Deadline: 31-Jan-24
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has announced a call for proposals to implement a pilot paralegal scheme at the Juba Central Prison from a legal firm that offer pro bono services, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), including NGOs for small grants in Central Equatoria State.
UNDP through the Access to Justice and Rule of Law Strengthening program with funding from the Kingdom of the Netherlands seek the services of a competent and reputable registered legal firm, Civil Society Organization or National Non- Governmental Organization with an existing relationship with the National Prisons Service of South Sudan to establish and operationalise the pilot paralegal scheme at the Juba Central Prison. The successful entity will be tasked to build the capacity of selected inmates, prison officers in Juba Central Prison and selected police officers within the stations in Juba, to provide legal aid for the inmates in the Prison and accused persons in police stations to tackle the challenge of prolonged and arbitrary detention for a duration of six months. They will also be expected to strengthen the file tracing process as well as the referral pathway for the inmates in need of legal representation in coordination with the Legal Aid Department and other relevant stakeholders.
Objectives
- The main objective of the grant is to identify national organizations in legal practice – whether law firms, civil society organizations (CSO), national non-governmental organizations (NNGO) or community-based organizations (CBO) – with operational presence and capacity in Juba. They need to have an existing established relationship with the prisons service.
- Operationalize and Implement a client-sensitive legal clinic at Juba Central Prison, focusing on paralegal legal aid services for a period of 6 months.
- Provide comprehensive legal advice and representation in civil and criminal cases, as well as administrative matters, with a special emphasis on vulnerable groups, including women, girls, individuals with HIV/AIDS, survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), the elderly, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees.
- Conduct awareness sessions to sensitize inmates on the criminal litigation process, emphasizing their human and constitutional rights, and empowering them to actively participate in and understand the trial process.
- Provide legal aid awareness sessions for newly admitted inmates, offering information on general prison procedures, rules, regulations, discipline, obligations, and rights.
- Offer psychosocial support services to inmates, particularly those in distress, including the newly convicted, individuals suffering from post-traumatic experiences, and those who have experienced bereavement while in prison.
- Identify cases requiring legal representation and assign advocates to represent inmates in legal proceedings, ensuring that their rights are protected throughout the legal process.
- Provide continuous paralegal training to the recruited paralegals at Juba Central prison to enhance their capacity in providing legal aid services within the prison environment, ensuring sustainability beyond the grant period.
- Integrate human rights education within the legal clinic, fostering a culture of awareness and understanding among inmates about their entitlements to a fair and free trial.
- Strengthen existing relationships with national organizations involved in legal practice, including law firms, civil society organizations (CSOs), national non-governmental organizations (NNGOs), or community-based organizations (CBOs), with an operational presence and capacity in Juba.
- Implement a robust monitoring system to assess the effectiveness of the legal clinic, track the outcomes of legal aid services, and identify areas for improvement.
Funding Information
- The budget should be detailed, complete, rational, and realistic, and must not exceed the equivalent of USD 20,000.00.
Expected Outputs/Deliverables
- The organizations are encouraged to develop their own expected results based on their respective assessment of needs, issues, and challenges of vulnerable groups during the period of implementation. Expected results will include the following:
- Expected Outputs
- Provide legal aid services to a diverse group of at least 2000 prisoners, including women, men, children, individuals with HIV/AIDS, refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), the elderly, and returnees, within the 6-month period.
- Release Achievements:
- Achieve a 20% release rate among the prisoners served, facilitating their successful legal processes leading to release.
- Legal Awareness Sessions:
- Conduct a total of 12 legal awareness sessions over the 6-month period, averaging at least 2 sessions per month, to educate 2,000 prisoners on their legal rights and processes.
- Inmate Demographic Focus:
- Ensure that at least 20% population of female prisoners, 20%of the male prisoners, 20% of the children in prison, and 20% of prisoners from vulnerable groups (including people with HIV/AIDS, IDPs, and returnees) receive legal awareness, totaling at least 2000 inmates.
- Court File Management:
- Successfully trace and regularly update at least 50% of the court files for the 2000 inmates served, ensuring accurate and up-to-date legal records.
- Case Database Development:
- Establish a comprehensive database documenting cases supported, the nature of support provided, and the outcomes/results of the legal actions undertaken.
- Identification of Vulnerable Groups:
- Identify vulnerable groups and assess their legal needs, aiming to secure early release on bail or bond, provide legal representation, and monitor legal procedures through regular (twice a week) visitation to police and prison detention facilities in Juba.
- Activities
- New Inmate Orientation:
- Develop and implement a comprehensive program to inform new inmates about their rights and obligations upon arrival at the prison, ensuring they are aware of the legal support available to them.
- Bi-Monthly Legal Awareness Sessions:
- Conduct bi-monthly legal awareness sessions for both inmates and prison personnel, focusing on specific topics. Include moot court sessions to simulate legal proceedings for educational purposes.
- Monthly Paralegal Refresher Trainings:
- Organize monthly refresher training sessions for recruited paralegals to enhance their skills in providing effective legal aid services.
- Weekly Sensitization Outreaches:
- Conduct weekly sensitization outreaches within the prison environment, focusing on educating inmates about the trial process, court etiquette, and their legal entitlements as accused persons.
- Stakeholder Meetings:
- Schedule regular meetings with stakeholders supporting legal aid in prisons, fostering collaboration and coordination for improved legal services.
- New Inmate Orientation:
- Expected Outputs
Eligibility Criteria
- The CSO/NNGO/CBO must meet the following criteria to be eligible or selection:
- Demonstrated Project Experience:
- Possess a proven track record of successfully implementing projects in Juba Central Prison, or other prisons specifically those related to legal education, paralegal training, or prison initiatives.
- Adequate Resources and Expertise:
- Have sufficient human resources, expertise, and infrastructure to effectively implement and sustain the paralegal scheme, ensuring the program’s success and long-term viability.
- Legal Registration:
- Be legally registered as a Civil Society Organization (CSO), National Non-Governmental Organization (NNGO), or Community-Based Organization (CBO) with the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, a legally registered law firm that offers pro bono services and hold a valid registration certificate.
- Alignment with Mandate and Founding Document:
- Demonstrate that the organization’s mandate and founding document align with the activities for which funding is being sought, ensuring consistency and adherence to the intended objectives of the grant.
- Established Office and Relevant Experience:
- Maintain a well-established office in the proposed location of implementation, coupled with a track record of successfully implementing similar or related activities. This criterion ensures familiarity with the local context and a history of effective program execution.
- Demonstrated Project Experience:
For more information, visit UNDP.