Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards

CIVICUS is looking for a consultant to help further one of CIVICUS flagship campaigns – Stand As My Witness. The short-term consultancy will involve evaluating the current campaign, devising future strategy, and designing and delivering the short-term (3-month) campaign outcomes. 

CIVICUS is a growing global alliance of more than 15,000 members in 175 countries. In July 2020, CIVICUS along with 190 civil society organisations (CSOs) launched the #StandAsMyWitness (SAMW) campaign to raise awareness about human rights defenders (HRDs) who were and still are facing judicial persecution and unlawful detention, and to advocate for their release. 

For more on SAMW: https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/2023/08/12/about-the-stand-as-my-witness-campaign-which-advocates-on-behalf-of-imprisoned-human-rights-defenders-around-the-world/

Currently there are 13 cases profiled by the campaign and for the last three years, we have been part of successful global calls for the conditional and unconditional release of 9 HRDs as part of the SAMW campaign.  The campaign also builds on a global map that features HRDs facing prosecutions, and highlights further systems built to crack down on critical voices.

Entering its fourth cycle, CIVICUS and campaign allies are keen to build upon the successes achieved so far and further the outreach and impact of the campaign. 

• Analyse the status of the campaign, its tactics, outreach, and propose plans, calendars and tactic for the short-term (3-month leading up to/following the anniversary (18 July). 
• Engage with CIVICUS Advocacy and Communications teams, regional leads, partners, families and lawyers of the HRDs, and relevant member networks to clarify the context, current status of the actions and propose plans, tactics, and outputs.   
• Deliver the short-term campaign plans during the first 3-month period. 

– Managing and monitoring the campaign’s calendar 
– Creating or facilitating the creation of campaign materials such as social media messages, graphics, media, and other assets including a global campaign map 
– Updating and improving the campaign pages on the website  
– Convene on/offline events as appropriate to strengthen the campaign. This includes both public events and events targeted at CIVICUS members and partners. 
– Strongly link SAMW profiles and actions with other CIVICUS research, advocacy, and networking efforts.  

• Design a longer-term (next two years) campaign and content strategy with a cohesive engagement journey. The strategy is to capture:

– Key moments, approaches, and current and potential partners. 
– Explore how to better leverage the campaign actions promoted by Global Citizen.  
– Points for campaign improvement and expansion based on learnings to date and during the first three-month phase. 
– Best practices in advocating for HRDs in difficult contexts.  

The consultant  

The consultant will have proven experience (at least five years) at the international level designing and delivering campaigns. Experience in social change work with civil society, human rights, or development sectors is a pre-requisite.  

They will bring in lived creative and innovative communications experience in terms of content ideation, creation, dissemination, etc. We welcome those with experience in creative direction, media production, systems and design thinking, and diverse public and multi-sector engagement.

The consultant will apply via sending us a: 

• Brief resume
• Two-page brief of their approach to the consultancy
• Links of creative communications and engagement campaigns/content created
• Cost proposal.   

Timeline

We anticipate the contract to be signed by 10th May 2024, and all deliverables must be complete by 10th August.  They may apply according to the above guidelines and forward their CV, approach document and creative examples to <a href="mailto:communications<small> [AT] </small>civicus<small> [DOT] communications@civicus.org by 7th May 2024.  

https://www.civicus.org/index.php/get-involved/work-with-us/6996-terms-of-reference-campaign-consultant-stand-as-my-witness-samw