Call for Expressions of Interest for Short term Consultancy Services to Develop AWAC’s Business Concept On Community Health & Livelihood Enhancement Groups (CHLEGS).

The CHLEGS Model is Aimed At Establishing A Female Sex Workers’ (FSWS) led SACCO/Micro-finance Bank For & By Female Sex Workers Living with Multiple and Intersecting Vulnerabilities and Their Children in Uganda.

The Alliance of Women Advocating for Change (AWAC) is an umbrella network of grass root emerging female sex worker (FSW) led organizations. AWAC was established in 2015 by champions of the female sex worker movement. We exist to promote the voices and work of grassroot FSWs led organizations based in rural and peri-urban settings. Our core target constituency are female sex workers including those with intersecting vulnerabilities such as FSWs using drugs; FSWs living with HIV/AIDS; refugees FSWs in urban setting; FSWs living with disability; elderly FSWs; children of sex workers and adolescents surviving in the sex work settings in Uganda. AWAC has successfully mobilized her members to challenge stigma, discrimination and criminalization of all forms, has championed access to integrated quality HIV/SRHR/GBV and mental health services, led legislative advocacy campaigns, conducted operational research, capacity building programs on leadership and grassroot movement building in Uganda. Our geographical areas of implementation are: slum areas, Islands, landing sites, transit routes, mining, quarrying, plantations, road construction sites and boarder areas in Uganda. Our work is implemented at grass-root, district, national level in Uganda, and seeks to impact practices, processes and policies at all levels. We work collaboratively with grass root communities, health and human rights organizations and professional and associations as well as relevant government ministries and departments.

AWAC’s core purposes are: acceleration of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG); addressing stigma, discrimination & challenging criminalization of all forms using the Community Led Monitoring(CLM) and Score Card (SC) Model; providing and championing access to integrated quality HIV/SRHR/TB/Gender Based Violence (GBV)/Mental health and harm reduction interventions services; including access to preventive biomedical innovations; advocacy for gender equality and equity and campaigns; conducting operational research and documentation; capacity building in feminist transactional leadership, mentorship and grassroot advocacy movement building to strengthen grassroot community structures; social economic empowerment (SEE) to diversify female sex workers and those with intersecting vulnerabilities’ income through her innovative models in Uganda.

AWAC also work in collaboratively with other individual and organisation which serve as referral points for services that it does not directly offer. These include grass root communities, health units, professional and associations, social welfare departments of government, law enforcement officers, non-governmental organizations- especially human rights organizations and other donor funded projects. With her head office is in Kampala-Mengo Kayuwa Zone, Off Balintuma roads-on Nabulagala road, but also with physical field offices/Drop in Centres in Kyotera, Masaka, Busia boarder, Terego-Rhino based Camp and Luwero districts- Wobulenzi highway.

AWAC’s geographical areas of implementation are; slum areas, Islands, landing sites, transit routes, mining, quarrying, plantations, road construction sites and boarder areas in Uganda. AWAC implements at the grass-root using the bottom up approach across the country in Uganda, and seeks to impact practices, processes and policies at all levels in 47 districts of implementation include; Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, Busia, Tororo, Kabale, Isingiro, Kyotera, Masaka, Rakai, Lyantonde, Mbarara, Kasese, Kabarole, Kyegegwa, Kamwenge, Bundibugyo, Mbale, Jinja, Terego, Arua, Yumbe, Adjuman, Hoima, Gulu, Nakasongola, Kiryandongo, Masindi, Lira, Kitgum, Pader, Amuria, Kaberamaido, Moroto, Soroti, Kotido, Nepak, Luwero, Kabongo, Napiripiti, Mityana, Buikwe, Iganga, Mayuge, Bugiri, Namayingo and Kalangala.

AWAC Mission: “To build a resilient movement of female sex workers’ that advocates for sustainable integrated universal health care, promotion of human rights and social protection, economic justice for FSWs and those with intersecting & Compounded vulnerabilities in Uganda”.

AWAC Vision: “An inclusive policy and social environment where grassroots FSWs and those with intersecting & compounded vulnerabilities live healthy and productive lives that are free from human rights abuse in Uganda”.

AWAC Strategic Objectives
1) To strengthen the economic security and social protection of FSWs and those with intersecting vulnerabilities.
2) To contribute to attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. 8,10, 16, 17 by enhancing social mobilization and promotion of human rights among FSWs and those with intersecting vulnerabilities.
3) To advance SRHR services so that all FSWs, including those with intersecting and compounded vulnerabilities exercise their bodily autonomy, consent and control over their choices and decisions.
4) To strengthen a resilient female sex workers’ movement to leverage on their capacities to demand for an enabling environment, equitable services and hold duty bearers accountable on existing development programmes.
5) To enhance access to integrated universal health care services among FSWs & those with intersecting vulnerabilities.
6) To strengthen the institutional capacity of AWAC and her network members to effectively deliver the strategic plan.

AWAC Core Values:
• Mutual Respect and Integrity.
• Empowerment and Meaningful involvement
• Transparency and Accountability
• Appreciating diversity and non-discrimination
• Innovation, Excellence and Team Work
• Human rights and evidence based programming

Background and Justification of the project
The purpose of this document is to invite the submission of proposals to provide legal and regulatory advisory services for AWAC compliance with Financial Intelligence Authority, and training AWAC grass root members on the processes involved in legitimizing their legal existence. The work to be undertaken by the advisors (the Consultant) will focus on providing legal and regulatory support to facilitate the successful completion of a proposed organization FIA processes and requirements, and training of our grassroot network members on: adherence to FIA processes, registration processes and requirements for URSB and NGO Bureau, Anti-Money Laundering Regulations, awareness on risks relating to money laundering and terrorism financing, and where necessary, enhance them on a regular basis, procedures and mechanisms for monitoring the implementation of policies, controls and procedures to address the risks relating to money laundering and terrorism financing, filing of annual returns, monitoring systems for complex, unusual or large transactions or suspicious activities, enhanced due diligence procedures with respect to persons and business relations and transactions carrying high risk.

The intended project results/Expected deliverables are;
1. Completed process of registering AWAC with Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA),
2. Training plan for the AWAC network members on: adherence to FIA processes, registration processes and requirements for URSB and NGO Bureau, Anti-Money Laundering Regulations, awareness on risks relating to money laundering and terrorism financing, and where necessary, procedures and mechanisms for monitoring the implementation of policies, controls and procedures to address the risks relating to money laundering and terrorism financing, and filing of annual returns.
3. Training report.
4. Filled annual compliance reporting template for accountable persons with the guidance of the consultant.

Purpose/objectives of the consultancy

1. Identify risks associated with non-compliance with the laws and regulations on governing NGO registration, filing of annual returns, tax obligations ie remitting PAYE and Local service tax.
2. Sensitization on money laundering, terrorist financing and financial intelligence
3. Identify indicators of money laundering within financial documents, Acts & Regulations ie the Anti-Money Laundering (Amendment) Act 2017; Penal Code Act, The Anti-Corruption Act, 2009 etc.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the differences between money laundering and terrorist financing.
5. Identify financial and non-financial institutions that have vulnerabilities toward money laundering.
6. Identify international remittance systems and alternative banking methods which can involve money laundering
7. Identify predicate offences and crimes that may indicate money laundering as our organization’s source of funding.
8. Demonstrate knowledge of Ugandan Laws applicable to money laundering investigations and non-compliance with the financial laws and regulations.
Methodology
The consultant will use participatory approaches to execute the assignment. S/he will be responsible for developing specific and friendly facilitative techniques (brainstorming sessions) that are appropriate to meet the purpose of this assignment.

Roles of AWAC
1. Contract the consultant to lead the process, preferably a Lawyer from a reputable law firm.
2. Mobilize participants to attend the meetings and brief them about the entire process.
3. Provide the consultant with related documents for literature review.
4. Organize field logistics including for meetings.
5. Support a rapporteur to capture all proceedings/processes
6. Provide a dedicated team working with the consultant

Specific roles of the consultant
Work with AWAC and keep timely communication flow in the process of executing the assignment
1. The Completed process of registering AWAC with the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA),
2. Develop a comprehensive training plan for the AWAC network members on: adherence to FIA processes, registration processes and requirements for URSB and NGO Bureau, Anti-Money Laundering Regulations, awareness of risks relating to money laundering and terrorism financing, and where necessary, procedures and mechanisms for monitoring the implementation of policies, controls and procedures to address the risks relating to money laundering and terrorism financing, and filing of annual returns.
3. Training report.
4. Filled annual compliance reporting template for accountable persons with the guidance of the consultant.

To apply, submit your Expression of Interest (one page), CV (3 pages max), one reference/recommendation letter from previous consultancies to info@awacold.itedgeafrica.com and copy in, kyomukamar@awacold.itedgeafrica.com and ssemakulam@awacold.itedgeafrica.com no later than 15th April