Deadline: 4-Nov-22
“Expanding Free Legal Aid to vulnerable Women and Men in Albania” – EFLAS Project implemented by UNDP in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice and funded by Austrian Development Cooperation is launching a Call for Proposals to “Enhance access to justice for individuals from groups vulnerable to social exclusion through education on human rights and access to legal aid services”.
Deliverables
- The Call has two lots of deliverables:
- Lot 1: Empowering vulnerable people and communities to claim their rights helping to fostering more accountable justice system that supports human rights and equal access to justice;
- Areas of focus of the proposals under Lot 1 may include the following means of action, which do not represent an exhaustive list:
- Public and social media campaign and advertising that respond to the purpose of the call;
- Webpages accessible to all, videos, digital and multi-media materials in minority languages and Breil that respond to the purpose of the call;
- Infographics, brochures, posters, leaflets in minority languages and Breil that respond to the purpose of the call;
- Public outreach activities (information and consultation meetings with vulnerable women and men, awareness raising events) and other means of action compatible with the aim of promoting respect for HRs, equality and non-discrimination;
- Consultations, referrals and primary legal aid service to individuals from groups vulnerable to social exclusion, for example people with disabilities and their families, elderly people, youth from socially vulnerable communities, individuals from LGBTI community, migrants, Roma and Egyptian, victims of human trafficking, and victims of violence to access justice;
- Street law activities (street law visits, meetings with the community in administrative units) ensuring better coverage, accessibility and public outreach;
- Strengthening coordination and collaboration among public and non-public service providers and informal community groups in areas where there are not yet established FLA centers to improve accountability of responsible institutions to individuals from groups vulnerable to social exclusion;
- Innovative actions that promote access to justice for the underprivileged through representing them in various forms, by exposing law students to the responsibility of public service or pro bono work, so that students have enhanced consciousness of the client’s problems, they become more conscious of their responsibilities towards clients, which can develop into an enhanced awareness of their social responsibilities;
- Initiatives designed to support women and girls in their access to justice, with a keen intersectionality focus (for example women and girls with disabilities that are also victims of domestic violence) on increasing their awareness about their legal rights, how to exercise them and access to available legal remedies and services, including legal aid at local level.
- Lot 2: Advancing access to justice and human right of vulnerable individuals through support to free legal aid services to seek and obtain remedy through specialized legal counsel and representation.
- Areas of focus of the proposals under Lot 2 include the following means of action, which do not represent an exhaustive list:
- Provide specialized legal counselling and representation and access to alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to individuals from groups vulnerable to social exclusion;
- Conduct initiatives addressing legal and structural barriers to women and girls’ access to justice and courts and empower women and girls to pursue equal rights.
- Promote pro bono lawyering, public interest litigation, paralegal services to increase access to legal aid for vulnerable individuals;
- Share information and refer to existing mediation services in the regions targeted by the proposed action;
- Pursue mobile legal aid service to reach vulnerable people in remote areas, establishing low-level first instance legal assistance which includes short-term initiatives such as helpdesks, online services, awareness campaigns, trainings, and service provision;
- Provide legal assistance by less expensive paralegals.
Funding Information
- Proposals under Lot 1 should include a budget proposal in the range of 1 200 000 ALL to 1 400 000 Albanian LEKË.
- Proposals under Lot 2 should include a budget proposal in the range of 1 200 000 to 2 400 000 Albanian LEKË.
- Any grant requests exceeding 1 400 000 ALL for Lot 1 and 2 400 000 ALL for Lot 2 will not be considered.
- Project Duration: The project duration is maximum 12 months with possibilities to extend services for a defined future period based on the performance and the local demand for the services requited as per this call for proposal.
Eligibility Criteria
- This call is open to Albanian organizations that promote, advocate and contribute to the empowerment and access to justice of vulnerable citizens so they can fulfill their rights, including within the formal justice system. By organization it is understood a non-profit organization registered in Albania to provide legal aid, legal and human rights education and other support services to marginalized individuals.
- Each NGO is encouraged to provide one proposal choosing one Lot considering its profile and accumulated experience.
- The applicants should submit:
- the court decision certifying the registration of the organization
- a valid tax registration (NIPT) certificate
- a bank account in Albanian Lekë (ALL) in the name of the organization
- CV and background of the organization, including staff that is expected to be engaged with the project.
For more information, visit https://www.undp.org/albania/publications/call-proposals-ngos-enhance-access-justice-individuals-groups-vulnerable-social-exclusion-through-education-human-rights-and
