Introduction

Amref Health Africa, the largest African led international organization on the continent, provides training and health services to over 30 countries in Africa. Founded in 1957 as the Flying Doctors of East Africa to bring critical health services to remote communities. Currently, Amref Health Africa delivers preventative, community-based health care. With a focus on women and children, Amref Health Africa manages a full range of medical and public health programs, tackling the most critical health challenges facing the continent: Maternal and child care, HIV & TB, Malaria, Clean water and sanitation and surgical and clinical outreach. Much of our credibility with local communities and African governments stems from the relationship and trust that we have built over the past 57 years.

Amref Health Africa In Ethiopia: The presence of Amref Health Africa in Ethiopia dates back to the 1960s with extended services by the Flying doctors services. In 1998, it was registered as AMREF, Resident International Charity (NGO) and opened its project office in Addis Ababa. It remained a project office until 2002, when it became a fully-fledged Country Program. Amref Health Africa in Ethiopia delivers programs on: Maternal health, Child health, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), Communicable diseases, Clinical Outreach services, Emergency Nutrition, HEWs and Midwives Training and Operational Research. The training and the clinical outreach programs are implemented nationally across all regions of the country.

Background

Unintended pregnancy, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), and harmful practices such as child marriage (CM) and female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) are human rights violations and manifestations of deeply rooted gender inequality and social norms, limited economic prospects, and a lack of access to adolescent sexual           and reproductive health services and education. While the impact of these issues on young people's lives is well documented (Starrs et al., 2018), they are often excluded from related decision-making, and political and civic    spaces around the world (Kaleidos Research and ICRH, 2016). This is the case despite the fact that they represent a large and growing segment of society in many countries, particularly in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). There is clear evidence that the meaningful participation of young people in decision- making processes benefits society, has positive effects on young people's development, and is key to achieving                   improvements in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) outcomes.

Power to You(th) is a new five year programme (2021-2025) that aims to ensure that young people (aged under 29) are meaningfully included in discussions and decisions, particularly those related to the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of adolescent girls and young women. By increasing the participation of young people from a range of backgrounds and groups in political and civic space, the programme aims to improve youth-led and focused advocacy and accountability in relation to unintended pregnancy (UP), sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), and harmful practices such as child marriage (CM) and female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C).

In Ethiopia, the project will be implemented in seven districts of Amhara and Afar Regional States, led by a consortium of three organizations: Amref Health Africa, Youth Network for Sustainable Development, and Hiwot Ethiopia. The Power to You(th) project will center youth and harness the power of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in achieving change to harmful practices (HPs), sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), and poor sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes, including unintended pregnancy. In Ethiopia, the project envisions more adolescent girls and young women from underserved communities making informed choices, enjoying their sexuality, and being free from harmful practices in a gender-equitable society.

Over recent years, the issue of youth has received greater attention in Ethiopia and the government has started to implement policies to support young people (MoH, 2016). The national youth policy which was introduced in 2004 was an important government initiative to recognize and address the / 57 5 rights of young people in the areas of education, sexual and reproductive health rights and sexual gender-based violence. Although Ethiopia has made significant progress in increasing  access to education and basic health facilities, young people still face a number of health challenges, including inadequate access to SRH information/services and persistent gender inequalities. AGWY in particular are vulnerable to SGBV, FGM/C, child marriage and other harmful practices.  

Harmful practices

Harmful practices are sexual and gender-based practices and behaviors (arising from prevailing social norms) that are grounded on discrimination on the basis of sex, gender age and other attributes. Those practices and behaviors often involve violence, cause physical and/or psychological harm, and reinforce structural deprivation of choice and opportunity for women and girls and vulnerable boys 10 / 57 and marginalized groups. SDG 5 includes targets calling for the elimination of violence against women and all harmful practices, such as early and forced child marriage, and female genital mutilation (or cutting), by 2030.

Child marriage is any legal or customary union involving a boy or girl below the age of 18 (Parson et al. 2015). This definition draws from various conventions, treaties, and international agreements, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and recent resolutions of the UN Human Rights Council.

FGM/C:

Female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. There are different types of FGM/C, which are classified into four categories. Type I involves partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or the prepuce (clitoridectomy). Type II involves partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora (excision). Type III involves narrowing of the vaginal orifice with creation of a covering seal by cutting and positioning the labia minora and/or the labia majora, with or without excision of the clitoris (infibulation). Type IV involves all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, for example: pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterization. Types I, II and III female genital mutilation have been documented in 28 countries in Africa and in a few countries in Asia and the Middle East (OHCHR and UNDP 2008).

Sexual and Gender Based Violence Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) encompasses any act of violence that is sexual in nature or inflicted upon an individual because of their gender or sexual orientation (UN CEDAW, 2017). SGBV can take different forms (physical, sexual, or psychological) and it encompasses harmful practices, such as child marriage, sex trafficking, honour killings, sex-selective abortion, female genital mutilation/cutting, and sexual harassment and abuse (Starrs et al., 2018).

Teenage pregnancies

Unintended pregnancies are pregnancies that are reported to have been either unwanted (i.e., they occurred when no children, or no more children, were desired) or mistimed (i.e., they occurred earlier than desired) (Santelli et al., 2003). Teenage pregnancies are defined as all pregnancies before the age of 20 (World Health Organization, 2021). It usually refers to teens between the ages of 15-19. However, it can include girls as young as 10. It is also called teen pregnancy or adolescent pregnancy. Unintended pregnancies are a common challenge faced by AGYW, couples, and those of other genders around the world. The Guttmacher-Lancet Commission (2018) estimates that approximately 44% of all pregnancies worldwide are unintended, and 56% of these unintended pregnancies end in an induced abortion (Starrs et al., 2018) Teenage pregnancies are not necessarily unintended pregnancies

In light of this, the Power to You(th) programme aims to empower the voice and agency of young people, especially AGYW, to stand up for their rights and speak out against social norms and gender inequality. The programme will support and strengthen the capacity of CSOs to amplify the voices of young people and hold civic space and will lead to dialogues with policy makers to improve the development and implementation of laws, policies and strategies. 

Purpose of the assessment

This assessment aims to conduct policy and legal environment and practice of the policy including the level of commitment for its implementation such as budget analysis on the key topics of PTY regarding youth population of Ethiopia. This analysis is used to inform key stakeholders on policy makers and serve as  baseline targets and the implementation process of PTY including:

• Identify the gaps in the area of policy and legal framework on those selected areas
• Review the practices of those policies
• Situation analysis in order to inform future programming regarding policy and budget
• Informing target setting
• To inform the advocacy work and policy dialogue
• Setting baseline values where needed i.e. as indicated in the country result frameworks

Scope of the work

This assessment will provide a reference for measuring the contribution of the Power to You(th) program in future and will inform program design and strategy. it will generate evidence for advocacy plan and implementation. The study will measure context specific indicators related to policy and related budget.

Job Requirements

Experience of firms and research team members

• The suitable candidate should have a minimum of 5 years’ experience and the firm has to have an experience of one year or above
• A renewed professional license for consultancy firm in similar task
• Researchers/Team members with at least a Master’s Social science, Development studies, public health, demography or related field; extensive skills and experience in applying qualitative and quantitative data management and researches/evaluations; and Excellent spoken and written communication skills in English
• A professional with an excellent in leadership/Managerial role and has an experience in policy and decision making
• Firm should have similar work in the recent past will be a key requirement; and references of contact addresses (email, phone number, ….) of organizations or its representative of the organization should be mentioned
• A team that includes Professional language editors for the work of the report  

How to Apply

Potential consultants are invited to collect TOR free of charge through one of the below email address until December 17, 2021 and can submit the proposal till December 20, 2021 using the below emails.

 Molalign.Mekonnen@Amref.org or  Semhar.Debru@Amref.org

 In person at Amref Health Africa, Ethiopia office, located behind Bole Medhanialem Church, near to Abyssinia Building or through mail: P.O.Box 20855, Code 1000 Addis Ababa