ABA ROLI Corruption Assessment (Angola, Mozambique, Zambia)

The American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) is a non-profit organization that implements legal reform programs. ABA ROLI has worked for over 25 years in more than 100 countries to promote the rule of law, advance human rights, strengthen judicial institutions, support legal professionals and advance understanding of the law and rights of citizens by the public. To this end, ABA ROLI has established partnerships with a wide range of actors, including institutions in the justice sector (judges, prosecutors, public defense offices, mediation offices and national human rights institutions, investigators and police), civil society organizations, bar associations, legal aid organizations and lawyers, among others. ABA ROLI’s work in Africa spans a variety of programing around the rule of law, access to justice, atrocity prevention as well as human rights protection and promotion. ABA ROLI’s Africa Division has country offices across the continent, including in Angola, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Liberia, and Uganda.

Program Overview:

ABA ROLI is hiring a consultant or research team to conduct a corruption risk assessment and develop a management framework for a program on Promoting Responsible Oversight and Enforcement to Combat Timber Trafficking, which is aimed at reducing the ability of criminal groups to carry out and profit from illegal logging and trafficking of timber from the Miombo woodlands. Its principal objectives are to: (1) Improve national and regional capabilities to prosecute and adjudicate cases against timber crimes and related offenses to result in appropriate sentencing outcomes, and (2) Strengthen anti-corruption efforts within relevant agencies to enhance government response, improve government accountability, and strengthen transparency as it relates to timber crime.

Position Summary:

The consultant(s) will conduct a comprehensive corruption risk assessment and develop a management framework concerning anti-corruption laws and policies as they relate to government institutions enforcing timber crime in Angola, Mozambique and Zambia. This assessment will feature a political economy analysis, examining the underlying power dynamics, incentive structures, and institutional relationships that influence the effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts. The analysis will include primary and secondary data collection to investigate structural and legal gaps, in addition to identifying the political interests, economic motivations, and social networks that impact the formulation and implementation of anti-corruption laws and policies in each project country (i.e., the formal and informal rules that govern decision-making processes; key stakeholders and their interests; and the distribution of resources and authority among anti-corruption institutions).The consultant(s) should develop clear, actionable recommendations for managing corruption based on findings from the corruption assessment. Recommendations should clearly identify the relevant stakeholders who are meant to implement that recommendation.

The consultant(s) should produce a final report including both findings and recommendations that will be used by ABA-ROLI to inform future program activities. The final report will also be presented to relevant government agencies, civil society, and other stakeholders in order to build consensus around proposed reforms.

Scope of Work:

In line with the above, ABA ROLI is seeking a legal expert or team with experience in evaluation of the legal and policy landscape surrounding anti-corruption and/or timber crimes in Angola, Mozambique and/or Zambia. The Anti-Corruption consultant(s) will report directly to the Angola Country Representative. The specific components of the assignment will be as follows:

1. Corruption Risk Asessments: Evaluate existing anti-corruption laws and policies impacting timber crime enforcement in government institutions within Angola, Mozambique, and Zambia. Identify vulnerabilities and key factors preventing the effective enforcement of anti-corruption measures as it relates to timber crimes, whether structural, legislative, human, or otherwise. Propose clear and actionable recommendations on targeted interventions, including country-specific and regional initiatives.
2. Mapping of Anti-Corruption Institutions: Conduct a detailed mapping of anti-corruption institutions in each of the three project countries in addition to adjacent institutions (e.g. private sector, civil society, etc.) Assess their roles, relationships, and effectiveness in preventing, detecting, and prosecuting corruption related to timber crime, as well as identify areas for regional and cross-sectoral collaboration.
3. Political Economy Analysis: Analyze the political and economic contexts that influence corruption in the timber sector. Identify key stakeholders, power dynamics, and incentives that affect anti-corruption efforts and create obstacles to reform. Highlight opportunities for intervention, and strategies for building coalitions to support more effective anti-corruption measures.
4. Framework Development: Design a management framework for each country that aligns with best practices in anti-corruption, tailored to the specific needs and contexts of Angola, Mozambique, and Zambia. Each framework should allow for regional validation and indicate regional considerations.
5. Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with government agencies, civil society organizations, and regional partners to gather insights and ensure stakeholder buy-in for proposed initiatives. The consultant(s) should develop and execute a plan for stakeholder engagement throughout the research project lifecycle.
6. Reporting: Prepare detailed inputs and presentations outlining findings, recommendations, and the proposed management framework. Ensure clarity and accessibility for diverse audiences. T

To complete this assignment, the consultant(s) is expected to utilize both primary and secondary data sources. Primary data sources could include, for example, conducting key informant interviews with relevant stakeholders or virtual distribution of a survey. Data collection is expected to be conducted virtually, though potential for in-person data collection may be explored depending on specific project needs. Secondary data should be drawn from desk review of relevant policy documents, existing literature, national and international statistics, and other materials/sources as necessary and appropriate.

Qualifications:

All members of the research team should possess the following qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in law, international law, political science, international relations, environmental science, or related field. A master’s degree is preferred.
• Understanding of anti-corruption bodies/commissions, government institutions and justice sector actors and mechanisms in Southern Africa, especially Angola, Mozambique, and Zambia.
• Demonstrated experience designing and conducting legal, policy or corruption risk assessments, including stakeholder interviews from the research design phase to final publication, particularly in the context of government institutions and natural resource management.
• Proven success in performing desk reviews as well as gathering and analyzing both qualitative and quantitative data from primary and secondary sources.
• Strong communication, analytical, and writing skills.

In addition to the general qualifications listed above, the lead researcher should possess the following qualifications:

• A master’s degree in law, international law, political science, international relations, environmental science, or related field.
• Minimum 5-10 years of professional experience working directly with the anti-corruption bodies/commissions, government institutions (forestry departments, law enforcement agencies, etc.), and justice sector actors and mechanisms in Angola, Mozambique and/or Zambia.
• Strong understanding of anti-corruption laws, policies, and frameworks at the national and international levels.
• Strong understanding of the current environmental context in Angola, Mozambique and/or Zambia, specifically illegal logging practices within the Miombo Woodlands region, including policy and legislation surrounding these practices and knowledge of the government institutions enforcing timber crimes.
• Experience working in Southern Africa (especially Angola, Mozambique, or Zambia) and/or elsewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa, and strong understanding of political and operating context the target countries.
• Fluency in English is required; proficiency in Portuguese is an added advantage.

Estimated Timeline: Specific timelines will be discussed with the successful candidate, but the consultant(s) will be expected to work within the period from November 1, 2024 to March 1, 2025.