The Freedom Fund (freedomfund.org) is a global non-profit organisation that identifies and invests in the most effective frontline efforts to eradicate human trafficking and exploitation. One of our main strategies is to support long-term “hotspot” programs in areas with a high incidence of modern slavery, through which clusters of community-based organisations come together to identify and address the root causes of exploitation. Hotspot programs seek to bring about a sustained and measurable reduction in prevalence of modern slavery, through systemic change, led by the affected communities, workers and survivors.
Following a scoping study and consultation with local organisations and government bodies, the Freedom Fund is now starting an inception year, with a view to a possible longer-term hotspot, and will initially be working in two districts of the Karamoja region of Uganda. Key issues of slavery in the region, identified through the scoping study and further visits, are: child marriage, child trafficking for street work and commercial sexual exploitation, child labour in mining and as Karamojong child warriors. The hotspot aims to address these issues, especially through seeking greater voice, hope and power of girls and women in the region.
The intervention development research will use participatory methods to enable affected communities, local organisations and the Freedom Fund to i) prioritise which forms of exploitation and modern slavery should be the main focus of the program in these districts (one or all of the ones mentioned above); ii) which interventions and program components should be prioritised, bearing in mind the major intersecting issues driving vulnerability such as gender discrimination, food security and climate change; iii) what are the traditions, narratives and cultural beliefs that could be mobilised as assets to the program; and iv) which of the key actors and influencers we should invest most attention in.
Organisations or consortia are invited to submit proposals for this research. Applicants must have the capacity to conduct field work in the Karamoja region, and applicants fully or partially based in and led from Uganda will be prioritised. The Freedom Fund is particularly interested in working with teams that can demonstrate: (a) having members who are from the local communities where the research will take place (b) a gender-balanced team, and (c) commitment to and experience of participatory and survivor-inclusive research.
How to apply
Interested parties should prepare a proposal of no more than 6 pages plus CVs and annexes. Proposals should contain the following sections: 1. Short biography of project lead(s) and key team members, outlining relevant subject matter expertise and prior experience leading similar participatory research projects. CV(s) of the project lead(s) should be included in the annex. Past report(s) from similar projects could be included as a link or in a separate annex. 2. Methodology, addressing the topics listed in the ‘Research methodology’ section of this document. This may include possible participatory approaches or types of tools that might be used. 3. Team structure, defining the role and time commitment of key project team members. 4. High-level work plan with timing of key project deliverables and proposed format of final report. 5. Proposed budget in USD. The proposal must be written in English and sent electronically in Microsoft Office or PDF format. For more details, please see the link: https://freedomfund.org/wp-content/uploads/RFP_ParticipatoryResearchChildExploitationUganda.pdf
Proposals should be submitted via email to Ginny Baumann, gbaumann@freedomfund.org no later than Monday 29 April, 5pm East Africa Time. The proposal must be written in English and sent electronically in Microsoft Office or PDF format. Proposals should be no more than 6 pages, plus CVs and annexes.