Consultant – Safety, Security, and Gender Rights Training At Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa

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Position: Consultant Safety, Security, and Gender Rights Training

Location: Juba, South Sudan

Duration: 2 Months

1. Introduction

The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA Network) is a regional feminist organization dedicated to advancing the rights of women and girls across the Horn of Africa, including South Sudan. SIHA works to increase women’s participation in governance, strengthen feminist movement-building, and address systemic gender-based violence (GBV) that prevents women and girls from fully engaging in public life. Women in South Sudan—especially young women—face persistent security challenges, both online and offline, when engaging in leadership, activism, and governance. Many are subjected to gender-based violence, political intimidation, arbitrary detention, and other threats that discourage them from asserting their rights and engaging in decision-making. Furthermore, legal and institutional frameworks often fail to protect women from these threats, leaving them vulnerable to discrimination and harm.

This training will equip young women with critical knowledge on personal and collective security, legal rights, and advocacy strategies to address gender-based violence and discrimination. It will focus on enhancing young women’s ability to navigate security risks, strengthen protection mechanisms, and advocate for their rights within community and governance spaces.

2. Background of the Assignment

A needs assessment conducted in Juba, Yambio, and Western Bahr el Ghazal State (covering Wau & Raja) identified safety and security as one of the most significant barriers preventing young women from fully engaging in leadership and governance. Many young women reported experiences of physical and online harassment, arbitrary arrests, forced marriages, and social stigma, particularly when they attempted to participate in civic and political activities. Insecurity, conflict, and political instability further exacerbate these threats, making it difficult for young women to advocate for change.

Key challenges identified include:

  • Increased risks of gender-based violence (GBV) due to societal and political barriers to women’s leadership.
  • Limited knowledge of legal rights and protection mechanisms, leaving young women vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.
  • A lack of personal and collective security strategies for navigating high-risk environments, both online and offline.
  • Cultural and institutional barriers that prevent women from seeking justice or holding perpetrators accountable.

Without adequate safety measures and legal knowledge, young women face severe limitations in their ability to engage in public life, advocate for their rights, or contribute to governance structures. Recognizing these barriers, this training will provide young women with practical tools to strengthen their security, understand their legal protections, and advocate for safer, more inclusive environments. Through interactive discussions, case studies, and real-world scenarios, participants will learn how to assess risks, implement security strategies, and use legal frameworks to combat gender discrimination and violence. This will empower them to participate more effectively in leadership, activism, and governance without fear of violence or retribution.

3. Objectives of the Training

The training aims to:

  1. Increase young women’s understanding of security risks and how they impact their participation in leadership and governance.
  2. Equip participants with practical security strategies to navigate high-risk environments, including conflict zones and politically unstable regions.
  3. Strengthen knowledge of legal rights and protection mechanisms, including laws on gender-based violence, women’s rights, and access to justice.
  4. Provide training on personal and collective safety strategies, including community protection models and emergency response mechanisms.
  5. Introduce strategies for addressing GBV, discrimination, and violence against women leaders, including reporting mechanisms and survivor-centered approaches.
  6. Develop action plans for integrating safety, security, and gender rights into young women’s advocacy efforts.

4. Scope of Work for the Consultant

The consultant will be responsible for:

  • Developing a training module on safety, security, and gender rights, tailored to the experiences of young women in South Sudan.
  • Facilitating a two-day interactive training workshop, integrating case studies, group discussions, and practical exercises.
  • Providing training on risk assessment and security strategies, ensuring young women understand how to protect themselves in different environments.
  • Delivering sessions on gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response, equipping participants with tools to address harassment, intimidation, and violence.
  • Training participants on South Sudan’s legal frameworks, including laws related to women’s rights, GBV, and access to justice.
  • Introducing strategies for engaging male allies in promoting women’s safety and security in leadership spaces.
  • Guiding participants in developing action plans to integrate safety, security, and gender rights into their leadership and advocacy work.
  • Documenting training proceedings, participant feedback, and key recommendations in a post-training report.

5. Deliverables

The consultant is expected to deliver the following:

  1. A comprehensive training module including materials on safety, security, and gender rights.
  2. Facilitation of a two-day training workshop with interactive discussions, case studies, and practical exercises.
  3. A training report summarizing key discussions, participant engagement, lessons learned, and recommendations.
  4. Resource materials for participants (slides, handouts, legal frameworks, safety toolkits).
  5. Follow-up recommendations on how young women can integrate security strategies into their advocacy work.

Qualifications and Skills: Individuals or firms applying should demonstrate

  • Proven expertise in gender, feminist leadership, and human rights programming, with a strong understanding of women’s safety and security in fragile or conflict-affected contexts.
  • At least 5 years’ experience facilitating feminist or human rights trainings, preferably in South Sudan or the Horn of Africa.
  • Strong knowledge of South Sudan’s legal frameworks on GBV, women’s rights, and access to justice.
  • Experience in risk assessment, security planning, and digital safety for activists and women human rights defenders.
  • Excellent facilitation, documentation, and report-writing skills in English (Arabic proficiency is an added advantage).
  • Demonstrated commitment to feminist values, inclusion, and participatory training methods.

How to apply

Candidates that meet the qualifications and skills are encouraged to apply using the link: https://airtable.com/appJvKRIL80w0OyXU/shr7koJbo7erK9Pim by August 6, 2025 at 11:59pm (EAT)

Note:

  • Individual consultants and consultancy firms based in South Sudan are encouraged to apply.
  • We strongly encourage applications from women, feminist trainers, and organizations led by women or youth.
  • SIHA is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion; all qualified persons are welcome to apply regardless of ethnicity, religion, disability, or other identities.
  • Shortlisting will be done on a rolling basis, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Due to the high volume of applications and to ensure fairness across the candidate pool, we are unable to offer individual feedback on your application.