RE-ADVERTISEMENT: Call for Proposals For Technical Services (Assessment of the Feasibility of Launching an Advocacy Initiative for Passing a Victims Empowerment Legislation Act)


In the context of the European Commission-funded Project on Victims Empowerment (VE) between the Department of Social Development (DSD) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), a service provider is sought to design and conduct an assessment of the feasibility to launch an advocacy initiative for passing a Victims Empowerment Legislation Act. VE has been identified as one of the Government's priority programs in the 1996 National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS). One of the major problems encountered by the different governmental departments working on VE is that although victims-related provisions may be found in a range of different legislations and/or draft legislations, there is however not a single, specific piece of legislation targeting and addressing specifically the needs of victims of crime; nor does therefore exist a single or explicit line budget for implementation of victim-related services; not to mention an effective mechanism for coordination. UNODC therefore invites proposals for technical services for the assessment of the feasibility to advocate for making Victims Empowerment become a legislation act.

The selected Service Provider [SP] will study as well as consult with sector stakeholders and Treasury about the feasibility of developing and passing a Victims Empowerment Legislative Act. The SP will assess current cost-benefit propositions of services to victims of crime, and will propose a strategy for mobilizing support of government and parliamentary stakeholders in order to adopt such an Act. The Service Provider must propose a 'roadmap' on how to get the legislation necessary to support VE policy passed (should this indeed become the recommendation of the study); or articulate why such an effort cannot be considered to be feasible. Should the SP testify to the feasibility of advocating for a legislative act, a strategy proposal as to how to secure VE-supportive legislation must subsequently be developed. Such a proposal must include recommendations for funding streams for the implementation of such legislation; and how the sustainability of such a legislation can be guaranteed.

The service provider shall comprise itself of experts with demonstrable experience in South Africa's consitutory law; familiar with methods to conduct a VE Legislation feasibility analysis; familiar with the treasury system of SA; experienced with legislative processes; familiar, comfortable and conscious of the challenge to work across governmental departments for mobilizing trans-departmental political will and support for the idea of VE legislation; also familiar with advocacy work through media and Civil Society Organizations; aware of advocacy methods suitable for bringing the significance of a VE legislation to the conscience of South African parliamentarians.

The actual Request for Proposals [RFP], as well as rules and regulations concerning the awarding of contracts can be downloaded here.

UNDP VE Legislation Feasibility Assessment

You can also contact techservices.vep@unodc.org  to request the document by email.

Deadline: The deadline for the submission of applications is , 12 August 2009, as evidenced by the date of dispatch, the postmark or the date of the deposit slip. Please submit proposals to: United Nations Development Programme [UNDP], Attn: Ms. Nokufa Matitoane, Operations Officer, Metro Park Building, Schoemann Street 352, P. O. Box 6541, Pretoria 0001, Republic of South Africa. In case of hand-deliveries, the deadline of receipt is at 12:00 noon as evidenced by the signed and dated receipt. Any application submitted after the deadline will automatically be disqualified. All applications should be sent in a sealed envelop marked "Tender: Victim Empowerment Legislation Feasibility Assessment - DO NOT OPEN."