Invitation to tender: Nigeria SJRP Prisons Horticultural & Agricultural (Lead Consultant)
Bidders are expected to submit their applications on or before 4pm (WAT) Thursday 25th May, 2017.
Documents
Details
Background
The CSSF funded Nigeria Security & Justice Reform Programme is made up of four interlinked components:
- A more coherent Nigerian national security architecture that enables better cross-agency coordination of decision-making and delivery, with a particular but not exclusive focus on the North-East.
- Improved Nigerian Police Force delivery of safety and security in target states, backed by stronger NPF accountability mechanisms, through strategic assistance provided to the NPF.
- Improved conditions for prisoners and a reduction in the number of awaiting-trial prisoners (ATPs) in selected prisons, catalysing broader penal reform measures in the medium/long term.
- Improved accountability and effectiveness of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) through institutional development and commencing longer-term defence reform.
Selection of each of the above work-strands followed sector-level scoping exercises, containing detailed analysis of the context and challenges faced in putting into place reform focused programmes to benefit the individual sectors and also improve synergies across the Nigerian security and justice architecture.
Work on component 3, prison reform, is now underway and focuses on three separate but mutually reliant strands of activity:
- Strengthening the strategic financial planning and management at the Nigeria Prison Service (NPS) headquarters.
- Initiating reforms to NPS horticultural & agricultural activities with a focus on low-technology inputs, providing new skills for inmates and increasing the quality and quantity of prison rations.
- Reducing the number of awaiting trial prisoners (ATPs) held on remand in custody.
The Nigeria Prison has for many years faced challenges surrounding weak internal capacity, poor financial allocations/budgeting, variable policy and strategic direction and inadequate external oversight. As with other Nigerian security and justice providers, allegations of human rights abuses, corruption, unaccountability and lack of strategic direction have commonly been recorded.
The fabric of the prison’s estate is poor and insufficient GoN annual funding together with weak NPS financial management has resulted in chronic infrastructural deficiencies. Many of the buildings are unfit for purpose - unhygienic cooking facilities, poor sanitation and lack of adequate healthcare are common features to be found in many prisons. Prisons focus on detention as opposed to rehabilitation and vocational training is rarely delivered, an issue the JHRP have noted and wish to engage with.
Overcrowding is a common feature across all prisons, with many facilities holding in excess of 300% of their approved ‘rate’ (NPS term to describe the maximum permitted numbers to be held in any named facility) e.g. in Enugu Maximum Security prison the approved ‘rate’ is 638 but inmates held number 1,960. The primary cause of prison overcrowding is the very large number of prisoners being held awaiting trial. In most developed countries the number of awaiting trial prisoners (ATPs) would not exceed 25% of the overall prison population, yet in Nigeria the ATP figure is in excess of 70%.
The Ministry of Interior (MOI) and NPS have expressed a strong desire to rapidly move forward with the gardens/farms work. There is a longer-term need for two properly qualified and experienced consultants (a project manager and technical adviser) to support the prison gardens/farms work. Ideally project manager should present at the above mentioned conference, which would provide a good opportunity to outline this piece of work to a wider-audience, as well as beginning the process of relationship building and contextual understanding.
Objectives
The objectives of this piece of work are to:
- Identify the most effective means of managing and delivering support to the horticultural and agricultural work;
- Inform senior MOI and NPS officials of the benefits of the desired approach, based on successes elsewhere in sub-Sahara Africa.
- Assist overall SJRP PRP decision making on the continuing delivery of the programme, ensuring that component interventions remain relevant and coherent.
Scope of Work
Activities to be conducted will span the design, inception and implementation phases of the horticultural and agricultural work, and will include:
- Engaging with the MOI/NPS senior executive, presenting the advantages of adopting a low-technology input approach to improve income generation, enhance rehabilitative skills and improve dietary provision, using examples of where this has been done previously in sub-Sahara Africa.
- Conducting an assessment of the current NPS farms organisation and agricultural projects (visiting sites as required).
- Examining the prison policies, systems, regulations and practices surrounding prison agricultural activities, including crop production, harvesting and sales/consumption.
- Examining financial management systems relating to horticultural and agricultural activities, including over-arching MOI/MOF financial guidelines.
- Assessing the capacity of prison officers involved in horticultural and agricultural training and the availability of low-technology tools and equipment.
- In conjunction with NPS and SJRP, make initial recommendations on possible location/s of pilot gardens/farms sites, together with relevant training needs.
- Provide detailed technical reports at each stage of the process, and submit draft costed time-bound workplans.
- Identify specific inputs required potential SJRP funding.
- Provide ongoing technical advice to the NPS in relation to the implementation of the programme. Be available to attend programme management meetings, as required.
- Provision of advice to the NPS on effective and sustainable strategies aimed at increasing income generation from the prison agriculture/horticulture activities.
Methodology
A comprehensive review will need to be conducted examining existing prison farms policies, practices and systems. This will involve holding a series of discussions with key-MOI and NPS officials and visiting existing and potential farm sites in selected states. There will also be a need to meet with other institutions and CSOs supporting prison reform in Nigeria. During the implementation phase there will be a need for regular (quarterly) visits to monitor performance and provide further guidance, as necessary. It will be important to maintain close contact with the team leader of the prisons reform programme, who is responsible for overall performance of the entire intervention.
Deliverables
The key deliverables required will be:
- Written report outlining the findings of the initial review, providing information on existing prison farms policies and structures, and recommendations for implementation (locations, resources required, workplans and budgets etc).
- Provision of Further technical advice, and written reports, where necessary, during the lifetime of the programme. It is envisaged that there will be a requirement for periodic visits to Nigeria throughout the lifetime of the programme.
Key Advisor Requirements
The individual selected for this task will be required to demonstrate the following expertise and experience:
- Extensive previous experience of designing, implementing and reviewing prison farms programmes in sub-Sahara Africa. A minimum of 15 years experience of working in the sector will be desirable.
- Professional knowledge of low-technology methodologies supporting horticultural and agricultural programmes. Including issues surrounding procurement, budgeting, financial management and record keeping.
- An ability to work in difficult contexts whilst maintaining first-class professional relationships.
- The ability to write clearly and concisely and demonstrate excellent presentational skills
- Previous experience of working in support of UK funded development programmes.
- Possession of relevant horticultural and/or agricultural academic qualifications.
Timing and Duration
It is anticipated that the scope/design element will be conducted in June/July, with implementation commencing shortly thereafter. There will be a need for periodic technical support to be delivered to the programme through the period of its existence (currently due to close in March 2019).
Reporting
The H&A lead consultant will report to the CSSF Nigeria Security & Justice Adviser, based in the BHC Abuja.
Administration
Support to the H&A Lead consultant will be provided by the UK CSSF team based in the BHC Abuja.
Schedule of Prices and Productive Days
The consultant contract will be of a call-down nature, for a maximum period of 80 productive days over the lifetime of the programme. The daily rate will be £450.
Duty of Care
The implementer is responsible to cover all required duty of care arrangements for this project.