TENDER NOTICE (TN)

Background.

Prison Fellowship Rwanda (PFR) is a faith-based non-profit organization that works in partnership with the government of Rwanda and its relevant agencies, local and international organisations to foster unity and reconciliation, mental health and psycho-social healing, access to justice and human rights as well as socioeconomic transformation of disadvantaged people.

Prison Fellowship Rwanda was founded on 1^st July 1995 and became affiliated to the Prison Fellowship International in 1997. It was officially registered and recognized as a non–profit organization by the ministerial order No 037/17, of 23/10/2002, published in the official gazette of the Republic of Rwanda in 2002 by the Ministry of Justice. 

Since January 2020, in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR) and the Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA), Prison Fellowship Rwanda (PFR) is implementing the project entitled “Community-Based Protection (CBP) and Legal Assistance” for refugees and asylum seekers in Rwanda. 

The overall objective of this project is to strengthen community resilience, engagement and empowerment in a systemized and comprehensive manner. This project has contributed a lot in identifying and addressing issues that affect refugees and Asylum seekers through their engagement, empowerment, capacity building, legal assistance and civil documentation. 

It is against this background that Prison Fellowship Rwanda seeks to recruit a competent Law Firm that will be responsible for providing Legal representation of refugees and asylum seekers in the courts of the Republic of Rwanda. The main locations for intervention are:

• Mahama refugees camp (Kirehe District);
• Kiziba Refugee Camp (Karongi District),
• Mugombwa Refugee Camp (Gisagara District),
• Kigeme Refugee Camp (Nyamagabe District) and
• Nyabiheke Refugee Camp (Gatsibo District)
• Gashora Emergency Transit Mechanism (Bugesera District),
• Nkamira Transit Centre (Rubavu District); and
• urban settings (Kigali and Huye). 

Objective of the assignment

The objective of this assignment is to ensure that all refugees and asylum seekers that are in conflict with laws, everywhere in Rwanda are effectively and efficiently legally assisted.

Key Responsibilities

1. Effective legal assistance of every detained refugee/asylum in the criminal process and appeal for them if necessary;
2. To be responsible for the follow up of cases falling in the scope of this service;
3. Effective legal assistance or representation of refugees and asylum seekers in Criminal, Civil, Labour and commercial cases;
4. Consult regularly with Clients and promptly notify Clients of significant developments;
5. Provide on all information and documents necessary to Prison Fellowship Rwanda for effective follow up of Client’s interests;
6. Work with PFR to develop, deliver and evaluate legal education and awareness;
7. Facilitate strategic information sharing about the field of interests of both parties;
8. Share training expertise, resources, materials… with the PFR.
9. Facilitate legal trainings, especially those involving partners
10. Provide any legal support that may guide PFR in its daily legal provision
11. Adhere to PFR Sexual Exploitation and Abuse policy that prohibit and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse. You must also ensure equality of opportunity and treatment with respect to Age, Gender and Diversity and fulfil your responsibilities without any type of discrimination as recognized under national and international laws.

Qualification and competences

• The law firm is Company registered under RDB: RDB Certificate
• The law firm is registered under Value Added Tax: VAT Certificate
• Proven experience of at least 2 years providing legal assistance to asylum seekers and Refugees in Rwanda.
• The law firm has a strong understanding of immigration and refugee laws in Rwanda, as well as relevant international legal frameworks related to refugees and asylum seekers.
• The law firm has at least one member of the team who has special skills in Refugee protection and Migration law proven by certificates.
• Prove that the law firm has 5 advocates who prove that they are committed to serve the law firm’s interests in assisting and representing refugees and asylum seekers;
• Proving that the law firm has experience of managing a big number of cases in the law firm
• Ability to write comprehensive activity reports
• Law firm with lawyers who are fluent in languages spoken by refugees and asylum seekers, including English, French, or Kinyarwanda. Additionally, cultural understanding and sensitivity are important to effectively communicate and represent refugees and asylum seekers from diverse backgrounds.
• All advocates must prove that they are members of Rwanda Bar Association 

HOW TO APPLY? 

PFR invites eligible bidders to submit their bids for the above tender to the address indicated in the above table.  BID Documents are attached to this TOR. 

Enquiries regarding this tender may be addressed to: PFR Procurement Office, Email: rmuzima@pfrwanda.org and copy recruitment.pfrwanda@gmail.com ; phone number: 0787473588. 

Well printed bids, properly bound and presented in three copies, one of which is the original must reach the Procurement Office at the address mentioned above Not later than March 23, 2024, at 04:00PM.  Late bids will be rejected and returned unopened. Bids will be opened in the presence of bidders or their representatives who choose to attend at PFR meeting Hall on March 26, 2024 at 3:00 pm. The Outer envelope should clearly indicate the tender title, Tender reference number and kind of document (Technical or financial). Bidding will be conducted in accordance with the PFR Procurement policy. 

Done at Kigali, on March 12, 2024. 

NGARUYINKA CELESTIN             

Executive Director,

Prison Fellowship Rwanda