CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST CONSULTANCY TO DEVELOP A PUBLICATION ON STRATEGIC LAWSUITS AGAINST PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (SLAPPs) IN ZIMBABWE.

1. Background A human rights organisation seeks to engage a suitably qualified and experienced consultant to undertake legal research and develop a comprehensive publication examining the use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) in Zimbabwe, particularly within the context of environmental protection, natural resource governance and environmental and climate justice. SLAPPs generally refer to civil or criminal legal proceedings instituted or pursued primarily to intimidate, silence or discourage individuals and organisations from exercising their rights to public participation, freedom of expression and access to justice on matters of public interest. Such proceedings may have significant implications for environmental human rights defenders, affected communities, civil society organisations and other actors seeking accountability for environmental harm. The proposed publication will critically examine the nature, use and implications of SLAPPs in Zimbabwe, drawing primarily on domestic legislation, jurisprudence and relevant public interest litigation. Regional and international legal standards and comparative jurisprudence will be considered to inform the analysis and identify lessons applicable to Zimbabwe. The publication is intended to contribute to legal scholarship, inform strategic litigation and advocacy, and identify opportunities for strengthening the capacity of judicial officers and legal practitioners to recognise and effectively address SLAPPs, particularly in environmental and climate justice matters. 2. Purpose of the Consultancy The consultancy seeks to produce a comprehensive, analytically rigorous and evidence-based legal publication examining the use of SLAPPs in Zimbabwe, with particular emphasis on their implications for environmental and climate justice, the protection of environmental human rights defenders, access to justice and the administration of justice. The publication should further identify existing legal and institutional gaps within Zimbabwe's legal framework and propose practical recommendations for strengthening judicial and legal practitioner capacity to recognise, prevent and respond to SLAPPs. Duties and responsibilities TERMS OF REFERENCE 4. Scope of Work The consultant will be expected to undertake comprehensive legal research and analysis covering the following areas: 4.1 Conceptual and Legal Understanding of SLAPPs Examine the concept, nature and defining characteristics of SLAPPs, including their use as instruments of intimidation, judicial harassment and the suppression of public participation in matters concerning environmental protection, natural resource governance and climate justice. The analysis should further consider the use of criminal proceedings and the abuse of prosecutorial power as potential mechanisms for intimidating, harassing or silencing environmental human rights defenders and other public interest actors. 4.2 Legal and Institutional Frameworks Analyse Zimbabwe's constitutional, legislative and institutional frameworks governing freedom of expression, public participation, access to justice, environmental rights and the protection of human rights defenders. The analysis should identify existing legal safeguards, procedural mechanisms and gaps in addressing SLAPPs within the domestic legal system. 4.3 Jurisprudential Analysis Conduct a critical examination of relevant Zimbabwean jurisprudence and case studies, including cases litigated by human rights organisations and other public interest actors, and the initiation or pursuit of criminal proceedings and potential abuse of prosecutorial power, to assess how judicial processes have been used, or potentially misused, to discourage environmental advocacy, public interest litigation and the exercise of constitutionally protected rights. The analysis should distinguish established instances of SLAPPs from other forms of litigation or judicial harassment that may exhibit similar characteristics. 4.4 Regional and International Comparative Perspectives Examine relevant African regional and international human rights standards, jurisprudence and comparative approaches to preventing and addressing SLAPPs, identifying emerging principles, good practices and lessons applicable to Zimbabwe. 4.5 Implications for Access to Justice and Environmental Rights Assess the implications of SLAPPs for the administration of justice, judicial independence, access to effective remedies and the ability of environmental human rights defenders, communities and civil society organisations to participate meaningfully in environmental decision-making. 4.6 Judicial and Legal Practitioner Capacitation Identify knowledge and capacity gaps among judicial officers and legal practitioners in recognising, adjudicating and responding to SLAPPs. The publication should consider opportunities for targeted judicial education, continuing legal education, professional training and the development of appropriate legal and procedural safeguards. 4.7 Recommendations Develop practical, evidence-based recommendations for strengthening Zimbabwe's legal and institutional responses to SLAPPs, including recommendations directed at the judiciary, legal practitioners, policymakers, civil society organisations and other relevant stakeholders. 5. Methodology and Publication Framework The consultant will be expected to employ a rigorous legal research methodology, incorporating desk- based research, a detailed analysis of Zimbabwean legislation and jurisprudence, case studies drawn from Zimbabwean legal proceedings, and a targeted review of relevant regional and international comparative legal standards and practices. The methodology must examine criminal proceedings as possible mechanisms for suppressing public participation, including the conduct and duration of proceedings and their effects on affected persons. It must also examine how legal processes operate in practice, distinguishing formal legal safeguards from their implementation and assessing whether procedural practices may have a chilling effect on environmental advocacy and other public interest activities. Findings should be grounded in verifiable court records, case materials and other credible evidence. Guidance on the overall thematic focus, scope and proposed structure of the publication will be provided by the commissioning organisation. Notwithstanding this guidance, applicants are expected to demonstrate their independent understanding of the assignment by submitting a preliminary proposed publication framework as part of their expression of interest. The framework should outline the envisaged structure, key thematic areas, research questions and relevant Zimbabwean case studies, criminal proceedings, practical operation of legal processes, and legal and jurisprudential issues to be examined, together with any proposed comparative perspectives The successful consultant will subsequently be required to develop and refine this framework within the inception report, taking into account guidance and feedback provided by the commissioning organisation. 6. Expected Deliverables The consultant will be required to produce the following deliverables: 6.1 Inception Report An inception report outlining the proposed research methodology, detailed publication framework, key research questions, relevant Zimbabwean case studies, criminal proceedings, practical legal-process evidence, legal and jurisprudential sources, proposed comparative materials , incorporating guidance from the commissioning organisation. 6.2 Draft Publication A comprehensive draft publication presenting the legal and jurisprudential analysis of SLAPPs in Zimbabwe, incorporating relevant domestic case law, supporting regional and international comparative perspectives, identified gaps and practical recommendations. 6.3 Final Publication A final, thoroughly researched, referenced and professionally written publication incorporating feedback received from the commissioning organisation and suitable for publication and dissemination. All deliverables shall be submitted electronically in editable Microsoft Word format, together with relevant supporting references and research materials as may be reasonably required. 7. Supervision and Collaboration The consultant will undertake the assignment under the overall supervision and guidance of the commissioning organisation. • The commissioning organisation will provide strategic and technical guidance on the scope, thematic priorities and proposed framework of the publication and will review and provide feedback on all deliverables. • The consultant will be expected to maintain regular communication with the designated focal person, participate in scheduled consultations or review meetings, and incorporate feedback within agreed timelines. • All deliverables will be subject to review and approval by the commissioning organisation. Submission of a deliverable shall not, in itself, constitute acceptance until the commissioning organisation has confirmed that the agreed requirements and quality standards have been met. • The consultant shall remain responsible for the quality, accuracy, originality and timely completion of the assignment. How to apply 10. Application Requirements Interested and suitably qualified consultants are invited to submit the following: • Expression of Interest: A brief statement demonstrating the applicant's understanding of the assignment, relevant expertise and suitability for the consultancy. • Curriculum Vitae: A detailed CV highlighting relevant academic qualifications, professional experience and previous consultancy assignments. • Technical Proposal: A concise proposal outlining the proposed methodology, preliminary publication framework, key research questions, relevant Zimbabwean case studies, criminal proceedings, operation of legal processes in practice, and legal and jurisprudential issues, proposed comparative perspectives and work plan. • Writing Samples: Three (3) written samples of previously published or completed legal research relevant to environmental law, human rights, constitutional litigation or a related field. • Tax Compliance: Proof of tax registration and a valid tax clearance certificate, where applicable, in accordance with the relevant tax laws and regulatory requirements. 11. Evaluation and Selection Applications will be assessed on the basis of the applicant's relevant qualifications and experience, demonstrated expertise in environmental and human rights law, quality and relevance of previous research and publications, proposed methodology and publication framework. The commissioning organisation reserves the right to request additional information or clarification from shortlisted applicants and to accept or reject applications in accordance with its applicable procurement procedures 3. Duration and Application Deadline The consultancy is expected to commence in November 2026, with the final publication to be submitted no later than 15 December 2026. Interested and suitably qualified consultants are invited to submit an expression of interest, together with the supporting documentation outlined in these Terms of Reference, by 5:00 PM Zimbabwe Time (CAT) on Friday, 30 October 2026. Applications should be submitted electronically to recruitmentnew2026@gmail.com with the subject line: "Expression of Interest - Consultancy on SLAPPs in Zimbabwe" . Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.