Amref Health Africa has been active in Ethiopia through Amref Flying Doctors since the 1960s. Our organization started implementing a diversified health projects portfolio focusing on Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH), Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Communicable and Non-communicable diseases in collaboration with the Government of Ethiopia, international non-government organization and local stakeholders since 2002. Gender and health systems strengthening are cross-cutting, reflected throughout the organization’s health programming.
Amref Health Africa has projects in Addis Ababa, Afar, Amhara, Benishangul, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, SNNP regions and nationwide health systems strengthening interventions focusing the capacity building of the Health Extension Program. Due to our presence in the most developing and pastoralist regions of the country, our organization also engages in clinical outreach interventions and emergency programs including nutrition and resilience building of affected communities as the geographic areas we work in are prone to natural disasters such as flooding, drought and famine.
Amref support the Government of Ethiopia’s Health Sector Transformation Plan (HSTP), ensuring health equity by serving women and children and reaching the most disadvantaged, inaccessible communities including Ethiopia’s pastoralists and semi-pastoralist communities. We also support the national roadmap to end FGM and child marriage, 2020-2024, through implementing the National Roadmap and achieving lasting change in the lives of girls and women in Ethiopia.
Our programs are designed to support community level interventions while strengthening health systems at the regional and national levels, ensuring alignment with the government’s priorities and community needs
Introduction
Globally, more than 200 million girls and women in 30 countries have undergone FGM/C. It is estimated that more than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where the practice is concentrated (UNICEF 2016). A total of 28 countries out of the 30 countries where FGM is prevalent are in Africa and Ethiopia is second to Egypt in terms of the number of women who have undergone FGM/C.
With a population of nearly 110 million, Ethiopia is second to Egypt in the total number of women and girls who have experienced FGM. In Ethiopia, FGM/C remains widespread across the country with 65 per cent of girls and women aged 15–49 years cut, and 47 per cent of girls aged 15–19 years cut (EDHS 2016). Of girls currently aged 15–19 years who have been cut, 25 per cent of the girls do not know what type of FGM/C they experienced, in large part because most were cut so young. The cut is carried out before the age of one year in 52.5% of females. Overall, based on mothers’ reports, 16 per cent of all girls under the age of 15 have experienced FGM/C. Because customs vary, and some girls are cut in infancy and others in middle childhood or early adolescence, the proportion of girls who have been cut grows over time.
The rate of prevalence is highly variable between rural and urban areas, 68% and 54%, respectively. There is also regional variance; Somali region has the highest prevalence rate with 99% followed by Afar (91%) and Tigrai region has the lowest rate of 24%.
The government of Ethiopia is committed to eliminating the practice of FGM/C by strategic and programmatic measures. These include putting in place a national Harmful Traditional Practices (HTPs) strategy founded on the three-pillar approach: prevention, provision, and protection. This targeted approach guides the national effort and helps to galvanize the support of stakeholders to end the practice as well as mitigate the impact of FGM/C.
Minimum of 5 years of proven and strong research experience in areas of FGM/C in general and Policy analysis in particular
- Committed to deadlines
· Excellent writing and verbal communication skills in English.
· The consultant is expected to bring team members with excellent knowledge and experience in research including· Experience in managing and analyzing qualitative research data.
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