[Hiring] Consultancy: Development and Presentation of a Research Paper on Delivering Justice for Sexual Offences Survivors in Sierra Leone @Equality Now

Role Description

Equality Now seeks to engage a consultant (preferably a current or retired Judge of the Model Sexual Offences Court in Sierra Leone, or a senior State Counsel / Practising lawyer with extensive experience in guiding the investigation and prosecution of sexual offences cases in Sierra Leone) to:

• Develop a well-researched, authoritative paper titled: “Delivering Justice for Survivors of Offences in Sierra Leone: Achievements and Lessons of the Family Support Unit (FSU) and the Model Sexual Offences Courts in Bo, Kenema, Western Rural, and Freetown districts with Comparative Perspectives from Africa and South-South, South American and Asia regions”.
• Present the paper during the convening on 7th October 2026, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Key tasks include:

• Conduct a focused desk review and analysis of the roles of the Family Support Unit (FSU) and the Model Sexual Offences Courts specifically in Bo, Kenema, Western Rural, and Freetown districts; with a specific focus on barriers to access to justice for survivors of rape.
• Assess achievements, operational challenges, survivor experiences, coordination with support services, and lessons learned in these locations.
• Provide a comparative analysis of selected African and South-South Latin American and Asian models (including Kenya’s Gender Justice Courts, South Africa’s Sexual Offences Courts & Thuthuzela Centres, Rwanda’s Isange One Stop Centres, Colombia, etc.).
• Highlight good practices, systemic gaps, and actionable recommendations for strengthening these institutions.
• Incorporate relevant case studies and court jurisprudence from concluded cases from the FSU and the model Sexual Offences in the listed districts and locus classicus cases at the national level.
• Deliver the final paper in a clear, policy-oriented format suitable for high-level judicial, civil society and government audiences.
• Present the paper (20–25 minutes) during the convening, followed by a moderated discussion.

Qualifications

• Significant judicial or prosecutorial experience in SGBV / sexual offences matters, with familiarity with the operations of the FSU and Model Sexual Offences Courts in Bo, Kenema, Western Rural, and Freetown.
• Strong analytical and writing skills with a proven track record of authoring policy papers or judgments.
• Excellent presentation and public speaking skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to survivor-centred and trauma-informed justice.

Requirements

• Inception report outlining the proposed structure, methodology, and focus on the four locations (Bo, Kenema, Western Rural, Freetown).
• Draft paper (maximum 15 - 20 pages) for review and feedback.
• Final paper, incorporating comments from Equality Now and its partners, is ready for publication and dissemination.
• PowerPoint presentation for delivery at the convening.
• Presentation of the paper during the convening on 7th October 2026.

Budget

• Total consultancy fee: 2,500 USD inclusive of all applicable taxes.

Payment Schedule

• 30% upon approval of Inception Report.
• 40% upon submission and approval of Draft Paper.
• 30% upon submission of Final Paper, presentation slides, and successful delivery at the convening.

Submission Requirements

• A brief proposal (2 pages) outlining their approach and understanding of the assignment, with specific reference to the four locations.
• Updated CV highlighting relevant legal/judicial/prosecutorial experience.
• Sample of previous written work (judgment, policy paper, or article).

Application Deadline

• 31st July 2026.