Job Description
Job Description
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.
Qualifications and Experience
8. Required Qualifications and Experience
Interested applicants should possess the following qualifications and experience:
• An advanced university degree in Law, preferably with specialisation in Environmental Law, Human
Rights Law, Constitutional Law or a closely related discipline.
• Demonstrable expertise and substantial professional experience in environmental and climate
justice, human rights law, public interest litigation or related fields.
• Strong knowledge of Zimbabwean constitutional and environmental law and jurisprudence, with
familiarity with relevant regional and international legal frameworks.
• Proven experience in conducting legal research and producing high-quality analytical publications,
policy papers or scholarly legal writing.
• Sound understanding of the legal and practical challenges confronting environmental human
rights defenders, including judicial harassment, reprisals and restrictions on public participation.
• Familiarity with African regional and international human rights standards and comparative
jurisprudence relating to SLAPPs will be an added advantage.
• Excellent legal analytical, research and writing skills, with the ability to translate complex legal
issues into accessible, practical and evidence-based recommendations.
9. Intellectual Property, Ownership and Originality of Work
All research outputs, drafts, reports, manuscripts and other materials produced specifically under this
consultancy shall be the exclusive property of the commissioning organisation, subject to any pre-existing
third-party intellectual property rights.
The commissioning organisation shall retain full ownership and publication rights over the final publication,
including the rights to reproduce, distribute, adapt and disseminate the publication in accordance with the
terms of the consultancy agreement.
The consultant shall not publish, reproduce, distribute or otherwise use the commissioned materials for
purposes outside the assignment without prior written authorisation from the commissioning organisation.
All work submitted under this consultancy must be original and independently researched and written
by the consultant. The consultant is expected to exercise independent intellectual and professional
judgment throughout the assignment, without reliance on generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools for
the research, drafting, analysis or substantive editing of the publication and associated deliverables.
The consultant shall ensure that all sources, authorities and references are accurately cited and that the
publication is free from plagiarism, fabrication, misrepresentation and other forms of academic or professional misconduct.
Any breach of these requirements may constitute grounds for rejection of deliverables or termination of
the consultancy agreement, subject to its terms.
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.