Background/Rationale

The African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) is a pan- African, feminist and membership-based network based in Nairobi with over 600 members across 50 African countries. FEMNET envisions an African society where gender equality is achieved, and women and girls enjoy all their rights and live-in dignity.  FEMNET exists to facilitate and coordinate the sharing of experiences, ideas, information, and strategies for human rights promotion among African women’s organizations through networking, communication, capacity-building, and advocacy at the regional and international levels.

Since inception in 1988, FEMNET has strategically positioned herself as a convener, organizer and facilitator on dialogues around critical issues including women’s involvement in governance and leadership, promoting women’s economic justice, advocating for women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights, ending gender-based violence and harmful practices (such as female genital mutilation and child marriage) and strengthening the women’s movement in Africa.

FEMNET Focus on Ending FGM

Undeniably FGM is common and rampart in Africa especially Atlantic Coast of Africa to the Horn of Africa. Countries like Guinea, Egypt Eritrea Sudan Burkina Faso Ethiopia Mauritania, Kenya and Nigeria are among the countries with highest prevalence rate of FGM in descending order. The UNFPA report indicates more than 41% of girls will born in FGM countries by 2050.

The spread and prevalence of FGM in Africa is in so many ways connected with patriarchy ideology which tend to control and own women’s bodies. FEMNET Firmly believes that FGM is one of the greatest forms of women and girls’ rights violations and we strongly reject it. The right to bodily autonomy and integrity is a far fetching reality to most African women and girls. FEMNET resolutely know, granting women and girls their rights to their bodily autonomy and integrity requires detonating patriarchy and other systems of oppression which reinforce itself.

2. Purpose of the Assignment

Production of original / high quality graphic design materials to disseminate FGM work. The materials will follow FEMNET branding and graphic guidelines and will be used to improve/develop the design and layout of publications, web content, presentations, and other communication products

3. Expected outputs

• Graphical and infographic to illustrate content, presentations, human stories, web articles, and two Handbooks for Women’s Rights organizations and Activists on Engaging Communities to Eradicate Child, Early and Forced Marriages in Africa and Eradication of Female Genital Mutilation in Africa.
• Graphical illustrations for web articles, reports, brochures, posters, and other communication/ visibility materials for thematic areas of work.
• Graphic design/layout for The African Feminist Handbooks on ending FGM and CEFM, project brochure, project fact sheet.
• Printing packages (all layout and design files, including web-versions) for publications and other communication products, such as reports, brochures, handbooks, leaflets, charts, photographs, posters, folders, etc.

4. Organization & Management

Institutional Arrangements

i. The consultant will be reporting on a weekly basis to the SRHR Lead.

ii. The consultant will liaise, interact, collaborate with FEMNET SRHR and communications team.

iii. FEMNET Secretariat (SRHR Team and Communications Team) will support the consultant in the following:

• Access to all reports /contents and data relevant to the assignment. These will include content to be developed and other relevant documents to support in the design, layout of the African Feminist toolkit.
• Support and assistance to gain access to relevant stakeholders for consultations to extent possible.
• Orientation with the consultant and outline the parameters of the required services.
• Provide information on FEMNET’s branding Handbook, visual guidelines and editorial style guide.
• Provide and agree with the Consultant on the work schedule, timelines and deadlines.
• Provide relevant feedback and evaluation of the service provided and outputs submitted

5. Required Qualification, Skills and Competencies

Competencies

• Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals.
• Generates innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations.
• Demonstrates substantive and technical knowledge to meet responsibilities and post requirements with excellence.
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.
• Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view.

Education

• Graduate degree in a relevant discipline (Journalism, Mass Communication or Marketing, Arts, or similar)
• Fluency in English is required.

Experience

• Strong theoretical and practical background in graphic design, including the use of design software such as Adobe Design Premium, In-Design, CorelDraw, Final Cut HD, web design tools such as Dreamweaver and Flash, etc.
• Clear and mature style of design, demonstrating an understanding of the communication requirements FEMNET Secretariat.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in graphic production from start to published/printed product with knowledge of printing processes (offset and digital) and color management.
• Good understanding of new and evolving technologies and digital platforms.
• Knowledge of standard software packages, including MS Office– MS Access–MS Visio –Adobe Acrobat.
• Working experience in development or Social Science including SRHR and FGM) is desirable.
• Web design, page layout and design.

Core skills

• Ability to conceptualize, plan and execute innovative ideas.
• Displays open, co-operative behavior with other team members.
• Remains calm and in control, and good humored even under pressure.
• Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view and feedback sessions from FEMNET SRHR and communications Team
• Sets priorities, produces quality outputs,
• Meets deadlines and manages time efficiently.
• Excellent oral and written skills.
• Must be able to translate between science/tech and an African feministic approach
• Excellent communication skills, organized (dealing with many stakeholders)
• Planning/organizational skills

Language Requirements

• Excellent command of English.

6. Duration of Assignment

The contract will be effective from date of signing and the delivery of the work is expected to be completed within six to seven weeks.

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. Copyright and ownership – All materials produced, and other intellectual property will be solely owned by FEMNET Secretariat. Any material provided to the consultant will remain the property of FEMNET Secretariat

7. Methodology

The consultant is expected to work in close consultation with the SRHR Lead and Team at FEMNET as well as FEMNET Digital Specialist.

Skype/Zoom meetings with FEMNET SRHR Team will be necessary to agree on deliverables, actual materials to be delivered may be worked on at the location of the expert’s choice and delivered via email.

8. Selection of Individual Consultant

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

9. Application Process

Interested applicants should send the following:

• Expression of interest for the consultancy
• Not more than a 1-page financial proposal.
• Sample work from similar assignment by lead consultant

Applications are by e-mail only, sent to:  recruitment@femnet.or.ke. Please indicate the reference on the subject line as ‘Consultancy: Design, Layout of African Feminist Handbooks FGM and CEFM FNT/EOI/52/2021’. Deadline for the application is 16th August 2021.

Please note:  Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to safety for all our activities. FEMNET is committed to welcoming people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, culture and experience. We will make any practical adjustments to enable people with a disability to participate fully in an inclusive working environment. Please let us know in advance if you have a disability and require any special assistance in making your application.

Only candidates who have been shortlisted for an interview will be contacted.