Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund

Country: Zimbabwe

City: Harare, Zimbabwe

Office: UNICEF, Harare

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Closing date: Friday, 11 June 2021

UNICEF Zimbabwe is inviting applications for an individual consultant to undertake Feasibility Assessment on the Establishment of Virtual Victim Friendly Courts in Zimbabwe

Job no: 540853

Position type: Consultancy

Location: Zimbabwe Division/Equivalent: Nairobi Regn'l(ESARO)

School/Unit: Zimbabwe

Department/Office: Harare, Zimbabwe

Categories: Consultancy

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UNICEF Zimbabwe is seeking to hire an innovative individual consultant to undertake Feasibility Assessment on the Establishment of Virtual Victim Friendly Courts in Zimbabwe

Consultancy Terms of Reference

Title

Feasibility Assessment on the Establishment of Virtual Victim Friendly Courts in Zimbabwe

Section

Child Protection

Purpose

To conduct a study on the feasibility and potential requirements of low budget virtual Victim Friendly Courts being established in Zimbabwe

Location

Harare Based

Duration

22 days

Start and End Dates

1 July 2021 to 1 August 2021

Reporting to

International Specialist (Justice for Children)

Background and Rationale

SPOTLIGHT INITATIVE (SI)

In September 2017, the EU and the UN launched a joint partnership to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls worldwide. The Spotlight Initiative (SI) aims to mobilize commitment of political leaders and contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Initiative aims at ending all forms of violence against women and girls, targeting those that are most prevalent and contribute to gender inequality across the world. The Spotlight Initiative deploys targeted, large-scale investments in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Pacific and the Caribbean, aimed at achieving significant improvements in the lives of women and girls. Zimbabwe is one of the eight countries in Africa to benefit from this transformative initiative.

SI VISION IN ZIMBABWE

The overall vision of the Spotlight Initiative in Zimbabwe is that women and girls realize their full potential in a violence-free, gender-responsive and inclusive Zimbabwe. The Spotlight Initiative is directly contributing to Zimbabwe's achievement of three of the country's prioritized Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Goal 5 on Gender Equality, Goal 3 on good health and well-being and Goal 16 on inclusive and peaceful societies. The programme contributes to the elimination of SGBV and HPs through the creation of a broad partnership with Civil Society, Government, Private Sector, Media, among others; and, build a social movement of women, men, girls and boys as champions and agents of change at the national, subnational and community levels. A specific focus is on reaching and including in the programme women and girls who are often isolated and most vulnerable to Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and Harmful Practices (HPs) due to intersecting forms of discrimination. The programme also seeks to address the SRHR needs of all women and girls using a life-cycle approach.

The SI Zimbabwe Country Programme uses a multi-sectoral, multi-layered, interlinked community-centered approach to the implementation of the interventions on the following six Outcome Areas based on the socio-ecological model for addressing SGBV and HPs;

1. Legislative and Policy Frameworks

2. Strengthening Institutions

3. Prevention and Social Norms

4. Delivery of Quality, Essential Services

5. Data Availability and Capacities

6. Supporting the Women's Movement

UNICEF works heavily under Outcome 2 of the Spotlight Initiative to strengthen the work of institutions. In light of COVID-19 and the serious implications the national lockdown has had on access to justice , it is necessary for UNICEF to explore the possibility of supporting an innovative solution to this new challenge. This is directly in line with the Judicial Service Commission's 2021 - 2025 Strategic Plan, which places greater emphasis on modernising and strengthening the efficiency of the judicial service, as well as enhancing access to quality justice for all. In addition the Zimbabwean National Development Strategy 2021 to 2025 aims to promote good governance and modernize the economy through the use of ICT and digital technology.

SCOPE OF THE ISSUE

Faced with the unprecedented COVID-19 public health crisis, the operations of courts around the world have been negatively affected as countries have been unable to keep their judicial systems fully operational with lockdown measures and restrictions on gatherings. Currently, in Zimbabwe, courts are limiting the number of people being seen, and continue to face travel restrictions which make it difficult for people integral to legal proceedings such as witnesses and litigants to physically attend court hearings.

JSC, supported by UNICEF, recognizes that virtual courts are an innovation that has been used worldwide to facilitate access to justice during these unprecedented times. A virtual court system is a judicial forum that has no physical presence but still provides the same services that are available in courtrooms. Access to virtual courts is limited to online access, videoconferencing and tele-conferencing. The virtual court process is an initiative designed to deliver speed and efficiency improvements to the justice system. In the 'traditional' process, litigants are expected to appear in person at a court while in a virtual court system, they appear by means of a secure video link while remaining physically located in their homes, offices or police station for accused persons.

Virtual courts offer a unique solution to the current problem brought on by COVID-19 and would allow survivors to be seen in Court without sacrifice the safety of themselves or others. Not only will this new technology improve access to justice during lockdowns, it will also have long lasting effects after the pandemic ends. The police and the prosecution have all stated that one of the biggest deterrents for survivors of SGBV to access justice is transport in the form of high fees or long travel distances. With a virtual court system, more people could attend court without the hindrance of travel and simultaneously reduce re-traumatization of victims risking having to face their perpetrators in or around the court. All efforts to establish virtual VFCs must be led by the principle of 'leaving no one behind', which special attention paid to marginalized populations, including remote communities.

PRECEDENCE

KENYA

In Kenya the Judiciary, with support from UNODC, quickly adopted communication technology in a bid to deliver services following outbreak of coronavirus in 2020. To ensure that justice could continue to be delivered, the juvenile courts allowed for the hearing of parties through video links (most often skype and zoom) and orders were sent to applicants via email. Court structure varied and was arranged based on the context and the movement restrictions. For example, at some times the litigators and the judge could be physically together hearing a witness on live stream, and at other times all participants tuned in remotely. This resulted in the release of children from rehabilitation schools and remand homes. [1] The digital platform allowed cases to be heard and taken to the judge, decisions made and communicated to advocates through virtual means during movement restrictions. [2]

GAMBIA

In Gambia, the COVID-19 outbreak combined with the poor sanitation facilities and overcrowding of the prisons posed grave risks for spreading the virus. To decongest prisons, UNDP initiated a partnership with the Judiciary for the establishment of Virtual Courts. [3] The Chief Justice approved the establishment of two Virtual High Courts for civil and criminal cases and issued Practice Directives to the stakeholders. As a consequence, the first Virtual Court hearing was held in June of 2020.

BANGLADESH

In Bangladesh the pandemic seriously delayed the judicial process for children accused of minor offences, leading to overcrowding in detention centers. This prompted the Bangladeshi President to issue an ordinance introducing virtual courts on 9 May 2020, with the first-ever virtual children 's court launching just a few days later. Within one month, more than 500 children were granted bail through the virtual courts, which were established with UNICEF support by the Bangladesh Supreme Court.

BOLIVIA

In Bolivia, UNICEF has acquired licenses for Zoom Video Communications, Inc., and cameras for juvenile detention centers, which allow virtual attendance at hearings, monitoring of case plans, as well as attendance at virtual classes and continued contact and communication with family members.

ALBANIA

Similarly in Albania, the High Judicial Council issued a decision in favour of the use of virtual courts to ensure remote and online hearings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cases affecting children in contact with criminal, civil and administrative law were allowed to continue, ensuring children 's access to justice and allowing many of those in pre-trial detention to have their 'arrest in jail ' measure replaced with an 'arrest at home ' order.

OVERALL PURPOSE

In its 2021-2025 Strategic Plan, the Judicial Service Commission acknowledges that the COVID-19 pandemic has impeded access to courts by justice seekers, including women and children who are survivors of abuse and violence. The courts reacted to the lockdown measures by closing, reducing and adjusting operations which have a negative impact o on the provision of timely and fair hearings, contribute to increased backlogs, longer pre-trial detention periods and generally hinder the efficient disposal of judicial and administrative proceedings. Certain vulnerable groups, including women and children at risk of domestic violence are acutely affected. With challenges brought about due to Covid-19, there is heightened need to consider virtual courts. It is hoped that the virtual courts will deliver speed and efficient improvements to the justice system. In the 'traditional' process, litigants are expected to appear in person at a court while in a virtual court system, they appear by means of a secure video link while remaining physically located in their homes, offices or police station for accused persons.

In order to understand if and how to establish virtual courts in Zimbabwe for Victim Friendly Courts (VFCs), JSC, with support from UNICEF, will hire a consultant / consulting team to conduct a feasibility assessment. A study on the feasibility of low budget virtual courts being established in Zimbabwe in general was conducted by the JSC in 2020, but this did not include an assessment of Victim Friendly Courts. Due to the unique requirements of Victim Friendly courts, a separate assessment will need to be conducted for VFCs to enable a comprehensive appreciation of the requirements.

How such a system will work will be designed by a consultant / consulting team who is knowledgeable of the legal and economic context of Zimbabwe and is also competent in terms of the technical requirements. This assessment must take into consideration physical equipment required and the accompanying costs, the extent of the government network and possible solutions, and the necessary policies and partnerships required. The consultant / consulting team is encouraged to provide multiple options which clearly outline pros and cons for consideration.

Human rights principles must be engrained in the design of the system to ensure that the structure does not in itself violate the rights of users i.e. designation of open access room at the court for litigants without the means to access the virtual courts from their homes. Due consideration must also be given to data protection, data security and child safeguarding based on UNICEF's policy and tools as well as the Digital Public Goods criteria. In addition, the assessment must address accessibility concerns related to virtual modalities (i.e. access to reliable internet and hardware) for the most vulnerable and include inclusive considerations in the report.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

The User Research Consultant will be responsible for:

Producing research on the feasibility and potential requirements of low budget virtual Victim Friendly Courts being established in Zimbabwe including an assessment of relevant models from other countries

Providing a practical explanation of how virtual courts could feasibly be set up, including how the virtual court model at Rotten Row Magistrate's Court could be adapted to VFC context

Producing a recommendation of the most reasonable mode of hearings in the Zimbabwean context, including how they can be designed, implemented, and maintained with financial costs

SCOPE OF WORK

The consultant / consulting team should use the current Victim Friendly Court at Rotten Row Magistrate's Court as a pilot for the roll out of virtual courts. The consultant / consulting team must submit an inception report, a draft feasibility assessment for consultation with technical experts and a final feasibility assessment which includes implementation of the virtual court at Rotten Row Magistrate's Court. The feasibility assessment must suggest exactly how the system would be set up practically including diagrams and suggest the most reasonable mode of hearings in the Zimbabwean context, including who can join virtually and how this will be carried out. The assessment must include requirements for the pilot court as well as requirements for future expansion across VFCs nationwide.

Description of expected deliverables

Tasks/Milestone:

Deliverables/Outputs:

Timeline

Inception report

Overview of scope and methodology with attention given to the existing Rotten Row Virtual Court Proposal and its potential application to the Victim Friendly Court context

Detailed list of key risks to be addressed

3 days

Draft feasibility assessment submitted

Explanation of how the virtual court model at Rotten Row Magistrate's Court could be adapted to VFC context

Assessment of relevant models from other countries, as well as options (pros/cons)

Practical explanation of how virtual courts could feasibly be set up, including diagrams

Suggestion of the most reasonable mode of hearings in the Zimbabwean context

Practical consideration to how virtual courts can be designed, implemented, and maintained including a detailed section on financial costs (in the short term and long term)

Requirements for pilot court as well as requirements for future expansion across VFCs nationwide

Explanation of possible application after the COVID-19 pandemic

15 days

JSC Consultation workshop on draft assessment (supported by UNICEF)

Draft assessment presented to key stakeholders for input

1 day

Submission and presentation of final report

Tags access to justice access to services administrative law child protection communication technology computer science covid data protection digital technology domestic violence gender inequality human rights inequality judicial system juvenile courts latin america political leaders public goods qualitative research sdgs social services south africa sustainable development sustainable development goals systems analysis travel restrictions violence against women women and girls

Report amended to integrate comments from consultation workshop

Presentation of report to key stakeholders for approval

Copy of the report incorporating all stakeholders' comments, fully formatted, edited and finalised to a professional printable standard

3 days

Required qualifications, expertise, technical background and experience of the International Consultant

An advanced Degree (Masters) in Computer science, human-computer interaction, or a related field.

8-10 years virtual innovation experience

Proven experience analyzing requirements, and translating into specifications for feasibility

Experience in managing projects involving systems analysis, design, development and implementation, and/or provide key inputs for the establishment of long-term solutions

Experience engaging with stakeholders and beneficiaries to assess feasibility of virtual innovations

Experience with working to design large-scale digital experiences that meet business objectives

Prior experience working on GBV and/or gender projects is desirable

Prior experience working in projects focused on women and girls is desirable

Prior hands-on experience in innovating and using modern technologies and methodologies to support United Nation's learning initiatives is desirable

Experience with qualitative research or feasibility testing

Strong understanding of confidentiality, safety and ethical concerns related to working with women, girls and GBV survivors in line with international standards (e.g. GBV Minimum standards)

Attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, ability to work well with others.

Ability to work with virtual teams

Excellent organizational and analytical skills

Excels in collaboration and is team-oriented

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Fluency in English is required. Fluency in Shona or Ndebele is desirable.

For more information refer to attached terms of reference (TOR) Virtual Court Feasability Study ToR.pdf

Other Consultancy Costs and Payment Modalities

Competitive market rates will apply.

If interested and available to undertake the consultancy, please submit your application online and attach the required documents including the

technical and an all-inclusive financial proposal (detailing professional fees, DSA, airfare etc where necessary).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF's values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered "staff members" under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF's policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.