TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF UPR RECOMMENDATIONS ACCEPTED BY RWANDA IN LINE WITH MAKEWAY CONSORTIUM CORE OBJECTIVE  

NUDOR-Make Way Program Rwanda

NUDOR BACKGROUND

The National Union of the Disability Organizations of Rwanda (NUDOR) was established as a civil society organization in September 2010 by 8 National organizations of Persons with Disabilities. Currently, NUDOR is composed of fifteen (15) National Organizations of Persons with Disabilities.

Our response / strategic objectives: In line to the needs of persons with disabilities and their organizations, as well as the Sustainable Development Goals and the National Strategy for transformation, the following are strategic objectives that will drive our work in the following 5 years to come:

• Strategicobjective1: Advocate for comprehensive inclusive and special Education to ensure equitable access for all children and adults with disabilities in Rwanda.
• Strategicobjective2: Advocate for Accessible, quality and equitable Health Services for persons with disabilities to promote health equity and well-being for all.  
• Strategicobjective3: Advocate for increased access to skills development programs, employment opportunities, and appropriate social protection programs for persons with disabilities in Rwanda.
• Strategicobjective4: Advocate for responsive, inclusive, and equitable Laws, policies and practices that address the diverse needs, perspectives, and participation for persons with disabilities.

Strategic objective 5: Enhance governance structures and foster organizational development initiatives to ensure strategic alignment, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth.

Cross-thematic areas: Following are cross-thematic areas that inspired the development of our theory of change and the overall strategy: Gender Equality; Community based rehabilitation; Advocacy & Diversity.

Make way is in line with the goals of strategy objective 2, which focuses on advocating for accessible, high quality, equity and fair healthcare services for persons with disabilities to promote health equity and well-being for all.  Specifically, make way aims to champion accessible, high-quality Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) care for individuals with disabilities. This program is also aligned with the intervention areas of 'Gender equality,' 'Community-based rehabilitation,' 'Advocacy,' and 'Diversity' in a sense that is evident as it works towards establishing a robust and accessible healthcare support system for persons with disabilities across all different categories of disabilities and gender both at local and national level.

By advocating for improved access to healthcare services tailored to SRHR needs, make way inherently supports gender equality & equity, community-based rehabilitation, and diverse advocacy efforts. Its core objective revolves around addressing the healthcare needs and opportunities for persons with disabilities, empowering them to access fair and inclusive healthcare services, including those related to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.

BACKGROUND OF MAKE WAY PROGRAM

In 2021, NUDOR partnered with the Liliane Foundation to promote disability inclusion within the Make Way Program (2021-2025). This initiative aims to break down barriers to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) through an intersectional lens, highlighting overlapping vulnerabilities. The program targets marginalized youth, particularly those with compounded vulnerabilities, who face significant discrimination and exclusion from mainstream SRHR services.

Key beneficiaries are individuals with disabilities, who require an intersectional SRHR assessment to address multiple intersecting identities. The program operates in five districts: Rusizi, Gasabo, Nyagatare, Gatsibo, and Kirehe.

The first year focused on action planning and contextualizing the program to the Rwandan context. This initiative is led by NUDOR in collaboration with VSO, FAWE, Akina Mama wa Africa, Cycle of Concerned African Women Theologians, and eight other partners.

In the second year, capacity-building efforts for Make Way partners and stakeholders were prioritized, focusing on SRHR, comprehensive sexual education, disability rights, and the use of Make Way tools. Concurrently, intersectional SRHR advocacy and lobbying activities were undertaken, engaging various government institutions to promote SRHR services for young people with compounded vulnerabilities.

The third year emphasized identifying, training, and mentoring a diverse array of organizations and representatives, from grassroots to national levels, to adopt an intersectional approach to SRHR advocacy. This included awareness campaigns, social media engagement, and commemorating international days dedicated to SRHR causes. Efforts continued in capacity building, lobbying, and advocacy, empowering marginalized youth to advocate for their rights and drive positive change.

Throughout the program, the goal is to encourage more organizations to adopt an intersectional SRHR approach and expand the civic space for marginalized youth to stand up for their SRHR, with a focus on mentorship and guidance.

RATIONALE OF THE ACTIVITY

Since the inception of the Make Way program in Rwanda in 2021, the Country Coordinating Group (CCG) annually reviews and selects relevant proposals from collaborating partners (CPs) to be funded through the Small Grant mechanism. On 27^th Sept 2024, the CCG decided to undertake/conduct an assessment to evaluate the extent to which the UPR recommendations particularly those aligned with Make Way’s objectives have been implemented among others. This report will serve as a critical resource and a valuable tool for the advocacy efforts we planned to continue in 2025, by engaging with various government institutions as part of the Make Way consortium. Following agreement on this initiative, the CCG members decided and designated NUDOR to lead and implement the activity, in close collaboration with all CCG members, CPs, and Youth Panels, given its recognized expertise and experience in treaty body reporting mechanisms. Therefore, this Terms of Reference is made to outline the scope of work for assessing the implementation status of those particular recommendations."

BACKGROUND ON UPR AS A MECHANISM

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process which involves a periodic review of the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States. The UPR is a significant innovation of the Human Rights Council which is based on equal treatment for all countries. It provides an opportunity for all States to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to overcome challenges by setting strategies to the enjoyment of human rights. The UPR also includes a sharing of best human rights practices around the globe. Currently, no other mechanism of this kind exists. The UPR was established when the Human Rights Council was created on 15 March 2006 by the UN General Assembly in resolution 60/251.

BACKGROUND ON UPR IN RWANDA

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process that periodically reviews the human rights records of all UN Member States, including Rwanda. Rwanda underwent its first UPR cycle in 2011, the second in 2015, and is currently implementing the recommendations from the third cycle, which took place in 2021. On Thursday, 8th July 2021, the UN Human Rights Council adopted Rwanda’s UPR report. During the review on 25th January 2021, Rwanda accepted 160 out of 284 recommendations provided by Troika and various UN Member States.

OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY/ASSIGNMENT.

The primary objective of this Terms of Reference (ToR) is to review or assess the extent to which Rwanda has implemented the UPR recommendations, identify any gaps or challenges, and provide actionable recommendations to enhance future compliance especially recommendations that are in line with Make Way Consortium core objectives.

THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THIS ACTIVITY/ASSIGNMENT

• Assessthe Implementation Progress: Review the current status of Rwanda’s implementation of the UPR recommendations, focusing on those that align with the Make Way Consortium's core objectives.
• Identify Gaps and Challenges: Pinpoint any existing gaps or challenges hindering the full implementation of the UPR recommendations, particularly in areas relevant to the Make Way Consortium’s focus.
• Evaluate Effectiveness of Existing Measures: Analyze the effectiveness of the measures Rwanda has put in place to address the UPR recommendations and their alignment with international human rights standards.
• Engage Stakeholders: Collect insights from key stakeholders, including government institutions, civil society, and development partners, to understand their roles in the implementation process and identify areas for collaboration.
• Provide Actionable Recommendations: Develop a set of actionable recommendations to enhance Rwanda’s compliance with the UPR recommendations, especially those aligned with the Make Way Consortium’s objectives.

SCOPE OF WORK

This work will be done by the consultant, and will do the following:

• Review and analyze the UPR recommendations given to Rwanda especially those related with make way consortium mandate and objectives;
• Evaluate the measures taken by the Government of Rwanda to implement these recommendations;
• Assess the involvement of key stakeholders (e.g: Civil Society, UN agencies) in the implementation process;
• Identify challenges or barriers hindering full implementation;
• Provide recommendations to improve the ongoing or future implementation process.

KEY DELIVERABLES

The consultant is expected to produce the following deliverables:

• Inception Report:Detailing the methodology, timelines, and approach to be used in the review process.
• Draft Review Report:A comprehensive document analyzing Rwanda's progress in implementing the UPR recommendations, including an assessment of gaps and challenges.
• Final Review Report:Incorporating feedback from make way consortium partners, relevant stakeholders, providing final recommendations, and suggesting next steps.
• Stakeholder Workshop:Organize a workshop to present findings and discuss recommendations with Make Way consortium partners, Government officials, Civil society, and Development partners.

METHODOLOGY

The review will include the following:

• Document Review:Examine relevant government reports, legislation, policies, strategies, and civil society submissions and works.
• Stakeholder Consultations:Engage with government ministries, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations, UN agencies, and other relevant partners.
• Field Visits (Optional):Depending on the scope of the recommendations, the consultant may visit selected areas to gather data on-ground.
• Dissemination of findings.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

• Government of Rwanda (including specific Ministries and departments).
• National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR).
• Civil society organizations (CSOs).
• Youth led organizations
• Make Way consortium partners.
• Development partners, UN agencies, and other international organizations.
• Media and academic institutions.

DURATION AND TIMELINE

After the procurement processes, the review including validation workshop is expected to take 3 weeks, starting from 24^th March 2025 to 16^th April 2025.

REPORTING LINE

The consultant will report directly to National Union of Disability Organizations in Rwanda (NUDOR: To Jean Baptiste MUREMA: Disability & Inclusion Advisor), who will oversee the review process and ensure that it aligns with Rwanda’s obligations under the UPR.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The consultant should have:

• Expertise in human rights law and mechanisms, particularly in relation to the UPR.
• Experience in conducting reviews or evaluations of human rights commitments.
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills.
• Familiarity with Rwanda’s legal and political context is highly desirable.
• Knowledge & experience working with health based institutions and organizations in Rwanda;
• Having knowledge and experience in health equity of persons with disabilities including access to SRHR services for persons with disabilities in particular;

The deadline for submitting your profiles is 21st March at 12:00 AM. All interested candidates are required to submit hard copies of their profiles/applications to the NUDOR Head Office, located at: KK 21 Av, House No 36, Niboye Sector, Kicukiro District, Kigali. Alternatively, applications can be sent via email to: info@nudor.org

• Applicants must submit their profilesin a sealed envelope.
• The application should include the total estimated budgetrequired to conduct the activity.
• Providing the full addressof your consultancy firm, company, or individual contact details is mandatory.

Done at Kigali, 26^th February 2025

NSENGIYUMVA Jean Damascene

Executive Secretary