UNICEF Zimbabwe is inviting applications for an individual consultant to Strengthen the criminal forensics system in Zimbabwe for sexual and gender-based violence cases

Contract

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The current UNICEF-Government of Zimbabwe Country Programme of Cooperation (2016-2020, extended to 2021) aims to support Zimbabwe to sustain and build upon the gains achieved for children during the 2012-2015 Country Programme of Cooperation. The programme focuses on improving the quality of social services, increasing access to services, and helping to build national and sub-national capacities to provide low-cost, high-impact interventions for all children, especially the most vulnerable.

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UNICEF Zimbabwe is seeking to hire an innovative individual consultant to Strengthen the criminal forensics system in Zimbabwe for sexual and gender-based violence cases. Consultancy Terms of Reference

Section

Child Protection

Purpose

To provide forensics expert support for strengthening the criminal forensics system for sexual and gender-based violence cases

Location

Harare based

Duration

75 days

Start and end dates

15 October 2021 to 14 March 2022

Reporting to

Child Protection Officer

Background

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 at mobilizing commitment of political leaders and contributing 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 will deploy 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.

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 investigation and prosecution in particular of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) cases is often times difficult, as most incidents are not witnessed by a third party and hence many trials end in a ‘He said – She said’ scenario. It is against this background that the role of physical and digital evidence produced by forensic services in SGBV cases cannot be overestimated. Forensic evidence is key to ensure the preservation of the fair trial principle and the rights of the victim, by providing for objective evidence which can assist in answering key questions asked during a trial and hence assist in determining the guilt or innocence of an offender. Ultimately, forensic evidence significantly contributes to finding the truth.

However, this can only be achieved if the evidence is collected, analysed, preserved and presented in a forensically and legally sound manner, to meet admissibility criteria in court. An assessment of the criminal forensics system carried out by UNICEF in 2021 found that the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and other relevant stakeholders face considerable constraints when it comes to processing relevant evidence in SGBV cases. As a consequence, UNICEF under the Spotlight Initiative has made considerable investments to strengthen the criminal forensics system, in particular by procuring DNA equipment and relevant consumables for the ZRP. Now that the ZRP Forensic Lab is equipped to run DNA tests, more work needs to be done to ensure that DNA evidence is fully understood and appreciated in the courtroom, and that first respondents as well as crime scene managers collect the relevant forensic evidence, including DNA, in a sound manner.

In addition, the collection, transport and analysis of crime forensics samples needs to be clearly regulated by law to ensure admissibility and integrity of the evidence. A legal assessment carried out by UNICEF in 2020 found that there are considerable gaps in the legal framework in Zimbabwe pertaining to forensic evidence, which need to be closed to ensure that rule of law standards are upheld.

Assignments

UNICEF is seeking the technical support of a forensics expert to deliver the following results:

• Provide technical support to the drafting the DNA and Evidence Bill: while the legal drafting of the Bill is led by relevant Government departments, where there is opportunity, the consultant is expected to advise the counterparts on technical forensics questions and international best practice in relation to the legal framework governing criminal forensic evidence
• Draft criminal forensic guidelines, with a specific focus on DNA evidence, for judiciary and prosecution: DNA evidence presentation is not common in Zimbabwean courts due to the lack of DNA equipment in the past; with the new equipment procured by UNICEF, DNA evidence will become the norm in SGBV cases; therefore, judiciary and prosecution need to be sensitized on criminal forensics, in particular DNA evidence, to be able to appreciate its value and limitations in criminal cases; guidelines will be drafted in easily accessible layman’s language for the legal profession, taking the Zimbabwean legal background into account (legal support for this assignment will be provided by national legal expert)
• Provide in-depth forensics training to multi-sectoral teams in five Spotlight provinces (Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central, Manicaland, Harare, Matabeleland South) to sensitize them on crime scene management, administration and usage of newly conceptualized sexual assault kits as well as early evidence kits; prepare and conduct technical trainings and prepare relevant training materials.

Consultancy Tasks and Deliverables

Tasks/Milestone:

Deliverables/Outputs:

Timeline

1. Inception Report

• Proposed work plan
• Mapping of relevant stakeholders
• Outline of criminal forensics guidelines
• Tentative meeting/ workshop schedules
• Tentative training schedule, including target groups
• Quality assurance and risk management strategies

5 working days over a period of one week

2. Provide technical support to the drafting the DNA and Evidence Bill

• Engage with the relevant Government counterparts as technical forensics expert and advise on international best practices, while considering the Zimbabwean context
• Draft short technical expert opinions, as required

10 working days over a period of 16 weeks

3. Draft criminal forensic guidelines, with a specific focus on DNA evidence, for judiciary and prosecution

• Develop first draft of forensic guidelines for judiciary and prosecution based on approved outline in the inception report, ensuring easily accessible layman’s language and close embedment in the Zimbabwean legal framework (close collaboration with national legal expert required – UNICEF will facilitate this)
• Gather input from relevant stakeholders, with UNICEF support, into a first draft and present revised draft at a consultative meeting to relevant stakeholders from the criminal justice sector; draft short report on the input received in the consultative workshop and make recommended changes in the guidelines
• Submit revised guidelines to relevant stakeholders for review and input and present at a validation workshop
• With the input from the validation workshop included, submit final, fully edited guidelines to UNICEF for approval by Government counterparts

25 working days, over a period of 12 weeks

4. Provide in-depth forensics training to multi-sectoral teams in five Spotlight provinces

• Draft training materials for multi-sectoral teams for review and input; include input into final training materials
• Based on the training plan approved in the inception report, conduct 5 days training (per province) for multi-sectoral teams/specialised policing units in five Spotlight provinces (total 25 training days)

35 working days, over a period of 16 weeks

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Advanced university degree (Masters) or equivalent qualification in relevant fields (forensic science, forensic chemistry, forensic biology, computer forensics or related field)
• At least ten years of proven experience in forensic science in a law enforcement context both pertaining to physical and digital evidence required.
• Professional experience in collection, transport, analysis and presentation of forensic evidence in sexual violence cases required.
• Professional experience in conducting criminal forensics training for multi-sectoral teams in the context of SGBV offences required.
• Previous experience in working in a developing or humanitarian context, in particular in Southern Africa, required.
• Previous experience in drafting of forensic guidelines for non-forensic audience desirable
• Fluency in English (verbal and written). Good written and spoken skills in the language of the humanitarian operation and knowledge of another UN language an asset.

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 PROPOSAL and an all-inclusive FINANCIAL PROPOSAL (detailing professional fees, DSA, airfare etc. where necessary).

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at

UNICEF Competency Framework - HomePage (sharepoint.com)

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:

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.