Terms of Reference for the Experts for the development of the Wellbeing and Support Guide for the NGO Atina staff

Published on April 22, 2022 by NGO Atina – Citizens' Association for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and All Forms of Gender Based Violence (i.e. NGO Atina)

Project title:  Enabling and Protecting Civic Spaces (EPCS) – Illuminating New Solutions and Programmatic Innovations for Resilient Spaces (INSPIRES)

INTRODUCTION

USAID’s Enabling and Protecting Civic Space (EPCS) INSPIRES project seeks to increase knowledge and capacity to respond to growing restrictions on democratic freedoms of association, assembly, and expression around the world. With civic space shifting rapidly around the globe, faster and more potent interventions are critical for bolstering local civil societies. The INSPIRES project therefore combines cutting-edge research, strategic interventions, and a robust learning agenda to strengthen civil society’s ability to prevent and respond effectively to changing civic and political space. The part of the project, Prevention, centers on the implementation of PartnersGlobal’s Resiliency+ process with 18 local civil society organizations in five target countries. NGO Atina from Serbia is one of the NGOs, which participate in this endeavor and which within this project, and in the context of its resilience, within two specific objectives, should create a communication strategy 2022-2027 of the organization as well as a plan for further development of the staff commitment and capacity factor for the wellbeing and support for the employees.

RATIONALE

Atina was founded in 2003, as a direct response to the non-existence of adequate, long-term support programmes which respect gender perspective and are based on the invaluable experience of women’s movement activists. The work of the organization is guided by the needs of women and girls survivors of trafficking in persons, exploitation and gender-based violence, and created together with them. Through its advocacy initiatives, Atina is a constant reminder to state institutions and strongly influences them to change their opinions and practices concerning the position of women and women's rights. Also, Atina is a founder of the social enterprise Bagel Bejgl, established in 2015. This initiative is Atina’s effort to provide economic future and sustainability of its programs dealing with social inclusion of victims of human trafficking and other forms of exploitation. The Resiliency+ process presents a natural continuation of the organization’s strategic planning and has been of great assistance in clearly articulating its needs and demands. This intervention is not only welcome but also necessary in helping Atina’s team to systematically change things that are affecting them and to better formulate some of the challenges and possible solutions as well. The work is centered on the creation of a broad communication strategy and a plan, that would include internal, external and crisis communication, along with specific communication pillars. This would provide for a clear chain of command in all communications efforts and keep the focus on ensuring continuous engagement and intentional messaging both within the organization and to the outside actors/partners and community.

SCOPE OF WORK

The two experts with specific backgrounds in psychology and SGBV case management will be responsible for three main issues:

1. At least 5 well-being sessions with Atina staff facilitated internally and provided the necessary space for all staff to clearly and effectively communicate their needs and recommendations for improvement of the well-being and support.
2. A two-page debrief on the needs and recommendations for improvement of well-being and support following the sessions with the staff.
3. A Well-being and Support Guide would be created based on the results of the sessions with the staff in order to ensure that their wellbeing is kept at the satisfactory level at all times, encompassing an annual plan of action that would be revised on a regular basis.

With a support of selected experts, the organization should develop well-being sessions, recommendations and a Well-being and Support Guide.  These products would also serve the organization to improve its ability to effectively message the intentions and needs within Atina, as well as to the external audience, and to reaffirm its position through an improved strategy and upgraded resiliency. The results would be measured through feedback from staff, as well as from key external actors, which would be further used to address any existing gaps and continue improving.

TIMEFRAME

The assignment should take place from May 5, 2022 to July 4, 2022.

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:

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

            Subtotal                                               USD__________

            Other costs (specify)                           USD__________

            TOTAL                                                USD__________

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 April 28, 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.

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 April 28, 2022 in electronic form, to the email marija.pantelic@atina.org.rs. A selection will be made no later than April 29, 2022, and the selected experts will be contacted on the same day.

Only selected candidates will be informed.