Terms of Reference for the Trainers to conduct a training “Improving the knowledge and skills of professional workers in work with children witnesses or victims of domestic violence”

Published on July 24, 2023, by Atina – Citizens' Association for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and All Forms of Violence against Women (i.e. NGO Atina)

Project title: Enhancement of safety of Women and Girls by Increasing Performance of Shelters for Victims of GBV/DV

INTRODUCTION

NGO Atina is implementing the project “Enhancement of safety of Women and Girls by Increasing Performance of Shelters for Victims of GBV/DV” 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 Embassy of the United Kingdom Belgrade. The project is a part of a wider action “Safety of Women and Girls in Serbia”, which is implemented by UN WOMEN in cooperation with the Coordination Body for Gender Equality, Ministry of Labor, Employment, Social and Veteran Affairs, local self-governments, women’s organizations, and the Embassy of the United Kingdom in Belgrade.

The key part of the project is aimed at strengthening the capacity of safe houses in Serbia to provide greater safety to women and children who are residing there. A needs assessment has been done, followed by activities aimed at improving the technical capacities of safe houses and specialized support for women and children who have experienced domestic violence, in order to overcome the trauma and continue a life without violence.

As part of the project activities, NGO Atina has been working with five safe houses in the cities of Kragujevac, Nis, Leskovac, Vranje and Priboj. Further activities include a visit and discussion with the employees of the women's safe house in order to define priorities related to the need to strengthen technical and organizational capacities. As part of the project, it is planned to organize training for employees according to thematic areas that have been agreed upon as a priority, support them in the improvement of internal documents, procedures and protocols, as well as the improvement of technical capacities and working conditions, all with the aim of improving the safety and quality of the support program for beneficiaries of women's safe houses.

RATIONALE

Both CEDAW and GREVIO's 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-centred 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 “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. The organization licensed this service as “assisted housing” five years ago. 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 possibilities available to these women are shelters run by civil society organizations, 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

Two trainers, with specific backgrounds in the area of working with victims of domestic violence and a victim-centred and integrated approach, should carry out the training with the goal to advance the capacities of professional workers in their work with children witnesses and/or victims of domestic violence. The training aims to provide support to professionals who come into contact with children to recognise traumatic reactions, challenging behaviours, learn how to best approach and talk with children who witnessed or experienced domestic violence, but also to create strategies for everyday conduct.

The training is intended for professional workers, as well as associates engaged in providing services for women and children victims of domestic violence, as well as for representatives of service providers, i.e. centres for social work, centres for the development of local services, citizens' associations' representatives.

Two trainers will be responsible for four main issues:

• Development of the methodology for the training, agenda and means for the implementation
• Preparations for the training (materials, sessions, evaluation forms…)
• Creating and carrying out training sessions
• Delivering a comprehensive report on implemented activities.

The training is scheduled to be realized on September 28-30, 2023, and should take place in Golubac.

BUDGET:

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

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

            Subtotal                                               EUR__________

            Other costs (specify)                           EUR__________

            TOTAL                                                 EUR__________

The total cost should cover all preparatory work regarding the job description, and communication costs between the Project team, consultants and organizations (e-mail, telephone, fax, mail).

BIDDING PROCEDURE

The interested consultants should develop and submit the bidding proposal in the English language to respond to above mentioned specific tasks no later than August 7, 2023.  The bidding proposal should include:

1. Description and contact details of the trainers applying;

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

3. CV of the person involved emphasizing only relevant experience;

4. Past performance in similar areas of a trainer applying, with reference to previous contracting agencies.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The 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;
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience;
• Experience of the candidate in performing similar projects or programs;
• An example of previous work as a reference to previous experience is desirable.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF BID

All bids need to be submitted no later than August 7, 2023, at 5 PM in electronic version, to the email marija.pantelic@atina.org.rs

A selection will be made no later than August 9, 2023, and the selected consultants will be contracted no later than August 11, 2023. Only the selected candidates will be informed.