Deadline: 16-Jun-25
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is partnering with CSOs on strengthening Community-Based Paralegal Systems and Probono Legal Representation for Children.
Objectives
- Overall Objectives
- Ensure that children in contact and in conflict with the law, especially the most underserved and marginalized in at least 50 districts of Zambia, fully enjoy their legal right to probono legal representation. Children are better informed about their legal rights, receive timely legal advice and information throughout judicial proceedings and interactions with the police, prosecution, courts and correctional services, and are protected, including being empowered to make informed choices about their legal representation.
- Specific Objectives
- Strengthen the capacity of community-based paralegal to provide legal literacy, information and make referral for probono legal representation in accordance with the Children’s Code Act of Zambia No. 12 of 2022.
- Enhance knowledge and skills of paralegals with a comprehensive understanding of the Children’s Code Act and its practical application in child protection.
- Strengthen the capacity of legal practitioners to provide child-friendly pro-bono legal assistance and legal representation to children in conflict/contact with the law and child friendly questioning to child witnesses including enabling children access to free online legal aid services.
- Support the establishment of legal aid desks at Police stations, correctional facilities, transit centres, Reformatory and Approved Centres and Courts ensure children in conflict and in contact with the law have access to legal advice, information and representation and that their legal rights are protected including through remote support and mobile response team.
- Engage families and communities in promoting legal literacy by disseminating simplified and child-friendly versions of the Children’s Code Act.
Duration
- 24 months (1 st July 2025 – 30th July 2027).
Geographic Focus
- The programme will be implemented in 50 districts of Zambia namely (Eastern Province -Katete, Chipata, Petauke, Nyimba, Lundazi, Chama, Kasenegwa; Lusaka Province-Chongwe, Luangwa, Lusaka, Kafue, Rufunsa, Chilanga; Northern Province- Kasama, Luwingu, Mpulungu, Mbala; Luapula Province -Mansa, Nchelenge, Chifunabuli, Mwansabombwe, Kawambwa, Chiengi; Northwestern Province- Mwinilunga, Zambezi, Kabombo, Mufumbwe, Mushindamo, Kalumbila, Solwezi; Western Province – Senanga, Sesheke, Mwandi, Kaoma, Mongu, Kalabo; Southern Province- Choma, Itezhitezhi, Kazungula, Livingstone; Central Province- Chibombo, Kabwe, Shibuyunji, Muchinga Province – Chinsali, Nakonde, Mpika; Copperbelt Province- Ndola, Chililabombwe, Chingola, Kitwe and Ndola.
Output
- The successful CSO partners will contribute to ensuring the following:
- Community based paralegals have the capacity to raise awareness on the CCA including services available to children and, information and referral to legal representation for children in contact and in conflict with the law.
- Children in contact and in conflict with the law in rural and urban areas, including those in the hardest to reach areas have access to legal information, advise and legal representation, and build their knowledge, and awareness of their legal rights.
- Lessons learned and emerging good practices on legal aid and legal representation is documented and widely disseminated to drive transformative child friendly justice systems.
Partnership Principles
- To achieve these outputs, UNICEF will support partnerships that are aligned to the following;
- Integrated and context-specific programming focused on reimagined justice for children, rooted in the Children’s Code Act and ensuring access to probono legal service for children.
- Opportunities for the empowerment of children in contact and in conflict with the law by increasing the scale and reach of community-based paralegal services and strengthen an effective referral mechanism for legal representation.
- Accelerated legal literacy and awareness of rights among children in contact and in conflict with the law by disseminating simplified and child friendly versions of the Children’s Code Act and fostering supportive family and community environments through community reconciliation and mediation.
- Forged and formalized partnerships through Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with key government authorities-including the National Prosecution Authority (NPA), Judiciary, Zambia Police Service, Zambia Correctional Service, and the Legal Aid Board-to enhance and strengthen paralegal support, facilitate referrals, improve training and supervision, and ensure that legal aid services are accessible, effective, and available throughout all areas of the country and to enhance coordination, resource sharing, and oversight of paralegal services.
- Partners work to bolster existing legal aid initiatives and exploit the work that has already been done including coordinating with existing initiatives working to provide legal aid in the country.
Expected Results
- Strengthened Capacity of Legal Practitioners to provide Child-Friendly Pro-Bono Legal Assistance
- Community based paralegals are empowered to provide legal information, advice and referral to legal representation to children in conflict with the law.
- Children’s access to legal services strengthened through referrals and emergency legal representation
- Increased number of children with legal representation among children in contact and in conflict with the law.
- Increase the number of people who are aware of the provision of the Children Code Act.
Selection Criteria
- Experience in working with community-based paralegals, and provision of legal representation especially strengthening a child-friendly justice system and working with children in contact and in conflict with the law and having presence in three or more of the selected districts. Demonstrate experience/engagement with traditional leadership as a key stakeholder in ensuring successful community-based child justice system.
- Evidence to deliver cost-effective programmes while guaranteeing value for money, implement programme at scale and impactful for children in the justice sector. Applying organizations are required to have a sound financial management system and demonstrate sustainable financial resource mobilization ability.
- Demonstrate technical capacity to design, budget and implement a community-based paralegal and legal representation supported programmes. CSO/NGO should demonstrate that they are recognized by legal Aid Board and Paralegal Alliance Network. Interested CSO will be expected to share annual reports or other reports that show the work they have previously undertaken in areas relevant to this expression of interest.
- Experience in working with community volunteers and government established structures and systems especially legal is required. Demonstration of experience in coordinating with the Government and building capacities of community-based structures partners including strengthening community leaders to address issues affecting children in conflict and contact with the law will be considered
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.