Deadline: 12 April 2017
The UNDP country office in South Sudan is seeking an implementing partner or Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to develop and implement a Legal Aid and Assistance Scheme that will be funded under UNDP’s Support to Access to Justice and Rule of Law Project. The Project aims to contribute to national priorities as articulated in the South Sudan Development Plan (SSDP) Conflict Prevention & Security Pillar.
The specific Rule of Law Sector Objective is “to strengthen the Rule of Law in South Sudan by enforcing and maintaining law and order, providing equitable access to justice and a functioning criminal justice system, increasing security in communities, and promoting and protecting human rights for all.”
Objective
UNDP has provided support to the Judiciary of South Sudan to increase access to justice by establishing a pilot mobile court initiative. While judges and prosecutors are assigned to mobile courts, members of the public and accused persons encounter barriers in defending themselves. These barriers are underscored by the costs of the judicial process, in particular, the retention of a lawyer, and lack of knowledge of legal rights and how to access the judicial system. While the mobile court initiative was intended to reduce case back log and prison overcrowding, this has not being achieved due to the inability of accused persons to pursue their cases. The objective of providing legal aid services is to enhance the protection of citizen’s rights through better access to justice, reduce case back log and arbitrary detention, and further reinforce the accountability and transparency of the judiciary.
Funding Information
- Grants not exceeding the equivalent of USD 50,000 (Fifty thousand United States Dollars) will be made.
- The duration of the project shall be 8 months.
Expected Results
- Documents, systems, policies and procedures required to operate the legal aid and assistance services developed.
- Pro bono legal representation and advisory services, and psychosocial support provided but not limited to any of the following locations: Aweil, Juba, Yambio, Wau, Kuajok, Torit, Bor, Rumbek and Malakal particularly to survivors of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) and persons affected by conflict.
- Petitions filed in the Supreme Court and legal representation provided regarding the infringement of or protection of fundamental human rights under the Bill of Rights of the Transitional Constitution 2011 or any subsistent national constitution.
- Legal help desk providing legal aid advice to members of the public established and functional.
- Legal outreach programme developed and awareness raising activities implemented.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be evaluated by the Grant Appraisal Committee against the following main criteria:
- Importance of the problem concerning vulnerable groups of people addressed by the project;
- Specificity in defining target audience of the project, as well as other stakeholders;
- Level of competence and experience of the applying organization in issues addressed by the project, and professional level of project personnel;
- Clearness, feasibility and practicality of planned results;
- Effectiveness of the proposed methodology with regard to resolving the given problem and achieving planned results;
- Impact of the project on the strengthening of the applicant organization’s capacity;
- Justified and balanced project budget.
Documentation
Interested parties must submit a proposal along with the following documents:
- Proof of registration as a non-governmental/non-commercial organization including copies of registration certificate and constitution or other governing document.
- Organizational profile with the following details:
- A clearly defined management structure;
- Experience in legal aid delivery or providing legal representation in the courts of South Sudan;
- Experience and expertise in training and capacity building;
- Knowledge of international human rights norms and experience of working on human rights and protection issues;
- Work experience in South Sudan or in post conflict situations of at least two years prior to the application;
- Details of the local partners if application is made jointly by two or more CSOs.
- Curriculum vitae of two key staff members involved in the implementation of the Project.
How to Apply
Applications (project proposals) in the form of the template attached (Attachment I) must be submitted by CSOs based in South Sudan to the UNDP Offices or by post or email at the address given on the website.
Eligible Country: South Sudan
For more information, please visit UNDP South Sudan.