Request for Proposals (RFP): Death Penalty Abolition Consultant

Background:

Amnesty International (AI) has worked toward the global abolition of the death penalty since 1977 through comprehensive research, advocacy, and mobilization efforts. AI publishes annual research exposing human rights violations related to the death penalty, analyzing trends, and holding governments accountable. Globally, AI strengthens international and regional standards and supports UN General Assembly resolutions advocating for a moratorium on executions.

Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) advances death penalty abolition in the United States and globally through the leadership of the State Death Penalty Abolition Coordinators (SDPAC) Program with support from staff. Our approach includes:

• Organizing grassroots power through human rights education, relationship building, and strategic action.
• Mobilizing activists to engage in legislative advocacy.
• Campaigning to protect individuals at risk of execution.

The U.S. death penalty abolition movement is at a critical juncture. While public support for the death penalty continues to decline, political efforts to expand its use and execution methods are accelerating. This growing threat is compounded by weakened infrastructure within the abolition movement and a shifting legal and political landscape. To meet this moment, AIUSA urgently needs a strategic and operational plan that confronts current threats, seizes new opportunities, leverages our organizational strengths, and realistically reflects our limited capacity and resources.

Scope of Work:

AIUSA is seeking a qualified consultant to facilitate the development of a comprehensive multi-year death penalty abolition strategy and operational plan to address the evolving nature of the U.S. death penalty landscapes. These shifts necessitate a sustainable, replicable, and impact-oriented strategy that maximizes limited resources and serves as a roadmap for aligning our advocacy, grassroots mobilization, and coalition-building efforts.

The consultant will work closely with SDPACs, AIUSA staff, coalition partners, and activists to identify priorities and develop organizational goals, tactics, and messages for the strategy, with an emphasis on maximizing impact despite limited resources. The consultant will be expected to:

• Conduct Stakeholder Interviews: Engage with relevant AIUSA staff, AIS staff, coalition partners, and SDPAC volunteers to assess current strategies, priorities, and challenges.
• Facilitate Strategy Sessions: Lead strategic planning sessions with key stakeholders before and during the SDPAC Institute to identify goals, focus areas, and actionable strategies.
• Write AIUSA Death Penalty Abolition Strategy & Operational Plans: Work with key stakeholders to draft multi-year abolition strategy and operational plans.
• Recommend Implementation Processes: Provide a detailed implementation plan that includes resources requirements and processes required to implement the strategy successfully.

Deliverables:

• Stakeholder Assessment: Summary report of interviews and analysis.
• Facilitated Sessions Reports: Summarize key discussions and recommendations from strategy sessions.
• Strategic Plan: A multi-year strategy document outlining the key components of AIUSA’s death penalty abolition strategy, in alignment with AIUSA Strategic Framework, including proactive and reactive priorities, including elements such as, death sentence inmate casework response, state-level and national advocacy, messaging, and educational materials.
• Operational Plan: A clear roadmap for implementation, including timelines, resource needs, staffing, and key performance indicators (KPIs)

Budget and Timeline:

This consultancy is funded through December 2025. When submitting your proposal, please share a cost proposal including fees, expenses, and payment schedule. Key project dates include:

• 30 June – Proposal deadline
• 11 July – Consultant decision made, and all applicants notified
• Mid-July – Consultant begins
• September – Consultant facilitates stakeholder conversations during the 2025 SDPAC Institute.
• 1 November – Initial draft complete
• November – solicit stakeholder feedback

Selection Criteria:

• Alignment with AIUSA’s mission and goals: The proposal should demonstrate a clear understanding of AIUSA’s work and its role in the U.S. abolition movement.
• Commitment to IDEA: Proposals should reflect a commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility in the development and implementation of the strategy.
• Experience in Advocacy Strategy Development: The consultant should have experience in creating advocacy strategies.
• Relevance to Death Penalty Abolition: The proposed approach should be tailored to the specific challenges and opportunities related to the abolition of the death penalty in the U.S.

Proposals will be evaluated by the AIUSA Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator Steering Committee and AIUSA staff. All applicants will be notified by email about the final decision. If necessary, clarification may be requested from applicants during the evaluation process.

Consultant Qualifications and Competencies:

• Experience in death penalty abolition.
• Experience in advocacy, grassroots organizing, and working in coalitions.
• Proven track record of developing and implementing strategies, particularly in death penalty abolition.
• Strong organizational skills to manage timelines, teams, budgets, and deliverables.
• Familiarity with Asana or other project management tools is a plus.

Submission Instructions and Deadline:

• Cover letter – A summary of qualifications and interest in the project.
• Approach & Methodology – Describe your methodology for strategy development,
• Experience & References - Background information about you and/or your organization, examples of similar projects, and references.
• Budget – A cost proposal, including fees, expenses, and payment schedule.

Please submit your proposal in .pdf format to Amanda Armstrong aarmstrong@aiusa.org by June 30, 2025