Consultant - Reviewing the Somaliland National Policy on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Developing a Policy Brief

Consultant - Reviewing the Somaliland National Policy on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Developing a Policy Brief

Position: Consultant - Reviewing the Somaliland National Policy on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Developing a Policy Brief

Reports to: Somaliland and Somalia Region Coordinator

Location of Assignment: Hargeisa, Somaliland.

Duration: 10 days

Organization Background:

The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) is a civil society coalition comprising grassroots women’s rights organizations from Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Somaliland, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Uganda. Established in 1995, SIHA aims to strengthen the capacity of women’s rights organizations in the Horn of Africa, contributing to the empowerment of women and advocating for effective change. More information about SIHA is available at www.sihanet.org

Justification and Objectives:

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) remains one of the most pervasive and harmful traditional practices affecting women and girls in Somaliland, with prevalence rates estimated at 98% among women aged 15–49. Despite decades of advocacy, grassroots mobilization, and policy dialogue, the practice remains rooted in cultural, social, and religious narratives. In September 2024, the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, and Family launched the National Policy for the Elimination of FGM, heralded as a milestone in the fight against the practice.

Civil society organizations, particularly women-led Organizations have consistently pushed for a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of FGM. These groups have criticized partial bans, including the 2018 fatwa prohibiting only the most extreme forms of cutting, for legitimizing less severe but still harmful practices. Their advocacy stresses that any form of FGM constitutes a violation of bodily autonomy, human rights, and health standards. While the policy incorporates progressive human rights language and community engagement strategies, its lack of binding legal measures risks rendering it more symbolic than transformative, especially in a context where religious narratives can be used to justify its selective application.

Against this backdrop, SIHA, in collaboration with GIZ and the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, and Family, will convene a high-level consultative meeting as part of the “Safer Communities: Enhancing SGBV Prevention and Response in Sudan, Somaliland, and Somalia” project. This meeting will bring together women’s rights organizations, grassroots activists, government stakeholders, and development partners to critically assess the current FGM elimination policy, identify gaps, and develop actionable recommendations. The consultant engaged for this assignment will facilitate this consultation, conduct a comprehensive policy review, and produce a concise, evidence-based policy brief. This work aims to strengthen advocacy, close legislative and enforcement gaps, and align Somaliland’s anti-FGM framework with international and regional human rights obligations.

Objectives of the Consultative Meeting and Policy Brief Development:

The consultative meeting aims to provide a collaborative platform for key stakeholders, including women’s rights organizations, grassroots activists, religious leaders, government representatives, and development partners, to critically examine the Somaliland National Policy for the Elimination of FGM. The discussion will focus on identifying policy strengths, gaps, and inconsistencies, with particular attention to legal enforceability, alignment with human rights standards, and the treatment of all forms of FGM. The meeting will also seek to generate consensus on priority actions and strategies for strengthening the policy framework to ensure comprehensive protection for women and girls. Following the consultation, the consultant will review the existing policy in depth and synthesize stakeholder inputs into a clear, evidence-based policy brief. The policy brief will highlight key findings from the review, outline practical recommendations for policy improvement, and propose strategies for advocacy and implementation. Its purpose is to equip decision-makers, civil society actors, and development partners with an actionable tool to advance a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of FGM in Somaliland.

Tasks:

• Day 1: Prepare the agenda, facilitation guide, and presentation materials for the consultative meeting.
• Day 2: Facilitate the consultative meeting with stakeholders, ensuring inclusive participation and effective documentation of discussions and recommendations.
• Days 3–6: Conduct a comprehensive review and analysis of the Somaliland National Policy for the Elimination of FGM, assessing its strengths, gaps, legal enforceability, and alignment with human rights frameworks.
• Days 7–10: Draft and finalize an evidence-based policy brief incorporating policy analysis, stakeholder inputs, and actionable recommendations for strengthening the FGM elimination framework.

Deliverables:

• Consultative Meeting Agenda and Facilitation Materials: A finalized meeting agenda, facilitation guide, and presentation slides prepared in advance to guide discussions and ensure productive stakeholder engagement.
• Meeting Report: A concise report summarizing the consultative meeting’s proceedings, key discussion points, stakeholder inputs, and agreed-upon recommendations.
• Policy Brief: An evidence-based, action-oriented policy brief analyzing the Somaliland National Policy for the Elimination of FGM, highlighting gaps and strengths, and providing concrete recommendations for policy improvement and advocacy.

Duration of Work: This assignment will run for 10 days

Required Competencies

• A qualified lawyer or law firm with a minimum of five (5) years of proven experience in legal analysis, policy review, and legislative drafting, preferably in the areas of human rights, gender equality, and protection frameworks.
• Demonstrated expertise in international and regional human rights instruments, particularly those relating to the elimination of harmful traditional practices, including FGM/C.
• Strong understanding of Somaliland’s legal and policy environment, including customary, statutory, and religious legal frameworks.
• Experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder consultations and engaging with government institutions, civil society organizations, and development partners.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills, with the ability to produce concise and actionable policy briefs.
• Proven ability to deliver high-quality outputs within tight deadlines.

How to apply

Interested individual consultants or consultancy firms based in Hargeisa, Somaliland should submit their application packet by the close of business on Tuesday, 9 September 2025 at 5pm (EAT) to this link: https://airtable.com/app7ZrFwGEjSFg6y3/shrbraAPGJEwGLOVy

Shortlisting will be done on a rolling basis and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you don't hear from us 15 days from when the advert closes, kindly know that your application was not considered.