Terms of Reference (TOR) For Consultancy service call to Conduct a compressive baseline assessment on the challenges and opportunities of the Women Peace and Security Agenda (WPS) in Ethiopia

Background and Context

Network of Ethiopian Women’s Associations (NEWA) is one of the pioneer national civil society networks in Ethiopia working for the respect of women’s political, economic, social, and legal rights. Currently, NEWA has 38 member associations/organizations operating all over the country whose primary objective is creating an enabling environment for the empowerment of Ethiopian women and girls. Its member associations aim to advance women’s rights, gender equality, and women’s empowerment in Ethiopia. NEWA has experience in leading women’s rights issues in Ethiopia through advocacy, research, capacity building, and monitoring government compliance with Gender Equality. As a network organization, NEWA has been advocating for the development and proper implementation of gender-sensitive policies, laws, and programs at the national and regional levels.

 

Introduction

Despite the international community’s strong commitment to the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, as enshrined in landmark resolutions like UNSCR 1325, and the tireless efforts of Ethiopian civil society organizations (CSOs) to promote the WPS agenda, including the pursuit of a National Action Plan, women remain notably absent from formal peace negotiations in Ethiopia. This exclusion, exemplified by their absence from critical peace talks, represents a significant gap, particularly given the documented impact of conflict on women and girls and the crucial role they play in peacebuilding and reconciliation. This absence highlights a critical disconnect between policy commitments to WPS and the realities on the ground.

This gap persists despite the valuable contributions of many organizations like the Network of Ethiopian Women’s Associations (NEWA) to advancing the WPS agenda in Ethiopia. NEWA has implemented impactful initiatives that demonstrate the potential for women’s leadership in peacebuilding. Their work includes empowering women peace builders through capacity building and grassroots initiatives, fostering dialogue and peacebuilding through culturally relevant projects like “Buna Le Selam” (Coffee for Peace), and advocating for women’s inclusion in transitional justice processes and national dialogues. These efforts highlight the crucial role women play in fostering a more peaceful and just future for Ethiopia.

However, despite these important contributions and the clear evidence demonstrating the positive impact of women’s participation in peacebuilding, women continue to be excluded from formal peace negotiations. This persistent exclusion reveals a systemic challenge that goes beyond the valuable work being done by organizations like NEWA. It suggests that deeper structural barriers, including political will, cultural norms, and entrenched power dynamics, continue to hinder women’s meaningful participation in formal peace processes.

The challenge, therefore, lies not only in supporting the work of CSOs, but in addressing the underlying systemic factors that prevent these policies and initiatives from translating into tangible improvements in women’s participation at the highest levels of peace and security decision-making. NEWA, in partnership with ACCORD and AWPSI, with financial support from FCDO, is implementing a project advancing the WPS agenda through a national focus, tailoring their approaches to meet the specific needs of Ethiopian women. As part of this project, NEWA intends to conduct an assessment to identify the challenges and opportunities in Ethiopia. This assessment will aim address the challenges, including recommendations for changes to improve the work of CSOs and, more importantly, address the systemic factors hindering women’s participation.

General Objective

The primary objective of this work is to conduct a comprehensive baseline assessment on the opportunities and key challenges facing the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda at grassroot in Ethiopia

 

Objectives of the Assessment

• To identify and discuss existing opportunities at grass root level that can be leveraged to advance WPS implementation in Ethiopia.
• To identify the key challenges hindering the effective implementation of the WPS agenda at national and grassroot level.
• To develop specific and actionable recommendations for a range of stakeholders, including the government, CSOs, international organizations, and communities to strengthen WPS implementation and ensure that women’s voices are effectively included in all peace and secure ty efforts in Ethiopia.
• To Map Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs) and grassroot peace building actors working on different regions
• To produce policy brief related to WPS challenges and opportunity in Ethiopia

 

Scope of Work

The scope of this assessment is designed to be comprehensive and focused, providing a thorough understanding of the challenges and opportunities related to the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda in Ethiopia targeting grassroot peace actors and national level actors. It will delve into the complexities of WPS implementation, acknowledging the interplay of various factors that influence women’s participation in peace and security.

The geographical scope of the assessment will center on Ethiopia in general, taking into account the unique context and dynamics present within the nation. Although it is

important to recognize that conflict and peacebuilding initiatives may have regional consequences, the main emphasis will be on the national level, analyzing policies, practices, and experiences that occur within the confines of Ethiopia.

Thematically, the assessment will center on the core pillars of the WPS agenda, including:

• Participation: This will be a key area of focus, specifically examining women’s inclusion in formal peace negotiations, but also considering their involvement in other peacebuilding activities, such as conflict resolution, mediation, and post-conflict reconstruction. The assessment will explore the barriers that prevent women from accessing these spaces and the factors that enable their participation.
• Protection: The assessment will consider the protection of women and girls from conflict-related violence, including sexual and gender-based violence. It will explore the existing protection mechanisms and identify gaps and areas for improvement.
• Prevention: Understanding the root causes of conflict and promoting peace are crucial aspects of the WPS agenda. This assessment will examine efforts to prevent conflict and build peace, considering the role of women in these initiatives and how their contributions can be strengthened.
• Relief and Recovery: The assessment will also touch upon the specific needs of women in post-conflict settings, including access to humanitarian assistance, economic empowerment, and justice and reconciliation processes.

Methodology of the Assessment

Methodologically, the assessment will employ a mixed-methods approach. This means it will gather data from a variety of sources, including:

Document Review

• Existing policies, reports /UN women report, UK-FCDO report/, academic studies, and other relevant documents related to WPS in Ethiopia will be reviewed to understand the policy landscape and identify existing evidence.

Key Informant Interviews

• Interviews will be conducted with key stakeholders, including government officials, representatives from CSOs (particularly women’s organizations like NEWA), international organizations, grassroot women peace actors, community leaders, and importantly, women themselves who have experience in peacebuilding and conflict. These interviews will gather diverse perspectives and insights on the challenges and opportunities related to WPS implementation.

 

Focus Group Discussions

• Focus groups will be held with women in different communities to explore their experiences, perspectives, and priorities related to peace and security. This will ensure that the voices of women at the grassroots level are heard and incorporated into the assessment.

Finally, the assessment will be forward-looking, aiming to provide practical and actionable recommendations. It will not only identify the problems but also propose concrete solutions and strategies for strengthening WPS implementation in Ethiopia. These recommendations will be targeted towards different stakeholders, empowering them to take concrete steps towards achieving gender equality in women peace and security. The assessment will be a valuable tool for NEWA, ACCORD, AWPSI, and other actors working to advance the WPS agenda in Ethiopia.

 

Deliverables

The consultant will deliver the following outputs within the specified timeframe:

• Inception Report: Within five days of the agreement signing date. A concise report demonstrating the consultant’s understanding of the assignment, including the proposed methodology, a detailed work plan, and a clear timeline for completion.
• Initial Assessment Draft: Within 20 working days of receiving feedback on the Inception Report. A comprehensive initial draft of the assessment, incorporating any necessary revisions based on the feedback received on the Inception Report.
• Final Assessment Report: Within fifteen working days of receiving feedback on the Initial Assessment Draft. The final assessment report, mapping directory, policy brief, incorporating all feedback received on the initial draft and representing the consultant’s finalized analysis and recommendations. the final assessment report, incorporating all feedback received on the initial draft and representing the consultant’s finalized analysis and recommendations.

   

For More Information Refer This:-

• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bhq3-sW4xeXtKJx5K6j0QmyxY_EAPPMr/edit

The consultant should possess the following qualifications:

• Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in a relevant field, such as gender studies, international relations, peace and security, human rights, or development studies.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting research and assessments on gender, peace, and security issues.
• Strong understanding of the WPS agenda and its implementation challenges in Ethiopia and globally.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills.
• Fluency in English and Amharic, (if possible other local languages) is required.