Dear Colleagues, Rise & Decriminalize is looking for a company or individual consultant to develop a Joint Advocacy Narrative and arguments for the Rise & Decriminalize Movement. We are looking for a consultative/ reflective process among our networks to develop a joint position of the Movement which in turn will be used to promote the Movement and advocate for decriminalization for communities.
Application deadline: end of day 5 November 2024.
More details are in the RFP below.
RFP Number: EHRA-10-15
RFP Title: Joint Advocacy Narrative Rise & Decriminalize Movement
RFP Closing Date and time: 23:59 EET on November 5th, 2024
Proposal Submission Address: info@harmreductioneurasia.org
Background
Five regional networks – Eurasian Coalition on Health, Rights, Gender and Sexual Diversity (ECOM), Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA), Eurasian Network of People Who Use Drugs (ENPUD), Eurasian Women’s Network on AIDS (EWNA), Sex Workers Rights’ Advocacy Network (SWAN) – have joined forces in the regional community Rise & Decriminalize Movement (Movement). Movement members represent and are driven by the following communities: people living with HIV with the emphasis on women, people who use drugs, LGBTQI+ and sex workers. Members have agreed that the main pillars of our vision of the decriminalization for the communities are: bodily autonomy, access to justice, freedom from legal restriction and access to comprehensive services (medical, psychosocial, legal). The premise behind the movement is intersectionality – all groups of key populations are interconnected, one person can belong to several vulnerable groups at a time. This provides a unique opportunity to build the decriminalization advocacy for one group on the results of the other group, support each other in campaigns, in drawing attention of donors to the region of Central/ Eastern Europe and Central Asia (CEECA) and other activities.
EHRA on behalf of the Rise & Decriminalize Movement is currently looking for the consultant to develop a joint advocacy narrative and set of arguments for the Movement which would serve to introduce and the Movement and its main messages to potential allies and partners, to develop informational materials, publications, bring more allies to the movement from broader stakeholders. The Rise & Decriminalize Movement would use the document in public communication, web pages, formal and informal negotiations, social media campaigning, formulating advocacy messages in its activities to mobilize different allies.
Rise & Decriminalize networks already have strategic and position documents, analytical materials and publication on decriminalization advocacy, cost of criminalization analysis, damage done to public wellbeing etc.
The objective of the consultancy is to support the process of joint reflection and strategic planning between different community networks and communities to come to joint clear narrative and arguments to be used by the Movement.
Tasks
1. Review and build on the following sources of information and extract any relevant information for Deliverables (see below) of this assignment:
– Concept for Discussion based on the checklists filled by the 5 networks: English, Russian.
– Presentations from the Movement “Rise & Decriminalize” meeting held in Istanbul 12-13 March 2024 – 5 presentations from ECOM, EHRA, ENPUD, EWNA and SWAN.
– Report of the Movement “Rise & Decriminalize” meeting held in Istanbul 12-13 March 2024: English, Russian.
– Review documents provided by the Rise & Decriminalize partners related to criminalization of 4 communities (to be provided).
– Review input of the Rise & Decriminalize partners into the CHECK magazine (to be provided).
2. Organize focus groups/consultations with leadership, experts and members from 5 networks. Networks will assign staff and/or network members/ community members/experts to work with the consultant.
– Based on the documents reviewed and Deliverables outlined in this ToR compile a set of questions for discussion. Indicate number of focus groups/reflection discussions/consultations to be organized.
– Agree time with the Rise & Decriminalize partners for consultations and facilitate them.
– If needed organize email exchanges/ calls with the networks separately.
3. Propose and confirm with Rise & Decriminalize Movement partners the structure of the document.
4. Prepare draft document for review.
5. Prepare final document incorporating the inputs.
Deliverables
Below is the information that should be provided in the document upon finalization of the assignment. The specific structure to be proposed by the Consultant and should include:
1. Setting the scene/ problem/ why Rise & Decriminalize Movement happened – criminalization, it’s general impact and its impact on life of LGBTQI+, sex workers, women living with HIV and people who use drugs.
2. “Non-negotiables” – what are some of the issues that can become obstacles for the Rise & Decriminalize Movement to function. For example, some of the donors do not work with sex workers. Therefore one of the non-negotiables could be that Rise & Decriminalize does not take resources which mean that sex workers need to be excluded from the activities.
3. Overall meaning and benefits of decriminalization of all communities, including formulated arguments for decriminalization for different audiences and potential allies.
4. 4 fact sheets – bullet point specifics/ benefits of decriminalization for each community, including arguments for decriminalization for each community.
5. Glossary/ Commentary on the vocabulary and terms to be used – how it is correct to speak about legislation, decriminalization, regulation, etc.
6. Develop 4 suggestions for info graphic to illustrate the issues the Rise & Decriminalize Movement stands for. The suggestions should include the text and short descriptions (infographics themselves will be developed by Rise & Decriminalize within a separate assignment).
7. Propose 3 slogans the Rise & Decriminalize Movement could use in its communication (for example, No victim, no crime!) and short rationale for them.
The document should:
– Serve as a background information for Rise & Decriminalize work/ presentation.
– Contain simple and clear language, understandable for general public.
Timeline
After the consultant will be hired negotiations will be held to draw a timeline (starting in 2024 and ending in 2025) for the assignment and agree on phases to complete the work. Based on the timeline the work will be divided into two parts: one part (for X number of phases) to be completed by 10th December 2024; part two – for the rest of the phases (deadline TBD).
Requirements
– Company or individual consultant.
– Experience in strategic social communication, in organising strategic planning, developing advocacy argumentation, development of movement and campaigns, or running social communication campaigns.
– Experience in facilitation of community reflection and learning, facilitation of focus groups and organization of communication process among different stakeholders.
– Working level of English, knowledge of Russian – preferable.
– Clear and concise outline of text.
Cost and payment
EHRA solicits proposals from interested consultants. After selecting the consultant, the number of working days and daily rate will be mutually agreed.
The total amount will be executed for the completed services after the exception by EHRA of the document and the invoice and act of services rendered.
How to apply
To apply please send proposal to info@harmreductioneurasia.org by end of day November 5. The proposal should include:
– CV and LoI with arguments for your interest in assignment and for you being well equipped to fulfill the assignment – please check the criteria below to make sure they are reflected on in the CV and/or LoI;
– Proposed steps (phases) and timeline;
– Number of full working days to complete the assignment; and number of days per each phase;
– Daily rate.
Evaluation criteria
Submitted applications will be evaluated by the evaluation panel of the Eurasian Harm Reduction Association. A two-stage procedure has been utilized in evaluating the proposals:
1) evaluation of the previous experience (portfolio) via technical criteria – 80% in total evaluation;
Criteria for technical evaluation:
– Experience in strategic planning, argumentation, development of movement and campaign, social communication campaigns – 50 points.
– Experience in facilitation of community discussion, conducting focus groups and organization of communication process among different stakeholders – 30 points.
– Optimal proposal: division into steps, timeline and number of working days – 20 points.
TOTAL – 100 points.
2) comparison of the costs (best value for money) – 20% in total evaluation. Cost evaluation is only undertaken for technical submissions that score a minimum 80 points out of a maximum of 100 as a requirement to pass the technical evaluation. A proposal which fails to achieve the minimum technical threshold will not be considered further.