Terms of Reference for the Consultants for development of proposition of quality standards to ensure a victim-centered and integrated approach to the accommodation provided to VAWG and domestic violence victims in shelters in Serbia

Published on February 14, 2022 by Atina – Citizens' Association for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and All Forms of Violence against Women (i.e. NGO Atina)

Project title: Improving Support to VAWG Victims in Serbia

INTRODUCTION

NGO Atina is implementing the project “Improving Support to VAWG Victims in Serbia” with the support of The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN WOMEN) and with the financial support of the European Union. The project is a part of a wider regional project Ending violence against women in the Western Balkans and Turkey named “Implementing Norms, Changing Minds”.

The main aim of the project is to improve the position of women and girls – victims of violence – through enhancing accessibility and capacities of shelters to respond to their actual and assessed needs. Activities are planned within 3 expected project results and are directly related to the recommendations provided in the GREVIO and CEDAW reports on Serbia. The project implementation lasts 18 months; it started in September 2021 and will be finished in February 2023.

The project has three main results to achieve. In the first phase, an Analysis on the existing support and protection services provided to VAWG and domestic violence victims in shelters in Serbia will be done, followed by data collection through online questionnaires and focus group interviews that are planned for February and March 2022. The Analysis of the existing support and protection services provided to VAWG and domestic violence victims in shelters in Serbia should lead to the development of a proposition of quality standards to ensure a victim-centered and integrated approach to the shelter accommodation. In the second phase, mentoring sessions are planned, which should be held from July to August for 5 safe houses in the following cities - Nis, Zrenjanin, Sremska Mitrovica, Kragujevac and Pancevo. In the third phase, trainings for all shelters from the territory of Serbia, which are scheduled for September and October this year will be implemented.

RATIONALE

Both CEDAW and GREVIO latest (periodical) reports on Serbia marked the shortages in the service provision to VAWG victims and recommended their improvements. The shortages are noted in the provision of safe accommodation to victims, particularly to victims from vulnerable groups of women. Out of 15 existing shelters in Serbia, aimed at victims of violence, only 9 are specifically designed and equipped to receive women and children victims of domestic violence. 

At the same time, the range and quality of services provided in these shelters vary quite significantly. Most of the shelters are understaffed, and none of them offers trained professionals on duty 24/7. Therefore, some of the shelters lock the doors overnight which means that the movement of women and children is restricted until the next day. 

Istanbul Convention in article 23 obliges states parties to “take the necessary legislative or other measures to provide for the setting-up of appropriate, easily accessible shelters in sufficient numbers to provide safe accommodation for and to reach out pro-actively to victims, especially women and their children”.

In January 2020, GREVIO recommended Serbia to “ensure the provision of specialist women’s support services with a gendered approach and expand the provision of shelters while ensuring de facto access of all women, in particular women with disabilities, Roma women and women migrants/asylum seekers”. In order to do so, Serbian authorities are also invited to map the existing shelters and assess their capacities. Moreover, in its report GREVIO suggested Serbian authorities to “introduce and apply quality standards – in addition to the existing licensing standards - for shelters that accommodate victims of domestic violence and other forms of violence based on a gendered understanding of violence against women, the empowerment of victims and a victim-centered and integrated approach to service provision”.

On the other hand, in its Concluding Observations on Serbia, issued on March 14, 2019, CEDAW recommended the government to “ensure that all women victims of gender-based violence, including the most disadvantaged groups, have unimpeded access to effective protection from violence, including by ensuring free legal aid provision by experienced State, academia and NGO professionals, a sufficient number of State-funded accessible shelters and an anonymous SOS helpline to be operated by personnel experienced in working with victims of violence; raise public awareness of State and NGO-run available services”.

As for the victims of trafficking, the only specialized shelter available to victims in Serbia is the one run by NGO Atina. Organization Atina opened the first shelter for victims of trafficking in the country, which has for 19 years now been providing safe accommodation for victims of trafficking and all forms of gender-based violence. Four years ago, the organization licensed this service as “assisted housing”. In addition, refugee and migrant women who are victims of violence and exploitation cannot access the state-run or local community-run shelters, as the state/municipalities usually refuse to cover the expenses for women who are not residents. Therefore, the only possibility available to these women are shelters run by civil society organizations, and primarily the ones run by NGO Atina.

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the need to improve safeguarding procedures in shelters, all in line with health safety measures.

SCOPE OF WORK

Three experts, with specific backgrounds in the area of combating violence against women and girls and a victim-centered and integrated approach to the shelter accommodation, will be responsible for five main issues:

1. Attendance of focus groups previously scheduled at five safe houses during the development of the Analysis on the existing support and protection services provided to VAWG and domestic violence victims in shelters in Serbia;
2. Development of a Methodology for well-informed quality standards on the existing support and protection services provided to VAWG and domestic violence victims in shelters in Serbia;
3. Development of a proposition of quality standards to ensure a victim-centered and integrated approach to the accommodation provided to VAWG and domestic violence victims in shelters in Serbia;
4. Development of the final document;
5. Attendance and presentation of findings and results at the meetings with the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Social and Veteran Affairs, and other relevant stakeholders.

Specific responsibilities are:

Three selected experts should attend five focus groups previously scheduled at five safe houses during the development of the Analysis on the existing support and protection services provided to VAWG and domestic violence victims in shelters in Serbia. Based on the findings, they should map the challenges and fulfillment of minimal (functional) standards in safe houses.

Afterwards, they should develop a Methodology for well-informed quality standards on the existing support and protection services provided to VAWG and domestic violence victims in shelters in Serbia.  The methodology should include a methodological framework, indicators, tools and instruments for the development of proposition of quality standards to ensure a victim-centered and integrated approach to the accommodation provided to VAWG and domestic violence victims in shelters in Serbia.

Based on finding of the Analysis, the expert team should develop a document/proposal for the quality standards to ensure a victim-centered and integrated approach to sheltered accommodation for victims of domestic violence or other forms of VAWG that is based on a gendered understanding of VAWG and human rights, aimed at avoiding secondary victimization and enabling the empowerment of victims, and also contains recommendations for improvements and comparative practice. The proposal will be informed by the research & assessment activities and will include the section on the operational capacities and safeguard procedures on health safety measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic (and/or similar). The proposal will furthermore emphasize intersectionality and the need for specific considerations in assisting women from various marginalized groups. In order to make sure that the needs and rights of the marginalized groups of women are taken into account, and that the intersectionality is properly mainstreamed, Atina will select experts with background in this areas, and the organization’s longstanding experience in providing this services will be of primary relevance. This document will serve as a basic advocacy tool for the improvement of the position of women and girls – victims of violence through enhancing accessibility and capacities of shelters to respond to their actual and assessed needs. For those purposes, the expert team should be present and advocate in front of the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Social and Veteran Affairs and other relevant stakeholders in order to present findings and results of achieved work.

TIMEFRAME

The assignment should take place from March 1, 2022 to September 1, 2022.

 

Timeframe	Activities
01/03/2022-31/03/2022	Attendance of focus groups previously scheduled at five safe houses during the development of the Analysis on the existing support and protection services provided to VAWG and domestic violence victims in shelters in Serbia and development of a Methodology for well-informed quality standards on the existing support and protection services provided to VAWG and domestic violence victims in shelters in Serbia
15/04/2022	Submitting a draft version of the methodology
01/05/2022	Submitting the final version of the methodology
01/05/2022-01/07/2022	Development of proposition of quality standards to ensure a victim-centered and integrated approach to the accommodation provided to VAWG and domestic violence victims in shelters in Serbia
01/07/2022	Submitting a draft version of the developed proposition of quality standards to ensure a victim-centered and integrated approach to the accommodation provided to VAWG and domestic violence victims in shelters in Serbia
01/09/2022	Submitting a final version of the developed proposition of quality standards to ensure a victim-centered and integrated approach to the accommodation provided to VAWG and domestic violence victims in shelters in Serbia
01/03/2022-01/09/2022	Attendance and presentation of findings and results at meetings with the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Social and Veteran Affairs  and other relevant stakeholders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BUDGET:

NGO Atina will negotiate a number of days of engagement with the selected experts on the basis of the financial offer (gross amount) that will classify the following:

	Activity description	Days	Rate per day	Total
Activity 1
Activity 2
Activity 3
Activity 4

 

*Add columns as needed depending on the number of activities required to perform the assignment

            Subtotal                                              Euro__________

            Other costs (specify)                          Euro__________

            TOTAL                                                Euro__________

The total cost should cover all preparatory work regarding data collection, communication costs between the Project team, experts and organizations (email, telephone, fax, mail).

BIDDING PROCEDURE

Interested experts should develop and submit the bidding proposal in English language to respond to above-mentioned specific tasks no later than February 25, 2022. The bidding proposal should include:

1. Description and contact details of the expert applying;

2. A detailed Budget Proposal (in the required form);

3. CV of the expert involved emphasizing relevant experience;

4. Written sample of similar assignments or recommendations for the previous similar activities.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Project team will make a decision on the selection of the most successful bidder, subject to the available budget, on the following four criteria:

• University degree in the relevant field;
• At least 5 years of relevant experience;
• Experience of the candidate in performing similar projects or programs;
• An example of previous work as a reference is desirable;

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF THE BID

All bids must be submitted no later than 17:00 on February 25, 2022 in electronic form, to the email marija.pantelic@atina.org.rs. A selection will be made no later than February 28, 2022, and the selected experts will be contacted on the same day. Only selected candidates will be informed.