Dear Colleagues and Partners: I am very pleased to introduce to you this report which gives a glimpse of our engagements across the Greater Horn of Africa during 2019. In this region, the influence of women and girls, and their struggles and endeavors for equal societies are growing, while on the other hand, backlash against these struggles is becoming much more complex. In this context we, as SIHA, see ourselves as part of the women’s movement struggle and not, by any means, as spectators. We have chosen this position, with full awareness of its consequences. We understand that we have to be vigilant, strategic, and open-minded, while stressing and prioritizing our commitment to women and girls’ development. Equality and justice remain our core priorities and we continue to adopt intersectionality as an indispensable framework for our engagement. I have been with SIHA for 15 years, and for me, 2019 has marked another year of our significant growth and continuous learning, as we become more anchored in the region and more confident in our participatory working approaches that are rooted in feminism and intersectionality. Following these approaches we relied on learning from and with the women and girls’ associations, cooperatives, and the growing groups and initiatives by and for women and girls in the region to inform our agenda throughout the year. In 2019, we continued to prioritize ending violence against women and girls as a crosscutting factor in all our engagements and work across the region. We continued our work to expose the root causes of systemic and structural violence against women and girls often legitimized by laws, cultural norms, and corrupt politics. We also continued our work to enhance the capacity of local communities across the region to respond to and to push back against all forms of gendered violence. Women’s social and economic rights, and women’s access to resources and economic recognition, also continued to be a fundamental focus for SIHA while working with urban impoverished women across the region. Throughout 2019, SIHA emphasized the importance addressing the needs and priorities of migrant and IDP girls. During the year, SIHA worked to amplify their voices and enhance their agency by supporting them to counter the layers of subordination and repression they experience across the region. Our identity as a feminist institution, run and served by civil activists, remained at the forefront of our engagements and efforts throughout 2019. SIHA played an instrumental role in supporting the women’s movement in Sudan during their leadership of the December revolution. SIHA continued to support women’s rights defenders, and we led and facilitated women’s convenings across the region. As African feminist knowledge production is key to SIHA’s mission, we compiled studies, policy briefings, visual material, and carried countless media engagements throughout the year. Our team of genuine and committed members grew significantly over the year. With this growth we continue to enjoy the work and challenges while owning our vision and agenda. It is an honor, after years of struggle, to experience solidarity within a solid and committed team. In closing, I would like to stress our gratitude for the sincerity and moral commitment of our strategic partners and donors. Without their generous support and their choice to value our work, we would not be in this position, moving forward despite all the barriers. Most importantly, the resilience and the strength of SIHA is fundamentally due to the uncompromised commitments of our board and advisors, and the women and men from this region who deeply recognize, understand, and see the value of SIHA. It will always be an honor to work with all of you.
Hala Al-Karib Sincerely,
Regional Director
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
MESSAGE FROM THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR
MESSAGE FROM THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR-----------------------------------------------------------------2 INTRODUCTION------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4 ACRONYMS------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5 SIHA OVERVIEW------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6 2019 PROGRAMME INTERVENTIONS---------------------------------------------------------------------------9 STRENGTHENING WOMEN’S ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND TRANSFORMING NEGATIVE AND HARMFUL RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL DOGMA---------------------------------------12 EMPOWERING WOMEN ECONOMICALLY TOWARD REALIZATION OF ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS- --------------------------------------------------------------15 MIXED MIGRATION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THE GREATER HORN OF AFRICA------------------17 BUILDING INCLUSIVE WOMEN’S MOVEMENTS-------------------------------------------------------------19 CROSS CUTTING ISSUES-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------24 CHALLENGES- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------26 HUMAN RESOURCES & ADMINISTRATION SUMMARY----------------------------------------------------27 ORGANOGRAM-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------31 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT STATEMENT----------------------------------------------------------------------36 OUR BOARD, BOARD ADVISORY, AND PROGRAM ADVISORS-------------------------------------------37 OUR MEMBERS-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------38 DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------39 MESSAGE ON FEMINIST WELL-BEING AND COLLECTIVE CARE-----------------------------------------40
SIHA Staff & Board, 2019 Photography by SIHA Staff
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
CONTENTS
The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA Network) 2019 Annual Report provides an overview and detailed analysis of the programmes it has implemented across the Greater Horn of Africa. The report demonstrates our commitment to transparency and accountability to developing partners and stakeholders and is an important tool to raise awareness of the contributions of our work toward women’s equality in the Greater Horn of Africa. The report address’s SIHA’s work over the year through the context of our 5 strategic areas. Namely; reducing violence against women and girls, strengthening women’s access to justice and transforming negative and harmful religious and cultural dogma, empowering women economically toward realization of economic, social and cultural rights, mixed migration of women and girls from the Greater Horn of Africa, and building inclusive women’s movements. Through partnerships with women’s grassroots organizations and a team of dedicated staff, we reached 9,721 direct constituents and 3,051,279 indirect constituents. Our interventions focused on raising awareness about violence against women and girls (VAWG), community engagement and capacity building, offering support to survivors of violence, promoting access to legal systems and services, promoting women’s economic empowerment, promoting awareness of the rights of migrant communities, conducting advocacy for protection of women migrant workers and movement building and protection for human rights defenders. The report also highlights several advocacy and influencing events and initiatives that SIHA has participated in or led. The major challenges encountered during 2019 were the delays in project implementation occasioned by the Sudanese revolution which has massively obstructed SIHA’s operations in Sudan and regionally in relation to our focus to extend support to our office and to the women and girls in Sudan who were subjected to violence and serious threats at the time, lack of clear policies and procedures by states for dealing with migrant women and girls, and the existence of parallel justice systems in South Sudan which continues to negatively impact women’s access to justice in the country. Random skirmishes and attacks on civilians (especially in South Sudan and Somalia), political instability, and rampant human rights violations often affect SIHA’s operations in the different countries Going forward, SIHA calls upon all its partners, specifically women’s groups of all backgrounds in civil society, grassroots communities, government, donors and the private sector to join us on this journey as we impact our communities and make the Greater Horn of Africa a better place.
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
INTRODUCTION
CEDAW : CSOs :
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women Civil Society Organizations
FIDA Uganda :
The Uganda Association of Women Lawyers
FPC
:
Family Protection Center
GBV
:
Gender Based Violence
GSA
:
Good Samaritan Association
:
Greater Horn of Africa
:
Internally Displaced Persons
MGCSW
:
Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare
OSC
:
One Stop Center
SCN
:
Sudan Change Now
SGBV
:
Sexual and/or Gender-Based Violence
SIHA
:
Strategic Initiative for Women in the Greater Horn of Africa
:
United Nations
VAWG
:
Violence Against Women and Girls
GH0A IDPs
UN
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
ACRONYMS
Who We Are Born of the social justice movement, the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) Network is an indigenous African women’s rights organization with a soul. Our organization was created by women activists from Somaliland, Ethiopia, and Sudan in the mid-1990s. Today we continue to work as an inclusive and diverse feminist women’s rights network that holds a unique position working as a regional civil society organization in politically volatile contexts. SIHA works in a variety of cultural, political, and geographical environments in Uganda, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia, Somaliland, Sudan and South Sudan. In this part of the world, women are regularly portrayed and perceived as victims, but SIHA challenges this status quo notion. SIHA acknowledges that almost all challenges that women face are based on socially constructed norms and that these norms actively subordinate women. We work through and firmly believe in the collective power of African women. We are convinced beyond any doubt that if African women are given the space, they will drive change in this region and beyond. Defying presumptions about African women, SIHA has been carried on the shoulders of numerous African women’s rights activists and has been sustained by their relentless commitment to their cause. SIHA approaches the struggle for women’s rights in the Greater Horn of Africa as a political one, and as such, we hold our aims of fundamental political transformation at the forefront.
Our Vision
Our Aim
SIHA envisions women and girls in the GHoA with the right to live in a peaceful, just environment with the ability to exercise their equal rights as human beings.
SIHA aims to contribute to unlocking the massive potential of women’s rights movements in the GHoA, by strengthening the learning of civil society organizations to build a strong collective that advocates for systemic change. In this way, SIHA works through, and in support of broad coalitions of grassroots members to campaign and advocate for women’s rights and equality.
Our Values ►► Equality
►► Innovation
►► Critical-thinking
►► Diversity
►► Transparency
►► Collectiveness
►► Courageous
►► Diligence
►► Ethical
►► Integrity
►► Democracy
►► Solidarity
►► Humility
►► Empathy
►► Discipline
►► Resilience
►► Determination
6
►► Learning ►► Self-critical
SIHA 2019 Annual report
SIHA OVERVIEW
SIHA Office Locations
Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa
SIHA 2019 Annual report
Where We Work
SUDAN Population 44,128,6471*
Red Sea
Nil e
Number of women in parliament
SUDAN
27.65% women parliamentarians3
ERITREA
SOUTH SUDA
Khartoum
Population 11,230,2304
eN Blu ile
SUDAN
!
!
! !
8
Number of women in parliament White Nile
!
!
!
DJIBOUTI
!
!
Gulf of Aden
28.46% women parliamentarians6
!
!
!
o
SOMALIA
!
Ba
!
o
al hr
-A rab
! !
Population 15,442,9057
!
o
o
!
o
a
!
!
! !
So
ba t !
!
!
! ! ! !
Number of women in parliament
!
!
!
!
! ! ! ! !
!
!
!
SOUTH SUDAN
!
24% women representation in poli
!
! !
!
!
ETHIOPIA !
!
!
SOMALIA
!^ B ahr el J ebel
ETHIOPIA Population 115,738,79910
e hi t (W
Ni l e)
e
l
o Pa
g
Number of women in parliament
UGANDA
be r
t
2˚
La
ke
Al
38% women parliamentarians12
KENYA
A
i
Nzo
UGANDA
Winam Gulf
Lake Victoria Ka
ger a
Population 46,129,60113
32 ˚
S peke
Gu
lf
Indian Oceaon
GREATER HORN OF AFRICA MAP 1
https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/sudan-population/
SIHA Supports Women and Girls Across 5 Strategic Areas *As the Sudanese government is still in transition, there is no elected parliament currently in place.
As a proxy, this is the percentage of women that have been selected as cabinet members as of 15th October 2020. 2
https://www.statista.com/statistics/967934/total-popula-
tion-of-sudan-by-gender/#:~:text=Total%20population%20of%20Sudan%202019%2C%20 by%20gender&text=In%202019%2C%20Sudan's%20female%20popula-
tion,to%20approximately%2021.39%20million%20inhabitants. 3
Number of women in parliament
International Borderline District Borderline River Lake
5
https://www.statista.com/statistics/967974/total-population-of-south-sudan-by-gender/
6
https://www.ipu.org/parliament/SS
7
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=SO
8
07%20million%20inhabitants.
11
13
https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/uganda-population/
14
https://www.statista.com/statistics/967968/total-popula-
tion-of-uganda-by-gender/#:~:text=In%202019%2C%20Uganda's%20female%20populatio
9
https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/south-sudan-population/
http://www.ipsnews.net/2020/04/genderequal-ethiopian-parli ament-can-improve-l ives-wom
en/
on,to%20approximately%207.7%20million%20inhabitants.
n,to%20approximately%2021.81%20million%20inhabitants.
https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/ethiopia-population/
1.
Reducing Violence Against Women and Girls
2.
Strengthening Women’s Access to Justice and Transforming Negative and Harmful Religious and Cultural Dogma.
3.
Empowering Women Economically Toward Realization of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR)
4.
Mixed Migration of Women and Girls in the Greater Horn of Africa
5.
Building Inclusive Women’s Movements
4
2019 Program Interventions
https://www.statista.com/statistics/967927/total-popula-
10
ender&text=In%202019%2C%20Ethiopia's%20female%20population,to%20approximately%205 12
tion-of-somalia-by-gender/#:~:text=In%202019%2C%20Somalia's%20female%20populati
https://www.ipu.org/parliament/SD
34.86% women parliamentarians15
15
https://www.statista.com/statistics/967834/total-popula-
https://www.ipu.org/parliament/UG
tion-of-ethiopia-by-gender/#:~:text=Total%20population%20of%20Ethiopia%202019%2C%20by%20g
20%
30%
10% 20%
7
20%
Our strategic approaches outline how we use our unique position, relationships and lessons learned to maximize the impact of our work. These approaches are based on an analysis of our strengths and areas for improvement, alongside the contextual opportunities and constraints.
Knowledge and Advocacy Institution for Gender Equality and Women’s Rights in the Horn of Africa
Supporting Women Human Rights Defenders in the GHoA ►► Skills Development
►► Research
►► Protection Mechanisms for Human Rights Defenders
►► Advocacy and Dissemination of Advocacy Products
►► Institutional Collaboration
►► Collaboration with Human Rights Advocates
►► Create Platforms for Knowledge Sharing
►► Needs Assessment of Grassroots Women & SIHA Members
►► Documenting Women Rights Issues
Working with Female and Male Youth for Gender Equality
►► Engagement with Regional Platforms
Membership Platform for Exchanging Experiences and Lessons Learned
►► Investing in Youth ►► Dialogue with Youth
►► Communication among SIHA members
►► Support for Marginalized Youth
►► Engagement with Universities
Negotiating with Men
►► Capacity Building of Members
►► Use of Participatory Approaches
►► Joint Implementation of Projects
►► Challenging Norms that Enforce Patriarchy
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
Strategic Approaches
Reducing Violence Against Women and Girls in the Greater Horn of Africa Reducing VAWG is a priority for SIHA because it is among the most widespread human rights violations in the Greater Horn of Africa. VAWG is rooted in social norms that lead to gender-based inequalities and discrimination. Women living in conflict situations or IDP/refugee camps, as well as urban poor, migrant, or minority women are particularly vulnerable to VAWG. We work to end VAWG by increasing awareness about all forms of VAWG, challenging the culture of silence and impunity, and enhancing the capacity of member organizations to provide services to survivors and mobilize community engagement, including male involvement, in the fight against VAWG.
Key Highlights
Direct Constituences Reached
Outcome Reduced violence against women and girls in the Greater Horn of Africa
4655
Direct Constituences Reached
29,157
Awareness about VAWG SIHA implemented a multi-sectoral prevention and response partnership with the South Sudan Ministry for Gender, Child and Social Welfare, and the Wau Teaching Hospital that provided comprehensive GBV prevention and response services through the Family Protection Center/One Stop Center (FPC/OSC) model. Our interventions focused on achieving gender equality, eradication of violence against women and girls, promoting human rights and supporting peace building. We also encouraged the community to report cases of VAWG to the appropriate authorities. Over the year, 270 cases were reported and received psycho-social support and legal aid services at the OSC. Our research “Caught in the middle - Gender inequality and rampant SGBV” that was conducted in Wau State of South Sudan examined the dynamics of violence experienced by women and girls and provided policy recommendations aimed at instituting gender-progressive policies within the South Sudan
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
2019 PROGRAMME INTERVENTIONS
In Ethiopia, Somaliland and Sudan, our work with adolescent girls aimed to address their subordination and exposure to violence while investing in their potential and reducing their vulnerabilities. We supported the establishment of 6 girls’ associations through which the adolescent girls received sexual and reproductive health and rights education as well as capacity building training on referral pathways, advocacy, and communication. Consequently, the girls’ associations are better equipped to respond to and report cases of VAWG. We also organised a regional girls’ camp, a safe space that was created for solidarity, healing, and collective reflection on strategies led by young people, especially girls.
Community Engagement and Capacity Building In Wau and Kuajok towns in South Sudan, SIHA partnerships and collaborations leveraged on the experiences of a number of partners with different competencies and expertise. Working with GBV sub cluster members, the State Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, payam chiefs, religious leaders, youth and women’s groups and opinion leaders, we built the capacity of 100 service providers from different sectors involved in GBV response, which enabled them to be better prepared to respond to cases of GBV. Additionally, SIHA built the capacity of 5 community case workers who were instrumental in raising community awareness, identifying cases, making referrals, accompanying survivors to access services, and preventing violence in the community, particularly violence against women and girls. In Wau and Kuajok, case workers were able to give individual counseling to 236 survivors of violence through individual and group therapy. Working through partnerships with schools in South Sudan, where SIHA in collaboration with the State Ministry for Education piloted the roll out of a curriculum, which incorporated a wide variety of modules on topics such as life skills, self-esteem, and analysis of gender dynamics in society, among others, aimed to foster better gender relations and reduce violence of all kinds, especially SGBV. This curriculum has so far been adopted in 5 secondary schools in South Sudan. Through this work, we promoted a better understanding among the female and male youth aged 12 to 22 years regarding the impact of early marriage, child marriage, and gendered inequalities among other topics. This resulted in increased awareness among boys in schools about what subordination of women and girls looks like and the importance of taking a stance against this subordination. The boys adopted the slogan “Be you sister’s keeper, be your brother’s keeper” to emphasize their commitment to stand in solidarity against genderbased discrimination and subordination.
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
governmental framework. Among the recommendations in the paper, SIHA urged the government of South Sudan to challenge the beliefs, norms and practices that justify or normalize domestic and sexual violence, integrate women into key ministries beyond the stereotypical institutions, and increase the number of women in teaching positions and the number of girls in schools. The report was shared widely with the aim of raising awareness about SGBV in South Sudan and calling for collective action to address SGBV.
Support for Survivors of VAWG SIHA has repeatedly condemned the June 3rd massacre in Khartoum and the use of sexual violence to silence activists - especially women activists - who were calling for civilian rule in Sudan. The death toll was estimated to be well over 120 and more than 70 cases of rape were recorded. The massacre and subsequent sexual violence came after weeks of unlawful detention and torture of women in Omdurman prison due to their participation in peaceful protests during the revolution that began in December 2018. SIHA worked with feminist initiatives/groups, media groups, neighborhood committees to document, monitor and provide legal and health support to survivors and the victims’ families who were in dire need of help. In June, SIHA convened a strategy meeting with its partners as well as 20 female survivors from the attack of Elqeyada sit-in. The meeting discussed the human rights violations, including the SGBV, that happened during the crisis of the 3rd of June. Discussion during the meeting also helped to enhance SIHA’s referral system by updating residential areas and service data, for example, hospitals, protections houses and psychosocial centres. SIHA conducted a documentation meeting for 12 cases of GBV during the sit-in. These survivors were female street vendors and tea sellers who were later supported to conduct medical check-ups and provided with kits. SIHA supported over 50 survivors of SGBV in relation to the regime-changing protests in Sudan throughout the first several months of 2019. SIHA accompanied survivors to the hospital and covered the expenses of medical and logistical needs. In one case SIHA also provided additional protection support for a survivor who was also witness to a crime. For the survivor’s personal security, she was kept in an undisclosed location away from the security forces, her neighbors and relatives. SIHA provided financial support to buy bricks, zinc panels and expanded steel panels for the house where the victim was hosted. In Uganda, South Sudan, Somalia and Somaliland, we strengthened referral mechanisms for SGBV survivors, in order to improve support for survivors of violence. In efforts to streamline the referral systems, SIHA developed and disseminated 34 referral pathway guides for SGBV survivor support, developed 2
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
In Somaliland and Uganda, we supported three women street vendors’ cooperatives to engage local Hargeisa leaders and civil society organizations to work together to address the challenges faced by impoverished and vulnerable women street vendors. These challenges included physical assault by street gangs and local authorities as well as theft and absence of police and social protection. SIHA called for a change in the attitudes and beliefs that have caused inconsistent application of laws, and urged local authorities to deal more forcefully with cases of domestic violence. In the wake of these collective efforts, 1 case of SGBV was taken to court rather than being decided through the informal justice mechanisms which are male dominated and often discriminatory toward women and girls. In Uganda, the cooperatives were able to influence the revision of some clauses of the Kampala City Council Ordinance, and we saw the release of some street vendors from prisons following a directive from the President to release impoverished prisoners who had failed to pay fines.
“Reporting of survivors has improved because of intensive awareness in the communities conducted by SIHA case workers and social workers as well as on radio. In areas where the caseworkers and social workers reached out to, there was an increase in genuine reported cases and those seeking for GBV support services at Wau teaching hospital one stop center.” Doctor Johnson from Wau Teaching Hospital One Stop Center - South Sudan
STRENGTHENING WOMEN’S ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND TRANSFORMING NEGATIVE AND HARMFUL RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL DOGMA Our work in the Greater Horn of Africa challenged religious and cultural dogma used to subjugate women, and the traditional and customary justice systems that collude to restrict women’s human rights. We challenged the criminalization of women in Sudan who were calling for change and provided support for human rights defenders and women vendors. We worked to empower women by advocating for strengthening the rule of law and increasing women’s access to formal legal systems.
16 Days of Activism Event in South Sudan, 2019 Photography by SIHA Staff
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
advocacy tools and a criterion where 75 first responders at the grassroots and community levels were identified and documented. In Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Wau and Juba, we strengthened the legal aid and strategic litigation capacity of 25 women community mediators, to facilitate their continued use of strategic litigation as a legal advocacy tool to challenge gender-based violence and support survivors.
Outcome Direct Constituences Reached
1077
Improved access to justice by women and challenged negative and harmful religious and cultural dogma in the Greater Horn of Africa
Direct Constituences Reached
2002
Access to Legal Systems and Services Working with the Sudanese Defenders Centre for Legal Aid, Heart and Hand Organization for Development and the No to Women’s Oppression Organization, we strengthened the referral pathways for women at-risk of detention, supported access to legal aid for women in detention who had been subjected to violence by the Public Order Regime, conducted advocacy campaigns for women’s political participation and called for a reform of the oppressive and discriminatory provisions in Sudanese law. We supported 18 cases to be represented in courts to achieve justice for women and families. Furthermore, due to the advocacy efforts by SIHA and other legal advocates challenging the Public Order Law, it was subsequently repealed in December of 2019. This marked a major milestone for improving women’s legal rights in Sudan. In Uganda, SIHA supported The Uganda Association of Women Lawyers (FIDA Uganda) to conduct focus group discussions with 348 women prisoners in Luzira prison to understand their needs and implement a tailored needs-based programme. Through the discussions, the women revealed that many of their files had been misplaced at court, they had dealt with fraudulent lawyers who promised to represent them but never returned, and had been held on remand for extensive periods which had denied them justice and access to their children. To promote access to justice, FIDA Uganda supported 31 women prisoners to acquire bail and facilitated legal mediation of some cases to be settled outside of court. FIDA Uganda Uganda also conducted counselling sessions with women prisoners to address the depression and trauma that some women developed due to their extended stays in prison.
Capacity Building In Sudan, we built the capacity of 30 paralegals from marginalized communities in and around Greater Khartoum in order to support their engagement with legal practitioners to follow up on cases and challenge discriminatory laws and practices. Furthermore, we organized 3 legal clinics in Mayo Omdurman and Haj Yousif for 85 legal practitioners and women activists to openly discuss legal issues and complaints,
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
Key Highlights
Additionally, we strengthened the capacity of 25 domestic workers on human rights, labor rights and the Sudanese Domestic Workers Act,to enable them to advocate for and claim their rights. The domestic workers were from the peripheral areas of Khartoum, such as Al-Bashir, Alhaj Yousif, and Mayo, which were frequently targeted during police raids. We also mobilized the domestic workers to support efforts calling for the signing, ratification and domestication of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) as well as the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol). In Sudan SIHA provided 16 grassroot CSOs that are mostly self-reliant and comprised of women, men and youth activists, and human rights defenders with access to support services and opportunities to organize, grow and strengthen frontline capacities to combat human rights abuses, violations of citizenship rights and obstructions to accessing justice. We provided emergency support, evacuation and relocation to 5 human rights defenders as well as documenting 1 forced disappearance. In Uganda, SIHA also supported FIDA to build the capacity of the 348 women prisoners and detainees along with an additional 61 female prison authorities to increase their legal literacy in the areas of women’s rights, including the right to a fair hearing, property rights and sensitization regarding issues of violence against women. Through different sessions, the women prisoners and detainees were educated about their rights and available justice services in the country. As a result, they have increased knowledge of legal rights and mechanisms. In Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Somaliland, South Sudan, and Sudan, we developed and adopted 1 standardized advocacy and 1 capacity assessment tool for civil society organizations that has enabled CSOs to evaluate and respond to gaps on a range of key capacities related to women’s rights in delicate situations. While we were unable to publish Issue 5 of the Women in Islam Journal in 2019, we made significant progress in preparing the Issue for release in 2020. Through the production of the Women in Islam Journal, we disseminate knowledge and awareness on methods and approaches to reconcile and reconnect concepts of women’s rights and equality in muslim societies to strengthen the capacity of women activists and their communities. The journal has wide readership within communities in the Greater Horn of Africa and beyond for English and Arabic -language readers. “The Women in Islam journal explores the complexities of gender relations in Muslim communities in the Greater Horn of Africa and beyond, engaging critically with conflicting perceptions of Islam in relation to women’s rights and equality. It is devoted to providing a space for Muslim and non-Muslims from different walks of life to discuss the social, political and cultural challenges associated with the intersection of Islam and Gender, and promote progressive voices on gender equality and justice.” SIHA Network
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
while documenting and calling attention to important cases for the purposes of strategic litigation and advocacy. We also employed a gender transformative approach to build the capacity of 75 young female activists in legal literacy to enable them to seek legal remedies against exploitation and injustice.
Investing in women’s economic empowerment especially for those in the informal economy with low paying jobs is a top priority for SIHA. We believe that it is a prerequisite for achieving gender equality. Our programmes target street vendors, petty traders and migrant/trafficked women who are often invisible to policy makers. Our focus is on skills building specifically around literacy and marketable skills beyond the informal economy. We also support them to break gender stereotypes in employment options that are typically and primarily occupied by men.
Key Highlights
Direct Constituences Reached
1757
Outcome Improved standards of living, access to resources and decision making among urban poor and marginalised women & girls in the Greater Horn of Africa
Direct Constituences Reached
3,015,660 Women’s Economic Strengthening We supported 400 women street vendors in Hargeisa and Kampala to form 6 cooperatives through which they are better protected from exploitation and have increased knowledge and skills in advocacy, business management and increased incomes. The cooperatives are fully managed by women street vendors which has been an excellent opportunity for them to build their leadership skills. “ I had never imagined myself as a leader. However SIHA organized us into groups as street vendors and taught us to look out for each other as women. I only cared about myself and my kids but today as a chairperson of women street vendors, I have to know how each of my members is doing. We sit together as a collective to find solutions in case any of our friends has a problem. SIHA has helped us realize our value as street vendors to the extent that people now recognize us and listen to us. Our incomes have increased because we are in cooperatives unlike before when we were working as individuals.” Zawedde Asiinah, Chairperson of Wandegeya Women’s Cooperative Association Uganda
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
EMPOWERING WOMEN ECONOMICALLY TOWARD REALIZATION OF ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS
In Al-Gerif West and Al-Daim, we challenged the conditions and systemic discrimination affecting refugee and migrant Eritrean women and girls in Sudan. Our interventions focused on improving their literacy and employment skills, increasing their access to protection and providing better economic and livelihood opportunities. In partnership with the Eritrean women’s cooperative executive committee and teachers and parents’ committees from Al-Gerif and Al-Daim schools, we supported apprenticeships and entrepreneurship for 75 young women in non-gender typical vocations. We also provided vocational training to 25 girls and young women to enrol in mechanics, carpentry, electronics, general electricity and engineering. Relatedly, SIHA in partnership with the Khartoum vocational training institute equipped 100 young women in Wad Albashir Ombadah, Alshajra, AlDiam, Algraif and Soba with skills in non-gender typical vocations including car mechanics, auto electricals, general electricity, cooling and heating engineering, carpentry and engineering drawing. We also supported apprenticeships at supportive places of employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, guiding and supporting them as they seek economic opportunities that break gender stereotypes. We challenged negative stereotypes that prevent girls and women from pursuing male dominated educational courses. Through our partnership with Khartoum vocational training institute, the institution reformed its admissions policy allowing girls and women to enroll in any specialization of their choice. The Supreme Counsel for Vocational Education also committed to give opportunities to the girls all over the country to enroll in vocational institutions without discrimination. We initiated efforts and dialogue around women’s rights and equal access to employment and resources in Sudan amongst employers, labor and trade union leaders, women’s cooperatives, and skills training institutes, with the goal of changing gender stereotypical perceptions of women’s economic opportunities.
Breaking Gender Stereotypes Project, 2019, Photography by Ahmad Mahmoud
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
Working with our partners Action for Human Rights Education (AHEDI) in Arua and Northern Uganda women and Children Initiative in Kotido, we supported 1,027 women vendors through business management and cooperative building training which improved their knowledge and application of good business practices. In Awindiri market in Arua, the women vendors formed a pre-cooperative savings group and opened a bank account at Post Bank Arua where the group saved 2,000,000 Uganda shillings. This was the first time women vendors in the market were organized and saved money collectively. As a result, the women have become increasingly economically self-sufficient.
SIHA advocates for the protection of migrant workers and the improvement of the social and economic conditions of women and girls in host communities, including the right to work free from all forms of exploitation. We provide support and services to survivors of trafficking and exploitation and to returning migrants by facilitating their recovery from trauma and reintegration into their communities of origin. Our interventions have also focused on contributing to increased access to further education and employment for Internally Displaced girls and women; awareness about rights within migrant communities, and advocacy for protection of migrant workers.
Key Highlights
Direct Constituences Reached
1777
Outcome Improved health, safety, welfare, and access to justice for women/girls migrants and refugees.
Direct Constituences Reached
4260
Regional Girls’ Camp in Ethiopia, 2019, Photography by SIHA Staff
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
MIXED MIGRATION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THE GREATER HORN OF AFRICA
In Sudan, Ethiopia and Somaliland, we supported 183 migrant girls to form 6 girls’ associations that were linked to vocational training, cultural programs, referral pathways, education on sexual and reproductive health and rights, capacity building for advocacy and communication, teamwork, financial management, and leadership and association management. As a result of the capacity building, the associations are more assertive in voicing their needs. The associations also conducted community advocacy campaigns that created awareness about negative gender norms that prevent women and girls from fully enjoying their rights. In Al-Gerif West and Al-Daim in Sudan, we used literacy as a tool for integration among Eritrean refugees living in Sudan. Sudan’s discriminatory laws prevented many Eritrean girls from enrolling in public schools due to their refugee status, and many adults lacked access to literacy education. We improved the literacy and employment skills of 230 Eritrean women and girls, increasing their access to protection, providing better economic and livelihood opportunities, and providing overall support to the Eritrean community in greater Khartoum. In North Darfur, SIHA in partnership with Al Taadod women’s cooperative provided 300 reusable dignity kits/sanitary pads to adolescent girls and young women living in IDP camps which are important for their dignity and protection. This ensured that they were able to concentrate on their literacy classes and were not distracted by their lack of access to sanitary pads. Through our partnership with WAAPO in Somaliland, we built the capacity of 30 journalists and reporters on issues related to migrant’s rights and migrant’s protection using a gender-informed approach to enable them to provide accurate and well balanced news and media advocacy on the challenges faced by migrant communities. The capacity building of journalists was also aimed at influencing a change in public attitude and behaviors toward migrant girls’ protection, acceptability and security. In Ethiopia, SIHA developed a shelter management guide and training manual that provides the standards that service providers should observe in rendering relevant, effective, efficient and sustainable services to survivors of trafficking in their recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration in terms of economic, health, psychological, and social conditions. The document focuses on the service providers’ responsibilities, screening process, record-keeping, services and standards of the services, referral, survivor case management, safety and security, follow-up, rehabilitation and reintegration and collaboration with partners. At the GSA shelter, 37 survivors of trafficking in Ethiopia were provided with rehabilitation support which included shelter, food, clothing, sanitation and hygiene services, in line with the shelter management manual guidance. “The Shelter Management Guide has been invaluable in helping us follow international standards when dealing with migrant returnees and survivors of human trafficking” GSA Case Manager
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
Capacity Building and Rights Awareness for Migrant Communities
During the International Women’s Day (IWD) celebrations organized by the Abu-Shouk and Al-Salaam Girls’ Associations, SIHA reiterated the importance of girl’s education - encouraging the migrant girls and women to prioritize their education, and to also learn technical skills usually undertaken by men in order to break those gender stereotypes. We echoed the voices of migrant adolescent girls and women in a reflection session in Addis Ababa aimed at exploring ways of social inclusion of survivors of trafficking into societies. During the session, we provided inputs that were incorporated in the UN Special Rapporteur’s report that was presented to the 41st session of the Human Rights Council in June 2019. Leveraging on our experience of working with migrant adolescent girls, we urged stakeholders to ensure that trafficked persons are not only sheltered once rescued, but also provided with the opportunity to access safe, affordable and gender-sensitive accommodation with no discrimination of any kind, as an essential component of their social inclusion. We worked with Musawah “a global movement for equality and justice in the Muslim family and family laws”1 - while developing the 2019 CEDAW shadow report that focused on Ethiopian adolescent girls’ situation relating to female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and child marriage. Through this collaboration, we were able to share our lessons and findings that social and gender norms such as child marriage violate the rights of adolescent girls and are one of the push factors and causes of migration.
BUILDING INCLUSIVE WOMEN’S MOVEMENTS As part of our commitment to contribute to unlocking the massive potential of the women’s rights movement in the Greater Horn of Africa, SIHA works to strengthen the learning of civil society organizations in order to build inclusive women’s movements that advocate for systemic change. In this way, we work through, and in support of broad coalitions of grassroots members to campaign and advocate for women’s rights and equality.
Key Highlights
Outcome
Direct Constituences Reached
Strengthened inclusive women movements. Protection for Human Rights Defenders.
455
Direct Constituences Reached
200
www.musawah.org
1
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
Advocacy for Protection of Women and Girl Migrant Workers
In Sudan, we organized a women’s convening called Sudan Women Convening: Rebuilding Sudan, that brought together women from across Sudan’s diversity. The convening deliberated on intersectional aspects of the women’s movement in Sudan, its challenges and potential, women’s challenges in conflict zones and post-conflict areas, how poverty impacts women and their well-being and fundamental rights and women’s access to justice and necessary steps to improve laws and policies affecting women. Key policy recommendations from the convening included the need to strengthen women’s movements’ resources and skills to lobby and advocate at the governmental level for legal reforms that address women’s issues, the need to promote and support women’s participation in judicial and legal systems as well as drafting a comprehensive transitional justice program for combating of all forms of violence inflicted on men and women in war zones. “Islam has been used as a tool of violence for the last 30 years to suppress women and other Sudanese people. And despite women gaining space in public office in recent years, discriminatory laws against women have remained. Sudan is one of only 4 countries that has not signed the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). This convening should remind us of our responsibility to our daughters and girls; we should speak honestly and agree to respectfully disagree where needed.” Adapted from Opening Remarks by SIHA Network Regional Director at the Sudan Women Convening Tapping into the momentum of the women-led Sudanese movement that led to the downfall of President Omar al-Bashir, we dedicated our organizational annual calendar to the Sudan Women Protest, a community of courageous women activists and human rights defenders that were at the frontline. The calendar featured photos of the first Sudan Women’s Protest exhibition that debuted in Khartoum. Furthermore, we supported the establishment of a young women activist platform led by 75 youth (aged 18-25) and affiliated with other women’s movement groups that seek to shape policy and law reforms that are inclusive of women’s human rights during Sudan’s transitional democratic processes and beyond. The platform consisted of young women with interest in transitional change and with noticeable leadership skills. SIHA built their capacity on emerging issues for grassroots women, feminist schools and movements, human rights, gender equality, and forming alliances among others. It is envisaged that through the created platform, the members will be able to address issues affecting young women in Sudan and bring about change. In Djibouti, SIHA identified and profiled 5 women’s grassroots groups that are often marginalized and have limited funding but are involved in giving impetus to movements concerned with change, development and evolution on women’s issues. These included Hana d’Ambouli, Q1, Barwaqo-Q3, Q5 and Imbida. These women’s groups are based on neighbourhood committees and were purposefully selected to ensure
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
Movement Building and Protection for Human Rights Defenders
In Somaliland, we identified and profiled 5 organizations including Al Kownan Organization, Ubax Social welfare organization, HAWO group, Somaliland development association and Somaliland Environment and public development that will be critical in championing the rights of women and girls. In Somalia, we identified and profiled 5 grassroots groups that included Somali Young Feminist Network, Young Women Lawyers Association, Somali Women Development Organization, Somali Women and Child Care Association and Cawo Forum Women Group. These groups share a commitment to advance the rights of women and girls in Somalia and beyond. In South Sudan, we identified and profiled 9 organizations and grassroots women’s associations including Women’s Development Group, South Sudan Women’s Association, Women Training and Promotion Program, Kindness Community Development Organization, Women Peace and Unity Organization, Women Advance Organization, Eve Organization for Women Development, South Sudan Women Entrepreneurs’ Association and the National Women Empowerment Rehabilitation Organization to understand the strengths and areas of need so as to tailor SIHA’s subsequent capacity building. The capacity building focus for these groups became centered on advocacy and building strong relationships with other actors in civil society and the movement. SIHA further contributed to connecting these groups with a human rights defenders network. In Ethiopia, we are working with the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association and Network of Ethiopian Women’s Associations, Equal Opportunity Association for Women with Disability Living with HIV, Sara Justice from All, the Yellow Movement, Timran and women self Help Group Federation to strengthen advocacy among women’s rights groups in Ethiopia. The organizations have a vast network of grassroots women’s voices and organizations that will meaningfully influence policy and practice in Ethiopia.
Sub-grants for Women’s Rights Groups In Sudan, SIHA prioritized funding for women’s rights groups that stood in solidarity with thousands of Sudanese people demanding their rights. Through our funding, we supported the following groups; SIHA provided sub-grants to feminist groups and initiatives that provided direct response and assistance services to the women who had been physical and sexually assaulted during this sit-in protests. This included the women street vendors who provided food and beverages to the protesters, and later became targeted in the attacks and in many cases lost the capital they depend on to earn their daily wages. These sub-grantees provided survivors with case management, monitoring and documentation, referrals, direct therapy sessions, and legal aid.
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
active women’s neighbourhood committes and representation from different ethnic communities in Djibouti, including Afar, Somali and Arab.
Documented
Registered with the public prosecutions office
• 135 cases of abuse of sit-
• 9 lethal assault cases • 5 survivor cases • 1 forced disappearance case.
in protesters
• 110 testimonies documented
The sub-grantees also provided financial assistance to help survivors pay for medical expenses, food and other immediate necessities, as well as financial assistance for internet data to enable survivors to report what was happening on the ground during the protests SIHA worked with volunteer photographers from the Human Rights Photographers Initiative to cover the mass movement during the sit-in and documented human rights violations. Following the internet interruptions, SIHA worked to support the independent photographers through the provision of alternative Internet platforms, operating landlines, tools and photography equipment for the group to provide visual and video materials on a daily basis. These materials were shared with the global media channels such as Al Jazeera and BBC and local channels such as Sudan Reel judicial, in addition to social media platforms.
Sudan Women Protest, 2019 Photography by Ula Osman
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
Through this direct support, sub-grantees:
SIHA 2019 Annual report Artwork by Nusreldin El Douma
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Knowledge Generation and Dissemination SIHA aspires to be a leader in the development of context-specific feminist knowledge and learning. We hope that this knowledge will promote learning among our network throughout the Greater Horn of Africa Region. ►► SIHA produced a Shelter Management Manual for Migrant and Trafficked Women and Girls entitled “Between Poverty and Trauma” that provides the standards that service providers should observe in rendering relevant, effective, efficient and sustainable services to survivors of trafficking in their recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration in terms of economic, health, psychological, and social conditions.
►► We produced a research report entitled “Caught in the middle: Gender Inequality and Rampant SGBV in Wau in South Sudan.” The report critically examined the dynamics of violence experienced by women and girls and provided policy recommendations. ►► we released a video documentary entitled “The Invisible Laborers of Kampala” that highlighted the plight of women in the informal sector in Kampala particularly the street vendors.
►► To amplify the collective learning and recommendations raised during the Sudan Women’s Convening, SIHA developed and published a document summarizing this information: The Sudan Convening: Rebuilding Sudan “Nothing About Us, Without Us.”
Advocacy and Influencing ►► SIHA participated in the Universal Rights Group Convening and chaired a session on the use of campaigns aimed at lifting reservations to CEDAW by some state parties. Some of the reservations to CEDAW by some states are at the core of gender inequality and a priority for SIHA. These include the issues of nationality, equality in the family, abolition of discriminatory customs and traditions that impede the development of women’s participation in public life among others.
►► We attended the 63rd Commission on the Status of Women in New York and participated in a side event to discuss the challenges of urban poor women and how they have been barred from social protection within the Greater Horn of Africa. Leveraging on our unique experience of working with women in the informal sector, we shared insights into the challenges faced by women and amplified the issues at a global level.
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
CROSS CUTTING ISSUES
►► Participation in the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Nairobi summit organized to celebrate 25 years of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). The celebrations honoured 179 governments that agreed that individuals have the right to decide freely whether and when to have children, and to have the information, education and means to do so. During the event, we re-affirmed our commitment to advance the rights of girls and women. ►► In commemoration of the International day of the Girl Child on the 11th of October, we conducted activities aimed at advancing the rights of the girl child, ending child marriage and improving girls’ literacy and advocating for the rights of migrant girls. We published a press release to advocate for girls’ rights and raise awareness for the gendered challenges they face at the regional and international level. We conducted mobilization events for girls in South Sudan and used the occasion to urge South Sudan to ratify the UN Convention on the rights of the girl child. In Ethiopia, we held a “letter to myself event” for girls and called on the Ethiopian government to partner with women’s civil society organizations to generate popular awareness of the harmful impacts of child marriages and to develop enforcement mechanisms to ensure that the existing gaps are closed. In Sudan and Somalia we called on both governments to sign and ratify the international Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), a treaty that safeguards women’s rights.
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►► During the 16 Days of Activism against gender based violence, we organized a series of events to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. In Sudan, SIHA convened a women’s forum to awaken debate and conversation around women’s political participation and the critical role of women in promoting an inclusive and peaceful Sudan. In South Sudan, we joined the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, youth groups, SGBV cluster working groups and women activists to rally support for women and girls and to call for an end to rape. We also organized community dialogues in Hai Masna, an IDP camp in Wau and mobilized them to work together to end practices that contribute to VAWG. ►► Although SIHA did not release a new issue of Women in Islam during the 2019 calendar year, we had the opportunity to promote the first four issues of the Journal at the Hargeisa Book Fair in Somaliland and at the European Conference on Africa Studies in Scotland. During these events SIHA raised awareness for the complexities of gender relations in Muslim communities across the Greater Horn of Africa and engaged critically with old assumptions about the relations between gender justice and Islam. ►► Additionally, SIHA by virtue of the Women in Islam Journal participated in the Hargeisa Book Fair and the European Conference on African Studies in Scotland which presented an opportunity to have the journal exposed to wider audiences. ►► In Sudan, we organized a peaceful feminist March of 1500 women, girls and children from Al Shuhada Public Garden in Elqasr street to the protesters sit-in outside of the military headquarters. The march aimed to express solidarity with Sudanese women calling for the respect of women’s rights and new hopes for a new Sudan.
SIHA 2019 Annual report
►► In partnership with SIHA members from South Sudan, SIHA participated in a Deep Dive advocacy and influencing event on the Inclusion of GBV in Emergencies: Building Local, Thinking Global. The event was an ideal platform for SIHA to rally support for vulnerable girls and women in hostile environments who are often survivors of GBV.
SIHA strengthened its institutional capacity through streamlining both the finance and human resources and administration departments. We also strengthened our financial controls and additionally achieved compliance with the respective country social security and taxation frameworks.
CHALLENGES ►► As a feminist and civil society network based in the South and working and belonging to the grassroots women in the Greater Horn of Africa, SIHA refuses to be defined by the stereotype that organizations must be separate from the communities and the population where they work. SIHA sees itself as an extension of the women’s movement and it’s agenda and is dynamic rather than being an outsider. We believe that leading should be from within and not from above. This position often puts SIHA in an odd situation and sometimes at risk and exposes us to various countering forces that seek to limit women and their organization’s power. In 2019, SIHA was exposed to hostilities from religious militant institutions due to their uncompromised women‘s equality approach. We also faced hostilities from some governments that resent women’s rights and equality and from some donor agencies that perceive South-based organizations as being subordinate and have no interest in seeing such organizations grow. ►► SIHA is often challenged by limited resources which impedes our ability to grow. At times staff have left the organization in search for better pay. Although we seek to improve and invest in the capacity of our staff through supporting them in their post graduate studies, we have no systemic core budget to do so. More resources are also needed for systematic training of staff on project management , financial control and monitoring and learning modalities. ►► The Sudanese revolution and the period of political instability that surrounded it, caused major delays in the implementation of some of SIHA’s projects in Sudan. There were also difficulties in obtaining sufficient amounts of money from banks. Most banks had set a daily withdrawal limit of 2000 Sudanese Pounds (approximately 42 USD). ►► In South Sudan, the existence of two parallel justice systems affected and caused delays in access to justice. Some cases were referred back to the traditional customary courts at the behest of the perpetrators so that they would be able to bribe their way out of accountability or into lesser jail sentences. ►► The lack of clear policies and procedures by states regarding migration meant that some migrant women and girls did not receive sufficient protection of their basic human rights.
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
Institutional Capacity Development
SIHA has currently 54 staff in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Somaliland, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda. Age Distribution 25
50
20
40 30
15
20
10 5
10 0
Women
Men
Gender
0
20 - 29
30 - 39
40 - 49
50 - 59
60 - 69
Age Group
The various departments are as follows: ►► Regional Office in Uganda: Regional Programme Department, Regional Human Resources and Administration Department, Regional Finance and Procurement Department, Regional Advocacy and Communication Department
►► South Sudan: Area Coordinator and Project Officers ►► Somalia/Somaliland: Area Coordinator and Project Officers ►► Ethiopia: Area Coordinator
►► Sudan: Programme Department, Finance Department and Legal Department
►► Djibouti: Focal Point
In addition to staff, SIHA has a Regional Board of Directors (RBOD), a Regional Advisory Committee (RAC), and the Programme Advisory. The SIHA Regional Board of Directors is the supreme policy making organ of SIHA. The RBOD consists of six representatives from member organizations. The RBOD is elected by the Regional General Assembly. The RBOD remains in office for two-year terms. The Regional Advisory Committee is a voluntary body that acts as a support to the SIHA RBOD and Secretariat. The RAC members must have the technical expertise and the knowledge to advise the RBOD and the Secretariat and they should have contributed or be prepared to contribute to the development of the network. The RAC is comprised of seven individuals who previously contributed to SIHA and are committed to the objectives and mandate of SIHA.
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
HUMAN RESOURCES & ADMINISTRATION SUMMARY
Additions to the SIHA Team in 2019: ►► Programme Development & Advocacy Associate
►► Sudan Finance Officer ►► Sudan Communications Officer
►► Somalia Area Coordinator
►► South Sudan Office Bookkeeper
►► Djibouti Area Coordinator ►► Fundraising and Programme Development Officer
►► South Sudan Capacity Building Advisor ►► Communications Assistant ►► Regional Projects Officer
►► Social Media Assistant
SIHA is a growing organization and is responding to its long-term vision and expanding the scope of activities. For recruitment of Senior positions within the organization, the Regional Director, Regional Programme Manager, and Regional Human Resources and Administration Manager collaborate in the decision-making process. For overall regional programmes staff, the Regional Programme Manager, Regional Projects Officer, Regional Advocacy and Communications Officer, and Regional Human Resources and Administration Manager collaborate in the decision-making process. For in-country staff the decisions are collectively made by the relevant Area Coordinator, Regional Programme Manager, Regional Projects Officer, and Regional Human Resources and Administration Manager. Staff evaluation is carried out in a participatory, honest and collective spirit, while considering the organization’s accountability to its work, communities and partners. Both the staff and the evaluation team exchange views and reflect openly and transparently upon the staff member’s role and accomplishments over the evaluation period. The salary scale that was developed in 2014 was revised this year, based on the size of operations and available funding while considering overall salary for similarly ranked NGO workers in the country, and ensuring it is in line with labor laws and national compliance standards. At SIHA we have defined collective leadership as a group of people working together toward a shared goal through collaborative effort. The management team is open to feedback and ideas from all staff and strives to create a space where staff feel comfortable talking to management about their ideas. Input from staff is followed by genuine consideration from the management team. A case in point of
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
The Programme Advisory provides strategic and conceptual leadership to SIHA Programmes and Projects in the organization’s efforts to contribute to inclusive movement building at the national, regional, and international levels. The Programme Advisory Team works closely with the Regional Director and staff by providing expert advice and input regarding programme development, implementation, and monitoring and also suggests relevant programmatic modifications and shifts related to changing contexts, and ensuring that program focus is responsive and relevant to the constantly changing realities of women and girls on the ground across the Greater Horn of Africa.
Once a year, staff are brought in from across the region to the Regional Office where we discuss, exchange ideas on the progress of the past period and how best to improve but we also have fun activities in place that promote trust, confidence and togetherness within the organization. In 2019, a team of close to 23 staff were brought together to attend the Staff and Board meeting within which a number of issues were discussed and ideas shared regarding Human Resources, Programmes and Finance. This year we supported our staff in Sudan during the revolution. The Management team travelled to Khartoum to attend SIHA’s first Sudan Women Convening in November 2019. This event was a major achievement as we had the chance to be part of the growing new era and to hear and amplify the stories of Sudanese revolutionary women. The Regional Human Resources and Administration Manager, Regional Advocacy and Communications Officer, Regional Director, and Regional Programmes Manager all travelled to Sudan to take part in supporting the Sudan-based team during this critical time as well as at other times as needed throughout the year. During key moments of the peace process in South Sudan over the past year, a number of our regional office staff travelled to South Sudan to monitor, guide and assist in the implementation of project activities in Wau. The Regional Projects Officer, Regional Human Resources and Administration Manager, Finance Officer, and Regional Programmes Manager all travelled to South Sudan to participate in these support efforts. Additionally, over the last year, the Regional Projects Officer, Regional Advocacy and Communications Officer, and Regional Programmes Manager travelled to Somaliland, Djibouti, and Ethiopia to support our in-country staff in these locations. Part of our role as Human Resources staff is to render support to the teams and board members. The Human Resources team has carried out a number of field visits to Sudan, Somalia and South Sudan in support of the situations the teams were going through and this was very well received as the staff were very appreciative and glad to have Human Resources team members with them. During the trying periods, we explored different options for the safety of the staff and some Board members. We carried out relocations to safer places, ensured the security of staff in terms of movements to and from work, to the sit-ins and during travel for field work. The Human Resources and Administration Department is part of the SIHA management team and has closely observed all the developments and the events around the region, in order to facilitate the safety and security of all staff. At SIHA, we strive to ensure the employees are comfortable, have a safe clean work environment, can access basic necessities like water, electricity, internet and are in a safe location. We ensure that all equipment needed for the smooth operations of the offices are provided. To these ends, in the past year SIHA has: ►► Moved our regional office to a larger office, which affords staff more comfort and privacy
►► Expanded the Sudan office, which has accommodated the privacy and special needs of the growing Sudan team
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►► Consulted with employees and health and safety representatives on safety
SIHA 2019 Annual report
SIHA’s commitment to incorporating input from staff and the board are the Strategic Planning meetings held every three years and the Board meetings which are held every two years. The outcomes of these meetings are incorporated into management decision-making.
SIHA staff are requested to follow the ethical standards outlined in its Code of Conduct, which adheres to the fundamental human rights as set out in the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. There have been no incidents of inappropriate behaviour, misconduct, or breaches of the code of conduct in the last three years. In the case of incidents, however, SIHA has maintained formal and informal routes of reporting that prioritises complainants’ rights and protections. SIHA has faced challenges in the last several years regarding staff turnover rates and retention of key staff members. Between 2016 and 2018, staff turnover reached 23%. This was addressed and mitigated by 2019, where only one full-time staff member left, the Area Coordinator for South Sudan, resulting in only 0.02% staff turnover for 2019. The risk of staff turnover and its detriments is recognized in the 2017 – 2020 Strategy Paper, which understands the competitive work environment in this sector that sees employees rapidly moving between the UN system, international NGOs and NGOs. SIHA also continues to struggle with a lack of funding to support the growing needs of our Human Resources and Administration Department, SIHA finds it difficult to render support to the all needs of the employees’, even basic needs like medical coverage and additional staff to support in the various departments. Due to the nature of our sources of funding, most funding is channelled towards project implementation with a small percentage reserved for Human Resources needs.
Women food vendors in Northern Uganda, 2019 Photography by SIHA Staff
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
SIHA maintains a clear set of policies in place that hold its staff and member organizations to the highest standards of anti-discrimination, gender equality, gender transformative policies and general respect of human rights. It does so through implementing both a sexual harassment and whistleblowing policies. It encourages immediate reporting of any unwelcome behaviour through specified complaint procedures. Complaints are submitted to SIHA’s Human Resources and Administration department, which reviews the complaint to determine appropriate disciplinary action in the form of a written decision. The policy emphasises confidentiality, respect and protection for the complainant. It also applies to members, partners and women in the community in order to maintain a healthy environment free of harassment.
REGIONAL OFFICE STRUCTURE
Regional General Assembly
Plot 2A Lugogo Lane, Bank Village, Naguru Kampala, Uganda P.O. Box 2793
Regional Board Of Directors + Advisory Board
Regional Director
Programme Advisory Committee
Regional Programme Manager Regional HR And Administration Manager Fundraising And Programme Development Associate Regional Research And Learning
Programme Development And Advocacy Associate In-country Programme Teams and Managers
Regional Programme Assistant
Information Technology + Maintenance (IT)
Support for Social Media and Website
Journal Coordinator
Communications Team
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Regional Head of Finance and Administration
Regional Finance Team
Financial Controller
In-Country Finance Teams
SIHA 2019 Annual report
ORGANOGRAM
Ahmed Khir St West to Algorashe Park P.O. Box 1805, Khartoum, Sudan
Regional Secretariat
In-Country Committees (Member Organisations)
Sudan Programme Coordinator
Sudan Project Teams
Accountants
IT + Maintenance
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
SUDAN OFFICE STRUCTURE
Regional Secretariat
Wau Block B plot 6 Airport, Road, Hai Dereja In-country Committees (Member Organisations) Area Coordinator
Accountant
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
SOUTH SUDAN OFFICE STRUCTURE
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Regional Secretariat
In-country Committees (Member Organisations) Area Coordinator
SOMALILAND OFFICE STRUCTURE Hargeisa, Somaliland
Regional Secretariat
In-country Committees (Member Organisations) Area Coordinator
34
SIHA 2019 Annual report
ETHIOPIA OFFICE STRUCTURE
Mogadishu, Somalia
Regional Secretariat
In-country Committees (Member Organisations) Area Coordinator
DJIBOUTI OFFICE STRUCTURE Djibouti, Djibouti
Regional Secretariat
In-country Committees (Member Organisations) Area Coordinator
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
SOMALIA OFFICE STRUCTURE
SIHA 2019 Annual report
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT STATEMENT SIHA Statement of Income and Expenditure 2019
95%
.
5%
Income 2019
e:
7,2
60
5%
1,
o
m
9 0.
21.7 6
Total Income 1,775,705.00 (Euro) Inc
bership fee - 66 2.5 Mem 3
71 ,820. 7 6 1
Gr
ants
& Dona
s ti o n
-
1%
1%
28 %
Expenditure 2019
Total Expenditure 1,620,748.00 Ac
it fees - 12,603.0 Aud 0
8%
tiv
62 %
it
ie
36
s
-1 ,006 ,30 5.0 0
,039.00 s - 12 plie up dS an 0 6.0 ,00 52
5.00 ,79 7 3 1
Equ ipm en t HR -4
Advisors to the Board
Board of Directors
Program Advisors
►► Kaltun Hasan
►► Lyn Ossome
►► Omayma Elmardi
►► Lily Nasur
►► Catherine Nyambura
►► Dolly Anek
►► Dr. Sara Rasheid
►► Rose Baryamutuma
►► Asmahan Abdelsalam Hassan
►► Cecilia Daniel
►► Katherine Donahue
►► Rigbe Hagos
►► Kadra Omar
►► Amal Salem Said
►► Abdifatah Hassan Ali
►► Fadwo Hassan
►► Guleid Ahmed Jama
►► Saba Gebremedhin ►► Monim Eljak ►► Peace Twine Kyamureku
16 Days of Activism Event in Somaliland, 2019 Photography by SIHA Staff
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
OUR BOARD, BOARD ADVISORY, AND PROGRAM ADVISORS
SIHA network would like to thank all its Members in 2019, SIHA Network had over one hundred (100) Members in the Greater Horn of Africa
Diibouti a and g U 14
Erit rea
4 3
Et ia op hi 1 2
Total Members Soma 21 lia
Sudan 36
124
So
uth
13Sudan So
38
il a m al
12
nd
SIHA 2019 Annual report
OUR MEMBERS
SIHA would like to thank its Donors and Partners for their support. 1. UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women
10. Embassy of the Netherlands in Sudan 11. Open Society Foundation
2. Sigrid Rausing Trust
12. UN Population Fund (UNFPA)
3. African Women’s Development Fund
13. Urgent Action Fund
4. Tides Foundation/ NOVO Foundation Fund
14. Embassy of France in Sudan
5. European Commission
15. Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives
6. Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa
16. Bread For The World
7. Oxfam Novib
17. Embassy of Switzerland in Sudan
8. UN Democracy Fund 9. Norwegian Church Aid
Some of SIHA Printed Publications, 2019 Photography by SIHA Staff
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS
The work that women’s rights activists across the Greater Horn of Africa have been doing over decades has resulted in a myriad of health problems, including exhaustion and stress, to mention a few. This has necessitated feminist well-being and collective care becoming increasingly embedded in SIHA’s work. We operate within unstable states, volatile political situations, under constant threat by oppressive regimes and extreme groups, and furthermore, we challenge societies and systems that adopt and maintain patriarchal and capitalist mind-sets, which are not willing to give away their sense of entitlements and guardianship. This, has continuously affected our professional and personal lives as WHRDs and will continue to do. But how can we overcome this? How do we challenge the status quo? And how can we be unapologetic when it comes to our mental health? In 2019, right after the Sudanese revolution, SIHA organised the first national convening of women activists in Khartoum, with an attendance of over 50 women from across the country including from the Sudanese armed movement’s territories. On the third day of the convening, we had a session about Self and Collective care, and it was an eye opener! The level of trauma, anger, and grudges amongst the participants was excessive, and their frustrations were seen. Even though they were able to recognize these feelings and look into ways to overcome them, they were also silenced most of the time, and not able to share their journeys even with the closest people to them. We would like to emphasize the fact that wellbeing and collective care is a political issue in the first place, and can never be decontextualized nor detached from what and where we perform. Women’s movements across the continent and its diaspora should be able to point out these issues, and stand in solidarity with each other. The women’s movements should also be innovative to find ways that go beyond donors’ interests and restrictions to facilitate psychosocial support activities. We should strive to throw off external influences that have distorted the traditions that placed mutual interests at the heart of our relations with each other and which guided us to take care of each other and make sure they are mentally secure. As feminists and activists, we have a responsibility toward the movement and whoever is part of it. We also urge development partners and international agencies to avail specific funding for activists’ wellbeing and collective care. It is also important to assert that activists’ mental health is just as important as every other demand the movement is looking to achieve. Last but not least, we would like to express our gratitude and thankfulness to the WHRDs, women’s movements, and all the women in the continent, for your perseverance in carrying all this stress. We feel you, we hear you, and we stand in solidarity with you!
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SIHA 2019 Annual report
MESSAGE ON FEMINIST WELL-BEING AND COLLECTIVE CARE
