Deadline: 28-Feb-23
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) seeks to provide funding support to not for-profit organisations working in the area of criminal justice reform with a focus on access to justice and legal aid services working in Maiduguri, north-east of Nigeria.
The mission of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is to contribute to global peace and security, human rights, and development by making the world safer from drugs, crime, corruption, and terrorism by working for and with Member States to promote justice and the rule of law and build resilient societies. The work of the UNODC is guided by a broad range of international legally binding instruments, and a set of United Nations standards and norms on crime prevention and criminal justice.
In Nigeria, UNODC, in line with its Strategic Vision for Nigeria 2030 continues to support the Federal Government of Nigeria and other stakeholders in their efforts across five priority areas, namely;
- Enhancing the ability of the criminal justice system to uphold the rule of law, ensure access to justice and protect victims of crime,
- Safeguarding people, institutions and the economy from corruption and illicit financial flows,
- Securing the safety of people from terrorism and violent extremism,
- Protecting people, the economy and the environment against organized crime and;
- Promoting people’s health through drug and HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care.
To address challenges pertaining to access to justice and overcrowding in custodial centres and other places of detention, particularly in Maiduguri, north-east of Nigeria, UNODC in partnership with the NCoS and other stakeholders is implementing a project on “Strengthening the capacity of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to effectively rehabilitate and reintegrate prisoners held for (an alleged) association with Boko Haram.” Project outcomes include strengthening coordination between the relevant criminal justice actors in Maiduguri, to improve case management and access to justice for pre-trial detainees, particularly those held for (an alleged) association with Boko Haram.
Objectives
- This Call for Proposals takes into consideration the importance of harnessing all available resources towards the implementation of activities aimed at meeting the objectives of this partner programme.
- The main objectives of this partner programme are:
- Improve case management and access to justice for pre-trial detainees, with a focus on inmates held for (an alleged) association with Boko Haram in Maiduguri.
Thematic Focus and Priority Issues
- This Call for Proposals seeks to provide funding support to not-for-profit organisations working in the area of access to justice and legal aid whose projects are aimed at increasing access to justice and the provision of pro-bono legal aid services for pre-trial detainees, particularly those held for (an alleged) association with Boko Haram in Maiduguri, north- east of Nigeria.
- Funding under this Call for Proposals shall be provided to projects that:
- Enhance access to justice for pre-trial detainees particularly those held for (an alleged) association with Boko Haram in Maiduguri, north- east of Nigeria.
- Indicative activities that contribute to the following will be given priority:
- Provision of pro-bono legal advice and representation aimed at securing speedy trials of the detainees held for an (alleged) association with Boko Haram.
- Facilitating enhanced activities of the Law Clinic of the University of Maiduguri.
- Coordination of advocacy efforts towards the passage of the Administration of Criminal Justice Bill of Borno State, including support to discourse in the media and other public fora.
Funding Information
- Proposals with budgets up to USD 20,000 will be considered for award.
- As a general rule in UNOV/UNODC, awards should normally not exceed a monetary limit of 25% of the entity’s annual income from the previous fiscal year.
- Duration: All activities financed by this partner programme must be implemented and concluded by 15 December 2023.
Location
- Only organizations registered to operate in Nigeria with capacity to implement in Maiduguri, Borno State, north-east of Nigeria are eligible to submit applications.
Eligibility of Projects
- Only projects aimed at achieving the objectives, focusing on the priority issues and meeting all other requirements are eligible for funding under this Call for Proposals.
- Projects should be time-bound (have discernible start and end dates), and have a specific, finite objective that does not require further funding to sustain results over time. Costs, activities and beneficiaries of the proposed project must be distinguished from those relating to the applicant’s other operations.
- The following types of project proposals are not eligible for funding:
- Project proposals concerned only or mainly with individual sponsorships for participation in workshops, seminars, conferences, congresses;
- Project proposals concerned only or mainly with individual scholarships for studies or training courses;
- Credit or loan schemes;
- Debts and provisions for losses or debts;
- Project proposals which consist exclusively or primarily of capital expenditure e.g., land, buildings, equipment, vehicles, etc.
- Project proposals which discriminate against individuals or groups of people on grounds of their gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, or lack of them, or their ethnic origin;
- Scholarships, sponsorships and school fees;
- Cash donations;
- Political party and religious activities;
- Project proposals which provide funding for terrorist activities;
Eligibility Criteria
In order to be eligible for funding, applicants must:
- be a non-profit making organisation (CSOs including NGOs, CBOs) registered under the relevant laws of Nigeria;
- have been registered for not less than the last three (3) years;
- be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the project, i.e., not acting as an intermediary;
- demonstrate prior experience of at least three years implementing activities in the area of access to justice and / legal aid. Additional experience in prison and penal reform is an advantage;
- have a bank account in the organisation’s name capable of receiving international deposit;
For more information, visit United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
