Consultancy opportunity for Technical Assistance under the Ethiopia Hotspot Building Survivor-Led Leadership and Sisterhood Capacity Strengthening for women survivors and Returnee leaders

The Freedom Fund has been supporting the collectivization of women survivor and migrant worker led groups in Ethiopia since 2022. This has been executed through both unrestricted grants, access to conference and donor convening opportunities as well as incorporation into regular program activities through specific projects and deliverables.

In 2025 The Freedom Fund Ethiopia Hotspot began a new program of work with the goal of increasing Domestic Workers (DWs) protection through their migration journey from their country of origin (COO) to their country of destination (COD) and strengthen the reintegration of returnees and survivors of trafficking in Ethiopia. We envision survivor and migrant workers themselves spearheading this work.

Central to this vision is the leadership of survivors and migrant workers themselves. FF is committed to supporting these leaders by equipping them with the tools, skills and knowledge necessary to lead this work effectively and sustainably.

At the heart of this approach is a focus on Transformative Leadership. Survivor-led organizations, in collaboration with the Freedom Fund, have identified transformative leadership as a critical capacity area to strengthen. This includes adopting non-hierarchical and participatory leadership models, practicing trauma-informed safeguarding and protection, and engaging in strategic planning that centers lived experience and shared ownership.

The Freedom Fund has experienced of fostering more Inclusive and resilient anti-slavery movement by investing in the leadership of people most affected by exploitation. The Freedom Fund designed and rolled out in India, Nepal and Brazil a curriculum program called Freedom Rising. This curriculum set out to train and support frontline leaders – particularly women, survivors and individuals from marginalized backgrounds – on transformative leadership providing them with the skills, resilience and relationships needed to tackle the root causes and consequences of modern slavery.

Transformative leadership aims to empower individuals to lead with authenticity, foster collective decision-making, and build resilient, inclusive movements that are capable of driving systemic change. This leadership model nurtures self-awareness, mutual accountability, and a commitment to the well-being and growth of all members.
The aim of this consultancy Is to adapt this curriculum to Ethiopia considering the local contextual reality and the resource constraints of the Freedom Fund in Ethiopia.

Below we provide further details and outline the process for interested individuals to apply.

Introduction to the Freedom Fund and its work in Ethiopia

The Freedom Fund is a global non-profit organization that identifies and invests in the most effective frontline efforts to eradicate modern slavery in the countries and sectors where it is most prevalent. We work with frontline organizations to help protect vulnerable populations, liberate and reintegrate those enslaved and prosecute those responsible.

Through our innovative hotspot model, we convene strategically aligned networks of anti-slavery NGOs in high prevalence areas of Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya and Nepal and began developing programs in Uganda, Nigeria, and the Brazilian Amazon. Since our launch in 2014, our programs have impacted over 1.6 million lives. Our partner organizations have liberated more than 31,000 individuals from slavery, placed nearly 200,000 at-risk children in school and supported over 7,000 legal cases. In Ethiopia, our hotspot program was launched in July 2015 to combat the domestic servitude of Ethiopian women and girls migrating to the Middle East. Our head office is based in London, but the Freedom Fund is also a registered organisation (NGO) in Ethiopia.

Introduction to the Freedom Fund Ethiopia Hotspot

The Freedom Fund Ethiopia hotspot has two main programs addressing Child Domestic Servitude and Safer Migration for Women.

Under the Safer Migration program we work with anti-slavery and survivor-led organizations, communities, and survivors to reduce the risk of exploitation and improve the physical and mental health of Ethiopian women migrating to the Middle East as domestic workers. We also work with Ethiopian migrant workers groups in the Gulf countries to better respond to and address the issue of exploitation and servitude.

• Over the past eight years, our work has contributed to several key outcomes, including:
• Greater community awareness of safer migration practices and the risks associated with irregular migration, especially among at-risk populations.
• Improved migration systems in Ethiopia, with more accessible services for women and improved recruitment practices to be more compliant with the anti-trafficking and overseas migration legal framework.
• Stronger civil society including the establishment of survivor-led organizations advocating for improved protection of migrant workers and positively influencing practices in the migration space.
• Better reintegration services for returnees, both in terms of access and quality.

We are now transitioning from a focus on safer migration systems to promoting decent work for returnees and strengthening the collective voices of survivor leaders in the migration space.
It is within this context that we are launching these Terms of Reference (ToR), aimed at strengthening survivor leadership and enhancing their ability to collaborate effectively.

Purpose and scope of this consultancy

The Freedom Fund seeks to engage a consultant for a one-year period to work closely with its Ethiopia team and the Freedom Rising Program Technical Advisor to develop an adapted leadership curriculum and strengthen transformative leadership within the Ethiopia survivor-led coalition. This coalition—comprised of four core survivor-led organizations with a growing membership—aspire to play a central role in advancing the reintegration and empowerment of returnees and survivors of trafficking in Ethiopia.

This consultancy is grounded in the belief that transformative leadership is key to sustaining and expanding the survivor movement. The primary objective is to foster survivor-led leadership that is inclusive, trauma-informed, value-driven, and capable of driving systemic change. As such, the consultant will focus on co-developing a tailored curriculum and delivering a capacity-strengthening process aimed at enhancing how survivors lead, collaborate, and might in the future work collectively to achieve common goals.

Objectives of the assignment

The consultancy aims to work with survivors of exploitation and strengthen their survivor-led leadership by co-creating a transformative leadership curriculum and supporting survivors in building inclusive, trauma-informed, and collaborative leadership practices.

Scope of Work

The selected consultant, in partnership with the Freedom Fund Ethiopia team and the Freedom Rising Program Technical Advisor, will lead a participatory, survivor-centered capacity-strengthening process focused on transformative leadership. This process will support the survivor leaders to deepen their leadership competencies, foster solidarity, and embed inclusive, trauma-informed practices that enhance collective action and sustainability.

The consultancy will involve the following core components:

Co-Design of a Transformative Leadership Curriculum

• Collaborate with the survivor-leaders from the coalition and the Freedom Fund’s technical advisor and team in Ethiopia to co-create a tailored leadership curriculum grounded in the Freedom Rising model and adapted to the Ethiopian context.
• Review and adapt the existing curriculum designed by Freedom Fund and contextualize it.
• Ensure the curriculum reflects the lived experiences, aspirations, and intersectional identities of survivors, integrating local values, language, and cultural nuances.

Delivery of Capacity Strengthening Activities

Facilitate a structured series of workshops and mentoring sessions to strengthen transformative leadership among leaders from the coalition. Topics will include:

Non-hierarchical and participatory leadership models that promote shared ownership and collective accountability, including approaches that recognize diverse leadership experiences and promote equitable participation.

Trauma-informed safeguarding and protection practices to ensure emotional safety, healing-centered engagement, and ethical leadership.
Team-building and “sisterhood” activities that foster trust, emotional resilience, and a sense of collective identity among coalition members.

Peer mentorship frameworks to support emerging leaders and enable experienced members to guide and nurture new survivor-led individuals and groups.

Ongoing Mentorship

• Provide structured mentorship and coaching to coalition leaders to reinforce learning, offer tailored support, and address emerging challenges.
• Lead regular reflection sessions to review progress, surface learning, and adapt the approach based on feedback and evolving coalition dynamics.
• Strengthen the leaders’ ability to collaborate and engage new survivor leaders, and contribute to a broader coalition of members
• This consultancy represents a critical investment in strengthening survivor-led leadership in Ethiopia. Through a participatory and context-responsive approach, the consultant will help lay the foundation for a resilient, inclusive, and impactful survivor movement.

Specific Deliverables

Inception Report

A detailed work plan outlining objectives, methodology, timeline, and engagement approach for the 12-month consultancy.

Tailored Transformative Leadership Curriculum

A context-specific, survivor-centered curriculum co-created through participatory workshops and listening sessions, few training sessions, incorporating themes like non-hierarchical leadership model, trauma-informed safeguarding or peer mentorship strategies will be developed in partnership with the Freedom Rising technical advisor. Facilitated Learning Sessions

Delivery of a series of interactive, participatory workshops, covering the core elements of transformative leadership, including trust-building and “sisterhood” activities.

Reflection and Learning Reports

• Briefs or summaries after each major workshop or activity, capturing key learnings, participant feedback, and proposed adaptations.
• Mid-point reflection report outlining progress, challenges, and recommendations for strengthening impact.

Final Synthesis Report

A comprehensive report that includes:

• Summary of activities delivered and tools developed
• Impact assessment based on participant feedback and outcomes
• Lessons learned and strategic recommendations for sustaining and/or scaling transformative leadership within the survivor-led movement

The format of the final report can be agreed upon with the Freedom Fund team.

Qualifications and Experience

The Freedom Fund seeks an experienced, thoughtful, and committed consultant with a track record of working alongside grassroots movements, particularly survivor-led and women-led groups. The successful candidate will demonstrate a deep commitment to transformative leadership, participatory practice, and trauma-informed methodologies that reflect the lived experiences of survivors.

Essential Experience and Skills (to be demonstrated in the proposal):

Transformative Leadership & Facilitation

• Background in designing and facilitating participatory, non-hierarchical leadership development processes.
• Demonstrated experience in trauma-informed and survivor-centered capacity strengthening.
• Ability to create inclusive, reflective, and empowering learning spaces for grassroots leaders.

Curriculum Development & Co-Creation

• Proven ability to collaboratively design leadership development tools, curricula, or learning materials that center community and survivor voices.
• Experience localizing global frameworks to national contexts, particularly within social justice or movement-building settings.

Contextual Understanding & Movement Engagement

• In-depth knowledge of Ethiopia’s socio-political context, with sensitivity to the structural barriers faced by women, migrants, and survivors of trafficking.
• Established relationships or experience working with community-based organizations, survivor-led initiatives, or women’s rights movements in Ethiopia.

Mentoring & Peer Learning

• Skilled in supporting the emergence of new grassroots leaders.
• Ability to support group facilitation, collective reflection, and organizational development.

Language & Communication

• Excellent written and spoken communication in both English and Amharic.
• Ability to convey complex or sensitive ideas in accessible, empowering language for diverse audiences.

Desirable experience with Survivors and Safer Migration Initiatives

• Proven experience working directly with survivors of exploitation, trafficking, or forced labor, with a strong understanding of ethical engagement and safeguarding.
• Knowledge of or involvement in safer migration programs and survivor reintegration initiatives, ideally within the Horn of Africa or similar contexts.
• Demonstrated ability to support survivor-led organizing and elevate grassroots voices in migration-related advocacy and leadership work

Personal Attributes

• Deeply respectful and power-aware, with a strong commitment to equity, survivor leadership, and creating safe, inclusive environments.
• Skilled in building trusted relationships across differences, facilitating meaningful participation, and fostering shared ownership.
• Self-driven and adaptable, able to navigate complexity with clarity and care.
• Creative, solution-oriented, and detail-conscious—able to balance strategic vision with effective execution.
• Based in Ethiopia and available to travel to Addis Ababa and potentially other program sites as needed