National Consultant to Conduct a Study on Causes of Radicalization to Violence in Prisons

Result of Service - An inception report outlining among others the conceptualization, methodology and outputs of the assignment. - Reports and key documentation collected, reviewed, and analysed in support of the study. - Field consultations and a consultative meeting with all relevant key stakeholders (UPS, UPF, ODPP, Judiciary, other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), CSOs, Development Partners and Donors (including UNODC and UN agencies), and other relevant stakeholders at national and sub-national level). - A zero-draft study report prepared and presented for review - A first draft study report presented and reviewed at a stakeholders’ validation workshop - A final high-quality report incorporating the comments made during the stakeholders’ validation workshop and including the identification of challenges and deficiencies as well as to strategies, measures and priority interventions to address the issue in line with the specific national context. - A power point presentation

Work Location Kampala, Uganda

Expected duration 90 Working Days between January and May 2022

Duties and Responsibilities Background of the Assignment

In the context of the growing number of Violent Extremist Prisoners globally, there is growing concern that prisons can serve as grounds for radicalization to violence and for terrorist recruitment. More specifically, it is argued that Violent Extremist Prisoners (VEPs) can network in prisons, radicalise other prisoners to violence, gain access to a large pool of potential recruits, or coordinate terrorist acts outside prison. This may include producing and distributing ideological literature and/or propaganda within and beyond the prison population; using prison visits to communicate with followers; and/or engaging in active resistance to the prison authorities by refusing to cooperate with the prison regime, intimidating prison staff and management or instigating violent clashes with prison staff. Such scenarios not only undermine prison security and safety, but also undermine the rehabilitative objective of imprisonment by negatively affecting prison initiatives which prepare and skill prisoners to lead law-abiding lives upon their return to society. However, prisons may also provide an opportunity for prisoners to disengage from violence, potentially serving as a catalyst for positive change.

The ongoing management of Violent Extremist Prisoners poses a significant challenge for Member States globally. Not only does their effective management act as a protective measure for local community safety, but it has the potential to positively affect regional and global security and reduce the impact of terrorism and violent extremism. The UN Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism emphasizes the risk of radicalization in prisons, including, inter alia, as a result of inhumane detention conditions and inhumane treatment of inmates, and stresses the need for safeguards to be put in place to prevent the spread of extremist ideology in prisons. The Plan encourages Member States to consider the need to reform national penitentiary systems to prevent and counter radicalization in prisons based on human rights and the rule of law. The Plan of Action calls for safeguards to be put in place that prevent the spread of extremist ideologies, while upholding the protection afforded under international law to persons deprived of their liberty. In 2017, United Nations Security Council acknowledged the particular risk of prisons serving as “potential incubators” for radicalization and terrorist recruitment. It is important to note that the Security Council also highlighted the critical role of prison authorities in the effective and sustainable rehabilitation and reintegration of former prisoners back into communities.

In September 2020, prisons in Uganda held around 60,000 prisoners in 253 prisons (operating at 312% of its actual capacity). In 2019 there were 158 Violent Extremist Prisoners in Ugandan Prisoners with only 16 convicted and 142 (89%) in pre-trial detention (135 men and 7 women). Additionally, 350 persons including 22 women (6.2%) were classified as VEPs, all of them are pre-trial detainees. Although this number of VEPs in Uganda Prisons is considerably small in proportion to the entire prison population, there is concern that detainees and persons convicted of non-extremist crimes may easily be vulnerable to the ideological influence of extremists, and that radical beliefs may more easily spread in prison than in society.

It is important to keep in mind that not all VEPs in a prison setting will have been convicted of a terrorist-related offence. Others who were motivated by similar ideological beliefs may have been convicted of other offences or the crime they committed was unrelated to their ideology. In addition, in a prison context, there are those who have no previous history of extremism who may be recruited and radicalized while incarcerated. The monitoring of prisoners within the prison environment for signs of radicalisation is important and can be facilitated by staff training to enable them to recognize indicators that could suggest the need for screening or further assessment. The aim of the study is to better understand the group affiliation, networks of influence, beliefs and intentions and the presence and dynamics of radicalization among the prison population in Uganda.

Good prison management and necessary reforms constitute a fundamental basis for the effective management of all prisoners, including violent extremist prisoners. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is supporting this activity through the joint global programme “Supporting the management of violent extremist prisoners and the prevention of radicalisation to violence in prisons”. This Programme responds to the emerging and significant challenge of potential radicalization to violence in various prison settings. It aims at addressing it as part of broader prison reform efforts and in full compliance with international human rights standards, including the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules) and from a gender perspective. This global initiative also aims to strengthen the capacity of prison services to effectively manage violent extremist prisoners and to respond to the challenge of potential radicalization to violence in prison as part of a wider prison reform effort. The specific activity contributes to output target two which seeks to improve systems and skills in prison administration to individually assess the risks and needs of VEPs. Further, this contributes to the national performance on SDG 16.

In view of the above, UNODC in collaboration with the Uganda Prison Service (UPS) seeks the services of a consultant to support the Programme Office in Uganda (POUGA) to Conduct a survey Exploring the causes of radicalization to Violence among the prison population in Uganda, using its results in the development of a system for assessing and responding to the risks and needs of persons held in prison and develop country specific recommendations that would be the basis to develop initiatives to respond to the identified needs and challenges. The content of the final report will serve as background information at a national workshop, which will take place following the study and bring together relevant stakeholders, including legislators, policymakers, prosecutors, judicial officer and civil society, among others. The objective of the workshop will be to exchange information on practices and challenges as well as to identify priorities for reform and technical assistance needs.

II. Purpose of the consultancy assignment

To Conduct a detailed analysis on the causes of radicalization to violence in prisons, using its results in the development of a system for assessing and responding to the risks and needs of persons held in prison and develop country specific recommendations that would be the basis to develop initiatives to respond to the identified needs and challenges. The objective of the assignment is to gain baseline understanding that will guide the planning of future UNODC technical assistance.

III. Specific tasks to be performed by the consultant

The study will be conducted by the consultant under the direct supervision of the Head of Office of the UNODC Programme Office in Uganda (POUGA).

The Consultant will undertake the following set of activities:

a) Develop a detailed inception report and work plan for the consultancy. b) Conduct an inception meeting to discuss key issues to be considered by the survey and to confirm and finalize the methodology and work plan. c) Conduct a desk review of available information including review of key documents, analysis of statistics and relevant literature. d) Conduct interviews with key stakeholders from UPS, UPF, ODPP, Judiciary, other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), CSOs, Development Partners and Donors (including UNODC and UN agencies), and other relevant stakeholders at national and sub-national level. e) Conduct primary research and hold relevant visits, interviews, and other necessary/relevant engagements. f) Present the reports at stakeholder consultative and progress review meetings, including a validation meeting. g) Prepare a final Report incorporating the comments made at the different progress consultative stakeholder meetings and validation meetings.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, criminal justice, criminology, social sciences or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience: - At least five years of professional experience in prison management and/or penal reform, including, inter alia, in the fields of (i) security and prison intelligence, (ii) classification and/or allocation of prisoners; or (iii) the rehabilitation and social reintegration of prisoners is required.

• Experience in the management of high-risk prisoners, ideally including the prevention of radicalization to violence in prisons, strongly preferred, either as part of a national prison administration or of another relevant agency engaged in prison work is required.

• Experience in delivering training courses and workshops for prison staff and/or in the development of training curricula is required.

• Clear understanding of the international legal framework related to the treatment of prisoners as well as international guidelines on the management of VEPs and the prevention of radicalization to violence in prisons is desirable.

• Experience in providing advisory services to governmental agencies and/or international organizations in the field of prison management and reform, and ability to provide advice on sensitive issues in a diplomatic manner; corresponding work experience in low- and middle-income countries is desirable.

Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in English is required. Depending on the post location, fluency in another of the six United Nations official languages may be required. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an advantage.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.