RFP - Support Access to Sustainable Livelihood Options for Survivors of Human Trafficking and Debt Bondage

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RFP - Support Access to Sustainable Livelihood Options for Survivors of Human Trafficking and Debt Bondage

About the Organization:

The Freedom Fund is a public charity and philanthropic initiative dedicated to identifying and investing in the most effective frontline efforts to end slavery. The Freedom Fund currently supports over 120 partners in seven hotspots in India, Nepal, Thailand and Ethiopia. In addition, the Fund has also launched global initiatives on supply chains, strategic litigation, the treatment of mental trauma and safer migration.

Summary: 

The Freedom Fund seeks an independent consultant or agency to support access to sustainable livelihood options for survivors of human trafficking and debt bondage. The consultant would work closely with Freedom Fund partners in the participant selection and then jointly identify and access opportunities to set up small businesses or formal employment opportunities. The assignment should take place over the course of 14 months starting February 2021.

Background to the Freedom Fund in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh:

The Freedom Fund is a leader in the global movement to end trafficking and forced labour. They identify and invest in the most effective frontline efforts to address this issue in high-prevalence countries and sectors. Partnering with visionary investors, governments, non-government organizations and those at risk of exploitation, we tackle the systems that allow extreme exploitation to persist and thrive. Working together, we protect vulnerable populations, liberate and reintegrate survivors and prosecute those responsible. Through our innovative hotspot model, we convene strategically aligned networks of NGOs working to address trafficking and forced labour in high prevalence areas of Nepal, India, Thailand, Ethiopia and Myanmar to multiply the capacity, impact and influence of frontline partners.

The Freedom Fund has been supporting service delivery organisations in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to reduce human trafficking, bonded labour and harmful child labour since 2015. The program’s next phase will build on the program’s achievements and learnings so far to inform more intensive efforts to engage government systems for state-wide impact to address the exploitation of children in the two states.

Goal of the Assignment:

Goal: To support access to sustainable livelihood options for survivors human trafficking and debt bondage

Project Deliverables:

This assignment will be implemented over a period of 14 months in close collaboration with the FF programs team and FF implementing partners. The Activity; Outputs; Timing are stated below -

Map the operating environment and assess all Schemes related to government economic support including micro-loans, micro-grant etc.: Support survivors who qualify to apply for these Schemes, including assisting interested individuals to prepare the required application materials and business development plans

• Output: 60% of applications should be successful
• Timing: February to December 2021

Facilitate micro-grants: In collaboration with implementing partners, select recipients of these micro-grants (individual survivors). Support implementing partners in setting up revolving funds and disbursing the resources to survivors

• Output: 70% of micro-grants should result in sustainable businesses
• Timing: February to June 2021

Creating access to formal employment: With the support of implementing partners, identify employment or apprenticeships schemes available to survivors and support their application process.

• Output: 60% of applications are successful
• Timing: February to December 2021

Mentoring/ Follow-up: Provide mentoring support to project participants as they manage their new business or participate in employment programs.

• Output: Number of project participants earn a new income at the end of the 12 months period.
• Timing: Throughout the project

Essential Qualities and Experience:

The consultant or consultancy team must have the following attributes:

• Experience working with survivors of trafficking or forced labour.
• Strong background in designing and implementing livelihood support interventions (small business and employment)
• Strong background in enabling access to government schemes that offer economic support to marginalized communitiesf
• Excellent understanding of the operating context specifically
• Very strong facilitation skills
• Experience working with community-based organisations, including training and mentoring.
• Excellent communication skills and fluency in written and spoken Hindi and English

Application:

Interested parties should prepare an application of no more than 5 pages plus annexes if they are needed.

If you would like to apply for this consultancy, please send your application to Michelle Mendonca at mmendonca@freedomfund.org by no later than 21 January 2021.

If you have any questions about this consultancy, please contact Michelle Mendonca at mmendonca@freedomfund.org.

• Applications should contain the following sections:
• Outline of approach addressing the deliverables/ activities listed in the ‘Terms of Reference’ section above. Please be sure to include a proposed methodology and timeline/ workplan.
• Professional experience: a list of relevant previous professional assignments.
• Consultancy fees, detailing high level budget lines.
• Three professional references