Consultant

Objective

The primary objective of this consultancy work is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the preliminary research findings on gaps within the Ethiopian criminal code related to violence against women and children (VAWC). This analysis aims to ensure that conclusions are substantiated with additional data, aligned with international legal standards, and provide actionable recommendations for legislative and institutional reform to strengthen Ethiopia’s legal response to VAWC.

Specific Objectives

• Review and critically analyze existing research findings from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to identify key legal gaps and inconsistencies in the Ethiopian criminal code regarding VAWC.
• Substantiate research findings through additional data collection and analysis to reinforce conclusions and provide evidence-based insights.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of current legislative frameworks in addressing violence against women and children, incorporating criminological and sociological perspectives on gender-based crimes.
• Develop practical recommendations for legal reforms and institutional mechanisms to enhance the coordinated response to VAWC.
• Prepare a comprehensive report summarizing key findings, legislative gaps, and proposed amendments aimed at improving Ethiopia’s legal framework on VAWC.
• Engage with key stakeholders, including legal experts, policymakers, and gender specialists, to gather insights and ensure alignment with broader justice sector reforms.

Scope of work and deliverables

• Research Review & Validation
  • Critically assess the preliminary research findings and ensure methodological accuracy.
  • Validate conclusions through comparative legal analysis and relevant case studies including court cases.
  • Identify inconsistencies or gaps in the existing data and suggest improvements.
• Legal Gap Analysis
  • Analyses the gaps in the revised criminal code laws addressing VAWC.
  • Compare Ethiopia’s legal framework with international conventions and best practices.
  • Highlight vagueness, ambiguities, and areas requiring legislative amendments.
• Data Collection & Evidence Strengthening
  • Incorporate additional qualitative and quantitative data to substantiate findings, including court cases analysis.
  • Engage key stakeholders to capture firsthand experiences.
  • Use legal precedents including the FDRE Supreme court cassation decision and documented cases to support recommendations.
• Legislative & Policy Recommendations
  • Propose specific legal amendments to improve protection, prevention, and prosecution of VAWC-related crimes.
  • Suggest policy interventions that enhance survivor-centered justice mechanisms.
• Stakeholder Consultation & Validation
  • Based the guidance of the MoJ engage with relevant officials and stakeholders.
  • Incorporate feedback from stakeholders to refine the final outputs.
• Final Report & Presentation
  • Develop a comprehensive, well-documented final report with actionable policy recommendations in Amharic and its summary in English
  • Present findings to relevant government and UN agencies.
  • Provide a roadmap for implementation, including potential legal reform strategies.

Functional Competencies:

• Strong understanding of criminal law, gender-based violence legislations, and international human rights frameworks.
• Excellent ability to review, synthesize, and validate complex legal findings using both qualitative and quantitative methods
• Capacity to identify gaps and propose evidence-based legal and policy reforms.
• Ability to write in a clear and concise manner and to communicate effectively
• Ability to produce high-quality legal reports and policy recommendations that align with institutional frameworks
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback
• Meets deadlines for delivery of products or services
• Skills in advising institutions on legislative improvements and supporting policy implementation efforts.

Education and Certification:

• A master's degree in law, criminal law, criminology or related fields.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of professional experience in legal research, gender-based violence policy analysis, or human rights advocacy.
• Proven experience in criminal law and justice sector reform, particularly in addressing crimes against women and children.
• Expertise in legal gap analysis, legislative review, and drafting policy recommendations.
• Strong background in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, including case study analysis and stakeholder engagement.
• The consultant shall engage an additional expert or a team of experts with specialized knowledge in social research or the ability to incorporate sociological perspectives into the analysis of legal gaps.

Languages:

• Excellent knowledge of written and oral communication in English and Amharic.
• Capacity to communicate fluently with different stakeholders
• Computer skills: full command of Microsoft applications (word, excel, PowerPoint) and data encoding software.

Skills Required:

• Legal / Law