International Consultants (three) to develop and conduct specialized tailor-made training for trainers (ToT) for justice professionals dealing with children in conflict with the law

UNICEF Montenegro is looking for three International Consultants to develop and conduct specialized tailor-made training for trainers (ToT) for justice professionals dealing with children in conflict with the law.

 

i. Background and Context

Montenegro made considerable progress in the reform of the country’s judicial system with juvenile justice as an integral component. The comprehensive juvenile justice system reform started in early 2004 with a strong commitment of the Government of Montenegro, under the leadership of the Ministry of Justice and with the UNICEF technical assistance.

One of the major results of the juvenile justice system reform was the adoption of the Act on the Treatment of Juveniles in Criminal Proceedings (2011), in line with international standards of child rights protection, that provides the legal framework for a comprehensive, rights-based system of juvenile justice in Montenegro and adaptations of general mainstream system for children in conflict with the law, children victims and witnesses of crime. The new legislation has set specialization for police officers, judges, prosecutors and defence attorneys dealing with juveniles as mandatory, which is seen as a crucial point for the successful implementation of a specialized juvenile justice system. The new Law foresees deprivation of liberty and restrictions of personal freedom as a measure of last resort and prioritizes restorative justice, i.e. diversion, mediation and community sanctions over custodial or institutional sanctions and the first results have already been tangible. 

In December 2018 UNICEF Montenegro became part of the sub regional initiative ‘Equitable Access to Justice for Children in the West Balkans States of Albania and Montenegro’ (2019 -2020) funded by the Government of Norway. This initiative is focused on two key result areas: 1) Justice and social welfare systems are adapted to the rights of children participating in justice processes; and b) Children, especially the most vulnerable, have knowledge and support to enable them to access justice. A strong emphasis of this initiative is on the improvement of skills and knowledge of professionals working directly with children in conflict with the law, children victims and witnesses of crime and children participating as parties in civil court proceedings.

Therefore, specialized tailor-made training for trainers (ToT) will be developed and conducted for selected number of justice professionals including judges, prosecutors, police officers and defence attorneys dealing with children in conflict with the law.

 

Within the scope of this consultancy the international legal expert is expected to work jointly with an expert from the psycho-social field to develop training guidelines and training material along with delivering a training for selected number of juvenile justice professionals. Training modules will provide an integrative approach combining a psycho-social skills and knowledge with a legal framework of international standards and its compliance with national legal framework.

 

ii. Purpose and Objective

The purpose of this assignment is to improve the status and rights of children participating in criminal court proceedings.

The objective of this assignment is twofold: 1)to provide technical assistance to the respective institutions, i.e. Ministry of Justice, Judicial Training Centre, Police Academy and Bar Chamber of Montenegro in the process of development and accreditation of training modules/materials and 2)conduct the training for trainers for selected number of justice professionals to become licenced trainers to further transfer knowledge to justice professionals. 

 

iii. Methodology and Technical Approach

The methodology will include:

•             desk review of the relevant international standards and national legislative and policy documents on juvenile justice;

•             consultations with national institutions and UNICEF on the framework for the training programme;

•             development of training curriculum in line with the respective international standards for the work with children in conflict with the law, children victims and witnesses of crime;

•             delivery of the trainings for judges, prosecutors, lawyers and police officers.

 

The Consultant will work in a team with an expert from psycho-social field of expertise. Both are expected to work both in the field and from home.

Further details are presented in the section below “Activities and Tasks”. 

 

iv. Activities and Tasks

The activities of the assignment will be conducted in close cooperation with the relevant representatives of the Ministry of Justice, Judicial Training Centre, Bar Chamber and UNICEF’s Child Protection Team.

The consultants are expected:

Tasks	Location	Number of days and Timeframe
To review and make reference to: The amendments to the Law on Treatment of Juveniles in Criminal Proceedings Act, Criminal Code; Law on Social and Child protection; Law on protection of domestic violence; the Law on free legal aid; to review existing materials of the Judicial Training Centre and existing training programmes developed and make reference to: Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC); General Comments No.12 (children's right to be heard); General Comment no 14 (the right of the child to have his or her best interests taken as a primary consideration); UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice; UN Standard Minimum Rules for Non-Custodial Measures; UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners; UN Guidelines for Action on Children in the Criminal Justice System (Resolution 1997/30); UN Guidelines on the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency; UN Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty; European Convention on the Exercise of Child Rights; Council of Europe`s Guidelines on Child Friendly Justice, Guidelines in Justice On Matters involving children victims and witnesses of crime; UNICEF CEECIS Study: Children’s Equitable Access to Justice; the Guidelines on child friendly legal aid, (2016);	Home based	6 days By 15 April 2020
To communicate with respective officials from the relevant institutions and UNICEF to receive in-depth guidance	Home based	1 day By 20 April 2020
To develop training for trainers’ programme, training material and agenda;	Home based	8 days By end-April 2020
3 days training for trainers (ToT) for selected number of judges, prosecutors, police officers and defence lawyers	Montenegro based	3 days By end-May 2020
Total number of working days	18 days

 

v. Key Deliverables and Timeframe

This assignment is expected to commence on 1 April 2020. The consultant is expected to spend a total of 18 working days on this assignment, out of which they will spend up to 3 working days per consultant in Montenegro while rest of the time they will be home based.

The Consultants are expected to produce the following key deliverables:

Key Deliverables	Timeframe
Development of training programme, agenda and material	By end-April 2020
3 days intersectoral training for judges, prosecutors, police officers and defence lawyers	By end May 2020

 

vi. Management and Organisation

Management: The Consultants will be supervised by the UNICEF Child Protection Officer.

Organization: International Consultants will be required for this consultancy. If more than one consultant is engaged for the assignment, the fee for each consultant will be negotiated depending on their qualifications, the scope of work required from each consultant and the duration of their engagement.

Schedule: This assignment will commence on 1 April 2020.

 

vii. Qualifications/specialized knowledge/experience required to complete the task:

 

The Consultants are expected to have the following qualifications/specialized knowledge/experience required to complete the task:

 

Education:

• Master’s degree in law or other related social science;
• PhD in law or social science will be considered as an advantage;

 

Experience:

• Ten (10) or more years of experience and expertise in justice system legislative and policy reform;
• Experience in developing training materials and delivering trainings to professionals from the justice and child protection field;
• Familiarity with the local context in Montenegro with respect to the juvenile justice system reform;
• Knowledge of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and relevant international standards in child protection and juvenile justice including CoE documents on child friendly justice;
• Previous work experience with UN/UNICEF or other international organization will be considered as an advantage;

 

Language:

• Excellent command of English, whilst knowledge of Montenegrin language will be considered as an advantage;

 

Other:

• Effective communication skills;
• Demonstrate abilities to meet deadlines;
• Ability to work in a team.

 

Application procedure:

• To apply for the vacant position please submit P-11 form through “apply” button;

• Candidates are requested to submit a financial offer as a separate document consisting of a daily professional fee, travel costs for two visits to Montenegro and DSA costs for up to 7 days to be spend in Podgorica, Montenegro.

 

viii. Selection Method:

 

All applicants will be screened against qualifications and requirements set above. Candidates fully meeting all the requirements will be further evaluated based on the criteria below.

 

1.            Technical Criteria - Interview – 70 % of total evaluation– max. 70 points

• Education: 10 points
• Previous experience: 20 points
• Technical questions at the interview: 30 points
• Other: 10 points

 

Only candidates who obtained at least 70% of points from the technical part (who will score at least 49 points) will be qualified for considering for financial proposal evaluation.

 

2.            Financial Criteria - 30 % of total evaluation – max. 30 points.

 

• The lowest price proposal will be awarded the full score assigned to the commercial proposal as per formula: lowest offer / financial offer of the candidate x 30

The recommendation for award of contract will be based on best combination of technical and financial score. Based on verified nominations and final scores, contract negotiations  could be initiated with one or more successful candidates.

 

REMARK:

 

Mandatory learning: Upon concluding the recruitment process and prior to signing the contract, all Consultants and Individual Contractors, including those working from home, must complete the following three online courses

• Ethics and Integrity at UNICEF
• Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority
• Sexual Exploitation Abuse (PSEA)

​In addition, Consultants and Individual Contractors must complete the following course before commencement of any travel on behalf of UNICEF. 

• BSAFE security training 

The courses can be found on the following link: UNICEF Mandatory Training/Learning Classes​ .

 

ix. Budget and Remuneration

 

• Payment schedule

The payments will be made upon successful completion of the deliverables and submission of invoices.

 

• Recourse

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.

 

• Budget and Remuneration

Interested contractors are requested to submit their financial offer consisting of fee for the services to be provided, travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

 

 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities to apply.

 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process;