About medica mondiale

medica mondiale e.V. is a non-governmental organisation based in Cologne, Germany. As a feminist women’s rights organisation medica mondiale supports women and girls in war and crisis zones throughout the world. Through own programmes and in cooperation with local women’s organisations we offer holistic support to women and girl survivors of sexualised and gender-based violence. On the political level, we pro-actively promote women’s rights, call for a rigorous punishment of crimes as well as effective protection, justice and political participation for survivors of violence. Currently medica mondiale is working in Northern Iraq/Kurdistan, in Afghanistan, in West Africa, in South-eastern Europe as well as the African Great Lakes Region.

Call for Expressions of Interest
Expert on security for women’s rights organisation in the MENA region (female)
Preliminary terms of reference (Date: 24/02/2021)

Context
Since 2015 medica mondiale works in the Autonomous Region of Kurdistan – Iraq. The pojects are usually implemented by partner organisations based in the region. medica mondiale and her partners do not only work to provide direct services to women survivors of (S)GBV, but also to achieve political and institutional change. This can bare risks in rather restrictive and patriarchal environments.

Feminist women’s organisations in the MENA region face numerous security risks due to their engagement to provide services and support to women survivors of (S)GBV. Especially, advocacy activities that aim at societal, political and institutional change may expose women’s activists to risks and in the worst-case physical harm. The risk is especially high for local activists as they do not benefit from specific security frameworks and mechanisms installed for INGOs and expats. Further, women survivors and their children who access services and take part in programs delivered by such organisations may be exposed to security risks as well.

As such, women’s rights organisations need a comprehensive security concept and policy to ensure the safety of their staff and the women benefitting from their services, without compromising their agency.
Purpose and Objectives of Assignment
The purpose of this assignment is to establish a comprehensive security concept and policy for a feminist women’s rights organisation. The consultant should understand security from a feminist perspective and take into account the risks for grass-root civil society organisations.