Duration: 15 days
1. About FEMNET
The African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) is a pan- African, feminist and membership-based network based in Nairobi, Kenya with over 800 individual and institutional members across 50 African countries and in the diaspora. FEMNET envisions a society where African women and girls thrive in dignity and well-being, free from patriarchal and neoliberal oppression and injustices.
Fouded in 1988, FEMNET exists to facilitate and coordinate the sharing of experiences, information, and strategies for human rights promotion among feminists, activists and women’s rights organizations as a strategy for collective organizing; policy influencing & advocacy; strategic communication; capacity strengthening as well as feminist solidarity and movement building. For more information, visit www.femnet.org.
2. Background and objectives
The Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) is the continent’s annual intergovernmental and multi-stakeholder platform for advancing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Convened by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in partnership with the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank, and the wider UN system, ARFSD provides space for regional policy dialogue, peer learning, consensus-building, and inclusive engagement. The Forum plays a crucial role in shaping Africa’s priorities and consolidating shared positions for global sustainable development processes, particularly the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).
The Twelfth Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development will be held under the theme “Turning the Tide: Transformative and Coordinated Actions for the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063.” from 28th to 30th April 2026 in Addis Ababa Ethiopia. This year’s review will focus on SDG 6 (Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Africa’s development trajectory remains off-track, with widening gender, economic and social inequalities, climate impacts, rapid urbanisation, energy poverty, digital divides, constrained civic engagement and limited representation of women in leadership and decision-making spaces. These challenges have continually undermined inclusive and sustainable development and holistically slowed the progress toward achievement of SDGs. These challenges are most acutely experienced by women, girls, young people, marginalized communities and groups whose lived realities remain insufficiently reflected in policy and investment decisions, despite their proven contribution in driving community- rooted and innovative solutions.
Against this backdrop, FEMNET and SDGs Kenya Forum will be actively engaging and participating in ARFSD 12. Ahead of the convening, we will hold space for African women and girls, through virtual consultations, aimed at unpacking structural barriers that undermine gender equality, meaningful participation, and inclusive development. We will host a side event, alongside the margins of ARFSD 12, aimed at showcasing feminist, youth- led, and civil society innovations driving SDG progress, highlighting barriers to gender equality and meaningful participation, strengthening partnerships and generating actionable gender-responsive recommendations for ARFSD-12 and in extension Africa’s HLPF 2026 submission later in the year.
Therefore, we are seeking to engage a consultant to synthesize discussions from the virtual consultations and the side event and develop a comprehensive, gender-responsive Position Paper that integrates feminist analysis with actionable policy recommendations to inform Africa’s inputs to the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in June 2026.
3. Scope of work
- Provide an original and evidence-based desk review and analysis, drawing on credible research and data to provide context on the SDGs under review, status of the African countries conducting National Voluntary Review (NVR) and barriers to inclusive and sustainable development.
- Synthesize the discussions and insights from the virtual consultations and side event and identify common themes, divergent perspectives and country specific priorities and develop a comprehensive position paper that integrates feminist analysis and actionable policy recommendations, which will inform Africa’s inputs to the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) and advocacy beyond ARFSD-12
- Develop a set of advocacy messages drawn from the position paper for use in advocacy at national, regional, and global levels.
- Consolidate feminist, gender-responsive recommendations on the SDGs under review and integrate them into Africa’s regional sustainable development outcome document
4. Key Deliverables and Outputs.
- A comprehensive Position Paper for ARFSD 12 synthesizing feminist analysis, outlining and highlighting the concerns of African Women and Girls and capturing actionable policy recommendations.
- A set of bold advocacy messages drawn from the position statement for use in advocacy during ARFSD-12 and High-Level Political Forum Summary reports from the virtual consultations.
5. Required Qualifications, skills and Competencies.
- Over 7 years proven experience gender, development and feminist policy analysis in Africa.
- Experience writing and editing a policy position
- In-depth understanding of national, regional and global policies and development frameworks related to gender equality.
- Strong writing, analytical and research skills and ability to analyze/ synthesize related information and develop highly quality, compelling and publishable knowledge products.
- Exceptional command of the English and/or French language, including grammar, syntax, punctuation, and style.
- Knowledge and experience in using an array of communication tools, including digital media for packaging information in creative ways.
- Strong understanding of safeguarding and committed to uphold
6. Duration of Assignment.
The assignment will be conducted for a period of 15 days, starting from 23rd March to 10th April and should be done by 20th April 2026.
7. Liaison, Coordination and Reporting.
The consultant will work closely with Policy officer at FEMNET Secretariat. Prior to the start date, the consultant will be required to have a briefing session with the mentioned staff to discuss the assignment and expected deliverables.
8. Selection of Consultant.
The consultant shall be contracted by FEMNET. The contract will include Withholding Tax (WHT) deduction in line with laws of contracting where FEMNET is headquartered. A WHT certificate will be issued to the consultant. Payment will be done through bank transfer to the consultant bank account. FEMNET will not meet the costs of bank charges. Payment schedule will be agreed upon with the consultant upon successful selection. In case of team/firm applicants, a designated assignment contract manager will be the contact between FEMNET and the team and responsible for all deliverables.
9. Intellectual Property Rights.
The consultant expressly assigns to FEMNET any copyright arising from the outputs produced while executing the service contract. The consultant may not use, reproduce, disseminate, or authorize others to use, reproduce or disseminate any output produced under the service contract without prior consent from FEMNET.
10. Terms of Service.
This is a non-staff contract and therefore the consultant is not entitled to insurance, medical cover or any other status or conditions as FEMNET staff.
11. Application Process.
- An Updated CV/profile with 3 references
- Cover Letter indicating your Daily Costs
- 2 Samples of work of similar assignments
Applications are by e-mails only, sent to: recruitment@femnet.or.ke. Please indicate the reference on the subject line as ‘FNT/EOI/10/2026 – Consultancy to Develop Position Statement for the African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD). Deadline for submission of applications is 18th March 2026.
Please note: FEMNET is committed to prevention any type of unwanted behaviour including sexual harassment, exploitation, abuse, and lack of integrity as well as other ethical breaches. All staff and consultants are expected to share this commitment through our code of conduct and Safeguarding Policy. Offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and fraud.
We welcome people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, culture and experience. We will make any practical adjustments to enable people with disability participate fully in an inclusive working environment.
By submitting your application, you acknowledge that you have given consent to the collection, use and/or disclosure of your data by us for the purposes set out in this job description. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.