As part of the Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme, UN Women Ethiopia CO wishes to issue a call for nominations for the establishment of a Civil Society Regional Reference Group (CS-RRG).

The CS-RRG will have dual responsibility - as advisors to the Spotlight Initiative and as advocates and partners for the realization of its objectives. It will be composed of 15 members who will participate in their personal capacity.

The CS-RRG will have the following functions:

• Provide inputs and recommendations on key issues related to VAWG and HP in Africa, as well as on the strategic direction of the Spotlight Initiative and issues related to public policy at the regional level
• Act as partners in advocacy and communication activities, including the dissemination of the Spotlight Initiative messages to the public, especially sweocial movements, including those of women, youth, and the media.
• Provide advice on ongoing programme interventions, possibilities to scale them and address the challenges that may arise
• Serve as an interactive space and an open forum for dialogue / learning between the Spotlight Initiative and women's rights organizations working on SGBV, HPs and SRHR
• Provide other relevant information, analysis and lessons learned that can feed into the future programming and advocacy efforts of the Spotlight Initiative
• Support the monitoring efforts of the Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Steering Committee and advise on the implementation of the Programme
• The CS-RRG will build partnership and linkages with the Civil Society Reference Groups at national and global levels, as well as traditional leaders, pan-African women’s organizations and CSOs on AU’s campaigns and advocacy initiatives on EVAW, ECM and elimination of FGM.
• Designate its representatives in the two Steering Committees (at Regional level and Stream I level of the Regional programme)

The CS-RRG is a group of around 15 pre-eminent regional experts on eliminating VAWG and harmful practices (HP) as well as on women’s rights more broadly including Sexual and Reproductive Health rights. The CS-RRG will be composed of experts from East Africa, South Africa, West and Central Africa and North Africa.

• All members included in the CS-RRG should be leaders or members of regional/subregional women’s rights organizations/networks, including women’s funds, with 8- 10 years experience working on women’s rights and gender equality and have expertise in eliminating VAWG and HPs using a human rights-based approach
• Members should include individuals with knowledge of human rights and feminist frameworks and experience in issues of protection
• In adherence with the leaving no one behind (LNOB) principle, vulnerable groups, as defined in the Africa Regional Programme, should be well represented, and considered for inclusion
• Geographic balance will be a key consideration to ensure fair representation of all states/regions/districts on the CS-RRG.
• At least 50% of the CS-RRG members should represent women’s rights movements and feminist organizations
• The Group should include representatives from important constituencies such as youth networks, traditional leaders, faith-based groups and networks of men and boys working on eliminating VAWG using a human rights-based approach
• CS-RRG members will not have any formal affiliations with governments or political parties
• CS-RRG members join the group in their individual capacities and not as representatives of their organizations

Criteria

All interested persons must submit the following documentation: 

• Curriculum vitae (CV). No more than 5 pages, including your professional training and work experience, comprising the women's/feminist movement.
• Motivation letter expressing the reasons for the application and the contributions you would bring to the CS-RRG.
• Certified endorsement letter no more than 5 years old and duly signed by the competent authority, from a feminist or women’s organization or another organization focusing on gender equality and women’s rights.
• Letter certifying time availability duly signed by the competent authority, if the applicant is employed in any civil society organization/institution.

For more information, visit UN Women.