TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A POSITION DOCUMENT ON A LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK TO ACTUALISE THE SADC PROTOCOL ON 50:50 REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN AND MEN IN DECSION MAKING POSITIONS

1.0    Introduction

The Non-governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) is an umbrella network organisation that was founded in 1985 out of the realization that the empowerment of women in Zambia needed concerted efforts. Its formation by a few women NGOs was an outcome of the United Nations Conference on Women that was held in Nairobi, Kenya in 1985. Since then, NGOCC has grown to a current membership of 103 organisations spread in all the ten provinces of Zambia with a presence in 64 districts. NGOCC has continued its coordinating role and strengthening its member organisations to enhance their relevance and effectiveness in championing gender equity and equality.

In its over 36 years of existence, NGOCC has attained a strategic positioning as the focal point of the women’s movement in Zambia and is poised to utilize this comparative advantage to continue as the voice for women’s empowerment in addressing the gender agenda. NGOCC has, thus, become an influential voice in advocating for the implementation of gender sensitive and responsive national policies, legislation, and all developmental processes. In line with its broad mandate, NGOCC’s vision is, “A society where women are empowered to fully participate in social, cultural, economic and political development.” The mission being “To promote women’s empowerment for gender equity and equality through coordinated advocacy, capacity development of member organisations and linkages with government, local and international partners.”

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2.0 Background

NGOCC has been implementing a five-year Strategic Plan (2018 – 2022) focusing on five thematic areas. The NGOCC Strategic Plan formed the basis of all organisational strategic interventions in the last five years in its quest to contribute to the global undertaking of the gender agenda which is anchored on the human rights approach. This Strategic Plan was informed by a number of gender instruments, national priorities and programs that would contribute to the development discourse of the country. The Plan is modeled on the Theory of Change Model and is well anchored on NGOCC’s envisaged change of gender equality and women’s empowerment in Zambia by 2022. The Model has therefore been the blueprint that informs NGOCC’s change strategies to bring about the desired results in as far as addressing gender inequalities between women and men is concerned.

The strategic pillars that inform NGOCC’s interventions for the period 2018-2022 include the following five broad areas:

• Women’s Economic Empowerment
• Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights
• Governance and Women’s Leadership
• Climate Change Mitigation and Resilience
• Institutional Development and Sustainability

Under the Governance and Women’s Rights Pillar, NGOCC as the focal point of the women’s movement in Zambia has been advocating for the increased representation and participation of women in decision making positions. Specifically, NGOCC and the women’s movement have been advocating for increased adoption and representation of women at Local Government and Parliamentary levels among other leadership positions. Despite the various interventions over the years, women’s participation has remained low. According to the Voting Pattens Survey conducted by NGOCC, the inadequate legal and policy framework has been cited as one of the major impediments. It is against this background that NGOCC seeks to develop a position document of the most appropriate legal framework that would enhance women’s participation at various levels. Zambia is party to various regional and international Protocols that require 50:50 representation of both women and men in decision making positions.

3.0 The Assignment

NGOCC intends to engage a Consultant to conduct a desk comparative analysis between Zambia’s  existing legal frameworks and these: Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya with a view to develop a position document which can help increase women’s participation in Zambia. Further, the Consultant will also undertake a review of the existing laws in Zambia and how they can be strengthened from the best practices in the aforementioned countries.

The selected candidate will also facilitate a validation meeting that will bring various stakeholders from the civil society, academia and the Government on the proposed legal framework.

4.0   EXPECTED OUTPUTS/DELIVERABLES

• An inception report
• Conduct a desk review of the existing legal frameworks in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Uganda and develop a Zambia country document on the most ideal framework to enhance women’s participation in politics
• Facilitate a one-day validation meeting for civil society, academia and the government

5.0   DURATION

a. The entire consultancy will be for a period of twenty-five (15) working days to commence immediately the contract is signed.

6.0 Required Skill :

Applications are invited from either individual Consultants or organisations with the following experience;

• An advanced post University Degree in either law or gender studies
• Knowledge of the Zambian political and gender equality contexts
• Proven experience working on issues of gender and women’s rights

7.0 Application Procedures:

• A cover letter highlighting suitability and qualifications for this assignment
• Track record of delivered samples of past works of similar nature.
• Technical proposal with indicative work plan showing consultant’s planned approach to the assignment.
• Cost proposal with proposed payment schedule for the given payment schedule.
• Applicants should enclose proof of competence to undertake the assignment i.e. Curriculum Vitae (CV)

8.0 HOW TO APPLY:

• All applications should be addressed to the Executive Director, NGOCC Secretariat P.O Box 37879, Lusaka or email EXRESSION OF INTEREST to: info@ngocc.org.zm not later than Monday, August 29th 2022.