Lead Facilitator/Moderator – #ItsNotYourFault Webinar Series

Terms of Reference (ToRs) for Lead Facilitator/Moderator – #ItsNotYourFault Webinar Series (June–December 2025 – 5 working days/month)

1. Introduction

The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) Network is a regional feminist organization committed to advancing women’s rights and strengthening grassroots feminist movements across the Horn of Africa. As part of our ongoing advocacy and public engagement efforts, SIHA will be implementing a digital campaign under the banner #ItsNotYourFault, running from the first week of June to the first week of December 2025.

A key component of this campaign will be a series of monthly webinars, each dedicated to unpacking a specific form of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) affecting women and girls in the region. Topics will include femicide, conflict-related sexual violence, female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C), and forced and early marriage. Each session will bring together expert panelists, survivors, and advocates to foster in-depth dialogue, share lived experiences and explore practical solutions.

To ensure these webinars are dynamic, well-coordinated, and impactful, SIHA is seeking an experienced and highly skilled Lead Facilitator/Moderator. The selected consultant will play a central role in guiding discussions, engaging panelists and audiences, and maintaining the focus and flow of each session in alignment with SIHA Network’s feminist values and advocacy goals.

This Term of Reference (ToR) outlines the scope of work, expected deliverables, responsibilities, and timeline for the Lead Facilitator/Moderator role within the webinar series.

2. Background of the Assignment

In the Greater Horn of Africa (GHoA), sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) remains one of the most pervasive and deeply entrenched human rights challenges. From femicide and female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) to conflict-related sexual violence and early and forced marriages, women and girls across the region continue to face systemic violence that limits their rights, freedom, and full participation in society.

Despite increasing recognition of the need for gender equality and women’s empowerment, progress is frequently hindered by entrenched cultural norms, legal discrimination, and social stigma. These challenges underscore the urgent need for sustained feminist advocacy, community engagement, and regional solidarity.

SIHA Network, through the We Cannot Wait Project, is working to strengthen the capacity of Southern-led women’s rights organizations to address these barriers and advocate for gender justice. As part of this effort, SIHA is launching a regional digital campaign titled #ItsNotYourFault, which will run from June to December 2025.

The campaign will include a series of focused webinars, each highlighting a specific SGBV issue and offering a platform for survivors, activists, and experts to share lived experiences, generate awareness, and propose actionable solutions. These webinars are designed to foster informed dialogue, build solidarity, and shift public and policy discourse across the region.

To facilitate meaningful and inclusive discussions, SIHA seeks a dynamic and experienced Lead Facilitator/Moderator to guide the webinar sessions, ensure thoughtful engagement, and uphold the integrity of the discussions in line with SIHA’s feminist principles and advocacy goals.

3. Objectives of the Consultancy

The primary objective of this consultancy is to provide skilled facilitation and moderation for SIHA Network’s 2025 #ItsNotYourFault webinar series, ensuring each session is engaging, inclusive, and well-coordinated.

Through this role, the Lead Facilitator/Moderator will help amplify awareness of the plight of women in the region, foster cross-regional learning, and guide discussions that highlight practical strategies and shared experiences. The facilitator will play a critical role in shaping the tone of the conversations, maintaining focus on each session’s objectives, and encouraging meaningful participation from both speakers and attendees.

Specifically, the objectives of this consultancy include:

Promote the #ItsNotYourFault 2025 Webinar Series

Develop and implement strategies to effectively promote each webinar session, ensuring broad visibility and among target regional and international audiences using online and offline strategies.

Identify and Engage Guest Speakers and Experts

Collaborate with SIHA Network to identify, invite, and prepare relevant guest speakers and subject matter experts, with a focus on individuals who bring valuable cross-regional perspectives and grounded experience.

Facilitate Inclusive and Impactful Discussions

Lead each webinar session with skilled and empathetic moderation, ensuring that conversations are inclusive, focused, and accessible—particularly creating space for women from conflict-affected and marginalized communities to speak and be heard.

Highlight Women’s Lived Experiences and Regional Strategies

Guide discussions to spotlight the voices, stories, and strategies of women on the ground, drawing connections between their experiences and broader feminist advocacy goals in the Horn of Africa region.

Foster Cross-Regional Dialogue and Learning

Ensure the webinars serve as platforms for sharing insights, tools, and strategies among activists, practitioners, and community leaders across different countries in the region.

Apply Evaluation Tools and Support Continuous Improvement

Utilize relevant evaluation tools to assess the effectiveness of each webinar, participate in preparatory and debriefing meetings with the SIHA team, and contribute to the development of a brief report after each session—highlighting key insights, participation trends, and areas for improvement.

4. Scope of Work for the Consultant

The selected consultant will be expected to submit a comprehensive proposal outlining their approach to facilitating and moderating SIHA Network’s #ItsNotYourFault webinar series.

Specifically, the consultant will be responsible for:

1. Narrative Proposal
   • Submit a detailed narrative proposal describing the methodology and facilitation approach the consultant intends to apply throughout the webinar series.
   • The methodology should outline strategies for promoting engagement, ensuring inclusivity, managing time effectively, and navigating sensitive discussions on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
   • The proposal should also describe how the consultant will incorporate interactive elements, manage online tools/platforms, and work collaboratively with the SIHA team before, during, and after each session.
2. Financial Proposal
   • Provide a clear and itemized financial proposal indicating the consultant’s fees for the entire engagement period, inclusive of any applicable taxes, communication costs, or incidental expenses.
   • The financial proposal should be aligned with the scope and expected level of effort required for preparing, facilitating, and reporting on each of the webinar sessions.
3. Timeline for Submission
   • The full proposal (narrative and financial) should be submitted to SIHA within 7 working days from the date of contracting.
   • Final negotiation and confirmation of contract details will follow shortly after review and approval by the SIHA team.

5. Deliverables

The consultant will be expected to deliver the following:

1. Narrative and Financial Proposal
   • A comprehensive narrative proposal outlining the facilitation/moderation methodology and approach to webinar engagement.
   • A detailed financial proposal, including a clear cost breakdown for the full consultancy period.
2. Pre-Session Planning Notes
   • Brief preparatory notes for each webinar, including an overview of key discussion points, speaker introductions, and proposed interactive elements.
3. Facilitation of Webinars
   • Moderation and facilitation of all webinar sessions in accordance with the agreed schedule and format.
   • Timely coordination with SIHA staff, speakers, interpreters, and technical support teams before and during each session.
4. Engagement via Social Media
   • Active support in mobilizing participation by promoting the webinar series on personal/professional social media platforms, aligned with SIHA’s campaign messaging.
5. Post-Session Reflections
   • Submission of short reflection summaries after each webinar, including key insights, participation trends, and suggestions for improvement.
6. Final Summary Report
   • A consolidated report at the end of the webinar series summarizing the facilitator’s observations, participant engagement, challenges faced, and recommendations for future campaigns or digital engagements.

 

Breakdown of timelines:

ACTIVITY	TIMELINE
Narrative and Financial Proposal	20th May 2025
Pre-Session Planning Notes	At least 5 days prior to the scheduled date of each webinar
Facilitation of Webinars	The designated date of each webinar
Engagement via Social Media	For the entirety of the campaign/contract period
Post-Session Reflections	No later than 2 working days following the conclusion of each webinar
Final Consultancy Report	Within 7 working days preceding the contract’s expiration date

Profile Consultant and Qualifications

 The ideal consultant should possess the following qualifications:

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Proven experience moderating or facilitating high-level panel discussions, webinars, or conferences—particularly on gender equality, human rights, or feminist activism.
• Strong understanding of SGBV issues in the Greater Horn of Africa, regional commitments to African women’s human rights, and broader feminist movements.
• Excellent verbal communication, interpersonal, and moderation skills, with the ability to guide sensitive conversations respectfully and effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to engage diverse stakeholders—including grassroots actors, policymakers, survivors, and advocates—in inclusive dialogue.
• Familiarity with virtual event platforms (e.g., Zoom, MS Teams) and engagement tools (e.g., polls, Q&A, breakout rooms).
• Proven research skills and experience in media and visual communication.
• Experience working with regional or international NGOs, especially within feminist or rights-based frameworks, is an asset.
• Fluency in English required; working knowledge of French or Arabic is an advantage.
• Strong commitment to SIHA’s feminist principles and regional mission.

Personal Attributes:

• High level of professionalism and commitment to maintaining the integrity and quality of the content.
• Proactive and responsive, with the ability to meet deadlines and manage time effectively.
• Culturally sensitive and able to work in diverse, multi-disciplinary teams.

HOW TO APPLY

7. Application Process

Interested consultants are invited to submit their application, which should include:

• A narrative proposal outlining the proposed methodology for facilitating and moderating the webinar series.
• A detailed financial proposal covering the full duration of the assignment.
• An up-to-date CV highlighting relevant academic qualifications and professional experience, particularly in facilitation, moderation, advocacy, feminist organizing, digital engagement, and communications.

Applications should be submitted via link:

https://airtable.com/appHNyMhgTH7cHVt3/shrJ5gbaPEmrUCkJD no later than May 20^th, 2025, at 11:59 PM (EAT).

Please ensure that your CV clearly demonstrates your qualifications and experience in relation to the objectives and scope outlined in these Terms of Reference. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next stage of the selection process.