report, clearly highlighting key gaps to be targeted during the training
2. Development of training modules and materials such as handouts, presentations, relevant links used during the training
3. Delivery of a series of ICT trainings to staff members from each of the partner organizations in Tunisia. In addition to ICT needs identified, the consultancy firm will train participants on developing digital campaign strategies and covering among others:
   1. Setting clear campaign goals and developing their theory of change as it relates to digital influencing
   2. Understanding various audiences who could steer the campaign to success while being mindful of the context the partners operate in
   3. Formulating clear key messages
   4. Selecting the right offline/online channels for their digital campaigning
   5. Developing quality materials for their campaigns i.e., videos, photos, infographics, supporter emails, etc.
   6. Creating a campaign timeline
   7. How to use various metrics to measure the success of digital campaigns
   8. The training will also include tips, tactics for cyber bullying, backlash, data protection and digital security as many women’s rights organisations have no experience on this.
4. Share a post-training assessment and report following the training session. The report should include next steps and actions
5. Engage in a wrap up meeting with FEMNET and Oxfam following finalization of the consultancy.

7. Required Qualification, Skills and Competencies

• • The consultancy firm must show proven experience of successfully training teams virtually and physically on ICTs, digital influencing, digital security, digital transformation, digital analytics, and similar topics
    – Experience working with local and international organizations and clients of similar discipline
    – Maturity and professional ability to handle sensitive information and ability to respect the confidentiality of such information while working with Oxfam and even after the contract ends
    – Proven ability to work effectively with others – including in multicultural team – and strong interpersonal skills
    – Ability to work under pressure, and commitment to meet deadlines
    – Fluency in English and French
    – Skills required: social media skills, digital influencing, data analytics, digital rights, search engine optimisation, strategy & planning, content marketing, communication skills, computer skills, time management

8.Duration of Assignment

The assignment will run for 3 days.

9. Liaison, Coordination and Reporting

The consultancy firm will be supported by Oxfam and FEMNET STITCH Programmes Management Unit (PMU). The consultant(s) will hold a contract with FEMNET and will report to FEMNET’s Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator – STITCH.

10.Selection of Consultant

The consultant shall be contracted by FEMNET. The contract will include Withholding Tax (WHT) deduction in line with laws of contracting where FEMNET is headquartered. A WHT certificate will be issued to the consultant. Payment will be done through bank transfer to the consultant bank account. FEMNET will not meet the costs of bank charges. Payment schedule will be agreed upon with the consultant upon successful selection.

11. Intellectual Property Rights

The consultant expressly assigns to FEMNET any copyright arising from the outputs produced while executing the service contract. The consultant may not use, reproduce, disseminate, or authorize others to use, reproduce or disseminate any output produced under the service contract without prior consent from FEMNET.

12. Terms of Service

This is a non-staff contract and therefore the consultant is not entitled to insurance, medical cover or any other status or conditions as FEMNET staff.