TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR TRANSLATION OF THE UPDATED LABOUR RIGHTS AWARENESS-RAISING MATERIALS INTO LUGANDA AND AUDIO VERSION.
September 2026
ABOUT PLATFORM FOR LABOUR ACTION
Platform for Labour Action is a dully registered and certified national non-government organization founded in 2000 that promotes and protects the rights of vulnerable and marginalized workers in Uganda. We envision a society where economic rights and social justice are respected, promoted and observed in the world of work. Our mission is promoting and protecting the rights of vulnerable and marginalized workers through empowerment of communities and individuals.
1.0 Introduction
PLA first developed a community awareness curriculum in 2018 with the support from Democratic Governance Facility (GDF). It was developed to be used as tool in empowering communities and individuals that we serve through public dialogue sessions/community outreach session and drive awareness messages via various social media platforms. It is also intended to be used by PLA staff, Community based Human rights advocates and partner CBO representatives in creating awareness as a reference resource material. The curriculum, in addition to labour rights awareness was intended to widen the knowledge of the PLA staff, human rights advocates and partner CBO representatives on cross cutting issues including domestic violence, succession and the law, marriage and divorce, trafficking in person and child labour.
With funding support from International Development Law Organization under the sub-project entitled, ‘’Strengthening Access to Labour Justice for Poor, Vulnerable, and Marginalized Workers in Uganda", the Community awareness curriculum was reviewed and updated taking into consideration of the various reforms that have occurred in the last five years within the Labour and Employment sector of Uganda. It was reviewed and updated through a consultive process with practioners, (PLA lawyers) and selected Workers drawn from different occupation such as domestic workers, security guards, cleaners, among others to ensure that material communicates.
It is against this background that PLA is seeking a competent Luganda language experts to translate the updated labour rights awareness-raising materials into the Luganda language, a widely spoken and understood in the areas of Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono which area hosting the project. The written translated versions will then be converted into audio version for low-literacy audience to ensure inclusivity and accessibility.
2.0 Objective of the Consultancy
The overall objective of the consultancy is to produce an accurate, accessible, culturally appropriate and user-friendly Luganda version of the updated labour rights awareness-raising materials, together with a high-quality audio version that can be used to reach workers and community members with low literacy levels.
The specific objectives are to:
• Translate the updated labour rights awareness-raising materials from English into clear, accurate and accessible Luganda while maintaining the intended meaning and legal accuracy of the original materials.
• Ensure that labour and employment terminology is translated consistently and in language that is easily understood by workers and community audiences without losing the legal intent
• Support the production of an audio version of the translated materials that is clear, audible, appropriately paced and accessible to low-literacy audiences.
3.0 Scope of the Assignment
The consultant will undertake the following tasks:
• Participate in an inception meeting with the PLA team upon signing the consultancy contract to understand the assignment, agree on expectations, clarify terminology and agree on the work plan and timelines.
• Review the updated English labour rights awareness-raising materials and identify key labour, employment and legal terminology requiring consistent translation.
• Translate the full set of updated labour rights awareness-raising materials into Luganda.
• Ensure that the translation is faithful to the original content, while using natural, plain and audience-appropriate Luganda.
• Maintain the structure, headings, numbering, key messages, examples and other important features of the original materials as far as practicable.
• Review and proofread the translated materials for accuracy, grammar, spelling, consistency, clarity and readability.
• Work closely with PLA to clarify technical or legal terminology and address any areas where literal translation may affect meaning.
• Prepare the final Luganda materials in an editable electronic format and a clean, dissemination-ready format as agreed with PLA.
• Prepare the audio script based on the approved Luganda translation.
• Record the approved Luganda content into a clear and accessible audio version, using an appropriate Luganda-speaking voice and suitable recording quality.
• Undertake quality assurance of the audio version to ensure that the content corresponds to the approved written translation and is clear and understandable.
• Incorporate comments and revisions from PLA and submit final approved versions of all deliverables.
4.0 Methodology (Approach)
The Consultant is expected to use a participatory, audience-centred and quality-focused approach. The proposed methodology should include, but not be limited to:
• An inception meeting with PLA to review the assignment, agree on deliverables, timelines, communication channels and quality expectations.
• Desk review of the updated labour rights awareness-raising materials and identification of technical/legal terms requiring careful treatment.
• Translation using plain, natural and comprehensible Luganda appropriate for workers and community members, while preserving the legal and substantive meaning of the source material.
• Consistency checks to ensure that key labour rights and employment terms are translated uniformly throughout the materials.
• Proofreading and quality assurance by the consultant, followed by review and validation by PLA.
• Audio production based only on the final approved Luganda text, with appropriate pronunciation, pacing, clarity and sound quality.
• Revision of the outputs based on consolidated feedback from PLA and submission of final versions.
The consultant should indicate any additional quality-assurance measures considered necessary to ensure that the final products are accurate, accessible and fit for community use.
5.0 Expected Deliverables
The consultant will be expected to submit the following deliverables:
• An inception report with a clear work plan setting out the consultant’s understanding of the assignment, methodology, key activities and proposed timeline.
• A complete first draft of the translated labour rights awareness-raising materials in Luganda.
• A revised and proofread final Luganda version incorporating PLA’s comments and technical/legal quality checks.
• A high-quality audio version of the approved Luganda materials in an agreed digital audio format.
•All final written and audio outputs shall be submitted electronically to PLA in the formats agreed during the inception meeting.
6.0 Qualifications of the Consultant
The consultant should possess the following qualifications and competencies:
• A university degree, diploma or equivalent professional qualification in Translation, Linguistics, Languages, Communication, Law, Labour Studies or a related field.
• Demonstrable professional experience in English–Luganda translation, editing and proofreading, preferably involving legal, labour, human rights, development or public information materials.
• Excellent written and spoken Luganda, with strong command of English.
• Demonstrated ability to translate technical and legal concepts accurately into clear, plain and audience-friendly Luganda.
• Knowledge or understanding of Uganda’s labour and employment context and workers’ rights will be an added advantage.
• Experience in developing or producing audio content for community awareness, public education or low-literacy audiences will be an added advantage.
• Ability to work within tight timelines and respond constructively to technical feedback.
• Good communication, coordination and interpersonal skills.
7.0 Time frame and reporting
· The consultancy will take place within 5 worker man’s days from the date of the award of the contract. These will be staggered across the deliverables.
· The consultant shall report directly to the Executive Director and work closely with the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer as well as Manager Rights Social Protection and Accountability.The consultant will maintain regular communication with the designated PLA focal persons throughout the assignment and promptly raise any issues that may affect the agreed timeline or quality of deliverables.
8.0 Facilities to be provided by the Client
PLA will provide the consultant with the updated English labour rights awareness-raising materials and relevant information necessary to undertake the assignment. PLA will also provide reasonable clarification and technical guidance, including access to relevant staff, as requested and as necessary for successful completion of the consultancy.
The consultant shall be responsible for providing the equipment, software, connectivity and other resources required to complete the assignment, unless otherwise agreed in writing with PLA.
9.0 Confidentiality, Ownership and Use of Materials
The consultant shall treat all materials and information received from PLA as confidential and shall not share, reproduce or use them for purposes outside this assignment without prior written authorisation from PLA.
All translated materials, scripts, recordings and other outputs produced under this consultancy shall be the property of Platform for Labour Action. The consultant shall not publish, distribute or commercially use the outputs without the prior written consent of PLA.
10.0 Application and Selection
Interested and qualified consultants should submit:
• A brief technical proposal explaining their understanding of the assignment and proposed approach.
• A curriculum vitae highlighting relevant qualifications and previous translation experience.
• At least two relevant samples of previous English–Luganda translation work, where available.
• A financial proposal/quotation indicating the total consultancy fee and any applicable costs.
• Names and contact details of at least two professional referees.
Selection will be based on the consultant’s qualifications and relevant experience, demonstrated capacity to deliver accurate and accessible English–Luganda translations, proposed methodology, quality of previous work, availability within the required timeframe and value for money.
11.0 Acceptance of Deliverables
PLA will review submitted deliverables and provide consolidated feedback to the consultant. The consultant will be expected to make reasonable revisions required to address comments and ensure that the final outputs meet the agreed quality standards. Final acceptance of the deliverables will be confirmed by PLA.
Share your Application/Quotation at admin@pla-uganda.org
Deadline for submission: 7th October 2026