Terms of reference

SRMH Gender, sexuality and rights collaborative group

Background (What is it?)

The Sexual, Reproductive and Maternal Health (SRMH) team has identified three focus areas for the global SRMH program as the organization transitions into the CARE 2020 vision of becoming an interdependent peer based organization, with coherent programs addressing underlying causes of poverty and defending dignity. In line with this process, the SRMH team has shared and gained agreement from CARE global community to pursue with the three focus areas for SRMH global program, namely SRMH in emergency; SRMH participatory governance; and Gender, sexuality and rights.Accordingly each of the three focus areas will be further developed to provide guidance and strategic focus for SRMH programs designed and implemented in different parts of the world where CARE works.

Based on this arrangement, this draft ToR is developed for the Gender, Sexuality and Rights collaborative group, which is planned to inform, contribute and shape the development of this program focus area with the rich and diverse experiences we have throughout the CARE world. This process is very important to incorporate the existing richness/diversity of SRMH programs being implemented in 37 countries and come up with a representative and feasible global program that is owned by all, and that really help us in advancing with the new way of working together as one global team.

It is with this intention of having the critical voice and contribution of the CARE family at different levels and from different context that this ToR is drafted, to guide us all in this initial collaborative approach leading us to where we envision being in the near future.

Gender Sexuality and Rights collaborative group –(the task - What has to be achieved?)

The frame for the task of the collaborative group and SRMH work in general is the global program goal stated as: 100 million women and girls will exercise their rights to SRMH and a life free from violence

In line with this and the mandate to contribute to this goal, the GSR collaborative ToR is developed with the following draft vision and objectives.

Vision: Develop user friendly program strategy and guidethat supports the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of SRMH programs, with a clear focus and addressing issues of Gender, Sexuality and Rights (GSR).

Objectives

Foundational Internal Objective: Articulate the shared principles that guide programming and advocacy – enabling Clarity and Consistency in our Approach and Identity.

Specific objectives:

  1. Establish a community of SRMH actors, interested individuals and groups within CARE to contribute to the development of the SRMH Gender, Sexuality and Rights (GSR) focus area
  2. Develop the SRMH Gender, Sexuality and Rights strategic direction and focus area with active participation of group members
  3. Create sense of unity and ownership across CARE global around the SRMH work
  4. Clarify the focus and role of CARE regarding Gender, Sexuality and Rights based approaches forSRMH program globally
  5. Communicate CARE’s niche and share our learning on GSR with peers, partners and potential donors.

Scope of work:

With the leadership and coordination of the advisor, the collaborative group will actively participate in the following tasks to develop the GSR program focus area for SRMH

  • Finalize strategy and work plan for gender, sexuality and rights program focus area
  • Collect, catalogue and share existing approaches and programming tools
  • Support the development of communication materials for different audiences
  • Support resource mobilization for related initiatives and learning processes
  • Contribute to the discussion and thinking on integration of the program with other focus areas and global programs, i.e.participatory governance, policy and advocacy, WEE, FNS, GBV work and others
  • Identify learning agenda and areas for future learning

Deliverables:

  • Final document with strategic direction and focus on GSR for SRMH program
  • Creative communication materials for CARE internal, peer organizations and donors
  • Organize and share promising practices and learning across CARE through a learning event
  • Share progress updates and final products with relevant stakeholders internally and externally
  • Familiarize the strategic direction with relevant constituencies within the wider CARE
  • Learning agenda around GSR identified for continued sharing and learning

Roles and responsibilities:

  • The senior advisor:

The senior advisor for SRMH will lead the coordination and communication with the collaborative group members; requests for contribution, organizes meetings/teleconferences, compiles inputs, and circulate back revised documents based on inputs

  • Collaborative group:

The collaborative group members will be actively engaged in meetings/teleconferences; review and comment on draft documents; share relevant documents among the group to enrich discussion or input to the task; identify relevant stakeholders and share documents for inputs.

  • Stakeholders:
  • Indentified and invited by the collaborative group members (with consensus among the members)
  • Will be invited in the discussion or review of documents at feasible intervals and stages in the process
  • Final documents and relevant communication materials will be shared with them by the senior advisor
  • Wider CARE community:

This group will mainly be informed of progress and invited for input at selected steps based on the suggestion and agreement by the collaborative group and also in consultation with the director of SRMH

Ways of working, governance and accountability structure for SRMH and rights team:

How it will be achieved? (Resources, quality assurance)

Resources:identify and use existing resources and capacity; any financial requirement that may need to be considered for the purpose of the group task will be explored both within and outside of the SRMH team. Collaborative group members are also welcome and mandated to explore and suggest possible sources for required resource mobilization.

Quality plan:

The collaborative group will discuss and define quality for the group tasks: how to ensure quality both at the process and product level; how to ensure optimal participation, pace of the group tasks, and deliverables.

Work breakdown structure and schedule:

The group will review and agree on a detailed work plan with time line which is to be developed based on an agreed upon ToR.

Risks/constraints and success factors:

  • Risks/constraints: time constraint with other competing priorities;lack ofinput/feedback from the group;different time zones and travel schedules;
  • Success factors: commitment and active participation of the collaborative group; open discussion on issues of concern or controversy; timely response to requests and agreed upon plans; proactive communication and sharing of information relevant to the group tasks.