About We Lead

We Lead is an inspiring, innovative and powerful program that aims to improve the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRH-R) of young women. It focuses on four specific groups of young women: those living with HIV, those with disabilities, sexual minorities, and those affected by displacement. The program puts these young women rights holders in the driver’s seat while supporting them to make sustainable changes for their SRH-R. We Lead is implemented in nine countries in Africa, the Middle East and Central America. The program’s consortium consists of six civil society organizations: Positive Vibes, Restless Development, Marsa, FEMNET, the Central American Women’s Fund and Hivos. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands is also part of the association. Hivos is the leader of the consortium and as such is responsible for the development of the processes of implementation. In each country, the We Lead program supports young women’s groups and organizations to connect with each other in the local Communities of Action (CoA) as well as strengthen their capacity to be able to advocate, claim, protect and promote their SRH-Rs.

Why Feminist Leadership Guide?

The promotion of feminist leadership is critical to advancing gender equality, human rights, and social justice. In today’s complex world, there is a growing recognition that traditional leadership models often perpetuate hierarchical, exclusionary, and patriarchal practices. Feminist leadership, on the other hand, offers an inclusive, empathetic, and equitable approach, focusing on empowerment, collaboration, and shared power. As part of our commitment to fostering sustainable leadership and leaving a programmatic legacy, there is a need to develop a Feminist Leadership Guide that will provide young people and emerging leaders with the tools, principles, and approaches they need to lead using a feminist lens. The guide will also benefit those already in leadership positions, offering a framework for continued growth and reflection.

This Feminist Leadership Guide will serve as both a We Lead sustainability measure and a program legacy, ensuring that future leaders in our consortium and beyond will be equipped with the knowledge and values necessary for fostering inclusive and feminist leadership in their various contexts. The guide should be comprehensive and inclusive, providing valuable insights and guidance for young people from a wide range of thematic areas. It will be informed by diverse voices from rightsholders, COAs, feminist leaders, and consortium staff to ensure it reflects the realities and aspirations of those it aims to support.

Objectives of the guide

The Feminist Leadership Guide aims to:

• Provide young and emerging leaders with practical tools and principles for leading with a feminist perspective.
• Integrate input from diverse stakeholders, including consortium partners, rightsholders, COAs and feminist leaders.
• Ensure that the guide reflects the intersectional experiences and realities of different rightsholder groups, including marginalized communities.
• Promote sustainability by embedding feminist leadership principles in future programming.

Methodology

The development of the Feminist Leadership Guide will involve several interrelated key activities. These include literature review and good practices mapping; focus groups discussions, in-depth interviews with selected stakeholders; development of draft guidelines; validation workshop and final approval and dissemination.

1. Literature review and good practice mapping

• • A consultant will be engaged to conduct a thorough review of existing feminist leadership guidelines from consortium partners and other relevant sources.
  • This phase will identify core themes, frameworks, and practices that will inform the new guidelines. This process will also help in identifying any gaps related to young women leadership and the niche that our guidelines should have.

2. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews

1. • To ensure inclusivity and relevance, FGDs will be organized with key stakeholders:
     • Rightsholders (young women, youth leaders, activists)
     • We Lead Consortium staff serving different positions (gender, leadership, governance etc.)
     • Feminist leaders with experience in different sectors (SRHR, climate change, civic rights etc.)
   • The FGDs and in-depth interviews will be instrumental in gathering input on challenges, leadership practices, and expectations to inform the guideline’s structure and content.

3. Development of draft guidelines

1. • Based on the findings from the literature review, FGDs, and in-depth interviews, the consultant will draft the Feminist Leadership Guide.
   • These will cover key thematic areas among others such as:
     • Intersectionality and inclusive leadership
     • Collaborative decision-making and power-sharing
     • Self-care, community care, and leadership resilience
     • Gender-based violence and power dynamics in leadership
     • Advocacy and feminist policy engagement

4. Validation workshop

1. • A validation workshop will be held with a broader group of We Lead stakeholders to review and provide feedback on the draft guidelines.
   • This step will ensure that the guidelines are aligned with the values, needs, and aspirations of the rightsholders and the team who will benefit from them.

5. Final approval and dissemination

1. • After the validation process, the final version of the Feminist Leadership Guide will be submitted to the Global Coordination Team (GCT) for approval.
   • Upon approval, the guidelines will be disseminated across all consortium members and made available to external partners, including feminist networks and leadership programs.

Expected outcomes

• Comprehensive Feminist Leadership Guide: A well-researched and participatory leadership guide that empowers young and emerging leaders to lead using feminist principles. We anticipate that the final product will be available as both a written PDF guidebook and in audio-visual format for greater engagement, leveraging our existing We Speak Podcast platform.
• Diverse perspectives integrated: Voices from rightsholders, COAs, feminist leaders, and consortium partners will shape this guide which should be reflective of real-world challenges and opportunities in leadership.
• Sustainability and program legacy: The guide will serve as a lasting legacy of the We Lead program’s commitment to feminist leadership and as a tool for future generations of leaders.

Timeline

It is expected that this assignment is completed within 12 weeks.

Skills and qualifications of consultants

We are looking for consultants/team with the following skills and qualifications;

• Advanced degree in gender studies, sociology, anthropology, or a related field. A focus on feminist theories, gender equity, and leadership will be an added advantage
• Background in feminist or gender-focused projects or organizations, with an understanding of how these principles apply to leadership in various contexts.
• Direct experience in designing or implementing feminist leadership programs, frameworks, or policies, ideally with NGOs, international organizations, or community-based initiatives.
• Familiarity with feminist theories in leadership, such as intersectionality, inclusivity, and transformative approaches, and the ability to apply these practically within organizations.
• Proven track record in developing policies, frameworks, or guidelines, especially those that promote equity, inclusivity, and diversity.
• Strong skills in stakeholder engagement, workshop facilitation, and participatory methodologies.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to create clear, compelling guidelines that resonate with a wide audience.
• A commitment to feminist principles, inclusivity, and social justice values, which aligns with the ethos of feminist leadership and ensures integrity in the guidelines’ development.
• Experience working in multi-country settings with diverse teams.

Application process and requirements

Qualified and interested parties are asked to submit a detailed technical and financial proposal clearly demonstrating a thorough understanding of this ToR including;

• Profile of the consultants
• Description of the methodology to be adopted
• Demonstrated previous experience in similar tasks and other qualifications outlined in this ToR.
• Proposed timeframe detailing activities and a work plan.
• A detailed budget with breakdown of costs in EUR

All proposals should be sent electronically with attachments in pdf and a subject line: Development of Feminist Leadership Guidelines – We Lead Program to eastafricajobs@hivos.org not later than 22nd November 2024.