Advocacy and Africa Union Engagement Strategy At Habitat for Humanity

About Habitat for Humanity International

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) began in 1976 as a grassroots effort. The housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability, and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org/EMEA.

Habitat for Humanity will focus its efforts around the most important program areas to address barriers leading to the housing deficits: Habitability, basic services, tenure security, and affordability. Further, Habitat for Humanity global programming will also be systemic in nature – demonstrating courage and commitment to tackle systemic inequities at the root of housing crises. Linked to this, Habitat for Humanity is currently keen in using Build and Influence effort to promote policies and support market approaches that increase equitable access to affordable housing, and to recognize and reduce barriers that prevent the vulnerable communities from having a decent place to live.

While being guided by our values of courage, humility, and accountability**. Habitat for Humanity has been** using different tactics such as engaging directly with policy makers and market actors, conduct research, campaigns etc to influence its work by engaging both the policy makers and the right holders in addressing housing deficits in the word.

At Habitat for Humanity, we require that all staff/ consultants take seriously their ethical responsibilities to safeguarding our intended beneficiaries, their communities (especially children), and all those with whom we work. In line with the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, all staff must pass a thorough background screening and will be held accountable for upholding our policies around ethical behavior, including safeguarding and whistleblowing.

Habitat for Humanity recognizes advocacy experience varies greatly across our global network. We need providing foundational and basic resources for our network to better understand advocacy and how to develop an advocacy strategy for their specific context.

The housing deficit in Africa is vast and expanding; 238 million people live in slums, the affordability gap is greater than in any other region, and land rights tenure and governance remain obstinately deficient worldwide. Additionally, shocks and stresses such as climate change and the accompanying migration are especially widespread in Africa, hence reinforcing housing inequality across the continent. The new Africa strategy offers a unique opportunity to broaden ambition, implement new methods of working, and strengthen capacities “for Africa, with Africa, and through Africa.” Habitat for Humanity must decide which models of engagement to deploy (e.g., convenor, think tank, implementor, etc.) and at what level (Africa Area Office “Africa AO”, sub-region, nation), as each model has consequences for programming, collaborations, and supporting roles.

Purpose

The advocacy strategy will identify significant topics, stakeholders, messaging, and activities for Habitat for Humanity Africa Area Office’s long- and short-term agenda. The strategy will be informed by Habitat for Humanity’s five-year strategy for the Africa Area Office while linking it to the five-year global campaign called Home Equals. This process will build upon the consultative process while involving the Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), Government Relations and Advocacy (GRA) team, who have been working collaboratively with the Policy and Advocacy Manager for the Africa Area Office. This approach will entail the convening of a series of advocacy discussions with key stakeholders to identify and outline the most important advocacy issues to be advanced in respect to the Africa Area Office’s advocacy priorities of:

1. Ensure that everyone has access to suitable housing.
2. Increase house affordability through financing.
3. Support secure tenure rights and equal housing access.
4. Enable participation of stakeholders and participatory processes.
5. Promote resilient communities.

A Steering Committee comprised of the Habitat for Humanity Government Relations and Advocacy team, in collaboration with the National Organizations and Subject Matter Experts (SME), will oversee the development of the Africa Area advocacy platform and strategy.

Objectives

This assignment’s primary purpose is to establish an advocacy and strategy for the Habitat for Humanity Africa Office while being guided by the New Urban Agenda, Africa Union Agenda 2063, and Sustainable Development Goals, with an emphasis on SDG 11, and to draft operational guidelines for the same. Further, the consultant is expected to identify relevant department at the Africa Union, Africa Development Bank, Economic Commission for Africa, NEPAD including the Regional Bodies such as ECOWAS, EAC, SADC that will work with HFH- Area Office to address housing deficit in the region.

Specific Objectives

1. Draft the advocacy strategy that will include recommendations regarding the structure and operation of a regional advocacy platform that brings together key stakeholders working on the key advocacy priorities in the African region to coordinate joint advocacy efforts on access to decent and affordable housing for vulnerable communities.
2. It will identify and make recommendations about the identification, selection, and engagement of relevant policymakers and rights holders at all levels including CSOs from diverse sectors.

Scope of the Consultancy

Create the advocacy strategy based on the inputs for the HFH Africa Regional strategy and the outcomes from the interviews with the stakeholders.

1. Develop workable guidelines to help Operationalize the advocacy plan that will include Africa Union Engagement strategy.
2. Develop a comprehensive advocacy strategy, detailing distinct objectives, target activities, allies, deliverables, and indicators, as well as a three-year implementation plan and cost estimate for such effort.
3. Conduct a review, consisting of desk top interviews and individual in-depth interviews, of existing regional advocacy networks or platforms, exploring their mandate, structure, and functioning within the HFHI network, including National Organizations and partners, and make recommendations for an advocacy platform.
4. Conduct rigorous review of experiences from similar engagement strategies if available from other international INGOs in the Africa region, by including analysis of power, the governance and decision-making architecture of the AU including other regional bodies such as ECOWAS, AFDB,ECA, EAC, SADC etc (key aspects of power- visible, hidden, and invisible)
5. Collaborate with important regional stakeholders to identify champions / supporters from various constituencies (political leaders, civil society, researchers, social media influencers, and media) who can be mobilized to support Access to good and affordable housing in the region.
6. Provide a draft of the advocacy strategy at the validation meeting (to be held virtually or face to face)
7. Finalize the advocacy strategy which will be presented to the relevant policy makers, regional CSOs, including relevant AU, ECA, AFDB departments etc either virtually or physically.

Duration of the assignment

This contract will be executed for three months translating to four months beginning on 15th August ,2024, and ending on 15th November 2024 calendar days.

1. Inception report outlining methodology and work plan within three days of contract signing. (10 days)
2. Data collection/Research (20 days)
3. Report and presentation on the analysis of current regional Housing and Human Settlement advocacy networks or platforms, as well as proposals for the operation of the Platform for Regional Advocacy and Africa union engagements (10 days)
4. Develop Advocacy Strategy (11 days)
5. Validate Advocacy Strategy (10 days)
6. Proposed Regional Advocacy Strategy that has implementation plan (10-days)
7. Develop key advocacy messages (10days)
8. Presentations to relevant stakeholders within Habitat for Humanity International entities (3-day).

Consultant Responsibility

1. Development of Advocacy Strategy:

• Draft a comprehensive advocacy strategy aligned with the objectives outlined by Habitat for Humanity Africa Area Office.
• Incorporate recommendations regarding the structure and operation of a regional advocacy platform to coordinate joint efforts on access to decent and affordable housing.
• Identify and make recommendations about the selection and engagement of relevant policymakers and rights holders at all levels, including civil society organizations (CSOs) from diverse sectors.

2. Operational Guidelines:

• Develop workable guidelines to operationalize the advocacy plan, including an Africa Union Engagement strategy.

3. Research and Analysis:

• Conduct research, including desktop interviews and individual in-depth interviews, to review existing regional advocacy networks or platforms.
• Analyze the mandate, structure, and functioning of these networks within the HFHI network and make recommendations for an effective advocacy platform.

4. Strategy Development:

• Collaborate with key stakeholders to develop a comprehensive advocacy strategy with distinct objectives, target activities, allies, deliverables, and indicators.
• Create a three-year implementation plan and cost estimate for the advocacy efforts.

5. Engagement with Stakeholders:

• Collaborate with regional stakeholders to identify champions/supporters from various constituencies (political leaders, civil society, researchers, social media influencers, and media) who can mobilize support for access to good and affordable housing.

6. Validation and Finalization:

• Present draft advocacy strategy at a validation meeting, incorporating feedback received.
• Finalize the advocacy strategy and present it to relevant policymakers, regional CSOs, and entities such as the Africa Union, Economic Commission for Africa, and Africa Development Bank.

Key deliverables/Output and deadline

During the duration of this consultancy, the following deliverables are expected.

1. Inception report outlining the tasks, methodology of execution, a work plan guiding the process, and a schedule for stakeholder engagement.
2. Submission of draft 2 advocacy strategy
3. PPT on draft 1 of Advocacy strategy to be presented to Habitat for Humanity entities.
4. Report/ Data on potential champions for the Africa region, with recommendations on their roles, operations, and involvement.
5. A final clean copy of the advocacy strategy (e-copy and hard copy) in English, including 3-year implementation plan.

Expected Profile of the consultant (s)/ Firm

1. A graduate degree in the social sciences, politics, or Urban development and housing, land administration, and tenure security
2. Be familiar with regional processes and policy frameworks that address climate resilience, tenure security, housing and water and sanitation processes.
3. Minimum of seven years of experience working on land, shelter, and human settlements in Africa, including the development of advocacy strategies.
4. Prior experience in strategic planning, which includes the development of advocacy strategies.
5. Knowledge of key actors and stakeholders involved in land administration, housing, and human settlement in Africa.

Evaluation Process

1. Qualifications:

Graduate degree in social sciences, politics, urban development, housing, land administration, or tenure security. Familiarity with regional processes and policy frameworks related to climate resilience, tenure security, housing, and water and sanitation.

2. Experience:

Minimum of seven years of experience working on land, shelter, and human settlements in Africa, including advocacy strategy development.

Prior experience in strategic planning and advocacy strategy development.

3. Knowledge:

Understanding and experience in developing regional advocacy strategy of key actors and stakeholders involved in land administration, housing, and human settlement in Africa.

4. Application Materials:

Submission of a motivation letter, technical proposal outlining approach to the review of existing housing and human settlement networks, and the development of the advocacy strategy. Financial proposal detailing consultancy fees.

Payment of fees (Daily/ Monthly/ Phased)

The total duration of the Consultancy is 30 working days over the course of one month. The amount will be subject to a 5 percent withholding tax in accordance with the Kenyan government’s TAX regulations.

1. Initial tranche: 40% will be paid upon submission of the Inception report, which includes a description of the project’s activities, proposed methodology, timeline, and delivery dates. The inception report should also include the advocacy strategy’s outline – Zero draft advocacy and communication strategy for feedback and comments – PPT on draft 1 of Advocacy strategy to be presented at the validation workshop.
2. Second and Final Tranche: Sixty percent (60%) will be paid upon submission of – Submission of draft two (2) advocacies (with inputs from the validation meeting incorporated) for final feedback, comment, and response. – A final, error-free copy of the advocacy strategy (electronic and hard copy) in English, along with a three-year implementation plan. – Workshop Report on Validation of Advocacy Strategy.