Consultancy Child protection and access to justice for high risk children

TERMS OF REFERENCE for Consultancy

Child protection and access to justice for high risk children

BACKGROUND

The Movement Social (MS) has been working since 1961 towards sustainable development over all the Lebanese territory in a secular and nondiscriminatory approach. It aims at building a fair and humane society, improving the citizenship and autonomy of the underprivileged through socio-economic development projects and to implicate Lebanese youths in the development and

In order to pursue her objectives, the (MS) implements different programs and activities targeting children, youth and families, from which we can presents the 3 main programs below:

Program 1: Education:

MS works with the most vulnerable and hardest-to-reach children and young people, and their families, in awareness raising and motivational activities designed to support enrolment in formal public education, in providing homework support to improve retention of children in school, and Basic Literacy and Numeracy program to out of school children who lack the minimum skills to join formal education.

Program 2: Supporting vulnerable girls and boys with learning, soft and hard skills and employability programs in Lebanon:

35% of youth between the ages of 15 and 19 drop out of the school system in Lebanon. Their motivation is drowned by financial as well as domestic difficulties coupled with a lack of emphasis on the value of education, and are usually forced to enter the labor market early to support themselves and their families. Mouvement Social intervenes on behalf of these young men and women to improve their chances of success and social reintegration, offering vocational training that is adapted to their needs, educational level and needs of the job market.

Program 3: Prevention and protection for children at risk and in conflict with the law:

MS has developed a comprehensive approach to work with parents, children and adolescents at high risk (domestic violence, exploitation, child labour, delinquency…). Children and youth can follow life skills and employability programmes or literacy according to their profile. These activities aim at reducing worst forms of child labour and exploitation by reinforcing specific employment related skills for the adolescents to find better opportunities in their life.

The MS also works directly in prisons where 170 youth, aged between 14 and 18 years old, are locked behind the walls. These young men live in difficult circumstances. Most of their families are broken; they are affected by poverty, unemployment, resignation, violence…  In order to face this destitution, Mouvement Social transforms prison sentence into a rehabilitation time. The association’s team supports those minors, helping the youth to regain their self-esteem and develop professional skills through vocational training and social follow-up.

In regards to the local needs, different programs (from the 3 listed above) are implemented through 12 centers (Halba, Tripoli, Zahle, Kafar Zabad, Bourj Hammoud, Sin El Fil, Jnah, Ghobeiry, Nabatiyeh, Saida, Roumieh prison, Barbar Khazen prison), working directly with the local communities in coordination with the headquarters in Badaro. Each center is managed by a head of center whose responsibilities includes ensuring good implementation of program activities by the local team (social workers, educators, trainers, etc) and reaching project goals at local level. Head of centers coordinate with national program coordinator, reporting achievements, challenges and success stories. Program coordinator is in charge of projects overall reporting to funders. 

Mouvement Social has been constantly adapting to the needs of the society while at the same time making sure to implement long term programs with a perspective of a sustainable change towards social justice. Within these constant changes and adaptation needs, the internal management of the NGO is crucial and team capacity building is an important element in order to improve the quality of interventions.

2. OBJECTIVE AND KEY ACTIVITES

The consultant shall work under the overall direct guidance of Mouvement Social Executive director.  The objective of the consultancy is to revise and expand the current Guidance Booklet on the implementation of the Community Services measure to promote a consistent and standardized application of this measure by juvenile judges, establish a comprehensive assessment protocol to inform the selection of potential hosting agencies, and the adequate matching of the juvenile with an agency, establish a risk management plan and develop guidance to the implementation of supervised freedom measure.

3. KEY ACTIVITIES

Revise and expand the current Guidance Booklet on the implementation of the Community Services measure to promote a consistent and standardized application of this measure by juvenile judges

-          Mapping on existing laws, procedures and policies in Lebanon and developed countries implementing non-custodial measures.

-Ensure a consistent understanding and application of the steps involved by everyone concerned, i.e.: Office of Juvenile at MoJ; nine Juvenile Judges (actuals and who already served as Juvenile judges), UNODC, UPEL (Association responsible of minors before court judgment); MS Staff responsible of the implementation of Community Service in Lebanon.

-Revise existing community service guidance booklet.

-Elaborate an assessment report that includes recommendations of all concerned interviewees on non-custodial measures and procedures.

-Organize a workshop under the patronage of the MoJ to discuss findings and validate the recommendations and therefore initiating SOP preparation.

Develop  a comprehensive assessment protocol to inform the selection of potential hosting agencies, and the adequate matching of the juvenile with an agency.

-Prepare a comprehensive assessment protocol in cooperation with the MoJ, for association, governmental and non-governmental agencies that have potentiality to host non-custodial measures. This protocol also includes criteria for mandate delivery and monitoring of good practices.

Matching procedures and plan should account for practical considerations as well as skills development to maximize benefits for the juvenile and the hosting agency.

Develop a risk management plan

The risk management plan provides coverage for harms that may occur during a juvenile’s completion of a CS measure. An important feature of the program is its integration into a broader risk management strategy, which emphasizes intensive supervision comprising: surveillance, alcohol and drug testing, reincarceration for any violations, and strong enforcement of rules and requirements. Risk assessment will be conducted with the MS and UPEL teams, the Juvenile Office, as well as hosting agencies in each governorate. The risk management plan including all features of risk management need to be discussed with and validated by relevant ministries.

Develop guidance to the implementation of supervised freedom measure

-Mapping on existing laws, procedures and policies in Lebanon and developed countries implementing non-custodial measures.

-Ensure a consistent understanding and application of the steps involved by everyone concerned, i.e.: Office of Juvenile at MoJ; nine Juvenile Judges (actuals and who already served as Juvenile judges), UNODC; MS Staff responsible of the implementation of Community Service in Lebanon.

-Elaborate an assessment report that includes recommendations of all concerned interviewees on non-custodial measures and procedures.

-Organize a workshop under the patronage of the MoJ and relevant ministries to discuss findings and validate the recommendations and therefore initiating SOP preparation.

-Develop the guidance to the implementation of the supervised freedom that includes all standardized procedures and monitoring tools.

4. EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

-Guidance to the implementation of the community services measure

-Comprehensive assessment protocol

-Risk management plan

-Guidance to the implementation of the supervised freedom measure

For the report, Mouvement Social will provide the consultant with comments to a first draft report within a week and the consultant will be expected to submit a final report a week later.

5. TIMETABLE

The consultancy is expected to start on March 28.

6. QUALIFICATIONS

-Solid communication, presentation and interpersonal skills

-Excellent research, data collection and analysis skills

-Outstanding writing skills

-Proven track record of creative problem-solving and the ability to distill and communicate complex concepts

-Fluency (including reading & writing) in Arabic and English;

7. Budget:

94 working days

APPLICATION PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTS

Application deadline:  March 25, 2019

Bids must include the following:

-Outline of methods, proposed timeframe, work plan and budget;

-CV of proposed individual(s).