Term of Reference for consultancy service To conduct Desk Research on the Gaps in the existing National Legal Instruments in Combating Modern Slavery, Human Trafficking and Child Labour in Ethiopia

Background  

Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO) is a non-governmental, non-profit making, non-partisan and membership-based organization legally registered by the Ethiopian civic society Agency with registration number 1146 and is currently working as a human rights civil society. EHRCO was established in October 1991 by 32 founding members from academia, business, and other professions. EHRCO is an organization that strives for the establishment of a Democratic system, the prevalence of the Rule of Law, and the respect of Human Rights. EHRCO works in situation monitoring, investigating, and reporting on Ethiopia’s human rights situation at its core. Furthermore, EHRCO investigates, documents, and reports on (often serious and widespread) human rights violations and has specialized in targeted monitoring such as prison, trial proceedings, free legal aid, and election monitoring. Additionally, EHRCO is involved in various projects and programs focusing on human rights and other issues related to human rights.

The Call

The Consortium of Ethiopian Human Rights Organization (CEHRO) is implementing a project from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Norway (NORAD) titled “Combating modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour in Ethiopia” with Action Aid Ethiopia, PHE Consortium, UEWCA, and EDA CEHRO sub-granted  two of its member organizations, the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO) and Ethiopian Labour Rights Watch (ELRW) to implement selected components of the project and carry out the activities envisioned by the project. Accordingly, EHRCO is assigned to conduct desk research on “The gaps in the existing national legal instruments on combating modern slavery”. To this end, EHRCO invites interested and qualified consultants to conduct this research.

Objective of the Research

With the overall objective of the project, to decrease the scale and prevalence of modern slavery, especially human trafficking, and child labor, the specific objective of the research is to understand and expose the gaps in the existing national legal instruments for combating modern slavery in Ethiopia (as compared with the international legal instruments and understood in the NORAD project) in collaboration with the Consortium of Ethiopian Human Rights Organizations (CEHRO). Accordingly, this call for applicants is directed at researchers or policy experts to design the methodology and conduct desk research to explore the gaps in the existing legal and policy frameworks of Ethiopia on combating modern slavery. More specifically the research aims to:

• Provide an overview of the current national policy and legal framework on combating modern slavery as compared with international legal instruments,
• Provide policy analysis and institutional structure to combat modern slavery,
• Identify and forward actionable policy recommendation to relevant government organs,
• Develop advocacy tool and strategy for combating modern slavery in Ethiopia that can be used by CSOs and media.

Scope of the Work

• Elaborate the methodology of the research in accordance with the objective of the assignment and based on the monitoring frameworks of EHRCO,
• Provide a detailed weekly work plan for all research activities.
• Conduct desk research in accordance with the agreed methodology, and agreed research plan,
• Elaborate in depth the results of the desk research, including the policy analysis and institutional frameworks,
• Prepare a draft and final report on the gaps in the existing national policy and legal framework on combating modern slavery as compared with international legal instruments,
• Elaborate on proposals of strategic priorities for CSOs engagement on advocacy for combating modern slavery,
• Recommendation of mechanisms to resolve identified legal and policy gaps;
• Recommendation how to strengthen the capacities of all stakeholders including the CSOs, government, the Media, private Business sector, and Labour Associations on combating modern slavery.
• Indicating mechanisms of realizing policy and legal reforms on combating modern slavery in Ethiopia,
• Present the findings of the research on a validation workshop, lead a discussion and a Q&A session with respective stakeholders.

Timeframe

• The awarded consultant(s) is expected to work and complete the assignment within the timeframe of the research project and the agreement between EHRCO and the awarded consultant(s).
• The exact starting date will be on the date of the agreement is signed between the client and the consultant
• Duration of the assignment will be from September 23, 2021 – November 19, 2021.
• The consultation workshop will be held in November 2021 and the Consultant is expected to present the finding of the research on this workshop.

Applicant Qualification

• Consultant(s) that are interested and qualified in this work are required to have the following qualifications:
• Master degree in Human Rights, Sociology, Political Science or related fields, expertise on modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour,
• A minimum 5 years of experience in researching or policy analysis experience,
• Research or policy analysis experience on issues related to combating modern slavery is a value,
• Solid experience and extensive knowledge of Ethiopia’s legal system, legal rules, principles and institutional structures,
• Relevant experience in preparing strategies for policy or legal reforms,
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of legal, socio-economic, political and cultural context of Ethiopia, and the working environment of CSOs,
• Excellent written and spoken skills in English,
• Proven experience of providing training and excellent communication skills,
• Proven ability to adapt the research plan to challenges and opportunities emerging during the research,
• Proven ability to multi-task and ability to deliver under tight deadlines,
• Awareness and sensitivity of gender and social inclusion.

Documentation Required

• Technical proposal including CV and experience certificate(s),
• Financial proposal,
• Legal license including TIN certificate