23 April, 2021
CALL FOR CONSULTANTS : SCOPING STUDY TO CREATE AN UBUNTU HUB CITY IN CAPE VERDE

Background

African human rights defenders (HRDs) face a spectrum of interlocking challenges that often create a hostile working environment. They often face restrictions on their own rights and freedoms as they attempt to carry out their advocacy work. In some cases, these restrictions escalate into threats on HRDs’ lives, prompting urgent relocation from the countries they are based in. The Ubuntu Hub Cities initiative was created with the aim of providing these HRDs with options for safe internal and external relocation without having to leave the continent.

The Ubuntu Hub Cities initiative enables HRDs who have been subject to threats, violence and extreme pressure as a consequence of their human rights work to temporarily relocate. In addition to ensuring the physical and mental well-being of HRDs, the Ubuntu Hub Cities initiative aims to enable HRDs to continue their work. Through diverse local partnerships (government departments, national human rights institutions, universities, civil society, human rights experts, etc.), relocation also provides an opportunity for HRDs at risk to learn and share experiences, so that they can have a positive impact on the host community and return home with enhanced capacities to protect and promote human rights.

Building on previous experiences, AfricanDefenders is looking to hire a consultant to scope the possibility of expanding further Praia (Cape Verde) as Ubuntu Hub City. The consultant will particularly identify the support structures and services needed to address the challenges HRDs may face during the relocation process and the collaboration needed of a range of state and non-state actors such as governments and HRD networks.

Objectives

1. Scope the possibility of expanding further Praia (Cape Verde) as Ubuntu Hub City ;
2. Conduct a consultation in order to identify concrete steps for the further implementation of the Ubuntu Hub Cities initiative in Praia (Cape Verde), including the roles and responsibilities of different actors ;

Call for consultancy

AfricanDefenders is hereby seeking a consultant to conduct the scoping study for the creation of an Ubuntu Hub City in Praia (Cape Verde). The consultant must be a practitioner, specialist or analyst, with appropriate university degrees, not below a Masters degree. The consultant will be expected to show proven records and evidence of past activities in Cape Verde. AfricanDefenders is specifically seeking applications from experienced and qualified protection assessment specialists.

The Consultancy will be supervised by the Secretariat of AfricanDefenders.

Terms of reference

The consultant shall produce a report assessing the feasibility of designing and implementing a functional and effective relocation programme for HRDs facing imminent risk through the creation of a Hub City in Praia (Cape Verde)

Deliverables

Report on matters set out above in the terms of reference.

Time frame/Reporting

The Consultant will submit a draft scoping study to the Secretariat of AfricanDefenders before 7 May 2021. The final draft will be completed by 14 May 2021. All the reports generated in this study will become properties of AfricanDefenders.

Remuneration

The Consultancy will attract a reasonable remuneration. Applicants are however expected to provide a budget that includes their proposed remuneration in the application. The selected consultant will be paid 30% of the agreed consultancy fees upon signing the Agreement, another 30% upon receipt of the draft report and the balance upon the receipt of the final report.

Application process

Interested consultants should submit their applications electronically, including full Curricula Vitae (detailing qualifications and work experience), work-plan and budget, by email to [email protected]  and copy [email protected].