TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR FINAL PROJECT EVALUATION:

“Promoting the Rights of Women Affected and Infected by HIV and AIDS”

1. The Implementing Organisations

(a) FIDA-Ghana has been providing legal services to women in Ghana for over 30 years. In 1974 FIDA established the first free Legal Aid Service in the country, extending vital legal services to women whose recognition in Ghanaian law would otherwise be severely restricted. Today, FIDA’s community-based volunteers (paralegals) continue to ensure that rural women have access to services such as counselling, mediation and representation in court. FIDA Ghana’s research and advocacy have also been highly influential, particularly on HIV and AIDS and violence against women. Womankind and FIDA collaborate on improving women’s access to justice.

(b) Womankind Worldwide (WK) is an international women’s rights charity working to help women transform their lives in Africa, Asia and Latin America. WK partner’s with women’s rights organisations who are tackling the day to day issues that affect women’s lives and who are creating impact.

2. Background

In Ghana women are disproportionately affected by HIV and AIDS, and their needs in relation to HIV prevention are not sufficiently met at the national or local level. Although Ghana is a signatory of a number of regional and international treaties, conventions, and declarations on HIV and AIDS, and has a national HIV and AIDS policy, the links between VAW, HIV and AIDS are not being made by government programmes and policies; Particularly with regard to the patriarchal attitudes that fuel the HIV epidemic and increase women’s susceptibility to infection. FIDA-Ghana carried out a research highlighting the legal challenges facing women living with HIV and AIDS. FIDA’s experience of the women they work with, as well as respondents from the research, articulated that they were not able to exercise their claim making capacities in relation to challenges that confronts them regarding property and maintenance of themselves and their children. The research evidenced the impact of stigmatisation of People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHAs) to the extent that many women and girls neglected their reproductive health needs, failed to access information on HIV and AIDS and postponed their treatment for fear of abuse and rejection by their families and communities. Some positive women working as food vendors lost clients and their business when their HIV status became public. Culturally acceptable patriarchal practices such as permitting men to have multiple partners, sex on demand, polygamy and widow inheritance as well as often subjecting women to physical violence, all contribute to increasing girls and women’s susceptibility to HIV infection and accelerating the spread of HIV. A large number of women infected and affected with HIV and AIDS have no access to justice Those that can access their rights to justice are often reluctant to do so as the environment is not conducive for mediating or talking about sensitive issues. Women who persevere end up either being subjected to this inhospitable situation or are referred to other state institutions that also may not have the capacity to effectively respond to their needs. Faced with these frustrations, women who make attempts to seek justice give up and undergo secondary trauma. The project under review sought to address these issues by using a number of approaches, particularly the training of community men and women to become paralegals to assist women affected by or infected with HIV and/or AIDS to claim their rights.

3. Project Aim

The aim of the 3 year project was to contribute to the effective promotion and protection of the human rights of women infected or affected by HIV or AIDS, in 3 regions of Ghana –Volta, Eastern and Brong Ahafo .

Research conducted by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), on the impact that HIV and AIDS has on women accessing their legal rights, highlighted serious gaps that need to be addressed in order to support women affected or infected by HIV or AIDS, and to help prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS.

In particular it showed that women are prevented from accessing appropriate support and services due: • to stigma and discrimination,

• fear of disclosure of their status,

• lack of information about available appropriate services

• inadequate resources

• negative socio–cultural practices inherent in customary law

This project was conceptualised from these findings and from the lessons learnt from a one year pilot project to support women affected and infected by HIV and AIDS. This second phase was to build on this and was intended to sustain work in existing communities and consolidate gains, as well as expand to adjoining districts and communities. To improve the rights of women infected or affected by HIV or AIDS the following strategies were implemented:

a) training paralegals in 3 communities to provide information and support to women infected or affected by HIV or AIDS on their legal rights;

b) raising awareness with the general public on these legal rights through outreach work, radio programmes and information dissemination; and

c) advocacy work with legal institutions and government agencies to improve existing laws, programmes and policies to protect women living with HIV or AIDS.

4. Specific Project Objectives:

Outcome 1:  Improved health and well-being of women infected or affected by HIV and AIDS through access to justice and realisation of their rights.

Outcome 2:  Improved environment (civil and customary) in which women affected or infected by HIV and AIDS can exercise their rights and claim their entitlements.

Outcome 3: Improved policies and practices of public officials, traditional leaders and the State to address women affected or infected by HIV and AIDS’s needs and rights.

5. Scope of work

Purpose and Objectives of Evaluation:

• To provide information and evidence on progress made towards achieving aims, and outcomes as set out in the in the project proposal.

• To provide a clear overview of the effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, of the project and the impact of the work.

6. The final evaluation is expected to cover the following aspects:

i. Quality and Relevance of Design

Assess whether the project design was appropriate and relevant. This assessment shall take into consideration that the project context, threats, and opportunities may have changed during the course of the project. Assess what adjustments have been made and what other adjustments may be necessary. In particular:

• To what extent does the project respond to priority issues? • What is the value of the intervention in relation to national priorities, etc.?

• Do stakeholders care about the project and believe it brings change?

ii. Effectiveness

Assess the major achievements of the project in relation to its stated aim and intended outcomes.

• Assess what has been achieved by the project thus far, including qualitative evidence (e.g. opinions on the project’s effectiveness based on impressions and interviews with target groups, partners, government, etc.) • How many women and girls has the project benefitted (direct and indirect) and how?

• Describe any major weaknesses and shortcomings of the project, explaining why they have occurred and what can be done to ensure they are avoided in the future.

iii. Efficiency of Implementation

Assess to what extent resources are being used economically to deliver the project are plans being used, implemented and adapted as necessary?

For example:

• Is the overall project action plan used and up to date and the activities in the work plan being delivered?

• Is financial spending in line with plans?

• Is monitoring data being collected as planned, stored, and used to inform future plans? Assess other programme management factors important for delivery, including:

• Capacity gaps (e.g. in the project team, other internal functions such as HR or Finance, or external organizations as appropriate).

• Working relationships with partners and stakeholders.

iv. Impact

• The evaluator will assess to what extent the project has achieved its goals and made a difference and how the targeted population is being affected.

• The evaluator will describe the visible and potential changes to the project plan, taking into account unforeseen impacts, both positive and negative.

v. Potential for sustainability, replication and magnification

The evaluator is expected to assess the key factors affecting sustainability of the project, such as:

• What is the social and political environment/ acceptance of the project?

• Is/will the project contribute to lasting benefits?

• How viable are the role and sustainability of the paralegals in the long term?

• Is there evidence of organisations/partners/communities that have copied, upscaled or replicated project activities beyond the immediate project area? Is such replication or magnification likely?

vi. Partnership: Details of the partnership between the 2 partners

• How effective is the partnership? In what way has the relationship contributed to the achievement of the project outcomes so far?

• In what way has the WK organisationally and programmatically supported FIDA? Is the support relevant? • What has worked well and what has not?

• What aspects of the partnership can be strengthened or amended for the remainder of the project grant?

vii. Provide lessons learnt and recommendations on ways forward

• Share key lessons learned

• Make recommendations on the key strategic options for the future of the project (i.e. exit strategy, scale down, replication, scale-up, continuation, major modifications to strategy).

7. Data Collection Method

The consultant will employ both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. They will use variety of data collection tools including, but not limited to participatory methodologies, interviews, focus groups, and field observations among others. And a collection of tools they perceive as being appropriate for capturing and analyzing the information required. Where appropriate, the consultant will also suggest an appropriate sample, which will be both cost effective and provide significant results.

8. Profile of the Consultant

We are seeking an evaluator who can provide evidence of some or all of the following skills and expertise:Proven knowledge and analytical capacity in relation to women’s human rights and gender equality as well as international development issues.

• Specific knowledge of women’s human rights and gender equality issues in particular addressing violence against women

• Demonstrable experience in research and data collection (both quantative and qualitative).

• Ability and/or experience to analyse lobbying activities and work towards women’s empowerment and gender equality.

• Excellent inter-personal and communication skills.

• Experience of working with women and grassroots organisations

• Experience in evaluating projects in rural and urban areas, related to the field of lobbying and gender empowerment

• Experience of participatory research methodologies

• Demonstrated knowledge of gender and women’s rights issues in Ghana and the impact of the current political and socio-economic situation on these

• Ability to listen and communicate well

• Capacity to gather information

9. Evaluation Outputs and Deliverables

The Evaluation Team Leader is expected to provide the following deliverables:

• Methodology, Work plan and budget • List of people and institutions consulted/interviewed.

• A comprehensive Evaluation Report with practical recommendations;

• Presentation at learning & sharing meeting with staff of Ghana Aids Commission & gender groups working with Women Living with HIV and Aids.

10. Content of Report

The evaluator is expected to prepare the final evaluation report, which should include the following:

1 Introduction

• Title of project

• Aim of the project

• Date of evaluation and names of evaluator(s)

• Methodology of the evaluation

2 Executive summary

• Brief description of project, including objectives and strategies proposed to achieve them.

• Background to the evaluation (who carried it out and summary of Terms of Reference)

• Conclusions and general evaluation (highly successful/ successful / partially successful / unsuccessful)

• Summary of recommendations

3 Report (preferably no more than 30 pages) – addressing all the points included in point 6 of the Terms of Reference

4 Appendices

• Terms of Reference

• Comments and observations for partner not contained in main body of report.

• List of interviewees

• List of documents consulted

• Statistics and case studies

• Formats used (questionnaires etc.)

11. Timeline for implementing the evaluation assignment

The review will be carried out for twenty person days from July to August 2013. Exact dates will be agreed with the consultant before commencement of the assignment. The final review report should be submitted by the third week of August 2013.

12. Application Process

• Interested applicants should send their expression of interest to fidaghana@africaonline.com.gh and info@fidaghana.org by Friday 21st June 2013.

• The successful applicant will be notified by 5th July 2013

Female Executives.

THEME: “WOMEN VOICES BEYOND THE WORKSPACE”

This year’s conference focuses on elimination and prevention of all

forms of violence against women and girls.

At the 57^th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)

which took place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York

early this year elimination and prevention of violence and closing the

gender gap was clear-cut.

Be part of the prospect of seeing our society free from any form of

violence  !!!!!!  

Invite a friend

Register

2^nd July – 30^th September 2013

To attend the conference you must be a

female lawyer, female executive or female

law student.

Regular fee: GH ¢ 30.00 from 2^nd July – 30^th

August 2013

Late fee: GH ¢ 50.00 from 2^nd September – 7^th

October 2013

Onsite fee: GH ¢ 50.00

For enquiries call 0302-542593/020-7685685 to talk to

Noelle or Benedicta, you may also email us to

noelle@fidaghana.org or info@fidaghana.org  please.

ON THE MADINA ESTATE ROAD

FIDA-Ghana is pleased to inform the general public  that the office has relocated from the 4^th Crescent to its new premises on the Madina Estates Road close to the Goil Filling Station after the Action Progressive School.

We kindly request that  all correspondencesare forwarded to our new office or alternatively via e-mail.  We can also be contacted on these numbers: 020-7685-685 and 0302 542-593.

 Please locate us on the Madina Estates Road after the Action Progressive School, turn right after the Goil Filling Station and FIDA is adjacent to Agartha’s restaurant.

Thank You

We note that your victory slightly changes the scope of political participation at the national level. First, you have demonstrated to Ghanaians and the world that it is possible to increase the number of females in the legislature. Second, you have shown that politics is gradually losing its title as a ‘man’s game’. Third, you are role models for women and girls who aspire to be in leadership positions.

While we celebrate your victory, we also note that you are only 10.5% of a 275 Parliament. Your voices will be drowned if you don’t shout loud enough! The issues you are passionate about may not be discussed if you don’t make those issues central to discussions! You may not be called by the Speaker if you don’t stand out among your peers, with your submissions on issues. There may be times that you may be tempted to ignore the ‘female factor’ for your party’s interest. And there may be times that you will be ostracised because there are simply too many men you must negotiate with.

But in all of the seemingly challenging times ahead of your four-year tenure, we urge you to remember the following Don’ts:

• Do not forget that you are representing 51.4% of the population
• Do not ignore your biggest constituency – women
• Do not become ‘untouchable and un-approachable’ because this is the one criticism citizens level against elected representatives
• Do not ignore the women’s rights organisations, even if all we can offer are capacity building and advocacy
•  Do not lose those female attributes which society values
•  Do not ignore your constituents for they will ‘show you’ at the next elections
• Watch your language – as Publius said “I have never regretted my silence as much as I have regretted my words”
• Do not be intimidated by the men because some may make reference to your gender roles forgetting that you are peers.

And here are a few Dos:

• Demonstrate your commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment by ensuring all discussions in Parliament are from these perspectives
• Request information from women’s rights organisations to support your work
• Befriend the media – it is the overt medium through which your constituents and the people of Ghana judge your performance
• Be issues- based and objective as much as you can
• Be bold, be assertive, be confident
• Be different, bringing panache to your representation in terms of your language and your demeanour.

Signed: Frank Wilson Bodza

Programme Manager for Governance (WiLDAF Ghana)

020 9211 931 / 0302 768 349

On behalf of:  WiLDAF Ghana, FIDA Ghana, Gender Centre, The Hunger Project

Dated: 10^th December, 2012

FIDA-Ghana is appealing to the general public, individuals and corporate bodies to donate building materials and furnishing materials in cash or kind to enable us provide permanent premises for the vulnerable women and children to access free legal aid services.

See pictures of the building  and please find below the items needed: poly tanks, paint, floor tiles, bathroom tiles, cement, stones, sand, air-condition, sliding windows & doors, burglar proof, tile cement, 3 water closets, 3 sinks, kitchen cabinet, microwave, plasma TV and kitchen sink. For donation please contact Sammy on 0244 – 117829/ 020-7727713 or 020-7685685

Or Account name: FIDA-Ghana

Account no: 0010134402595501

Branch: ECOBANK Ridge branch.

“Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hands of the wicked”. Amen Psalm 82: 3-4

FIDA -GHANA ONGOING OFFICE BUILDING

FIDA -GHANA ONGOING OFFICE BUILDING AT OGBOJO -MADINA

FIDA -GHANA ONGOING OFFICE BUILDING AT OGBOJO – MADINA

FIDA -GHANA ONGOING OFFICE BUILDING AT OGBOJO -MADINA

will be held on 10th October 2013.  Registration for the conference is GH ¢ 50.00. Early registration before

June2013 is GH¢30.00. All female lawyers are entreated to be part of the FEMALE LAWYERS

CONFERENCE for 2013.

Thank You

 The Project Co-ordinator of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Ghana, Miss Benedicta Laryea, has revealed that under the law of Mohammendans or Islamic marriage in Ghana if a marriage is not registered within one week, then the marriage would be declared null and void.

According to her, many Islamic marriages are null and void because the couples failed to register the marriage within the stipulated time.

Miss Laryea was presenting a paper on the topic: Laws on Marriage in Ghana at Abesim near Sunyani at day’s training workshop for 30 selected women leaders from Sunyani West District and Sunyani Municipality in the Brong-Ahafo region.

The event was organized by International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Ghana in collaboration with Womankind UK.

The workshops was aimed at increasing the knowledge of women on national and international laws and conventions that promotes and protects the human and sexual reproductive health and rights of women and young people.

It further aimed at equipping the participants on the concept of gender and effect of gender based violence on women, men and children and how to seek redress using the domestic violence law.

Miss Laryea continued that a situation whereby the marriage cannot be registered within the stipulated time for some reasons, then either the bride’s or bridegroom’s wali may make an application, supported by an affidavit stating the reason for the delay or non-attendance to the High Court to register the marriage and a Judge may then authorize in writing to the District Registrar to register the marriage.

Touching on ordinance or Statutory marriages, she said it is required by law that a marriage under ordinance can only be completed and valid if the officiating minister is licensed or authorized to perform an ordinance marriage.

According to her, in Ghana, many ordinance marriages are null and void because the officiating officers are not licensed to perform ordinance marriage and they were also performed in churches or premises that are not licensed for that purposes.

She mentioned places such Hotels, Beeches and gardens and some church auditoriums that have not be licensed for such purposes, but was quick to add that marriages in such places are only valid if they were performed by Special Licensed Officials.

The Project Co-ordinator reminded parents that in Ghana, the minimum age for all forms of marriage is eighteen years whether male or female and cautioned those who force their children special the girl child to get marriage below the age of 18 violated the law and is liable for prosecution.

The Resource Mobilization Manager of FIDA Ghana, Susan Aryeetey, who treated a topic on Gender Inequalities and HIV, emphasized the need for the promotion of girl child education to help support economic empowerment among women. This, she said would go a long way to reduce economic abuse against women.

Mrs Aryeetey noted that fear of violence can prevent women from learning and sharing their HIV status and accessing treatment and therefore called on the general public to stop violence against people living with HIV and AIDS.

By Pat Aboagyewaa

Modern Ghana

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORM

FIDA GHANA

Please complete and return by e-mail

Please note that the name and title you give here will be printed on your badge and the participants’ list.

Date:                12^th October 2012

Venue:             KAMA Conference Centre

1. Participants information

Family name:________________________________________________________________

Title:_______ £ Prof. £ Dr. £ other:_________________________£ Mr. £ Ms. £ Mrs.

First name:__________________________________________________________________

Organisation:________________________________________________________________

Address:______________________________________________________________________

City:____________________________________Country:_____________________________

Telephone:______________________________E-mail:_____________________________________

2. Conference Fee

Conference fees include admission to conference sessions, tea/coffee, lunch and registration materials.

Deadline for registration: 30^th September 2012

3. Payment

Payment information: Please pay cash or cheque to the secretariat or call Noelle on 020-7685685/0302-229283

Confirmation: Please allow 3 days for e-mailed confirmation of your registration.

Date:   _________/________/_________

REGISTER!                                REGISTER!                                 REGISTER!

AND BE PART OF THIS YEAR’S NATIONAL FEMALE LAWYERS CONFERENCE ON FRIDAY, 12TH OCTOBER, 2012.

According to them, women’s contribution to national development could not be overlooked, as they constituted about 51 per cent of the population.

The flag bearers are Dr. Papa Kwasi Nduom of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr Abu Sakara of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and Mr. Hassan Ayariga of the People’s National Convention (PNC).

They made the commitment at a platform provided for them to dialogue with women and interest groups on women’s issues in Accra yesterday.

Organised by the Women in Law and Development (WiLDAF), with support from the Gender Centre, FIDA Ghana and the Hunger Project, the second in the dialogue series for flag bearers, afforded the three aspirants the chance to outline their parties’ vision for women’s development.

The flag bearers of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) did not attend.

However, the NDC was represented by the Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC), Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, while the NPP was represented by its parliamentary aspirant for Ablekuma South, Ms Ursula Owusu.

To further show his commitment to the cause of women, Mr Ayariga said the PNC was considering the selection of a woman as running mate to its presidential candidate.

When he took his turn, Dr. Sakara said a female presidential running mate for the CPP was a definite choice.

Dr Nduom said the PPP had already demonstrated its commitment to women by selecting Ms Eva Lokko as its presidential running mate.

According to him, given the needed support and encouragement, women could become presidential aspirants and even be elected as presidents in the country.

He, however, said before that could happen, there was the need for the right environment to be created for women to contest effectively against men.

He said the PPP was nurturing that aspiration, noting that for now it was supporting women to go into the national Parliament where they could learn at first hand how the governance of the state worked.

On education, Dr Nduom maintained that it was possible for the country to run free and compulsory basic education up to the tertiary level, saying that the emphasis should rather be on the compulsory aspect, so that people would send their children and wards to school.

Emphasis should also be put on the quality of education, he said, adding that that could be achieved by complementing education with facilities such as good infrastructure, teaching and learning aid and a conducive environment.

On employment, he called on the state to be more proactive by providing the needed environment, such as using the raw materials of the country as a source of employment for the youth.

On agriculture, he called on Ghanaians to eat what they grow, saying that the state could achieve that by placing more taxes on imported agricultural produce.

On health care, Dr. Nduom said the PPP, if elected, would tackle preventable diseases such as malaria and cholera which kill mostly women and children, saying that maintaining good sanitation would be a key factor.

When asked what the PPP would do to ensure that the Property Rights of Spouses Bill (PRSB) which had been lying in Parliament since the early 1990s was passed into law, he promised that when elected President, the law would be passed in the first six months of his tenure.

Answering similar questions, Dr. Sakara said the passage of the PRSB would not help solve the problems that women had to endure during divorce or separation in marriage but that culture and tradition was the main issue that needed to be tackled and called for more education at the grass root.

He said the CPP would choose a running mate based on competence, saying that there were many competent women in the country but the problem was that the system did not work to promote women’s issues.

He said with quality education that produced competent graduates and a proportional male and female ratio, the CPP would encourage more women to take up science subjects by ensuring that girls were taken through reading, writing and Mathematics right from their formative stages.

To ensure that unemployment was reduced, the CPP, he said, would make vocational and tertiary education attractive, while the formal educational system also churned out students who were employable.

Small-scale farmers, especially women, would also be supported by creating the right market environment for their produce, he said.

On health care, he said the CPP would invest more in health care by expanding access to the service and also training more doctors and nurses for deprived areas.

Mr Ayariga said the PNC, if elected, would implement the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) by intensifying, restructuring and repackaging it to the benefit of the masses.

Additionally, he said, it would mechanise agriculture and give loans to women, while it trained graduates who had a vision of their own for them to be creative and innovative.

He, however, did not subscribe to the notion of free education, saying, instead, that a PNC government would focus on quality education.

He said when women were given the needed push, the country would be a better place for all.

Mr Ayariga pledged to pass the PRSB within the first 100 days of his government, a pronouncement which earned him laud applause from the various women’s groups and students present.

Source: Daily Graphic