International Expert on Technical Support on Establishing and Managing Shelters for Domestic Violence Victims, Baku

• Organization: OSCE - Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
• Country: Azerbaijan
• City: Baku, Azerbaijan
• Office: OSCE Baku

Closing date: Monday, 25 May 2015

Job Title
International Expert on Technical Support on Establishing and Managing Shelters for Domestic Violence Victims
Organization Name
OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Baku
Location
Baku
Grade
Closing Date of application
25-05-2015
No. of Posts
1
Background
Brief description : The purpose of this consultancy is to assist the Azerbaijani state institutions in developing necessary capacities to open and manage a 24-hour shelter for domestic violence (DV) victims. The OSCE PCiB will provide expert analysis and advice of the existing conditions for establishing and managing a shelter by a State institution. The main beneficiary of this project activity will be the State Committee for Family, Women and Children's Affairs (the State Committee) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population (the Ministry).

Background : Since 2009, the OSCE mission in Baku has played an important role in supporting the adoption of the Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence (DV Law), and has been actively involved in supporting its implementation. Nevertheless there are certain challenges relevant to the effective implementation of the DV Law, including the provision of effective assistance and protection to victims and insufficient capacity of the national institutions to implement the DV Law. Additionally, there is generally a low level of awareness about the DV Law among the legal professionals, regional executive power staff, law enforcement personnel, social workers, civil society etc. The domestic violence remains a challenging issue in the regions.
There is a capacity gap in State institutions to facilitate implementation of the national legal framework and provide effective assistance and protection to DV victims based on recognized international standards. More specifically, the State institutions and civil society need to focus resources on ensuring the safety of the victims through adequate provision of victim services, such as support centres, shelters and hotlines.
At the moment there are eight national civil society organisations accredited by the Ministry to operate assistance centres with the capacity to provide shelter for DV victims. However, in practice their functioning is reliant on state and donor funding and in practice their services are limited to daytime counselling. The personnel of these centres also required professional capacity building. At the same time, the State Committee has eleven Family Support Centres, located at Baku (Shuvelan district), Hajigabul, Sabirabad, Saatli, Ismayilli, Gabala, Zagatala, Goranboy, Goygol, Aghdam, Zardab. These centres were established in the period from 2008 to 2011. As these centres are community-based and are located in a well-known public place in the regions, they can provide services to the victims of DV, but not shelter.
For the purpose of the current assignment, the PCiB in co-ordination with Azerbaijani state institutions will identify and hire an International Expert with proven experience and knowledge on establishing and managing shelters and providing other services to DV victims in line with applicable international standards. The International Expert will assist the State Committee and the Ministry to develop necessary regulations and standard operating procedures for establishment and management of a 24-hour shelter for DV victims. To assist the International Expert, the PCiB will also recruit a National Expert, knowledgeable about the national standards related to DV, who will accompany the International Expert in meetings, provide interpretation and information support as required.
Tasks and Responsibilities
Tasks and responsibilities: Under the supervision of the Head of the Human Dimension Unit of the OSCE's Project Co-ordinator in Baku, the International Expert will undertake the following activities:

• Analyse the national legislation, policies, current practices and state of affairs regarding the establishment and managing of a 24-hr shelter for DV victims in capital and regions of Azerbaijan (based on a field mission to Khachmaz and Lankaran), as well as of the challenges related to inter-institutional co-ordination;
• In line with the Azerbaijani legislation, develop technical standards for establishing 24-hr shelter for DV victims, that includes standards for premises, amenities, staffing, security, social/counselling services, legal services and other relevant services;
• Identify the composition of the personnel to enable the shelter 24 hours/day (including the number of staff, description of professional backgrounds);
• Provide sample job descriptions for recruitment of the shelter personnel;
• Develop the operational guidelines for key services and standard operational procedures for managing 24hr shelter that meets the local context and specifies the minimum basic quality standards;
• Develop guidelines for establishing and managing 24-hr shelter for DV victims;
• Develop the guidelines to identify trends, risk factors, and patterns from the cases reviewed to make recommendations for effective intervention and prevention strategies;
• To create 'exit strategies' that would guarantee the continuation of the implementations in future;
• Prepare the consultancy report with recommendations for future support;
• Develop training programme for management of the personnel of a shelter and services for DV victims;
• Deliver training for selected staff of existing service centres for DV victims on management of the shelter's workflow;
• Together with the national expert(s), prepare a report of the training outlining recommendations for follow-up in capacity-building for assistance/support centres.

Expected Output/Deliverable :

• Draft an inception report that will outline the methodology for preparation and delivery of expected output.
• An analytical report (legal and policy oriented) of the current practices and state of affairs regarding the establishment and managing of a 24-hr shelter for DV victims and the challenges related to inter-institutional co-operation;
• Draft technical standards for establishing 24-hr shelter for DV victims, that includes standards for premises, amenities, staffing, security, social/counselling services, legal services and other relevant services;
• Draft operational guidelines for key services and standard operational procedures for managing a 24-hr shelter for DV victims;
• Recommendations on the composition of the shelter's personnel and sample job descriptions;
• Brief guideline of establishing and managing 24-hr shelter for DV victims;
• Guidelines to identify trends, risk factors, and patterns from the cases reviewed to make recommendations for effective intervention and prevention strategies;
• List of recommendations discussed and agreed with national counterparts during the meetings;
• Final consultancy report with recommendations for future support;
• Training programme and delivery of training for selected staff of existing assistance/support centres for DV victims;
• Final report of trainings with recommendations for future follow-up on capacity-building for the staff of the assistance/support centres for DV victims.
• Preparatory work including desk review of relevant documents and preparation of the methodology to carry out the assignment. Submit the inception report. (3 working days, home based)
• First in-country mission to prepare consultancy reports - analytical report, technical standards, operational guidelines, standard operating procedures and guideline for establishing and managing shelters for domestic violence (tentative travel dates: 14-27 June 2015, 10 working days)
• With input from national expert, prepare consultancy report (including: analytical report, technical standards, operational guidelines, standard operating procedures, guideline for establishing and managing shelters for domestic violence, job descriptions, guidelines to identify trends, risk factors, and patterns from the cases, recommendations discussed and agreed with national counterparts) (home based, 10 working days)
• Submitting draft consultancy report (deadline: 15 July 2015)
• Responding to comments from the OSCE PCiB, finalising the consultancy report, deadline: 24 July 2015
• Preparation for the training of the selected personnel of the assistance/support centres (3 working days, home-based and in-country)
• Second in-country mission (tentative travel dates: 25-31 October)
• Training for the personnel of the assistance/support centres (3 working days)
• Preparation of the draft training report (home based, 3 working days, deadline: 5 November 2015)
• Respond to comments from the OSCE PCiB and finalise the training report (deadline: 10 November 2015).

Necessary Qualifications
The International Expert should possess the following minimum qualifications:

• Advanced degree in social sciences, law, human rights or related field. PhD degree is considered an asset;
• Minimum eight years of relevant professional experience;
• Knowledge of international standards and best practices in operating DV shelters;
• Proven experience in designing and delivering guidelines and standard operational procedures;
• Experience of designing and working with traditional and interactive teaching methods;
• Experience or membership with national and international organizations working on Domestic Violence;
• Familiarity with post-Soviet context, particularly the social sector;
• Excellent knowledge of English including excellent communication and drafting skills; knowledge of Azerbaijani or Russian would be an asset.
• Ability to work with international and multicultural environment.

Remuneration Package
The consultant will be remunerated commensurate with his/her experience and qualifications in accordance with OSCE established consultancy rates.
How To Apply
The OSCE is committed to achieving a better balance of women and men within the Organization. Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply. If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link for contracted vacancies found under http://www.osce.org/employment/43284.
Please note that the vacancies in the OSCE are open for competition only amongst nationals of participating states, for more detailed information please see http://www.osce.org/who. Please note the OSCE is an equal opportunity employer.