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GATE’s Innovation Lab is a groundbreaking initiative to build long-term financial resilience for trans and gender diverse organizations. The Innovation Lab supports this goal through three strategic pillars: producing knowledge and practical tools on alternative economic models; strengthening organizational capacity through tailored mentorship; and catalyzing direct investment.

Objective
The main objective of this consultancy is to develop a Social Enterprise Handbook that provides practical, accessible, and contextually relevant tools to support trans and gender diverse organizations in designing and implementing financial sustainability models, particularly social enterprises.

Scope of Work
The consultant will lead the design, research, and development of the Social Enterprise Handbook, which will include:

Part 1: Desk Review
Research successful (and, when relevant, unsuccessful) economic and funding models across different social movements (e.g., feminist, Indigenous, sex workers’, mutual aid, cooperatives).
Analyze both trans-led and allied initiatives with a focus on financial sustainability and economic justice.
Part 2: Case Studies
Identify and document 4 to 5 trans-led organizations from several regions that have piloted or implemented social enterprise or alternative funding models to develop case studies, including the legal challenges and how they overcame them.
Part 3: Strategic Tools and Guidance
Develop step-by-step guidance and decision-making tools for establishing and operating a social enterprise.
Include practical blueprints adaptable to various regional, legal, and economic contexts.
The consultant will work closely with GATE staff and the Innovation Lab’s Brain Trust, which will review the content and provide strategic input.

Responsibilities
The consultant(s) will have a maximum of 3 months to complete the deliverables and will be responsible for producing the following:

Producing an in-depth handbook on key findings and recommendations covering all areas as outlined in the section above under the Scope of Work
Design and conduct a webinar hosted by GATE to share key findings and recommendations with key stakeholders, including community members, donors and other relevant governing bodies.

Deliverables:
Annotated outline of the Handbook and proposed methodology.
Literature and desk review summary.
4-5 case studies with synthesized findings and recommendations.
Draft version of the Social Enterprise Handbook.
Finalized version of the Handbook, incorporating feedback from the Brain Trust.
Recorded presentation or webinar of findings for stakeholders.
Mapping of donors that fund economic empowerment initiatives

Essential Requirements
At least 3 years of experience in research related to economic justice, social entrepreneurship, or financial sustainability.
Strong understanding of community-rooted economic models, especially in the Global South.
Proven experience working with or within trans and gender diverse movements.
Experience facilitating participatory research processes with marginalized communities.
Demonstrated experience in developing handbooks, toolkits, training materials, or other resources for community-based organizations, NGOs, or civil society organizations.
Excellent writing and editing skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information and data from diverse sources and to adhere to GATE’s publication guidelines in writing and referencing styles.
Excellent English writing and synthesis skills.