Overview

Students And Youth Working on Reproductive Health Action Team (SAYWHAT) is a Southern African Regional public health advocacy institution with 20 years of experience in championing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) of young people (students, youth, adolescents, and children). SAYWHAT was initially registered as a Trust in 2007 and then upgraded its registration into becoming a Private Voluntary Organization in 2017 under the PVO Act of Zimbabwe [Chapter 17: 05] (34/2017).

SAYWHAT programmatic approach is sustained through strategic frameworks and its current 2021-2050 framework is guided by 4 pillars of (1) youth and students organizing and leadership (2) youth focused knowledge and information sharing (3) advocacy and campaigning (4) health and child protection services.

Over the years, SAYWHAT movement evolved and has expanded its scope of work beyond SRHR advocacy to embrace education, child safeguarding and public health programming including thematic areas such as maternal health, non-communicable diseases, mental health and well-being, drug and substance abuse, climate change, emergency and disaster preparedness, livelihoods, and empowerments. Given this broadened focus, there is need for SAYWHAT to strengthen its efforts to promote or reinforce change in policy, programme, or legislation by capacitating its secretariate and beneficiaries.  

SAYWHAT is seeking a consultant to develop an advocacy strategy that meets the SAYWHAT 2021-2050 strategic framework and train the SAYWHAT secretariate and beneficiaries on how to effectively influence public opinion and public policy to promote social inclusion, equality, and justice for young people across all the programming areas.

Scope of Work:

The consultant shall work within a broad spectrum covering the following aspects:

1. Primary Research

The consultant may adopt methods such as interviews, focus groups, surveys, and observations to understand the SAYWHAT strategic plan and identify knowledge / skills gaps. These methods will allow the consultant to better understand the people that the advocacy plan will be designed for and to validate the model with the actual end user.

• Secondary Research

The consultant should explore the written SAYWHAT way to understand the organization structure and governance, membership, operations and where we operate. In addition, explore the SAYWHAT policies, annual and flagship reports, online visibility, research books, and newsletters to gain in-depth insight into SAYWHAT achievements and milestones.

• Advocacy Strategy

The consultant should develop an advocacy strategy customized to complement the SAYWHAT way informed by (1) primary and secondary research (2) knowledge on advocacy schemes (3) national and regional systems and practices. The model should clearly outline SAYWHAT advocacy issues, the processes from building support, bringing solutions, and political will together, and the monitoring and evaluation of the entire process to ensure that desired changes take place. In addition, the model should include tangible ways that SAYWHAT can leverage to collaborate and connect with other development or civil society partners and to communicate with communities, governments, and the Media.

• Training

The consultant will develop and implement an advocacy training plan to unpack the Advocacy Strategy. It is expected that the consultant will bring a tactical approach to transfer / share knowledge and empower SAYWHAT with skills that will directly impact its advocacy performance and obligations.

The consultant will review and produce the final Advocacy strategy informed by the effectiveness of the training.

Dates of Engagement

Development and training of the Advocacy Strategy is estimated to take 28 days.  

Expected Deliverables

• Advocacy strategy first draft post primary and secondary research – data collection, analysis, and writing. This process is estimated to take 14 days and the consultant should facilitate a meeting to discuss and agree on the strategy and training plan with SAYWHAT’s primary contact(s).
• Facilitate a 2-day workshop to unpack the model and capacitate the SAYWHAT secretariate and its beneficiaries with knowledge and skills they need to promote inclusion, equality, and justice for young people in Zimbabwe and the region.
• Revise the first draft and share the final Advocacy strategy with SAYWHAT.

Skills/Knowledge Preferred

• The consultant should have either a Bachelor of Law, Social Work, Public Policy and Governance, Communications and Media, Development Studies, or relevant professional credentials. A master’s degree is a distinct advantage.
• A minimum of 5 years national, regional, or international advocacy experience. Experience working with the UN is desirable.
• Excellent communication, writing skills and ability to convey technical and complex information in a simple, clear, and concise manner for different audiences.

Application Procedure

Interested candidates may express their interest by emailing procurement@saywhat.org.zw  referencing “CONSULTANT – ADVOCACY STRATEGY” in the subject line.

To be considered, your email MUST INCLUDE the following information:

• A CV accompanied with a written expression of interest summarizing work/consulting history.
• A concept notes detailing methodology, timelines and daily consulting rate or total compensation for the scope of work, stated in United States Dollars (USD).

Deadline for accepting applications is on the 15th of March 2024 Central African Time.