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Open Call for CSOs to Establish a Pilot Paralegal Scheme at the Juba Central Prison (South Sudan)

Deadline: 7-Mar-23

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.
    • Establish and operationalize a sustainable, client sensitive legal clinic including identification and training of staff to the paralegal legal aid services in Juba Central Prison for the 6 months of operationalization.
    • Provide legal advice and representation on criminal cases, as well as administrative matters for the inmates focusing on the most vulnerable groups such as women and girls, SGBV survivors, elderly, as well as IDPs and returnees.
    • To sensitize the inmates on the litigation process, their human and constitutional rights and entitlements to fair and free trial, empowering them to successfully represent themselves during the trial process.
    • To sensitize the newly admitted inmates through legal outreaches on general prisons procedures, rules, regulations, discipline, obligations, and rights.
    • Provide psychosocial support to inmates, those in distress, including the newly convicted, those suffering from post-traumatic experiences, those who have been bereaved while in prison among other challenges.
Funding Information
  • The budget should be detailed, complete, rational, and realistic, and must not exceed the equivalent of USD 20,000.00.
  • Administrative costs must not exceed 10% of the total proposed amount.
  • The Project duration is six months.
Expected Outputs and 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
      • 100 paralegal providers from a team of inmates, prison and police officers identified, trained and mentored;
      • At least 20% of the court files for the inmates to be traced while regularly updating the inmates;
      • A database of the cases supported, the kind of support provided, and outcome/ result of the action undertaken developed;
      • At least 120 inmates are informed and accessing the legal aid services through the weekly sensitization workshops;
      • Reduced number of remand and convicted inmates by 10% and 5% respectively in the central juba prison through bonds, bails, acquittals, and successful appeals;
      • A well-equipped legal aid clinic to support regular legal advice, training and workshops for inmates established in Juba Central prison.
    • Activities
      • Inform new inmates on their rights and obligations on arrival to prison.
      • To conduct paralegal and communication trainings for both inmates and prison personnel (including moot court)
      • Conduct weekly sensitization outreaches within the prison on the trial process, court etiquette and legal entitlements for the accused persons.
      • Schedule regular meetings with the stakeholders supporting legal aid in prisons.
      • Develop materials including booklets, posters placed within the prisons on prison rules, rights, and duties of the inmates in Arabic and English
      • Establish a paralegal office and equip with the relevant legal, human rights and related documents.
      • Submit reports monthly, or more frequently if needed, with accurately documented information on implemented activities including follow up recommendations.
      • Conduct regular visit to police station and prison in Juba to identify vulnerable groups (persons) to be supported with the prison-based legal aid services.
Eligibility Criteria

The CSO/NNGO/CBO must meet the following criteria to be eligible for selection:

  • Be legally registered as CSO/NNGO/CBO with the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and in possession of a valid registration certificate.
  • Mandate and founding document should be in line with the activities for which the fund is being sought.
  • Have an established office in the proposed location of implementation, as well as experience in implementing similar/related activities.
  • Must have technical, operational and financial ability to effectively implement in the proposed location.
Evaluation Criteria
  • Consistency with Pilot Paralegal Scheme objectives and expected outputs set out herein.
    • The proposal should address issues relating to access to justice, rule of law, counseling and human rights.
  • Likelihood of success; project feasibility and sustainability
    • The proposal should clearly demonstrate sustainability after the grant period has finished, as well as in the absence of external funding.
  • Capacity of the organization to implement the project; both institutional and financial
    • The CSO/NNGO/CBO should demonstrate the ability to effectively manage grant funds as well as demonstrate institutional capacity necessary for project implementation. This may include, but is not limited to, equipment, facilities, competence and experience of personnel, and past record of managing similar projects.
  • Comprehensiveness of the project description; product, plan and budget
    • The proposal should clearly define a strategy for implementation, detailing a step-by-step project plan as well as an itemized budget, target groups, and clear timelines for the duration of the entire activity.
  • Competency of the organizational staff
    • The proposal should detail organizational staff’s relevant previous experience, skills, training, et cetera in related activities, fields, or the like.

For more information, visit United Nations Development Programme.