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Regional Study on Expanding the Democratic Space and the Role of Civil Society Organisations in Advancing Human Rights in the Region of the Western Ba

The full ToR can be found at http://dl.undp.sk/Terms_of_Reference_IC .

The UNDP Bratislava Regional Centre (BRC) offers advisory support to 22 Country Offices in Eastern Europe and the CIS countries in the following governance areas: access to justice and human rights, legal empowerment, access to information and e-governance, anti-corruption, local governance and decentralization, environmental governance and sustainable local development, parliamentary development and political parties, and public administration reform.

Human rights bring principles of accountability and social justice to the process of human development. Hence, UNDP has a policy of integrating human rights with human development process. In 1998, UNDP responded to the UN Secretary-General’s call to mainstream human rights in all UN activities by issuing the policy on integrating human rights with sustainable human development. Since then, human rights have remained to be a key concern of the organisation’s development activities. The primary responsibility for human rights promotion and protection rests with the States. Therefore, UNDP interventions support the States to fulfil their human rights commitments.

Through the years, UNDP has supported Ombudsman institutions by helping them build their capacities and share good practices and experience across the ECIS region. More recently, with the emergence of the National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in the countries across the region, UNDP Country Offices increasingly engage in capacity building of NHRIs to fullfil their mandates and advocate for the necessary improvements in human rights protection systems. Within the system of the promotion and the protection of human rights, cooperation between NHRIs and civil society organisations (CSOs) is of key importance, as highlighted in the United Nations Paris Principles. Knowledge exchange and cooperation between NHRIs is of pivotal importance in strengtening their capacities to establish genuine cooperation with human rights defenders, as well as engage with a broader range of CSOs which use human rights based approach to address the issues related to poverty and social exclusion. With its 22 country offices, UNDP in the ECIS region is well placed to support the relevant knowledge exchange.

The regional project “Promoting Human Rights and Access to Justice for Social Inclusion and Legal Empowerment (PHASE)” (further on referred to as the PHASE Project) has been designed to work on enhancing the specific operational and thematic capacities of human rights and justice institutions as well as building capacities of NHRIs and strengthening the cooperation between NHRIs and CSOs. The PHASE Project is also focused on increasing the capacities of UNDP Country Offices to support the national level actors in pursuing a robust regime of human rights and justice programming in support of the country level engagements with the national and international human rights and justice mechanisms.

The activities will be focused on social exclusion related issues. Thus, the PHASE Project will strive to empower disadvantaged groups including women, minorities, people with disabilities, people living with HIV/ AIDS by promoting their rights and expending their access to justice and broadening their choices. The activities shall include initiatives such as supporting the role of CSOs in representing the excluded groups and advocating on their behalf, establishing and strengtening NHRIs – CSOs cooperation for the improved protection and promotion of human rights, while also continuing the activities focused on strengthening the capacities of governments as duty bearers to progressively fullfil their commitments.

The activities envisaged within the PHASE Project will contribute to the UNDP RBEC Rolling Strategy (2011-2013), as well as to the activities envisaged by the regional Civil Society Strategy (2011-2013) and the RBEC Focus Programme on Accountability, Human Rights and Justice.

Overview of the purpose:

In order to strengthen the human-rights based approach in its development programming with the intention to place people, particularly disadvantaged groups and marginalised communities at the centre of action, UNDP BRC aims to strengthen its engagement with CSOs. In partnership with CSOs in the ECIS region, UNDP is well placed to push for a more systematic process of harmonising the national legal frameworks with the international human rights standards, as well as addressing the gap between policy and practice. The Regional Project PHASE will attempt to strengthen the partnerships with CSOs, thus broadening the ownership and inclusive approach in promoting the regional and sub-regional human rights and justice agenda.

In order to strengthen its engagement with the relevant CSOs and CSO networks UNDP BRC will hire a consultant to draft the Regional study on expanding the democratic space with the specific insight in the role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in advancing human rights in the ECIS region. The Study will provide guidance for strengthening UNDP engagement with CSOs as well as inform capacity building and regional knowledge sharing focused on cooperation between NHRIs and CSOs to advance human rights agenda. The emphasis will be placed on access to human rights of individuals and groups that often experience social exclusion such as people with disabilities, people living with HIV / AIDS, minorities, while taking into consideration gender equality and women’s rights as appropriate. The Study should primarily contribute to the project components: Strengthening National Human Rights Protection System; and Accelerating National Engagements with International Human Rights and Justice Principles and Mechanisms.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives of the assignment:

The consultant will conduct a desk-research and analysis on the work of CSOs and CSO networks active in the promotion and protection of human rights in the ECIS region. The research should result in a comprehensive study on expanding democratic space and the role of CSOs in advancing human rights agenda in the region. Emphasis should be placed on CSO networking for the purpose of human rights advancement, and on the existing practices of cooperation between CSOs and NHRIs. The focus should be on CSOs dealing with social exclusion issues and using human rights based approach to promote the inclusion and access to human rights of people with disabilities, minorities, people living with HIV / AIDS, with the appropriate consideration for gender equality and women’s rights issues.

The consultant shall perform the following tasks:

Conduct the desk review and analysis of the variety of roles that CSOs and CSO networks perform in the ECIS region related to the promotion and protection of human rights such as advocacy, monitoring, facilitating the access to redress mechanisms, awareness raising etc. Sub-regional specificities related to human rights agenda and enabling environment for CSO action shall be taken into the consideration, according to the following geographic stratification: New Member States, Western Balkans

Prepare the first draft of the study, which should include the following components :

  • General analysis of the role of CSOs in the protection and promotion of human rights, considering multiple levels of CSOs engagement in human rights related issues (local and national levels), and including an overviews of CSOs umbrella organizations at the national level, as well as the regional platforms and networks;
  • General legal enviornment within which the CSOs operate in the respective sub-region;
  • Overview of type of activities performed by CSOs to promote and protect human rights of marginalised and excluded groups of people;
  • Mapping of CSOs’ collaboration with the NHRIs including practice examples (if any);
  • Overview of CSOs’ activities focusing on international human rights advocacy (participation in drafting shadow reports, participation in UPR processes);
  • Overview of cooperation and partnership of human rights CSOs and CSOs using human rights based approach for advocacy on behalf of excluded people with the UNDP Country offices in the ECIS region;
  • Analysis of the major impediments (regulatory, policy and institutional) with attention to sub-regional variances that may hamper active CSOs participation in the National Human Rights Protection System and in the human rigths related activities within the UN system.;
  • Possible strategies/recommendations for UNDP BRC on how to best support and collaborate with CSOs in promotion and protection of human rights at the regional and sub-regional levels.

The final Study should not exceed 25 pages, excluding relevant annexes. The exact format, including the appropriate font and spacing will be agreed with the task-manager.

Consultant will closely coordinate with UNDP BRC throughout the process. The first draft of the study should be submitted to allow reviewers in UNDP to comment and suggest the appropriate modifications. The consultant should be prepared to incorporate comments in the final version and to ensure that the Study is finalized according to the agreed quality standards both related to the content and the format of the final document.

Expected Outputs and Delivery Schedule:

  • First draft of the Study based on a desk review;
  • Advanced draft version of the study with UNDP / BRC comments incorporated;
  • Final version of the Study which meets the quality standards.

Competencies

  • Strong analytical and research competencies;
  • Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
  • Ability to work under pressure and against tight deadlines;
  • Strong interpersonal and good communication abilities.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Masters degree in law, political science, international relations, development studies, or related field.

Experience:

  • Over five years of relevant experience in an international agency, bilateral donor agency, civil society organization or think-tank;
  • Profound understanding of human rights issues in the region of Eastern Europe;
  • Knowledge of CSOs in the region, specifically CSOs and CSO networks (national, sub-regional and regional) involved in the promotion and protection of human rights and CSOs working on poverty and social exclusion from human rights perspective;
  • Prior experience of working with, or dealing with UN/UNDP in different countries in ECIS region is an asset.

Language requirements:

  • Ability to write clearly and compellingly in English; knowledge of other languages from the region is desirable.

Time-frame for the Consultancy and Payment Schedule:

The completion of this consultancy assignment will take up to 20 working days in the estimated period September 1, 2011 – October 15, 2011.

The payment will be made in two installments:

  • 40% of total costs upon the satisfactory receipt of the first draft of the study;
  • 60% of total costs upon the satisfactory receipt of the final version of the study.

Evaluation of Applicants:

Individual consultant will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and the financial proposal. The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

  • responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
  • having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 35 points:

  • Education max points: 5
  • Proven analytical and research skills – max points: 10
  • Experience of working in human rights and justice – max points: 10
  • Experience in civil society issues – max points: 10

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 15 points.

Application procedures:

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

  • Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position and a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work (if applicable). Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application;
  • Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees
    (blank form can be downloaded from
    http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc ); please upload the P11 instead of your CV;
  • Financial Proposal* - specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this announcement;
  • Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.

*Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...).
Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org
General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://europeandcis.undp.org/home/jobs

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.

Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.


UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.