Consultancy for the Design and Management of the 4th Edition of the Africa Gender Equality Moot Court Competition (AGEMCC)

1. About the  Solidarity for  African  Women’s Rights Coalition and Equality Now

The Solidarity for African Women’s Rights (SOAWR) is a Coalition of over 70 civil society organisations based in 33 African countries. Established in 2004, SOAWR ensures that the rights of girls and women, as articulated in the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (“the Maputo Protocol”), are prioritised by policymakers on the African continent. 

Equality Now is a worldwide human rights organisation dedicated to securing the legal and systemic change needed to end discrimination against all women and girls, everywhere in the world. Since its inception in 1992, it has played a role in reforming 140 discriminatory laws globally, positively impacting the lives of hundreds of millions of women and girls, their communities and nations, both now and for generations to come. Working with partners at national, regional and global levels, Equality Now draws on deep legal expertise and a diverse range of social, political and cultural perspectives to continue to lead the way in steering, shaping and driving the change needed to achieve enduring gender equality, to the benefit of all. For more information about Equality Now, visit
www.equalitynow.org.

2.About the Africa Gender Equality Moot Court Competition (AGEMCC)

Since 2021, Equality Now and the SOAWR Coalition have hosted the Africa Gender Equality Moot Court Competition (AGEMCC) to help close this gap. It is the first moot court competition dedicated solely to the rights of women and girls in Africa. The Competition seeks to build interest among the next generation of African legal practitioners in the rights of women and girls, and in the role of continental and international human rights instruments in protecting, promoting and enforcing those rights. Competitors are encouraged to draw on the legal and social contexts of their own countries in crafting arguments, while learning from the contexts and experiences of other participants. The Competition challenges students to engage in comparative research on legal standards at regional, continental and international levels, and to develop written and oral arguments on cutting-edge questions at the intersection of the rights of women and girls in Africa and both continental and international law. It is conducted in English and French.

3. The 4th edition  

The 4th edition is expected to follow a hybrid format: virtual preliminary and quarterfinal rounds, followed by in-person semifinals, finals and an award ceremony in partnership with the partner university. The Competition will be conducted in English and French (the Anglophone and Francophone components), with each team represented by two agents.

4. The Consultancy

4.1 Purpose

Equality Now and SOAWR are seeking a consultant (or consulting team) to lead the design and management of the 4th edition of the AGEMCC from start to finish. 

4.2. Overall Objective 

To engage a qualified consultant or team of consultants to lead the design, planning, coordination and delivery of the 4th edition of the AGEMCC, ensuring an effective, high-quality and bilingual Competition that will strengthen law students’ capacity to apply the Maputo Protocol and related regional and international human rights standards.

4.3 Specific objectives

1. Develop a comprehensive Competition framework, including the theme, concept note, moot question (hypothetical case), rules of procedure, scoring criteria and supporting materials in English and French.
2. Establish strategic partnerships and stakeholder engagement including a suitable partner university, academic institutions, judges, coaches, SOAWR members and other relevant stakeholders to support the effective delivery of the Competition.
3. Provide end-to-end design, delivery and management of the 4th edition of the AGEMCC,  including outreach and registration, team selection, memorial submissions and evaluation, virtual rounds, in-person semifinals and finals, and the award ceremony.
4. Develop and implement outreach strategies that expand participation among African law students and universities, with attention to geographical representation and equitable participation in the English and French components.
5. An inclusive outreach and participation process implemented, resulting in engagement of law faculties and students from different African countries and meaningful representation in both the English- and French-language components. 
6. Document lessons, collect feedback, assess results and prepare recommendations and a handover toolkit to inform subsequent editions of AGEMCC.

4.4  Expected outcomes

1. A well-designed and effectively delivered Competition, implemented according to an agreed workplan and timeline, with high-quality Competition materials available in English and French.

2. A suitable partner university and strategic partnerships are secured, with clearly defined roles and responsibilities for the partner institution, academic partners, judges, coaches, SOAWR members and other relevant stakeholders involved in the Competition. 

3. The 4th edition of AGEMCC successfully coordinated and delivered, with all competition stages; including outreach, registration, team selection, memorial submissions and evaluation, virtual rounds, in-person semifinals and finals, and the award ceremony; implemented in accordance with the approved framework and workplan. 

4. A comprehensive record of the Competition and its implementation produced, including documented lessons, stakeholder and participant feedback, an assessment of results against agreed indicators, recommendations and a handover toolkit to support the planning and delivery of subsequent editions. 

5. Scope of Work

The  Consultant is expected to provide end-to-end management and coordination of the 4th edition of the AGEMCC. This includes the conceptualisation, planning, and day-to-day management to ensure a well-coordinated, successful, and impactful Competition.

The Consultant will be responsible primarily for the following, however, additional tasks may be assigned as needed for the success of the Competition, and shall be agreed between the consultant and Equality Now.

5.1  Conceptualisation and Partnership Development

1. Review documentation from previous editions (concept notes, rules, moot problems, scoring sheets, evaluation reports) and propose improvements for the 4th edition.
2. Develop the concept note, work plan, and budget for the 4th edition in consultation with Equality Now.
3. Lead in selecting the theme and in developing the moot problem, bench memorandum, rules and scoring criteria in English and French.
4. Identify and shortlist potential partner universities, lead outreach and negotiations, and support the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) defining roles, venue, cost-sharing and visibility.
5. Maintain the relationship with the partner university and its faculty throughout the Competition.
6. Support resource mobilization where requested (for example, sponsor or in-kind support proposals).

5.2. Administrative Coordination

1. Coordinate planning meetings, taking notes and following up on action points.
2. Coordinate the implementation and follow-up of decisions with different actors.
3. Provide administrative coordination for the AGEMCC, planning and executing the virtual and in-person aspects of the Competition.
4. Coordinate logistical arrangements for participants and judges, including managing Zoom sessions for the virtual rounds, and collaborating with the finance and administrative team and the partner university to coordinate travel, visa and accommodation arrangements. 
5. Collate and analyze scores from the judges after each round, compile the score sheets, and submit them to the moot coordinating team.
6. Prepare schedules and coordinate the timely flow of the different rounds and parallel courts, ensuring that all participants and judges log in on time.
7. Keep accurate records of participants and judges to facilitate internet reimbursements, payment of honoraria to judges, and issuance of certificates.
8. Recruit, coordinate and manage court bailiffs for the different rounds.
9. Recruit and brief judges for each round, ensuring balance in language, gender and regional expertise.
10. Prepare and track the activity budget and process payment requests in line with Equality Now's financial procedures.

5.3 Communication and Participant Support

1. Coordinate and facilitate virtual information sessions with moot court participants.
2. Issue the call for registration to law faculties across Africa in English and French, and manage registration and team selection.
3. Serve as the primary point of contact for participating teams, providing essential information, updates, and resources.
4. Act as the primary contact for all communication with participants regarding scheduling, fiscal support, record management, and rules enforcement.
5. Oversee the management of the moot court email address, ensuring timely responses and appropriate distribution of relevant messages.
6. Communicate announcements and relevant information to participants, judges, university representatives, and audience members, ensuring smooth logistics.
7. Assist with external communications and publicity, drafting and editing social media posts, press releases, statements, and marketing materials.

5.4 Evaluation and Feedback

1. Prepare summaries of Competition evaluations, including feedback from judges and participants, with recommendations for program improvement.
2. Prepare a comprehensive report after the Competition analyzing its success, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement, with proposed strategies for enhancement in subsequent competitions, and a handover toolkit for future editions.

6. Deliverables

1. Inception report with work plan, timeline, and budget.
2. Develop and propose theme options for the 4th edition, with a short rationale for each, for the organizing committee to select from.
3. Develop the hypothetical case, bench memorandum, rules, registration forms and scoring criteria in English and French, including peer review and translation.
4. Shortlist and mapping of potential partner universities and a signed MoU with the selected partner university.
5. Meeting minutes documenting discussions and action points from planning meetings.
6. Training materials, including presentations, handouts, and case materials.
7. Weekly update/progress reports.
8. Registration and team selection report
9. Judges' panel and briefing materials.
10. Final report summarizing the outcomes of the Competition, including participant feedback, key achievements, and recommendations for future events, together with the handover toolkit.

7. Time Commitment

The consultancy period spans from  December 2026- September 2027. 

8. Relevant Skills and Experience

• First degree in law, international relations, gender studies, human rights, or the humanities required; an advanced degree is an advantage. 
• At least five years of experience coordinating regional or national moot court competitions is required.
• A minimum of two years of experience supporting human rights, gender equality, or women's empowerment is required.
• Demonstrated experience in partnership and stakeholder management, including with universities.
• Solid legal analysis and writing skills, as well as sound knowledge of international and regional instruments on women's rights.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and French required.
• Demonstrable skills and experience in communicating with a wide range of actors, including high-level representatives from national governments and intergovernmental organizations, judicial and quasi-judicial institutions at the national and regional levels, academia, and civil society, as well as with students, university administrators, and members of the public.
• Strong dispute-resolution skills and the ability to troubleshoot complex problems when they arise.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to work effectively with minimal supervision, impeccable attention to detail, and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Strong time management skills and the ability to work across multiple time zones.
• Excellent professionalism, including a commitment to upholding high confidentiality, competence, integrity, accountability, and credibility standards.

9. Reporting and Key Stakeholders

The consultant will report to the Associate Director, Legal Equality  and work primarily with the designated Legal Advisor responsible for overseeing the AGEMCC.

10. Remuneration 

• Candidates will send a financial proposal; selection will be based on the technical and financial proposals.
• The consultancy fees shall be subject to relevant statutory deductions under Kenyan law, and may be payable on a monthly pro-rated basis or based on the fulfilment of the deliverables.

11. Application Procedure

Interested and qualified applicants are invited to visit: https://equalitynow.org/equality-now-jobs/ and submit their applications.The application deadline is 20th November 2026. The application should include the following documents merged into one PDF:

• A cover letter of not more than two pages indicating the candidate's skills, experience, and understanding of the terms of reference of the consultancy.
• A curriculum vitae (not more than 3 pages) indicating educational background, professional qualifications, relevant experience, and contact information (phone and email).
• The email addresses and phone contacts of three professional references who can attest to past work experience; at least one must be able to attest to the applicant's experience coordinating regional or national moot court competitions.
• A short technical proposal (maximum 3 pages) outlining the proposed approach and work plan, including how the consultant would identify a partner university.
• A financial proposal.
  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.