Disability, Gender and Protection Consultant - PI Africa

Protection International

Protection International

EUR 10k-10k / month
Posted on Apr 9, 2025
Job Title: Disability, Gender and Protection Consultant
Location: Remote, preferably in Africa
Duration: 6 months consultancy contract for a maximum of 40 worked days
Starting date: 1st May 2025
Line manager: PI Africa Hub Director

About PI

Protection International (PI)’s mission is to support human rights defenders (HRDs) and their collectives through preventive and comprehensive collective protection approaches. PI aims to foster resilience among HRDs, mitigate risks they face, and ensure their safety by holding duty bearers accountable and garnering support from key stakeholders. The organisation’s vision is a world where fundamental human rights and freedoms are universally respected, and everyone can defend these rights without fear of threats or attacks. PI’s history includes a significant decentralisation process that began in 2019, evolving from a centralised head office model to a network of Regional Hubs and Country Offices. This shift was aimed at creating more grounded and context-oriented decision-making, aligning with their grassroots approach to support HRDs effectively. Our geographical reach is global, with a focus on Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Background

Since 2024, we have launched a new strategic framework (2024-2025), where the inclusion and participation of HRDs with disabilities has been highlighted as an important priority. PI is committed to advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) within its organisation and in its work. PI ensures that internal policies and practices reflect a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

We are intentional about including and ensuring the meaningful participation of HRDs from marginalised communities, like HRDs with disabilities, LGBTIQ HRDs, indigenous HRDs who face compounded risks due to their intersecting identities. PI commits to advocacy efforts aimed at creating legal and social environments that recognise and protect the rights of all HRDs, regardless of their background.

Now our Protection International Africa (PIA) team would need the technical support of a Disability, Gender and Protection expert to support the implementation of PI’s Strategic Framework 2024-2025

Rationale

PIA recognises the importance of disability and gender inclusion within HRD movements. HRDs with disabilities face compounded risks and specific challenges that must be addressed through tailored protection strategies. This consultancy aims to support the implementation of PI’s Strategic Framework 2024-2025 in PIA by mainstreaming disability inclusion into its policies, training, and advocacy efforts.

General Objective

The objective of this consultancy is to enhance PIA’s capacity to integrate disability and gender inclusion across its protection strategies, training materials, and advocacy work. This will contribute to a more comprehensive and intersectional approach to human rights defense.

Specific Objectives

  • Strengthen the capacity of PIA staff and partners to address the specific risks and needs of HRDs with disabilities.
  • Develop training materials and guidance on disability-inclusive protection strategies.
  • Support the integration of disability and gender inclusion into PIA’s resource-sharing methodologies and accessibility policies.
  • Facilitate external engagement and networking to build cross-movement solidarity between protection and disability rights actors.

Approach

Individual consultants or consultancy firms shall present a technical proposal along with a financial proposal to ensure the correct delivery of all the required outputs throughout a 6-month period and a maximum of 40 worked days

The maximum rate that PI can pay for this consultancy is € 10 000

Deliverables

DELIVERABLES (OUTPUTS) Estimated time Time frame 2025 Connection with PI’s Strategic Framework (This column should remain the same)
Strategic Objective -SO1: HRDs and their collectives have the agency to defend human rights safely.
Support the Agency of HRDs and their Collectives Using an Intersectional Approach
1 3 internal training/sensitization sessions with PI staff and partners with all PI staff and selected partners Topic : Understanding disability & gender and intersectionality, disability rights, protection of HRDs with disabilities) Format : 1 hour interactive session online with interpretation (when needed) and technical support from PIA Number of sessions: 1 session in French 1 session in English(Thai/Indo/Kenya/GT) 1 session in Spanish (Meso + Col) 1 day Q2 1.1.a. Developed more comprehensive and intersectional protection management tools alongside HRDs and their collectives reflecting their realities, in particular for marginalised and vulnerable HRDs, such as HRDs with disabilities;
2 1 PPT available for sensitisation (15 slides) – to be used for online session and PI’s LERNI (Learning Management System) Content: understanding disability & gender and intersectionality, disability rights, protection of HRDs with disabilities 0,5 day Q2
3 1 training report (5 pages) summarising the content of the training 1 day Q2
4 Input into PI’s protection manual to ensure the disability & gender component is well integrated 5 days Q2
5 PI Disability and Gender Audit : 4 participatory sessions to assess current programme and practices with an intersectional lens : Format: Each region will provide documentation in advance of the session2 hours sessions online *4 (Asia+Kenya, LA, DRC, GT) 5 days Q3 1.1.b. Designed and implemented a number of protection tools and strategies tailored to the specific needs and vulnerabilities of HRDs and their collectives;
6 Preparation of an organisational consolidated gender and disability audit (15 pages max) 4 days Q3
7 3 external training/sensitization sessions with protection actors or partners Format : 1 hour interactive session online with interpretation (when needed) and technical support from PIA Content : Understanding disability & gender and intersectionality, disability rights, protection of HRDs with disabilities Number of sessions: 1 session with Protect Defenders.eu 1 session To be defined 1 session to be defined 1 day (3h +3h prepping/coordination) Q2/Q3 1.1.c. Raised and invested more resources for outreach and communication tools facilitating awareness-raising of the Right to Defend Human Rights for all HRDs, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable groups (women, indigenous people, LGBTQI+, HRDs with disabilities,…)
8 3 brief reports on the external sessions, including training material 0,5 day Q3
9 Provide 1 coaching session (technical support )to the network of HRDs with disability in East Africa to identify the post pressing advocacy issue to be address and prepare a targeted advocacy 1 day Q3 1.2. Support HRDs and Their Collectives in Developing Protection Networks
Develop a list of 20 trusted/strategic grassroots organisations of persons with disability, based on defined criteria and pre-defined geographic areas, that could be invited to participate in the resource sharing (re-granting) programme. 2 days Q2 1.3. Strengthen the Participation of HRDs at Risk who have been marginalised:
10 Develop 1 on the shelf proposal to better include HRDs with disability in protection initiatives with a focus on strengthening the network of HRDs with disability and collective advocacy in East Africa -(6 pages) 3 days Q2 1.3.a. Raised and invested more financial resources to transcend language and communications barriers, particularly for HRDs with disabilities;
11 Review PIA proposals and budget (at least 4 ) to ensure disability component is well included 2 days (0,5 day each) Q2/Q3
12 Review and provide recommendations for PI resource sharing methodology (re-granting): manual and forms to ensure accessibility, inclusion and active engage with HRDs with disabilities 3 days Q2 1.3.b. Developed accessibility guidelines and strategies to ensure persons with disabilities can take part in what we do.
13 1 accessibility checklist of participation in person events (training/seminar) + 1 accessibility checklist of participation in online event 1 day Q2
14 Write 3 articles (or op-eds) for PI’s website (1 page each) Suggested Topic 1: how to build cross-movement Solidarity at the National, Regional, and International Levels Suggested Topic 2: Being a women HRD with disability in East Africa, navigating discrimination, risks, ableism. Understanding overlap and distinction. (if possible concrete experience from persons with albinism) Suggested Topic 3: The Inclusion and Participation of Activists with disabilities in the Global Human Rights Movement Opportunities, Challenges and Pathways for greater engagement. Note: topic can be revised and agreed upon depending on the expertise of the selected consultant. 4 days Q3 1.4. Support the Building of Cross-Movement Solidarity at the National, Regional, and International Levels
15 Represent PI in 3 strategic events/community of practices (on line) to connect the protection and disability sector FORD community of Practice on Inclusion (1 hour per meeting) 2 days Q2/Q3
Cross-cutting Strategic Objective -SO3: PI is a more resilient, sustainable, responsive and transparent organisation.
16 Provide inputs and recommendations in PI’s JEDI policy regarding the disability and gender component. 2 days Q3 3.2. Investing in Our People and Putting Them at the Core of Our Operations
17 Review HR policies and practices to ensure inclusivity and encourage pro-actively the recruitment of persons with disabilities 2 days Q3
TOTAL 40

Job Requirements

EDUCATION Required Preferred
Relevant university degree (e.g., social sciences, international development, disability studies, human rights) X
Relevant professional training courses (e.g., Disability Rights, Human Rights Defenders, humanitarian or development sector, gender inclusion) X
EXPERIENCE Required Preferred
Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in the field of disability inclusion, gender equality, or human rights X
Proven experience in conducting participatory audits, developing training materials, and delivering capacity-building workshops on disability and/or gender inclusion X
Experience working with human rights defenders, grassroots movements, or in the humanitarian or development sector X
Familiarity with intersectional approaches to protection and advocacy work X
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Required Preferred
Highly organised/time management X
Advanced skills in computer productivity applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) X
Strong facilitation and communication skills, both oral and written X
Demonstrated capacity to orally communicate clearly and effectively to a wide range of – expert and non-expert audiences X
Capacity to work autonomously and under pressure, in a decentralised and multicultural team X
Demonstrated ability to think critically and creatively, and to apply intersectional and inclusive approaches to protection X
Experience producing strategic documents (e.g., audits, proposals, reports) X
LANGUAGUES Required Preferred
Fluently spoken and written English X
Other languages (e.g., French, Spanish, Portuguese, Swahili) are an asset X

Other requirements

  • Consultant can be based in Kenya, Nairobi, or remotely (preferably in Africa)
  • Consultant must ensure payment of taxes in their country of residence.

Venue and Timeframe

Maximum of 40 worked days over a maximum period of 6 months.

Application Requirements:

Qualified individuals/organizations are invited to apply for this consultancy by submitting the following documents:

  1. Methodological and financial proposals.
  2. Curriculum Vitae of the individual (s) that will undertake this assignment.
  3. Reference letters/materials from previous assignments.

Application Details:

All applications should be addressed to the Regional Human Resource Officer via: recruitment.africa@protectioninternational.org Applications deadline is 13th April 2025

The email Subject should read “Disabilities, Gender and Protection Consultant”. All applications will be received by email only.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the position might remain posted until a qualified candidate is selected. We thank all candidates for their interest and we will aim to send feedback as much as we can, however, with the high volume of responses and our internal capacities, we may only be able to contact short-listed candidates.

For further information about the role, please contact recruitment.africa@protectioninternational.org.


Protection International is an equal opportunity employer. The organization shall not discriminate and will proactively apply affirmative action principles against discrimination in advertisements, recruitment and other conditions of our search for candidates, preventing discrimination against any candidate on the basis of race, colour, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.

Adhering to Protection International means to comply with our Code of Conduct & Ethics, Anti-Corruption Policy, Security Policy, Conflict of Interest Policy, Child Safeguarding Policy, Policy for Protection from Harassment, Abuse, Exploitation & Discrimination.

Protection International’s values are:

  • Solidarity / Collaboration: We are committed to stand with HRDs and their struggle to strive for worldwide solidarity that goes beyond borders and identities.
  • Grassroots ethos: We are committed to identify the needs of HRDs and their communities, to adapt to their realities (cultural, historical, economic, etc.), to value their work and to support their initiatives.
  • Commitment to human rights: We believe that the respect of human rights will contribute to a more just global society, where everybody has the right to defend human rights and fundamental freedoms without discrimination based on their identity, nor fear of threats and attacks.
  • Participatory decision-making: We promote the respect and participation of everyone in the decision-making process, and value collaborative decision-making processes. We are committed to horizontal and active listening – recognising the value in diversity of skills and ideas.
  • Accountability and integrity: We are committed to share with others (both internally and externally), what we do, as an exercise of transparency that reflects a reliable and credible organisation, fostering trust amongst our partners. We maintain a zero tolerance policy on corruption.
  • Creativity / learning: We are committed to reflecting on our individual and collective practices; learning from our mistakes; being open to new ideas and ways of working; sharing internally in order to learn; innovating and improving our level of understanding; and putting into practice and sharing externally in order to contribute to the work of others.

Additional Information: Further information about Protection International is available on www.protectioninternational.org.