Consultancy - Strengthening Local
Governments and Community Networks
to Reduce Violence against Marginalized Groups

Relevant Experience:

1. Background/Introduction

 

Rights protections are weak for all Pakistani citizens, but the position of vulnerable and marginalized communities is particularly precarious. These vulnerable groups are politically, socially, and economically marginalized, and are susceptible to discrimination and violence. Under ‘Strengthening Local Governments and Community Networks to Reduce Violence against Vulnerable Groups’ project, The Asia Foundation (the Foundation) is working to implement a two-year initiative which seeks to reduce violence against vulnerable populations by further developing and expanding an Early Warning System (EWS) in Pakistan.

To reduce violence against vulnerable populations in Pakistan, the project aims to further raise public awareness on different fundamental rights issues, bridge the gap between marginalized groups political representatives and their constituents, and advocate on their behalf at the provincial and national assemblies. The project therefore aims to integrate this preemptive mechanism by institutionalizing it in 15 districts across three provinces, in Sindh (Karachi, Mithi, Hyderabad, Jacobabad, Umerkot and Larkana), in Punjab (Lahore-3 districts, Faisalabad, Nankanasahib, Khanewal and Hasanabdal) and in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (Peshawar and Mardan). Further, the Foundation aims to provide vertical linkages with essential service providers at the district and provincial levels for a coordinated and effective response to fundamental rights such as rights of expression, association, assembly, and thought violations. The project is working towards the achievement of the following two mutually-reinforcing objectives:

 

1. To institutionalize the EWS to ensure a more effective government response to fundamental rights such as rights of expression, association, assembly, and thought violations; and

2. To expand and strengthen vulnerable populations’ support networks to effectively address the above mentioned fundamental rights violations.

 

To achieve these objectives, this ToRs is seeking a partnership with a public/private university/institute that has the institutional and technical resources to develop the Early Warning System (EWS) at the district government levelto reduce violence against vulnerable groups.

 

1. Objective of the Assignment

 

• To institutionalize the EWS at the district government level by connecting with local Social Welfare Departments and relevant District Commissioner’s Offices to mobilize emergency response units through an in-house referral mechanism that ensures human rights grievances are heard, documented, monitored and addressed.

• To build the capacity of HRDs/peace ambassadors, provincial human rights departments to encounter and reduce human rights violations in their respective province.

1. Key Tasks/Scope of Work

 

University/institute will be responsible:
 

• To develop a Management Information System (MIS) database for human rights violations, linked to project stakeholders. The MIS database will be centralized at NCHR in Islamabad for oversight and will be further linked to SWD at provincial and district offices for data entry and reporting.

• In coordination with the Foundation, training of the representative from relevant line department and provincial government representatives by an expert provided by the university on the EWS standard operating procedures, operating manuals etc.

• To provide technical support to implementing partners at SWDs to accurately and consistently document violations on the MIS, including all support required for the strengthening and institutionalization of the EWS.

• To identify 250 new peace ambassadors in partnership with the Foundation team and brought to the university for training regarding the identification of fundamental rights violations such as rights of expression, association, assembly, and thought violations.

• Training of peace ambassadors to bring grievances to partners/SWDs at district level, to ensure issues are resolved before escalating to instances of violence, in an effective and coordinated manner.

 

1. Key outcomes

• EWS mechanism will be institutionalized and sustained at district level in project areas with an accountable response.

• A comprehensive MIS and database will be built to facilitate the incoming data and generate the subsequent reports from district level. 

• Incidences of the violations against religious minorities and other vulnerable groups will be reduced with the help of EWS mechanism.

• Peace ambassador’s knowledge and awareness will also be built on fundamental rights and their capacity will be built on EWS mechanism and identification of triggers of violence in their area.

 

1. Award of Contract

 

Contract would be signed for a period of up to six to eight months with the selected university/institution.

 

1. Eligibility Criteria

 

• Experience of having worked with the government department, development sector, particularly in human rights and governance themes.

• Experience in developing practical training material inclusive of manuals and other helping materials.

• Experience in building the capacity of the government departments officials, civil society organizations etc.

• Technical resources and working experience of developing management information systems (MIS)

  

1. Selection Criteria

 

Selection of the university/institute will take place through a competitive process. Applications will be evaluated based on their previous experience, qualifications and reasonable budget. The shortlisted universities/institutes will be required to deliver a short presentation/session based on which final decision regarding award of contract will be made. The Foundation reserves the right to reject any application without assigning any reason.

 

All Applications will be reviewed under the following standardized criteria:

 

1. Previous relevant experience (30)

2. Technical proposal (40)

3. Proposed approach and methodology

4. Proposed implementation plan (10)

5. Proposed indicators for measurement

6. Proposed team lead and core team members

7. Presentation to the evaluation committee (20)

 

1.       Application Information.

 

All applications must be clearly marked “Strengthening Local Governments and Community Networks to Reduce Violence against Marginalized Groups” submitted through sealed envelopes (both technical and financial proposals), COB June 26, 2018 on the following address:

 

Country Representative,

The Asia Foundation

EOBI House,

4th Floor, Block 32-34,

Mauve Area, I & T Centre,

G-10/4, Islamabad.

 

If you have any further questions, you can send in your queries @[email protected], phone calls will not be entertained. Please note that incomplete proposals or those sent after the deadline, will not be accepted. Your proposals should be submitted in hard copy.