Three Council of Europe consultancy services tenders are closing soon;

1. Consultancy services in the areas of management, rehabilitation and reintegration of violent and extremist prisoners in the Western Balkans region – Deadline for applications; 15th July 2019

2. Consultancy services in the areas of penitentiary, police, probation, psychiatric and social care institutions and project evaluation in South-East Europe – Deadline for applications; 26th July 2019

3. Consultancy services in the area of penitentiary – Greece

Details of each tender is detailed below.

1. Consultancy services in the areas of management, rehabilitation and reintegration of violent and extremist prisoners in the Western Balkans region

In the framework of the continued assistance to the authorities of the Western Balkans Beneficiaries, as of 24 May 2019, the Council of Europe has launched a continuation of the Horizontal Facility Programme Phase II (HF II), funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, implemented by the Council of Europe, with duration of 36 months. As part of HF II, separate regional project on “Enhancing penitentiary capacities in addressing radicalisation in prisons in Western Balkans” will be implemented, as well as country-specific ‘radicalisation in prisons’ components under the Horizontal Facility projects in Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and in other HF II Beneficiaries as per need.

The prison environment can be a potential ground for radicalisation of prisoners. Rehabilitation efforts and intervention programs should be equally applicable to all prisoners, including violent extremist offenders. The growing numbers of extremist offenders (especially foreign terrorist fighters) in Western Balkans calls for reflection on existing measures and interventions, as well as discussion on developing new joint approaches, perspectives and common methodologies towards this category of prisoners. On the other side, authorities have the duty to provide support, resources, training, safety and supervision to staff at all levels who are working with violent extremists and those radicalised while in prison.

The Regional project will provide for an open discussion forum among the prison and probation practitioners in Western Balkans, allowing them to identify good practices, learn from shortcomings and set the minimum standards, taking into consideration the specifics of the region, that would provide for improved methodology and tools in countering violent extremism (CVE) and addressing radicalisation in prisons, as well as enhancing efforts for effective rehabilitation and reintegration of this category of offenders. This project continues to build upon the results and the conclusions adopted at the Regional Conference on addressing radicalisation in prisons, which took place in Skopje on 03-04 October 2018. The Conference confirmed willingness of the prison authorities and practitioners from all six Horizontal Facility Beneficiaries from Western Balkans to increase collaboration and to initiate an exchange of good practices on disengagement of prisoners from violence and strengthening prison management, which should result in successful rehabilitation of violent extremist offenders and their reintegration back into society. The Regional Project will strive to enhance regional security by addressing radical

Deadline: 15th July 2019
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2.  Consultancy services in the areas of penitentiary, police, probation, psychiatric and social care institutions and project evaluation in South-East Europe

The Council of Europe (CoE) and the European Commission signed a cooperation agreement with aim to promote human rights, rule of law and democracy in the Western Balkan countries covered by the Horizontal Facility Programme: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. The agreement funds several projects (hereafter referred to as “the Projects”) in the area of reforms in penitentiary, police, probation, psychiatric and social care institutions.

Project 1: HFII: Enhancing the capacities of the penitentiary system and the external oversight mechanism in North Macedonia

Project 2: HFII: Further enhancing human rights protection for detained and sentenced persons in Montenegro

Project 3: HFII: Enhancing the human rights protection for detained and sentenced persons in Serbia

Project 4: HFII: Strengthening human rights treatment of detained persons based on European standards and best practices in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Project 5: HFII: Enhancing the protection of human rights of prisoners in Albania

The main partners of the Projects are: governmental bodies at all levels, notably specific structures within the ministries of internal affairs, justice and health, prison administrations, police, training centres, social care and psychiatric institution and the civil society.

The Council of Europe is looking for 150 Providers (provided enough tenders meet the criteria indicated below) in order to support the implementation of the project with a particular expertise on penitentiary, police, probation, psychiatric and social care institutions and project evaluation.

This Contract is currently estimated to cover up 200 core activities, to be held by 23 May 2022. This estimate is for information only and shall not constitute any sort of contractual commitment on the part of the Council of Europe. The Contract may potentially represent a higher or lower number of activities, depending on the evolving needs of the Organisation.

Deadline: 26th July 2019
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3. Consultancy services in the area of penitentiary – Greece

The Council of Europe (CoE) implements the project “Strengthening prison healthcare in Greece” with a duration of 24 months, from 1 June 2019 to 31 May 2021 and project budget of 600.000 €, financed by the Human Rights Trust Fund. The project is implemented by the Criminal Law Co-operation Unit (CLCU), part of Action against Crime Department.

The project aim is to support the Greek authorities in developing policies and adopting measures to address the shortcomings identified by the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the European Court of Human Rights and improve the execution of ECHR judgments relevant to the provision of health care and the overcrowding in prisons. In addition, the project will directly support the implementation of the Greek Strategic Plan for the Penitentiary System (2018-2020).

The main partners of the project are the Ministry of Justice, Transparency and Human Rights and the Ministry of Health of Greece.

Deadline: 26th July 2019
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Published on: 03/07/2019
Author: Council of Europe