Deadline: 1 March 2020
The Council of Europe launches a call for proposals on reintegration and rehabilitation of prisoners in Azerbaijan in the framework of the European Union – Council of Europe Joint Project “Further Support to the Penitentiary Reform in Azerbaijan-2” (SPERA 2).
It aims at providing support for secure, effective and more humane management of prisons in line with the Council of Europe standards and best practices. The grant procedure is organised in line with Rule No. 1374 on the Council of Europe’s grant procedure.
This 24-month project is co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe in cooperation with the main project partners, namely the Penitentiary Service and the Main Medical Department of the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan and other national stakeholders interested in penitentiary reform.
With JP SPERA – 2, the Council of Europe will assist the Azerbaijani authorities in the process of enhancing human rights protection of sentenced persons in Azerbaijan in line with the Council of Europe standards, in particular those of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT).
Objectives
The grants will fund project designed to develop and implement reintegration programmes in order to support released prisoners by providing:
- Grant 1: Vocational training to enhance ex-offenders’ professional development;
- Grant 2: Business mentoring to support ex-offenders establishing their businesses and for those who have already established businesses, mentoring/support for the development of their business idea, complemented by small funds allocated for the set-up of business by ex-offenders;
- Grant 3: Legal aid in order to address legal issues upon release;
- Grant 4: Psychological and psycho-social support that will provide social reinforcement and help enforce behavioural change.
Focus Areas
The JP SPERA-2 focuses on three areas:
- effective prison management,
- the provision of healthcare in prisons, and
- the reintegration of prisoners in line with European standards and best practices. This component involves the participation of civil society actors.
Funding Information
- The indicative available budget under this call for proposals is 310 000 Euros (three hundred and ten thousand Euros). The Council of Europe intends to award 4 (four) grants, of up to 77 500 Euros.
- Applicants may submit proposals for one, several or all grants. Multiple proposals for one grant are not allowed.
The following types of action will not be considered:
- actions providing financial support to third parties except if explicitly foreseen by the grant;
- actions concerning only or mainly individual scholarships for studies or training courses;
- actions supporting political parties;
- procurement of equipment.
Eligibility Criteria
In order to be eligible for a grant, an applicant must:
- have at least 5-year experience in the civil society sector in Azerbaijan, with previous experience in the areas described in the grant proposal;
- be legally constituted as a non-governmental organisation in Azerbaijan;
- be entitled to carry out in Azerbaijan activities described in its project proposal;
- have sufficient operational and professional capacity, including staff, to carry out activities described in its project proposal;
- have sufficient financial or human capacity to contribute by way of its own resources;
- have a bank account.
How to Apply
Each application shall contain:
- the completed and signed Application Form;
- a provisional budget;
- bank statement confirming the existence of the bank account in the name of the applicant.
- other supporting documents:
- Certificate(s) of state registration;
- Certificate(s) proving non-profit status;
- Statutes of the organisation(s), or equivalent;
- Bank statement confirming the existence of the bank account in the name of the applicant;
- A list of the project the NGO(s) implemented in the area in question and recommendation letters from other donors ascertaining at least 5-year experience in the areas described in the grant proposal and sufficient financial, operational and professional capacity, including staff, to carry out activities described in the proposal.
The application form, completed and signed, together with the supporting documents, must be submitted in electronic form (Word and/or PDF) at the address given on the website. Emails should contain the following reference in subject: Grant award procedure – Prisons – Azerbaijan (SPERA).
For more information, visit https://www.coe.int/en/web/baku/-/call-for-tenders
