Deadline: 2-Aug-23
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for a cooperative agreement to implement “Action to Reduce and Respond to Exploitation and Trafficking (ARRETE)” program.
This USAID funded activity aims to build the institutional capacity of key DRC institutions, expand access to multidisciplinary services for survivors of trafficking in persons, and transform the population’s behavior towards this widespread human rights violation. This intervention will help establish the pillars necessary for more effective and long-term capacity to Countering Trafficking in Persons (C-TIP) across the DRC.
Purpose
- The purpose of this counter-trafficking activity is to develop and implement a model that meets the needs of trafficking survivors and sets the tone towards creating an environment in DRC where trafficking in persons becomes a thing of the past. This program will help the GDRC develop strategies for crafting key steps to implementing the new C-TIP law.
- The objectives for this activity are:
- Objective 1: Enhanced capacity of key institutions to effectively coordinate countertrafficking in persons interventions at both the national and provincial levels.
- The relevant GDRC institutions such as the Ministry of Gender, Family and Child, Directorate of Social Interventions for the Protection of the Child (DISPE), the Division of Social Affairs (DIVAS), the Ministry of Human Rights, the Coordination among others, remain constrained by a limited number of skilled personnel, weak organizational management capacities, and financial resources.
- Illustrative Indicators:
- Number of USG supported national human rights commissions and other independent state institutions charged by law with protecting and promoting human rights that actively pursued allegations of human rights abuses during the year.
- Number of internal procedures and policies to prevent and respond to trafficking in persons and SGBV adopted or strengthened in GDRC targeted institutions.
- Number of key GDRC institutions with capacity to plan, prioritize, fundraise, allocate resources, and measure performance.
- Extent to which information management systems are strengthened (i.e. hotline and database) to collect and analyze data on at-risk and survivors of trafficking and SGBV.
- Number of community and provincial level coordination and referral mechanisms that include active GDRC participation.
- Number of victim identification and referral procedures (such as Standard Operating Procedures [SOPs] and/or a national or local referral mechanism) developed or strengthened through foreign assistance funds.
- Objective 2: Expanded access to quality and multidisciplinary services for victims of trafficking in persons through referral and coordination networks.
- The lack of financial resources and strong protective service providers in DRC negatively impacts the availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality of services for survivors of trafficking in persons.
- Illustrative Indicators:
- Number of service providers that receive training, technical assistance, or capacity building in victim-centered and trauma-informed services.
- Number of survivors receiving services (medical, shelter, repatriation, legal, transportation, etc.).
- Number of new victim support services that are available for reintegration of TIP survivors.
- Number of stakeholders trained to use the national victim identification and referral mechanism.
- Number of survivors of trafficking who have gained sustainable livelihoods through USG foreign assistance.
- Number and percentage of target community members who have knowledge of referral systems and points of contacts.
- Number of police, border patrols, prosecutors, judges, and social workers trained on the investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases.
- Number of survivors of human trafficking who have gained sustainable livelihoods through State and USAID foreign assistance.
- Objective 3: Improved knowledge and behavior towards trafficking in persons, policies, and legislation.
- Awareness raising and education is critical to TIP prevention. It is an effective means to help key DRC ministries and directorates identify the TIP risk factors, dangers, and vulnerabilities within their remits.
- Key Indicators:
- Number of stakeholders trained on anti-Trafficking legislation and other related thematic such as sexual and gender-based violence, investigation, and prosecution techniques.
- Number of mechanisms developed or enhanced to report and respond to potential TIP cases, including hotlines, community watch groups, or law enforcement authorities.
- Number of anti-corruption and anti-trafficking officials with improved capacity to prosecute alleged perpetrators.
- Number of human rights defenders trained and supported.
- Number of domestic NGOs engaged in monitoring and advocacy work on human rights receiving USG support.
- Number of unique awareness materials designed or adapted through foreign assistance.
- Number of final anti-TIP policies, laws, or international agreements passed, enacted, or amended.
- Number of people trained in prevention techniques.
- Number of first responders trained on victim identification.
- Percentage of trained community members who can demonstrate an understanding of trafficking and identify indicators that someone is/has been a victim of human trafficking.
- Objective 4: Provide an Opportunity Fund to expand programming that addresses sexual and gender-based violence.
- Sexual and Gender-based violence (SGBV) in DRC is an important driver of human trafficking and a tool to further control women, children, and even men into sex work and forced labor across all forms of trafficking. Commercial sex exploitation, early and forced marriage, forced pregnancy, forced prostitution, and intimate partner violence are among the main forms of SGBV.
Funding Information
- Award Ceiling: $18,000,000
- Award Floor: $15,000,000
- The anticipated period of performance is five (5) years.
Geographic Targeting
- The ARRETE activity will provide support to national and provincial level counter-trafficking structures. At the national level, the program will focus on strengthening national countertrafficking systems by providing organizational and technical capacity building and supporting strategic partnership-building for the effective implementation of key public policy documents or guidelines. ARRETE will train key actors, disseminate the new TIP law, and other critical policies.
- However, given the size of the country and the budget limitations, ARRETE will select a few provinces, in collaboration with USAID and the Coordination, where the bulk of services-related activities will be piloted. The geographic targeting will follow the path of place-specific trafficking trends identified through the NORC assessment (Haut-Katanga, Haut-Uele, Kasai, Kinshasa, Kongo Central, Lualaba, Mongala, North Kivu, and South Kivu) and other USG-funded interventions to leverage past, current, and upcoming efforts to address the structural causes of human exploitation. Ideally, ARRETE should strategically cover the eastern, southern, western, and central provinces of DRC.
Qualifications
- Chief of Party
- The minimum qualifications for the Chief of Party are:
- A Master’s Degree in social sciences, such as human rights, international development, social work, public policy, or other areas directly related to understanding and providing services to vulnerable populations, or equivalent experience. At least ten years of progressively responsible experience in international development.
- Project management, with at least ten years of experience working in human rights, child protection, sexual and gender-based violence, legal reform and policy advocacy, survivordriven service delivery, private sector partnerships, and/or monitoring & evaluation (of trafficking in persons programs).
- Demonstrated ability to establish productive relationships with senior government officials, the private sector community, civil society, and international donors.
- Sound understanding of development, political, and human rights issues in DRC; knowledge of DRC counterparts and organizations active in human rights issues is highly desirable.
- Excellent networking and alliance building skills.
- Professional fluency in spoken and written French and English; fluency in local languages is desirable, but not required.
- Senior Counter-Trafficking Advisor
- The minimum qualifications for the Senior Counter-Trafficking Advisor are:
- A Master’s Degree or equivalent, in social sciences, such as international development, social work, public policy, human rights or other areas directly related to providing services to vulnerable populations, or equivalent experience.
- At least ten (10) years of experience in the field of child protection, human rights and/or the protection of vulnerable groups, at least some of which was in a development context.
- Experience in DRC or in similar contexts is highly desirable.
- Sound understanding of DRC development needs and political environment.
- Fluency in written and spoken French; professional fluency in English is highly desirable.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to develop excellent relations with DRC counterparts and donor representatives.
- Previous experience working with international development implementing partners is strongly encouraged.
- Senior Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist
- The minimum qualifications for the Senior Counter-Trafficking Advisor are:
- A Master’s Degree or equivalent, in social sciences such as international development, gender studies, social work, public policy, human rights or other areas directly related to providing services to vulnerable populations, or equivalent experience.
- At least ten (10) years of experience in the field of gender, disability, youth and/or the protection of other vulnerable groups.
- Experience in DRC or in similar contexts is highly desirable.
- Sound understanding of DRC development needs and gender gaps.
- Fluency in written and spoken French; professional working English level is desirable.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to develop excellent relations with DRC counterparts and donor representatives.
- Previous experience working with international development implementing partners is strongly encouraged.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.