REVIEW THE GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE, TRAINER OF TRAINERS’ MANUAL FOR LOCAL COURTS AND TRADITIONAL COURT ADJUDICATORS

Job description

1.0.    INTRODUCTION

The National Legal Aid Clinic for Women (NLACW) is a Project of the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), which was established to provide affordable legal representation to women and children from marginalized social sectors. The overall objective of the NLACW is to empower women by facilitating their access to legal rights by way of legal representation, counselling, legal and human rights education as a distinct but integral part of the women’s movement.

In 2015, with support from the Governments of Sweden and Ireland under the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) and the United Nations (UN) Joint Programme on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Phase I, NLACW developed a Trainer of Trainers’ Manual focused on GBV case management for Local Courts and Traditional Courts. This initiative was driven by the recognition that many people in Zambia, particularly in rural areas, rely on traditional courts and local courts to resolved disputes, including GBV cases, due to limited access to formal. 

Traditional courts (which are under the jurisdiction of chiefs), administer customary law which varies from place to place. Customary law is applied in areas of person law which include marriage, divorce, inheritance and succession. Although the Constitution of Zambia provides that customary law which is administered should not be inconsistent with the Zambian Constitution or be repugnant to natural justice and morality, customary law is often in conflict with human rights and the written law.    

The Manual was therefore to designed to:

·      Increase knowledge of customary adjudicators on GBV

·      Promote gender sensitive and survivor centred decision making in the adjudication of cases

·      Promote referral to specialized GBV service providers based on survivor needs and safety

·      Strengthen coordination of GBV services at community level,

The Manual was reviewed in 2022 with support from the Governments of Sweden and Ireland under the GRZ-UN Joint Programme on GBV Phase II. However, in light of recent legal developments and the emergence of similar materials by other institutions, NLACW is seeking qualified individuals or organizations to review and update the manual to ensure its continued relevance, accuracy, and complementarity.                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2.0.    Objective of the Assignment

The objective is to:

·       Review the existing GBV case management manual

·       Compare it with other relevant manuals or training materials

·       Incorporate recent legal and policy developments

·       Ensure alignment with national GBV response frameworks and customary law practices

3.0.     Scope of Work

The selected reviewer(s) will:

·       Conduct a desk review of the current manual and related materials

·       Engage with relevant stakeholders

·       Identify content gaps, overlaps, and opportunities for improvement

·       Submit a revised version of the manual with tracked changes and a summary report

·       Conduct a stakeholder validation of the Manual

·       Submit the final Manual

4.0.     Eligibility and Qualifications

Interested parties should demonstrate:

·       Proven expertise in GBV case management, legal reform, or customary justice systems

·       Experience in developing or reviewing training materials/manuals

·       Strong understanding of the local legal and cultural context

·       Excellent writing and analytical skills

5.0.     Submission Requirements

Interested individuals or organizations should submit:

·       A brief Expression of Interest (max 3 pages) outlining relevant experience and approach

·       CV(s) of key personnel

·       At least two samples of similar work (or links) and include 2 References

·       Proposed budget estimate

6.0.    Duration

The consultancy is expected to be completed within 30 days from the date of contract signing.

7.0.    Submission Details

All applications must reach the National Legal Aid Clinic for Women before 14th November, 2025 at 17:00hours or via email to: nlacwlusaka@gmail.com

8.0.    Selection Process

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. Final selection will be based on qualifications, experience, and alignment with the assignment objectives.

Issued by the National Legal Aid Clinic for Women

Date of first issue: 5th November, 2025