Posted 17 Oct 2025 Closing date 26 Oct 2025
Background
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) remains one of the most entrenched forms of gender-based violence globally. It is a socio-cultural practice with no medical justification, cutting across ethnic and religious contexts.
Globally, according to research, more than 230 million women and girls live with the effects of FGM, while an estimated 3.6 million are at risk annually. In Africa, prevalence remains alarmingly high. Among women aged 15-49, FGM rates reach 98% in Somalia, 97% in Guinea, and 93% in Djibouti. Girls under 14 are also highly vulnerable, with prevalence at 56% in Gambia and 54% in Mauritania. Although some countries report declining rates, rapid population growth in practicing regions threatens to increase the overall number of affected women and girls by 2030.
Despite progress in legislation, advocacy, and awareness, FGM persists due to deeply rooted social norms, weak enforcement of protective laws, and limited resources for community-led initiatives. The practice not only violates the fundamental rights of women and girls but also undermines their health, dignity, and empowerment across generations.
The global urgency to address FGM is reinforced by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 5, Target 5.3.2), which aim to eliminate all harmful practices, including FGM, by 2030. Achieving this target is pivotal for advancing gender equality, safeguarding human rights, and ensuring that women and girls in Africa and beyond live free from violence and discrimination.
It is against this background that the End FGM/C Network was formed back in 2023.
About The End FGM Network Africa.
End FGM/C Network Africa (The African Network) is an African-led coalition launched on October 10, 2023, during the African Union’s 2nd International Conference on FGM in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The Network aims to eliminate Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) across the continent. Conceived in 2022 through Orchid Project workshops, its mission is to amplify African voices in advocating for human rights protections for women and girls. Co-hosted by Covenant Foundation for Girls (Liberia) and ONG Éducation Universelle (Niger), with Orchid Project as interim secretariat and Coalition on Violence Against Women (COVAW) as the network’s treasurer, the Network unites diverse African organizations to coordinate grassroots advocacy, policy influence, and legislative reform efforts. Members have engaged in community sensitization, survivor support, and participation in regional platforms like the AU Gender Observatory and ACERWC meetings, strengthening partnerships and advancing child protection and gender equality initiatives.
Overview Of The Amplify Change-funded Project
Presently, the African Network is implementing a three-year grant with funding from Amplify Change, with a strategic priority of strengthening the Network’s governance structure, expanding membership, generating evidence on FGM, amplifying regional & global advocacy, and forging stronger partnerships. This funding will further improve the African Network’s capacity to champion African-led solutions, as the leading regional movement to end FGM/C. One of the activities under Organizational Strengthening (OS 1) is supporting the development of the Network’s Strategic Plan 2025-2030 and the Network’s Advocacy Policy.
The Consultancy Service
The End FGM Africa Network seeks to engage a highly qualified and experienced consultant to lead the development of its Strategic Plan (2025-2030) and Advocacy Policy. The consultancy aims to produce two distinct but complementary documents, a Strategic Plan (SP) and an Advocacy Policy (AP), that will collectively define the Network’s vision, strategic direction, advocacy priorities, and operational framework for the next five years.
These documents will serve as the cornerstone of the Network’s coordination and accountability mechanisms, reinforcing its leadership in the continental movement to end Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C). The consultant will facilitate a participatory and evidence-based process that reflects the diversity of voices within the movement — from survivors and grassroots activists to policymakers and regional partners.
Both documents are expected to articulate a clear vision, mission, strategic priorities, and actionable goals, while embedding sustainability, accountability, and measurable impact indicators. They will guide the Network’s partnerships, advocacy engagements, and institutional strengthening, ensuring long-term alignment with regional and global frameworks such as Agenda 2063, SDG 5, and the Maputo Protocol on Women’s Rights.
The ultimate goal is to ensure that the End FGM Africa Network emerges as a stronger, more resilient, and more influential voice for women’s and girls’ rights across Africa.
The Main Objective Of This Consultancy Is To Design a Forward-looking, Inclusive, And Actionable Strategic Plan And Advocacy Policy That Will Serve As a Roadmap For The Network’s Growth, Influence, And Sustainability. Specifically, The Consultant Will:
Scope of Service
The Consultant’s Role Will Encompass The Following:
Design and lead a structured and participatory process involving the Network’s leadership, membership, and partners to ensure alignment with the Network’s values, mission, and goals. The process should promote ownership, collaboration, and shared accountability.
Apply extensive knowledge of organizational development, gender equality, advocacy, and human rights frameworks to guide the process. The consultant will integrate best practices in advocacy planning, policy formulation, and sustainability strategies tailored to the African context.
Work closely with the Network’s leadership and secretariat while engaging civil society organizations, government representatives, survivors, traditional leaders, and advocacy champions to ensure inclusivity and representation in the process.
Identify practical mechanisms for governance strengthening, resource mobilization, partnership development, and institutional sustainability that will be reflected in both documents.
Scope of Work and Key Activities
The consultant will be responsible for leading, coordinating, and delivering all components of the assignment, in close collaboration with the Network’s leadership, members, and partners.
Service Duration
The consultancy assignment is expected to be completed within thirty (30) working days, distributed over two months. The proposed timeline will run from November 1, 2025, to December 12, 2025, allowing sufficient flexibility for stakeholder consultations, data collection, drafting, validation, and finalization of the Advocacy Policy and the Strategic Plan. This phased approach ensures that adequate time is allocated for meaningful engagement with the Network’s leadership, members, and partners, while also providing room for iterative feedback and refinement of deliverables.
Expert Qualifications
Expert Specification
The End FGM Africa Network is seeking a highly qualified and values-driven consultant with a proven record of excellence in strategic planning, organizational development, and gender advocacy. The ideal candidate will demonstrate not only technical expertise but also a strong personal and professional commitment to ending Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting (FGM/C) and broader violence against women and girls. This consultancy is best suited to an individual who is passionate about social justice, gender equality, and movement-building, and who is willing to contribute to the Network’s future growth and sustainability on a modest fee basis.
The successful consultant will be expected to combine technical proficiency with an understanding of the complexities of African civil society, as well as the ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders ranging from grassroots organizations and survivors to policymakers and donors. Integrity, cultural sensitivity, and a participatory approach will be essential qualities for this role.
Essential Qualifications And Experience
Inclusion and Equal Opportunity
The End FGM Africa Network is deeply committed to inclusivity, equity, and diversity in all its processes and partnerships. We recognize the critical role that women, young people, and persons living with disabilities play in shaping sustainable solutions to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and advancing gender equality across Africa.
As such, we strongly encourage qualified women, individuals living with disabilities, and members of marginalized or underrepresented groups to apply for this consultancy. The Network values diverse perspectives and believes that lived experiences, when combined with technical expertise, enrich the quality and relevance of strategic planning processes.
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations to support their participation in the consultancy selection process are encouraged to indicate this in their application. The Network will make every effort to ensure accessibility and to provide the necessary support to enable equal participation.
By applying, the candidate will be contributing not only to the development of a forward-looking Advocacy Policy and Strategic Plan but also to building an inclusive movement that reflects the voices of all those most affected by harmful practices.
How to apply
Interested candidates who meet the criteria are invited to apply by responding to these Terms of Reference.
Applications Must Include The Following:
Important note: When preparing the financial proposal, please ensure that the fees for the following two activities are listed and calculated separately: Development of the Strategic Plan and Development of the Advocacy Policy. The cost breakdown for these two items must be distinct in the proposal.
Submission process
Application is only acceptable electronically via email to: [email protected] and [email protected]; ensure to cc to:[email protected], [email protected] and [email protected] ; with the subject line: “ENDFGM/C Network Africa Advocacy Policy and Strategic Plan (2025-2030) Consultancy Application” no later than 4 PM Liberia (GMT-1) or 7 PM EAT (GMT+3) on October 26, 2025.
Special note
Please note that applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews. Hence, the ENDFGM/C Africa Network reserves the right to accept or reject any application without providing a reason. Submission of an application does not guarantee selection. The Network also reserves the right to withdraw, postpone, or modify this consultancy opportunity at any stage of the process. All decisions by the selection panel shall be final and binding.
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