Published on November 14, 2023, by Atina – Citizens' Association for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and All Forms of Violence against Women (i.e., NGO Atina)

The project BRIDGE – Stepping forward in the protection of women and girls in Kosovo* and Serbia is supported by the European Commission. This project is being implemented by NGO Atina from Belgrade and the Centre for Protection of Victims and Prevention of Trafficking in Human Beings (PVPT) from Prishtina. The action’s design is based on a rising need in the work of both organizations. It encompasses entities in both countries to adequately respond to the needs of (potential) victims of Trafficking in Human Beings (from now on THB) and gender-based violence (from now on GBV) among the domicile and migrant population, especially women and children.

INTRODUCTION

The normalization process of relations between Serbia and Kosovo profoundly impacts citizens. It should lead to a better quality of life in political, economic, social, and cultural spheres and facilitate the process toward accession to the EU. However, citizens' best interests are often neglected to benefit political structures; therefore, creating spaces where citizens can map problems and work together on their resolution is necessary. Both PVPT and Atina witnessed the necessity to establish cooperation mechanisms to adequately respond to the problem of THB and related GBV and provide efficient support to victims. Coordinated collaboration between specialized CSOs and other stakeholders mandated to combat THB and related GBV is necessary to enable better monitoring and identification of potential victims.

Both organizations have operated since the early 2000s and are licensed to provide services for survivors. NGO Atina has been working for decades on protecting victims and advocating for the systemic changes necessary to improve the position of vulnerable groups in the country. The specificity of Atina’s long-term social inclusion program lies in the effort to provide support comprehensively and systematically, with the active involvement of state institutions and full participation of beneficiaries, so that the assistance system becomes a viable solution for full recovery and reintegration.

RATIONALE

Due to the lack of cooperation between institutions, Kosovo citizens identified as victims in Serbia and Serbian citizens identified as victims in Kosovo cannot resolve critical issues important for their recovery and reintegration – from reporting what happened to them, resolving legal status and accessing available services. This action also includes raising the capacities of community-based CSOs for much deeper connection and establishing cooperation between young people around the THB and GBV prevention. Although the anti-trafficking legislative frameworks exist in Serbia and Kosovo, complex political processes hinder adequate response and collaboration between relevant stakeholders. 

Barriers and walls are built between young people from Kosovo and Serbia, and they need to be sufficiently included in creating responses to the burning questions, such as THB and GBV. Youth of both Serbia and Kosovo have minimal knowledge about each other and rare opportunities to meet, discuss, share, and learn from each other. This action includes mobilizing youth around the problem of GBV and THB, increasing their knowledge to recognize potential dangers, and learning how to respond appropriately. Youth participation is significant, as they will become the advocates of change in their communities, who will further mobilize their peers and engage them in these critical issues. 

Considering all these circumstances, it is necessary to implement prevention and promotion activities, which will begin with 15 workshops in Serbia for 150 young people (18 to 22 years old, in the final years of secondary school, and first and second-year university students). This activity will also prepare for the youth-led actions designed and implemented by the interested workshop participants. It will also assist in youth engagement and mobilization at the local level. 

SCOPE OF WORK

The workshops will be conducted in Kosovo and Serbia (15 each), with two facilitators from PVPT and Atina. The facilitator in Serbia is to design, prepare, and implement the workshops/outreach activities for young people and report on the process. The youth to be engaged in the activities will be reached through CSOs Atina and PVPT cooperate with, but also through the faculties dealing with similar topics and youth offices throughout the country. The workshops will be conducted as short lectures on preventing GBV and THB and ways for youth to become engaged in the fight against these phenomena. The activity aims to inform the youth and mobilize them to become actively involved in this issue and advocate for change in their communities and at the local level. The workshops will be conducted from mid-January 2024 to the end of August 2024. 

These workshops will also serve as a preparatory activity for the youth-led actions that are to follow, which will be implemented by the interested workshops’ participants. During the workshops implementation, the facilitators from Serbia and Kosovo will support the youth in creating plans for the actions, and enable their networking.   

BUDGET

NGO Atina will negotiate a number of days of engagement with the selected facilitator based on 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                                               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, experts, and organizations (e-mail, telephone, fax, mail).

BIDDING PROCEDURE

The interested facilitators should develop and submit the bidding proposal in English to respond to the above-mentioned tasks by November 28, 2023. The bidding proposal should include the following:

1. Description and contact details of the expert applying;

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

3. CV of expert involved emphasizing only relevant experience;

4. Past performance in similar areas of an expert applying about previous contracting agencies.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The project team will decide on the selection of the most successful bidder, subject to the available budget, based 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 November 28, 2023, at 5 PM in electronic version to the email marija.pantelic@atina.org.rs

A selection will be made no later than June November 30, 2023, and the selected consultant will be contracted no later than December 1, 2023. Only the selected candidate will be informed.

______________________________

*All references to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions or population, shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations' Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.