Consultancy: Conducting Interviews with Survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and rape, in Sierra Leone and publishing a compendium on Amplifying Survivor Voices

TERMS OF REFERENCE

CONSULTANCY:Conducting Interviews with Survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and rape, in Sierra Leone and publishing a compendium on Amplifying Survivor Voices

1. Background

Equality Now is a worldwide human rights organisation dedicated to securing the legal and systemic change needed to end discrimination against all women and girls, everywhere in the world. Working with partners at national, regional and global levels, Equality Now draws on deep legal expertise and a diverse range of social, political and cultural perspectives to continue to lead the way in steering, shaping and driving the change needed to achieve enduring gender equality to the benefit of all.

As part of its Rape Laws in Africa initiative, Equality Now, in collaboration with WAVES Sierra Leone, Defence for Children International Sierra Leone (DCI-SL), and Child Welfare Society Sierra Leone (CWS-SL), is undertaking a survivor-centred documentation study. The study aims to produce a high-quality publication titled“Amplifying Survivor Voices: Interviews with Survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and rape in Sierra Leone”.

This publication is aimed at documenting survivors' experiences with the Family Support Unit (FSU) of the Sierra Leone Police and the Model Sexual Offences Courts in four districts, namely Bo, Kenema, Western Rural Area, and Freetown districts of Sierra Leone. The testimonies will centre the lived experiences of survivors (both girls and adult women), to highlight systemic gaps in accessing justice and generate powerful evidence for advocacy, policy reform, and legal justice institutional strengthening, focusing on the FSU and the model Sexual Offences Courts.

The final report will also be presented during the high-level convening in October 2026 to help set the scene on SGBV, including rape and access to justice for survivors in Sierra Leone.

2. Scope of Assignment

The consultancy team will be responsible for conducting sensitive, ethical, and trauma-informed interviews with survivors of SGBV, including rape in Bo, Kenema, Western Rural, and Freetown districts.

Specific tasks include:

• Develop interview tools and methodology in consultation with Equality Now, WAVES Sierra Leone, Defence for Children International Sierra Leone (DCI-SL), and Child Welfare Society Sierra Leone (CWS-SL).
• Conduct in-depth, confidential interviews with the survivors of SGBV and rape (girls and adult women), ensuring balanced geographical representation across Bo, Kenema, Western Rural, and Freetown, with strict adherence to safeguarding, “Do No Harm”, and child protection principles and Equality Now policies on interviews with survivors.
• Work closely with local partners (WAVES, DCI-SL, and CWS-SL) for survivor identification, consent processes, and safe interview spaces in the four locations.
• Transcribe, analyze, and anonymise interviews.
• Share proposed outline of the report for approval before preparing the draft.
• Draft the study report, including survivor narratives, key themes, and recommendations, with clear reference to location-specific findings and patterns.
• Ensure all work is gender-sensitive, trauma-informed, and culturally appropriate.

3. Deliverables

The key deliverables of the consultancy are as follows:

• Inception report with detailed methodology, interview guide, safeguarding and ethical protocol, and work plan (with clear breakdown per location).
• Conduct a minimum of 20–30 high-quality, in-depth interviews (with balanced representation across Bo, Kenema, Western Rural, and Freetown, and across age groups).
• Clean, anonymised transcripts of all interviews.
• Draft the study report (“Amplifying Survivor Voices: Interviews with Survivors of SGBV and rape in Sierra Leone”), including survivor narratives, analysis of key themes (with location-specific insights), and actionable recommendations.
• Final edited and ready-to-publish report, incorporating feedback from Equality Now and partners.
• Presentation of the final report during the high-level convening in October 2026, in Freetown, Sierra Leone(TBC).

4. Timeline

The consultancy will run from 1st August to 15th October 2026.

1. Outcomes

The assignment will result in the following overarching outcomes:

• A powerful, survivor-centred publication that amplifies the voices of SGBV and rape survivors in Sierra Leone, with strong representation from Bo, Kenema, Western Rural, and Freetown.
• Strengthened evidence base for advocacy to improve implementation of rape laws and access to justice.
• Enhanced capacity of local partners in ethical survivor documentation and storytelling.
• Contribution to setting the national scene on SGBV and access to justice through presentation at the October convening.

6. Qualifications and Experience

The consultancy team must consist oftwo consultants:

• Lead consultant: One Media / Communications Specialist with proven experience in survivor storytelling, narrative development, and report writing.
• One Child Psychosocial Counsellor / Psychologist with strong experience in working with child survivors of SGBV.

Required qualifications for the team:

• Demonstrated experience conducting ethical, trauma-informed interviews with SGBV survivors, especially children.
• Strong understanding of child protection, safeguarding, and “Do No Harm” principles.
• Excellent writing and editing skills, with a proven portfolio of similar survivor reports or human rights documentation.
• Deep knowledge of the Sierra Leone context, particularly SGBV, including rape and the justice system in Bo, Kenema, Western Rural, and Freetown.
• Fluency in English and Krio (additional local languages an advantage).
• Strong ethical standards and ability to maintain confidentiality.

7. Budget

The total amount for the assignment, inclusive of all applicable taxes, is 3,500 USD.

8. Payment Schedule

Payment will be made upon submission and written approval of the following deliverables:

• 30% upon approval of the Inception Report
• 40% upon completion of interviews and submission of transcripts
• 30% upon approval of the final compendium report and successful presentation at the October convening

Interested applicants should submit toequalitynownairobi@equalitynow.org and copy jmurunga@equalitynow.org:

• A brief technical proposal (3–4 pages) outlining the approach, methodology, and team composition, with clear attention to the four locations (Bo, Kenema, Western Rural, and Freetown).
• CVs of both team members detailing relevant experience.
• Sample of similar work (e.g., survivor interview compendiums or human rights reports).

Application Deadline: 31st July 2026