Call for Consultant: Join CARD’s Role in Monitoring and Advocating for Inclusivity and Transparency of the Ethiopian National Dialogue

Background

The Center for Advancement of Rights and Democracy (CARD) is a board-led, for-not-profit organization registered in Ethiopia under Civil Societies Law 1113/2019 with registry number 4307. CARD acquired its legal personality on July 24, 2019.

​CARD aspires to see an Ethiopia where a democratic culture flourishes based on human rights values and has been working with a mission to empower citizens and groups of citizens to ensure their ability to promote and defend human rights and build democratic governance in Ethiopia. CARD is an organization that follows a rights-centered approach to help the democratization process in Ethiopia. Currently, CARD implements several projects under four major thematic program areas: civic engagement, media space advancement, governance and democratization, and digital rights.

The Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission (ENDC) has been collecting agenda and is expected to soon announce the selected agenda and commence  the national conference. CARD has been following up the developments in the process for the national dialogue. The National Dialogue, as defined by law, is intended to address national contentious issues in Ethiopia through participatory dialogue.  Therefore, it is crucial to renew social and political cohesion and establish sustainable peace  by alleviating the challenges that grappled with longstanding political, ethnic, and social divisions. CARD, as a human rights organization, working to promote democratic culture and believes the transparent and all inclusive dialogue process is very essential to etermine a legitimate outcome. Previously, in collaboration with the Ethiopian Human Rights Defenders (EHRDC) and Civil Rights Defenders (CRD), CARD has developed a guideline on human rights organizations' participation in the national dialogue process. 

Currently, CARD is planning to monitor, document, and report, as well as advocate for the inclusion and transparency of the national dialogue process.

Objective

The main objective of this project is to monitor, document, and report as well as advocate for inclusivity and transparency of the process of national dialogue in Ethiopia.

The main activities that are included in this project are:

• To study that summarizes the process of the national dialogue’s agenda introduction and preparation phase in light of inclusivity and transparency of the process.
• To continuously monitor, document, and report the process of the national dialogue to the public.
• Advocate for inclusion of women, persons with disabilities, other marginalized groups, relevant stakeholders in the process of the national dialogue.
• Advocate for the transparency of the national dialogue process to the public.

Deliverables

1. Overview of the National Dialogue Preparation Phase:

Produce a comprehensive overview detailing the preparation phase of the national dialogue, with a specific focus on the introduction of the commission by law. This will include an in-depth analysis of the legal framework, organizational structure, and procedural guidelines for the national dialogue.

 2. Quarterly Report on Monitoring of the National Dialogue Process:

Develop quarterly reports that monitor and evaluate the progress of the national dialogue process. These reports should include detailed assessments of key milestones, challenges encountered, and recommendations for improvements.

3. Petitioning the ENDC for Inclusivity and Transparency through Change.org:

Create and manage a professional and impactful petitioning aimed at advocating for inclusivity and transparency within the ENDC. This should involve strategic planning, outreach efforts, and ongoing engagement with relevant stakeholders.

Roles and Responsibilities

The consultant will be responsible for the preparation of:

1. An overview of the national dialogue preparation phase, including the introduction of the Commission by law (25 pages of report).
2. A quarterly report of monitoring of the national dialogue process (4 reports, 25 pages each).
3. Petitioning the ENDC for inclusivity and transparency 

 Qualifications

The ideal consultant should possess:

• proven experience in legal and policy analysis, with a focus on national dialogue and conflict resolution processes.
• Demonstrated expertise in monitoring and documentation, with a track record of producing high-quality reports.
• Demonstrable experience in online advocacy tools and strategies. 
• Familiarity with relevant legislative frameworks and international standards related to dialogue processes and inclusivity.

Timeline For The Deliverables

The consultancy is expected to be completed within ten months after signing of contracts with clear milestones and deadlines for each deliverable.

Evaluation Criteria

Narrative proposals will be evaluated based on the consultant's qualifications, relevant experience, proposed methodology, and budget.

 Submission of Proposals

Interested consultants are invited to submit their detailed technical and financial proposals, including a cover letter, CV, and proposed methodology to apply@cardeth.org 

Note: The Terms of Reference are subject to negotiation and amendment based on discussions with the selected consultant.