Civil Rights Defenders Seeking Consultants to Conduct a Training of Trainers Program in Physical Security

Civil Rights Defenders is looking for an experienced security trainer in the East and Horn of Africa to develop and conduct a physical security training of trainers, ToT program. Please read ‘Call for consultancy’ below.

Background  

Civil Rights Defenders is an expert organisation that partners with and supports human rights defenders (HRDs) globally. We have extensive experience in supporting HRDs most at risk in several of the world´s most repressive countries and regions. Our vision is a world of democratic societies in which we all enjoy our civil and political rights. Civil Rights Defenders works through flexible, context-sensitive, and, when needed, fast interventions in order to support local actors who are at the core of ensuring respect for human rights.   

Civil Rights Defenders works in the African region and has a close collaboration with local HRDs. Our aim is to provide skills, knowledge, and resources that increase their continued presence and the impact of their work. The Training of Trainers program, ToT in Physical Security is a part of this effort.  

One of our current collaborations is undertaken under the “Consortium to Promote Human Rights, Civic Freedoms and Media Development in Sub-Saharan Africa” (CHARM), which came into existence in October 2019 with funding from SIDA. CHARM is working collectively to nurture civil society, human rights defenders, independent media, and journalists in the region, by supporting actions to protect and expand freedoms to speak out, organise, and take action. The six consortium partners (CIVICUS, Fojo Media, Wits Journalism, Civil Rights Defenders, Magamba Network, Le Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD), and DefendDefenders) from across the African continent, are collaborating to strengthen the effectiveness and build the resilience of journalists, media practitioners, social media producers, human rights defenders, and civil society activists and their organisations, to advance more democratic and free societies.  

As part of the CHARM consortium, Civil Rights Defenders is leading the implementation of a Physical Security Training of Trainers program. The CRD Physical Security Training of Trainers programme is a ToT program to educate front-line human rights defenders on how to independently carry out a made-to-measure security trainings and support activities according to current best practices. The program is comprised of 3-week self-study and 5 days of in-person training. The in-person training adds emphasis on practical exercises and participatory learning. After completing the course, participants will conduct their own trainings as part of the training program.  

Description and objective of the consultancy   

Civil Rights Defenders is looking for an experienced security trainer in the East and Horn of Africa to develop and conduct a physical security training of trainers, ToT program. The target group includes, but is not limited to women human rights defenders, LGBTI activists, journalists and those working with the most marginalized HRDs. The objective of the consultancy is to train a group of human rights defenders to become security trainers ready to independently conduct their own trainings.   

  1. Design a locally replicable physical security ToT program together with Civil Rights Defenders. 
  1. Plan and conduct a remote and in-person physical security ToT for a group of 10 participants.  
  1. Provide mentorship and support for participants during the course of the training program based on their individual needs.  
  1. Provide tailor-made guidance and support to participants as they conduct their own trainings after the training program. 
  1. The training must have equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility at the core of planning and execution.  
  1. Create a safe space for learning and foster cooperation in the group of learners.  

Scope of work and expected deliverables  

The consultant is expected to deliver a training in physical security that meets the objectives listed under section 2. Training deliverables include:  

  1. Prepare appropriate content and training curriculum for Physical Security ToT 
  1. Deliver a Physical Security ToT program based on the curriculum developed in cooperation with Civil Rights Defenders. 
  1. The trainer should be flexible and available to conduct the training during late Q3 2022, including regional travel for the in-person portion of the training.  
  1. Provide mentorship, assess participants’ skills and provide tailored support as the ToT participants conduct their own training sessions in Q4 2022 and Q1 2023.   
  1. Develop the structure, assignments and content of the training program. Identify relevant training material, and adapt the material and content to suit the needs and background of the participant; Direct participants to supplementary resources and reference materials; Manage the learning platforms, and support participants as they complete their assignments  
  1. Other preparation: 
  • Support Civil Rights Defenders in assessing and selecting participants 
  • Conduct a needs assessment 
  • Provide supplementary resource material prior to the training for participants in need of additional support 
  • Pre-training/baseline and post-training assessment of skills  
  1. Evaluate the training program and document lessons learned for Civil Rights Defenders and future trainers  
  1. Narrative report and evaluation of participants’ skills after the training program.  

Required expertise and qualifications  

Required qualifications 

  • Extensive experience in teaching physical security to human rights defenders, including knowledge of gendered security threats. Knowledge in holistic security or other fields of security is considered an asset. 
  • Experience of designing, developing, conducting and evaluating training programs  
  • An advanced skill level in training and facilitation skills and engagement of adult learners 
  • Experience in interactive and participatory learning methods 
  • Experience in delivering online or remote trainings  
  • Experience and knowledge in creating safe spaces for adult learners 
  • Proficiency in English and ability to conduct trainings in English 
  • Experience in working with human rights defenders, CSOs and local communities in the East and Horn of Africa. Experience in working with women human rights defenders or marginalized communities is considered an asset 

Preferred qualifications 

  • Strong communication, presentation and public speaking skills 
  • Organizational and time management abilities 
  • Diploma or otherwise documented trainings in security management, physical security, psychosocial security or similar.  

Ethics 

  • An understanding and strict adherence to all human rights principles provided in international instruments and jurisprudence is mandatory 
  • An understanding of the unjustness of inequality (whether based on gender, sexual orientation, class, ethnicity, citizenship, economic status, etc.) and a commitment to strive for social change towards equity and justice 

Payment schedule  

The consultant will receive 30% per cent of the total payment in advance.  The consultant will receive the remaining amount (70 per cent of the total payment) upon the completion of all deliverables as approved by CRD.  

Application for this consultancy should include: 

  1. The Applicant’s profile (max. 1 page) focusing on what makes the applicant the right person for the consultancy – Your experience performing physical security trainings and a brief overview of how you work—your “teaching style” or methodologies 
  1. CV and Relevant experience   
  1. A narrative proposal including a proposed curriculum and structure 
  1. Financial proposal 
  1. Three references (at least one fellow HRD and one human rights organisation) should be included in the application   

Please note that the 5-day in-person training may require travel to a third country in the East and Horn of Africa depending on where in the region the trainer is based. 

We welcome applications until 20 August. We encourage potential applicants to contact us directly in case of questions or further discussion.   

Please send questions or a proposal to joanna.hellstrom@crd.org and africa@crd.org using the headline “Application Security ToT Trainer 2022”  

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