May 5, 2020by CREAW
As the COVID19 pandemic rages on, gender-based violence continues to spike, aggravated by the closure of and limited access to gender based violence services.
CREAW, Author at CREAWKENYA
April 25, 2020by CREAW
his appeal raises novel questions of law on whether vicarious liability can be attributed to the appellant, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) who at the material time had employed Astorikoh Henry Amkoah, (3rd respondent hereinafter referred to as “teacher”) for alleged acts of sexual abuse against the students hereinafter referred to as “WJ” and “LN”).
April 23, 2020by CREAW
The COVID 19 crisis has magnified the structural violence and inequalities that the most vulnerable in the society including women, youth and children and Persons living with Disability (PWD) continue to endure even in ‘peace’ times.
April 22, 2020by CREAW
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has placed an immense burden on health systems, including frontline health workers, there are things that can help mitigate the effects of violence on women and children.
June 30, 2019by CREAW
We meet Caren Ruto at the Nchiiru Police Station and she quickly usher us in to the Gender Desk office and offers us seats with a warm smile and gentle spirits; a gesture that takes away the distress and stress that is usually associated with visiting a police station.
The Strategic Plan outlines CREAW’s vision and ambitions and key interventions for achieving them. The choices contained in the Plan are largely informed by the lessons learnt, conclusions and recommendations from the analysis of CREAW’s operating context. Drawing from lessons learnt from our past practice, and building on our track record, this Strategic Plan seeks to effectively position CREAW within the emerging operating context as a basis of ensuring greater relevance and effectiveness. The Plan sets out broad parameters that will guide the development of more specific annual work plans and program documents.
CREAW will continue its work towards elimination of gender inequality and all forms of discrimination against women and girls. This is based on our philosophy that empowering women demands that we address unfair cultural norms and attitudes, enhance competencies of women and their institutions and advocate for the development and implementation of progressive legal, policy and institutional frameworks that promote/sustain gender equality.
This strategy is the outcome of a co-creation process between the CREAW Team and several stakeholders. We deeply appreciate their contribution to this process. We especially wish to extend sincere gratitude to our board members, partners and peers for the moral, financial and material support accorded to us during the Strategic Plan development process.
CREAW Strategic Plan — Abridged Version
About CREAW
Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW) is a national feminist women’s right Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). Our focus has consistently set women and girl’s rights at the centre of everything we do. CREAW uses bold, innovative and holistic interventions for the realization of women and girl’s rights. Our programs have over the years focused on challenging practices that undermine equity, equality, and constitutionalism; promoting women’s participation in decision making; and deepening the ideology and philosophy of women’s empowerment. We also support movement building to advance the agenda for social transformation, besides preventing, mitigating and responding to Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG).
Background
Under the 2 years Embassy of Sweden through Forum Syd funded Haki Mashinani Project, CREAW seeks to strengthen accountability and implementation of national laws and policies on Gender Based Violence (GBV) in order to better prevent and respond to GBV among women and men in Nyeri and Kitui Counties. This will be realized by improving the capacity and action by women led accountability groups and Community Based Organizations to advocate for stronger accountability and implementation of GBV laws and policies and by Increasing gender sensitivity, responsiveness and coordination of GBV services by public authorities in Nyeri and Kitui counties by 2021.
Strategies employed by the project include skills building and capacity strengthening as well as public policy advocacy by women led accountability groups; public awareness campaigns, to address citizen apathy and increase demand for accountability of public authorities on implementation of laws and policies that address violence against women and girls; coalition and partnership building with state and non-state traditional actors; monitoring reflection and learning forums as well as documentation and dissemination of best practices.
Purpose of the Consultancy
CREAW wishes to hire the services of a qualified consultant to carry out a Multi-sectoral Needs Assessment to provide preliminary understanding of the situation and the needs of the project stakeholders. The information will enable CREAW identify the exact conditions existing at the start of the project and enable us measure the degree and quality of change during project implementation in line with the project’s outcome journal. The consultant will perform the following tasks:
- Outline structural, systemic and environmental challenges limiting effective implementation of gender based violence laws in the two counties.
- Identify the levels of inclusion of women in decision making around addressing gender based violence.
- Outline extent of community apathy in addressing Gender based violence
- Provide comparative data on community perceptions on accountability by public authorities implementing Gender Based Violence laws and policies.
Main Tasks of the Consultancy
The consultant is expected to undertake the following tasks:
- Carry out a desk-review of relevant literature and project documents prior to the implementation of the assessment.
- Develop an inception report, detailing the assessment design, methodology, tools, work plan schedule and budget to carry out the assignment in each county.
- Lead data collection in the field including: designing and leading key informant interviews and focus group discussions; monitoring and ensuring data quality and research ethics are applied.
- Develop and submit the first draft of the assessment report and debriefing to CREAW. The reports should be comprehensive and provide detailed specific findings within each sector, providing key recommendations for implementation.
- Submit the final assessment report to CREAW office. The data collection tools used in the assessment should be submitted together with the report.
Required Skills and Experience of individual
The capacity development experts/trainer will be required who has qualification and experience as follows:
- Advanced university degree in sociology, gender social work or other social sciences, public/community health, or related field with minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience
- Demonstrated experience in the development of designing training, developing manual and solid understanding of adult learning principals.
- Prior training in gender and GBV issues and their application in development settings.
- Experience in designing, facilitating participatory training and workshop for diverse groups
- Familiarity with international standards, policies and tools related to GBV including GBV Guidelines, protocols.
- Knowledge and experience of essential service package and other case handling approaches from GBV survivor centric approach.
- Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving and team skills, and the ability to work with a range of stakeholders to effectively negotiate and build consensus to achieve constructive outputs
- Fully proficient in the following software applications: Word, Excel, and Power point.
- Experience working with the Government system would be an asset.
- Experience in GBV /violence against women & children training and developing gender responsive and survivor centred training manual, materials would be an asset.
Time-frame
The assignment is expected is expected to take a maximum of 10 days, which includes desk-review, preparation, and implementation, report-writing.
Role of CREAW
CREAW will provide the logistics and programme documents and be the link between the consultant and the project sites. CREAW will also review tools and provide support in the assessment process including venues for discussion and mobilize the required persons for interviews. The consultant will be responsible for guiding the entire Assessment process and all other specific responsibilities as stipulated in the TOR.
Expected Profile of the Lead Consultant
The lead consultant is expected to hold the following qualifications in order to be eligible for this position:
- The lead consultant must have a technical background in political science, economics, law, social science or others as may be relevant (at a minimum of Master’s Degree level) (Essential).
- A demonstrated high level of professionalism and an ability to work independently and in high-pressure situations under tight deadlines.
- The lead consultant must have demonstrated experience and expertise in designing and managing Rapid Assessment studies for similar projects and in delivering agreed outputs on time and within budget. (to provide copies of reports similar work in the last 3 years)
- Experience and knowledge of governance, human rights, gender and participatory development Programmes. (Essential)
- Experience of working with local communities and non-governmental organizations. (Essential)
- Excellent writing, editing, attention to detail and organizational skills (Essential)
- Fluency in English and Kiswahili. (Essential)
Mode of Application
Applicants should submit Technical and Financial proposals electronically in PDF format with subject line clearly marked “Consultancy for Multisectoral Rapid Assessment” on or before 22nd June 2019 via email to [email protected]
All applicants should include the following:
- Cover letter
- Technical proposal: The technical proposal should include;
- Brief explanation about the lead and associate consultants with particular emphasis on previous experience in this kind of work
- Understanding of TOR and the task to be accomplished
- proposed methodology
- draft work/implementation plan
- Copies of reports of previous work conducted.
- A written submission on understanding of TOR, methodology / approach the consultant will use; time and time-bound activity schedule, financial issues.
- Organizational (if it is a company applying) or personal capacity statement (if it is an individual)
- Resume and references.
June 1, 2019by CREAW
Each and every Wednesday of the week Saumu Mwadime and Eunice Baya sets out to traverse through the villages of Kilifi North Sub-County with a mission to hold conversations with the communities and get an in-depth understanding into the issues that bedevils communal coexistence; of core concern to them is gender based violence which has a damaging impact on the education of many girls around Kilifi County.
Terms of Reference.
To develop Training Manual for GBV Service Providers aligning with international standards (Essential service package and National SOP on GBV).
About CREAW
Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW) is a national feminist women’s right Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). Our focus has consistently set women and girl’s rights at the centre of everything we do. CREAW uses bold, innovative and holistic interventions for the realization of women and girl’s rights. Our programs have over the years focused on challenging practices that undermine equity, equality, and constitutionalism; promoting women’s participation in decision making; and deepening the ideology and philosophy of women’s empowerment. We also support movement building to advance the agenda for social transformation, besides preventing, mitigating and responding to Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG).
Background
Under the 3 years United Nation Trust Fund (UNTF) Wajibika Project, CREAW aims to ensure that women and girls in Nairobi, Narok and Isiolo counties are better protected against Gender Based Violence through effective implementation of national legislation, policies, national action plans and accountability structures to prevent and end violence against women and girls VAW/G. This will be realized through improved capacity and coordination of service providers across sectors to fighting VAW/G, women and girls enjoy their rights in a safe community free from VAWG and effective implementation of the gender related laws and policies on VAW/G at National and County levels.
Purpose of the Consultancy
CREAW has previous content that they have been using to train the service providers to be gender responsive and GBV survivor centric in their action. However, this is not structured and was mostly based on identified needs that resulted from the service providers in their line of duty.
To ensure comprehensive trainings which focus on the specific programmatic areas and which are tailor-made to the context in which the service providers operate, CREAW intends to develop a training manual for service providers to efficiently and responsively handle cases of gender violence against women and girls, while taking cognizance of available resources and leveraging on the learning and addressing gaps from other resources that have been developed by various agencies working in ending VAWGs.
The consultancy should be able to review the existing service and ethical guidelines, SOPs and GBV referral protocols and other related documents and models aligned with international standards in developing a training manual to enhance capacity of service providers in promoting survivor centric approach.
The Training Manual to be developed shall include modules on the following areas;
- Introductory: Preparatory requirements for the trainings, training approaches/methodology in carrying out the training.
- Gender and Child protection Legal framework: Highlighting the existing legal and policy frameworks in place on ending gender based violence against women and girls in Kenya.
- Police: The module will target the police officers in charge of gender desks at police stations and local administration officers on improving efficiency and becoming more gender sensitive in handling GBV cases in line with the New Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Prevention and Response to Sexual Violence in Kenya.
- Health: Sensitize the health care providers under the Ministry of Health through the County Government to implement the National Guidelines on Management of Sexual Violence in Kenya and improve documentation, treatment, management and referrals of women and girls who are survivors of gender based violence at the health facilities.
- Education: This module will target the teachers and the school administrators with knowledge and skills on child protection in the schooling, positive approaches to discipline, reporting and referral mechanisms. The training content should be in line with the protective provisions under the Education Act, Teacher Service Commission Act, and Teacher service commission code of conduct, Teacher Service Commission Circulars and other related models that address sexual abuse of girls in schools.
- Judiciary: This module will seek to sensitize and train the judicial officers including prosecutors who are responsible for prosecuting cases of violence against women and girls. This will involve training on laws and procedure necessary for prosecuting successful cases, drafting of charges and strategies for prosecution as outlined in the Sexual Offences Act, PADV Act 2015 etc.
Scope of work
The consultant is expected to undertake the following tasks:
- Reviewing existing SOPs, Ethical Guideline and GBV referral Protocols and other related documents and mechanisms from survivor centric approach in line with the international commitment/standards
- Familiarize with existing mechanism for capacity building to address GBV at National and County level.
- Conduct desk-based research on gender responsive survivor centred service providers standard operating procedures, based on global and regional
- Adapt/develop service providers’ manual integrating SOPs in the training manual with relevant reference materials.
- Develop and adapt training materials for service providers.
- Simplify the training modules into pocket-size booklets suitable for training and distributing to the various cohorts.
- Pre-test and conduct validation workshop with heads of departments of the various service providers and relevant stakeholders.
- Submit completion report with other developed documents
Required Skills and Experience of individual
The capacity development experts/trainer will be required who has qualification and experience as follows:
- Advanced university degree in sociology, gender social work or other social sciences, public/community health, or related field with minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience
- Demonstrated experience in the development of designing training, developing manual and solid understanding of adult learning principals.
- Prior training in gender and GBV issues and their application in development settings.
- Experience in designing, facilitating participatory training and workshop for diverse groups
- Familiarity with international standards, policies and tools related to GBV including GBV Guidelines, protocols.
- Knowledge and experience of essential service package and other case handling approaches from GBV survivor centric approach.
- Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving and team skills, and the ability to work with a range of stakeholders to effectively negotiate and build consensus to achieve constructive outputs
- Fully proficient in the following software applications: Word, Excel, and Power point.
- Experience working with the Government system would be an asset.
- Experience in GBV /violence against women & children training and developing gender responsive and survivor centred training manual, materials would be an asset.
Proposed Time
The total estimated days for consultancy service is 20 days.
Mode of Application
Applicants should submit Technical and Financial proposals electronically in PDF format with subject line clearly marked “Consultancy for Manual Development” on or before 18th June 2019 via email to [email protected]
All applicants should include the following:
- Cover letter
- Technical proposal: The technical proposal should include;
- Brief explanation about the lead and associate consultants with particular emphasis on previous experience in this kind of work
- Understanding of TOR and the task to be accomplished
- proposed methodology
- draft work/implementation plan
- Copies of reports of previous work conducted.
- A written submission on understanding of TOR, methodology / approach the consultant will use; time and time-bound activity schedule, financial issues.
- Organizational (if it is a company applying) or personal capacity statement (if it is an individual)
- Resume and references.
In light of Ivy Wangechi’s murder and in solidarity with all the victims of femicide in Kenya, we wish to state the following;
Our condolences go out to the families, friends and all those who knew Ivy Wangechi. Her killing comes at a time when Kenya is grappling with high prevalence of cases of femicide perpetrated by men; such must never be tolerated in the society. The Bill of Rights protects human life and no reason whatsoever justifies the wanton killings targeting women witnessed across counties.
The normalization of violence by Kenyans on social media and other public spaces is a dehumanization of the victims and is insensitive to their legacy and the trauma of those affected; family, friends and by extension, the women of Kenya. Further, it creates a culture of victim shaming and blaming which permits violence to thrive. Love is not equal to death (#Love≠Death). This has to come to an end.
Femicides, should not be normalized, there has to be deliberate action by all Kenyans to end violence against women. We call on the President of Kenya to declare femicide and other forms of Gender Based Violence a national disaster and commit to addressing it. We also call upon the Director of Criminal Investigations to speed up investigations in all ongoing femicides cases and bring perpetrators to book.