Development of Communication Strategies and Gender-transformative Messages for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights- TOR

Background

Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation works to empower women and girls to have bodily autonomy and exercise their sexual and reproductive health and rights. As partners for reproductive justice, we build collective action that transforms societies to enable women, girls, and vulnerable persons to manage their fertility and realize their full potential.

Ipas is currently implementing the Increasing Sexual and Reproductive Autonomy Project in Nigeria to improve the decision-making power and access to integrated Sexual Reproductive Health services by women and girls in Benue, Borno, Oyo, and Lagos states. To achieve this objective, we are partnering with community-based organizations in the various project states to engage with community structures and identify intermediaries who will sensitize community individuals on gender-sensitive SRHR knowledge, convey community dialogues and awareness creation sessions that seek to address stigmatizing attitudes and engage with community stakeholders and influencers to increase social support for women and girls and ultimately improve their bodily autonomy and access to sexual and reproductive health services.

Ipas is searching for a consultant to facilitate the development of

1. Gender-sensitive IEC SRHR messages & content using UCD with community stakeholders to change negative social norms around Contraception, Safe Abortion and Gender-Based Violence.
2. Facilitate the development of Communication strategies with stakeholders to disseminate and engage stakeholders to change negative social norms in the Communities.

Justification

In other to ensure that messaging on SRHR during the peer sessions and other community engagement activities is gender transformative, consistent, accurate, and complete, it is imperative to develop communications materials that will guide the conversations and bring about positive cultural and social change, challenge ingrained attitudes and practices that perpetuate gender inequality, and contribute to a more equitable society. It is particularly important within the restrictive context we operate in to ensure that messaging and communication provided in communities employ the right communication strategy and are tailored to consider religious and socio-cultural norms and nuances while still ensuring accurate information is provided to improve women’s and girls’ knowledge and access to SRHR services.

Target Audience

The proposed guide is meant for use by Community-based organizations implementing community-based SRHR interventions and approaches including inter-personal communication, community sensitization and awareness creation, and peer-to-peer education to increase knowledge and awareness of accurate SRHR, correct myths and misconceptions, challenge social norms and values that inhibit women and girls’ access to SRHR services.

Scope of Work and Deliverables

• Work with the CBOs and Ipas to update and review manual. Collate content materials based on the discussion guide modules developed by the CBOs and Ipas to develop the manual.
• Conduct a one-day virtual validation meeting with the CBOs to validate the content in the manual.
• Development of IEC messaging based on Ipas’ Social norm scale to change social norms to end unsafe abortions, GBV, and contraception.
• Conduct one day validation of the IEC materials with Community stakeholders on the IEC materials developed.
• Review and update the discussion guide (Job Aid) for peer educators.
• Facilitate the virtual validation of the Job Aid with CBOs and partners.
• Facilitate session with community stakeholders and Humanitarian aid workers to develop communication strategies for the dissemination of IECs and engagement with duty bearers and other community stakeholders.

Submission Requirements

Ipas Nigeria requests expression of interest form suitable individuals with requisite SBC and communication experience developing messages, IEC materials and communication tools related to SRHR.

Experience with developing messaging that imbibes human-centered approaches (User Centred Design) is strongly required. The submission should include:

1. A 2-page narrative of proposed approach/methodology and workplan to deliver on the Scope of work.
2. Proposed consultancy rate/fee/budget as applicable
3. A CV and suitability statement