Welcoming African regional civil society organisations for future partnership

Terre des Hommes (TdH) Netherlands is a child rights organisation that anchors its work on the United Nations Convention on the Right of the Child. The organisation prevents child exploitation, removes children from exploitative situations and ensures that these children can develop themselves in a safe environment. TdH currently works in 12 countries in Africa, Asia and Europe.

The She Leads is a five-year (2021-2025) partnership between TdH, Plan International, Defense for Children/ECPAT, FEMNET and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The strategic objective of She Leads is to increase the sustained influence of Girls and Young Women (G & YW) on decision-making and the transformation of gender norms in formal and informal institutions. This will be achieved through the attainment of three main outcomes:

1. Enhanced collective action and activism by G & YW in a gender-responsive civil society.
2. Increased acceptance of positive social gender norms,
3. Political institutions at all levels enable meaningful participation of G & YW in decision-making.

Key principles of the She Leads partnerships include:

1. Voices of girls and young women are central to the programme.
2. Respect for the autonomy of girl-led and youth-led organizations.
3. Self-care and collective well-being. 
4. Equal partnership.

The programme will be implemented in Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Jordan, Lebanon, Mali, Liberia, Ghana and Sierra Leone, as well as having Africa regional, Middle East regional and International programme components. TdH will contribute to the implementation of the programme in Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Jordan, Lebanon and Mali, as well as at regional (Africa and Middle East) and international levels.

TdH seeks to engage an Africa regional civil society organisation (CSO) to implement the She Leads programme at Africa regional level. The CSO should have an Observer Status with the Africa Union, have proven experience engaging with the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, the East African Community and other relevant commissions, including the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. It should have proven experience of engaging in the CSO Forum, Gender is my Agenda (GIMAC) and the East African Legislative Assembly, among other relevant platforms. It should further have a track record of mobilising and building capacity of other CSOs in Africa. Experience of working in Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia will be an added advantage.

Whereas all regional organisations may apply, preference will be given to feminist organizations, girls’/women’s rights organizations and child/youth organizations that meet the other criteria.