National Consultant to update the 2019 CSO Mapping matrix

Background

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) offer numerous advantages that contribute to the betterment of society. These organizations play a pivotal role in promoting social welfare, fostering community development, and advocating for the rights and interests of citizens. By engaging in various activities and initiatives, CSOs strive to create a positive impact on individuals, communities, and the overall well-being of society.

One of the key benefits of CSOs is their ability to address societal issues that may otherwise be overlooked or neglected. These organizations act as a voice for marginalized groups, advocating for their rights and ensuring their concerns are heard. Through their efforts, CSOs help to bridge the gap between citizens and policymakers, facilitating dialogue and influencing decision-making processes. This active involvement in shaping public policies and promoting social justice is crucial for a fair and inclusive society.

Moreover, CSOs play a vital role in community development. They initiate and implement projects that aim to improve the quality of life for individuals residing in specific areas. These projects may include educational programs, healthcare initiatives, environmental conservation efforts, and economic empowerment activities. By focusing on the needs of local communities, CSOs contribute to the sustainable development and overall progress of society.

CSOs also serve as a platform for citizen engagement and participation. They provide opportunities for individuals to actively contribute to social causes and make a difference in their communities. Through volunteering, fundraising, and advocacy campaigns, CSOs encourage citizens to become agents of change. This active involvement fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility among individuals, empowering them to take an active role in shaping their society.

In addition to their direct impact on society, CSOs also contribute to the overall democratic process. By promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance, these organizations help to strengthen democratic institutions. They act as watchdogs, monitoring the actions of  

governments and holding them accountable for their decisions. This oversight ensures that power is not concentrated in the hands of a few, but rather distributed among the people.

In the Ethiopian context, since the reform in 2019 the rights of CSO has been restricted. In 2018, the Ministry of Justice conducted a study on structural reform, focusing specifically on the management of charitable organizations and associations. As a result of this study, a groundbreaking proposal emerged – the creation of a separate implementing agency to handle these entities. This proposal gained widespread support from lawmakers, leading to the issuance of Proclamation Number 621/2019. This proclamation introduced a new mandate and established the “Charities and Civil Societies Agency” as an independent body responsible for the oversight and regulation of these organizations.

After the reform of the Charities and Civil Societies Agency, numerous Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have been registered at both the federal and regional levels to provide support in various thematic areas. Recognizing the favorable conditions for CSOs, UN Women has taken the initiative to facilitate the development of a CSO mapping in 2019. This mapping serves as a comprehensive directory, encompassing the names of all CSOs operating in Ethiopia, along with their respective thematic focuses, operating regions, and addresses. The CSO mapping holds great significance for all partners involved in the development sector, as it enables them to identify which organizations are active in specific regions and the thematic areas.

Objective

The primary objective of the CSO mapping is to create a comprehensive database of all CSOs, consortiums, networks and associations operating within the country. This database will include information such as the organization’s name, mission, thematic focus, geographical coverage, type of services, systems, and physical address and executive body and contact information. . By compiling these  data and information, it is possible to  have a bigger  picture of the CSO sector in the country and identify areas of collaboration. Doing so will allow to build synergy and avoid duplication.

Duties and Responsibilities

The CSO mapping exercise will be conducted through a combination of desk research, and fieldwork. Initially, the consultant will gather information from existing databases, reports, and directories to identify a preliminary list of CSOs in Ethiopia  This will inform the  fieldwork, where the consultant will engage directly with CSOs to undertake in depth interviews and Focus group discussions to generate gather additional information.

To this effect, the national consultant will have the following main tasks and responsibilities.

• Identify Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) operating  at the Federal and Regional levels. Evaluate their status based on their thematic focus, geographical coverage, available human and financial resources, available systems, executive body, physical address, and challenge they face.
• Identify bottle necks for CSOs to register  and/or re-register . Classify these CSOs according to their thematic/focus area and provide a compiled list including their physical addresses, thematic areas, geographic coverage, and any changes in their executive bodies.
• Identify and gather data on Networks, Associations, and Consortiums and the type of services they provide to their members and the broader CSOs Collect information regarding their physical addresses, thematic areas, geographic coverage, and executive body rotation.
• Strengthen the capacity of  IT personnel and build system to ensure the availability of up to date, quality, reliable and comparable, data and information about CSO sector. deliverable
• Updated CSO-Matrix containing physical address, thematic area, systems of operation, geographic coverage, and rotation/change of executive bodies, contact person/s existing/active/functional Networks, Associations and Consortiums of existing CSOs and newly registered and/or re-registered CSOs.

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Leading by Example
• Strong IT and web based management skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• MA in Social Science, Gender, Sociology and Public Administration and related fields

Experience

• 5 years and above in undertaking assessment, data collection and research works.
• Experience working with civil society organisations is an asset

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English is required
• Knowledge of the other UN official working language is an asset.

Application:

• All applications must include (as an attachment) a completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from .