TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT/ COACH TO CAPACITATE A GROUP OF MOLDOVAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2014 The Soros Foundation-Moldova (SFM) is seeking an international consultant to increase the capacity of the selected human rights activists in conducting high-quality rights monitoring and analysis, as well as human rights advocacy. The consultancy should be delivered during the period October – December 2014, including several visits to Moldova. BACKGROUND: The SFM and other donor organizations active in Moldova have been supporting human rights monitoring and advocacy groups for the past decade. Several nation-wide NGOs have emerged in the past decade that focused on identifying, investigating, documenting, and reporting abuses of human rights in the country. These groups developed at a relatively high speed in comparison with civil society development in other emerging democracies in the region. Most provide legal aid to vulnerable populations at national and European level and conduct monitoring and documentation initiatives in different fields of human rights protection. Nonetheless, the rapid growth and widespread thematic focus, most groups did not yet develop in-house capacity of conducting rights-based analytical research and reporting. During 2011-2013, the SFM implemented a three-year project aimed at creating and developing a network of human rights researchers - the Human Rights Resource Group - to submit substantive analytical products to UN treaty bodies and European Union human rights mechanisms. A number of analytical research pieces and thematic briefings were developed and widely disseminated through advocacy efforts within the UN Human Rights Council and the EU-RM Human Rights Dialogue mechanisms. As result of advocacy efforts undertaken by the Human Rights Resource Group with various UN treaty bodies - UN Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), UN Committee on Economical, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), UN Human Rights Council, Universal Periodic Review (UPR), UN Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), as well as with the European Union Delegation to Moldova, relevant recommendations have been submitted to Moldovan authorities aiming at establishing a comprehensive non-discrimination legal framework. The Human Rights Resource Group’s performance was further focused on monitoring and advocating for proper implementation of the issued recommendations. The SFM initiative was highly appreciated at national and international level, and was further replicated in other countries of the region. Now, when a consistent pool of human rights activists has been capacitated and became well recognized in the country, the Justice Program developed a new strategy and an action plan for 2014 providing for a separate concept on reducing arbitrary limitations on human rights in Moldova. One of the goals under this concept is entirely dedicated to securing observance of human rights through effective monitoring, reporting and advocacy techniques. The Justice Program plans to capacitate a new group of up to 18 human rights activists (referred to as “Research Fellows”) able to adequately monitor and report on human rights situation in the country using advanced advocacy techniques. These Research Fellows will also form an informal network aimed at coordinating research and advocacy initiatives in the country. They will be supported in their professional development and will receive comprehensive Research Fellowship packages involving professional development assessments, focused trainings, technical assistance, and grants for mini projects to implement work carried out during the project period. The participation of Research Fellows in this network should result in preparation of comprehensive reports, advocacy and policy briefs as well as other 1 activities carried out by the network, in small specialized teams or individually. In addition to targeting relevant domestic institutions, the research and advocacy work will also target human rights review processes at the European and international levels, such as the EU-Moldova Human Rights Dialogue and the UN Treaty bodies and Special procedures. CONSULTANCY OBJECTIVE: The SFM seeks to hire an international consultant (Coach) to increase the capacity of the selected Fellows in conducting high-quality rights monitoring and analysis, as well as human rights advocacy. The Coach will mentor the professional development of selected Fellows and will provide guidance in preparation of research and advocacy documents. ACTIVITIES: To achieve the aforementioned objective, the Coach will be expected to carry out the following activities: 1. In close collaboration with SFM, elaborate comprehensive packages for trainings on human rights practical knowledge and research skills (data collection and management, monitoring and reporting, rights-based analysis, advocacy and lobbying). The trainings will focus on two processes – the EU-Moldova Human Rights Dialogue and the UN Treaty bodies and Special procedures; 2. Coach and assist Research Fellows in developing advocacy strategies and research methodology including, but not limited to, questionnaires and guidelines, checklists, et al. in relation to specific projects; 3. Once per month hold online supervising sessions with Research Fellows, which will include: (a) development of know-how on issues discussed, and (b) agreeing on future tasks for each Fellow; 4. Provide technical assistance/coaching to the Research Fellows to finalize their reports or advocacy documents, to elaborate strategies for their dissemination and outreach domestically and internationally; 5. Support the Research Fellows to develop jointly urgent reactive documents or carry out common investigation, monitoring and data collection as necessary. DESIRED OUTPUTS/EXPECTED DELIVERABLES:  Comprehensive packages for Fellows’ trainings (see Point 1 above);  Particular products (alternative reports, analytical documents, draft laws) developed by the group or by the specialized teams of Research Fellows and presented to the relevant domestic stakeholders, the EU, the UN, and other relevant institutions. TIMEFRAME: The first part of the consultancy should start in early October 2014 and end in December 2014 for a maximum of 20 working days. This will include trainings and periodic visits to Moldova (1 or 2 per project period), conference calls with fellows, as well as individual coaching via email and/or internet. The second part of the consultancy should start in January 2015 and end in December 2015 for a maximum of 35 days. QUALIFICATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:  University Degree in Social Sciences or Law (LL.B. equivalent). Advanced graduate studies in International Human Rights and Law is a strong advantage;  Minimum 7 years of professional experience in the human rights monitoring and advocacy at international, European, and local levels. Specific and substantive experience in human rights reporting to the EU Human Rights Dialogue and the UN Treaty bodies is an advantage;  Minimum 3 years of experience in conducting training on human rights monitoring, data collection and management, rights-based analysis and report writing, and on civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights; 2     Knowledge of country and/or regional context (Central and Eastern Europe, former Soviet Union) and current human rights challenges is essential; Strong analytical skills; Additional linguistic competences in Romanian and/or Russian will represent a strong asset; Superior communication and people management skills. EVALUATION CRITERIA: The applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria: a) professional experience in human rights monitoring and advocacy at international, European and local levels (max. 30 points); b) experience in conducting training on human rights monitoring, data collection and management, rights-based analysis and report writing (max. 30 points); c) knowledge of country and/or regional context (max. 20 points); d) linguistic competences (max. 10 points). FINANCIAL TERMS: The financial terms are negotiable. The consultant shall make proposals on the expected fee (net amount) for a maximum of 20 working days. The SFM will cover all business related expenses (economy air travel, local transportation, accommodation, daily meal allowance). RECRUITMENT PROCESS: All prospective consultants are requested to submit applications which are to include: 1. Technical proposal:  Cover letter (up to 1500 words) specifying the candidate’s interest and eligibility for the assignment;  CV/resume clearly outlining the applicant’s background and qualifications to perform the task. 2. Financial proposal (in USD) - specifying the expected daily fee (net amount) for consultancy services, and the number of days required. While assessing the applications, the technical proposal will be attributed a 90% value and the financial proposal – 10%, out of 100%. The technical proposal and the financial proposal should be sent by post, in two separate sealed and signed envelopes, to the following address: Soros Foundation-Moldova, 32 Bulgară str., Chișinău, MD-2001, Republic of Moldova, with the reference „Mentorship. Human Rights”, by latest September 30, 2014, 5 pm EET, in Attn: Mrs. Elena Vacarciuc, Financial Director. The applications could also be sent to the e-mail address [email protected]. However, in such a case, the Soros-Foundation Moldova does not guarantee the confidentiality of the received information. For any details and questions regarding the content of ToR and assignment, please contact the Program coordinator. Mr. Sergiu Rusanovschi, at the e-mail: [email protected] or Justice Program Director, Mr. Victor Munteanu, at [email protected] or (373 22) 270031. 3