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Request for proposal

Human Rights First is a nonprofit, nonpartisan international human rights organization based in New York and Washington D.C. We build respect for human rights and the rule of law to help ensure the dignity to which everyone is entitled and to stem intolerance, tyranny, and violence. Human Rights First is seeking a consultant to conduct research and prepare materials to support advocacy efforts aimed at improving responses to racist, xenophobic and other forms of bias-motivated violence impacting refugees, asylum seekers and migrants.

Overview
Human Rights First is a nonprofit, nonpartisan international human rights organization based in New York and Washington D.C. We build respect for human rights and the rule of law to help ensure the dignity to which everyone is entitled and to stem intolerance, tyranny, and violence.
Human Rights First is seeking a consultant to conduct research and prepare materials to support advocacy efforts aimed at improving responses to racist, xenophobic and other forms of bias-motivated violence impacting refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. This research and reporting would be conducted in two phases:

Phase One
During the first phase of the project, lasting about one month, the consultant will conduct research on the problem of bias-motivated violence against refugees and asylum seekers, including through interviews with and reports from governments, U.N. agencies, inter-governmental organizations (IGOs), NGOs, and the media.
Based upon the Phase 1 research, the consultant will produce a memo for internal use outlining 5-8 countries where additional attention and advocacy will likely help advance change. The memo and supporting research will assist HRF in identifying target countries and in determining the next steps for our advocacy efforts.

Phase Two (tentative)
During the possible second phase of the project, lasting for two to three months, the consultant will conduct more in-depth research on a select number of the profile countries. This research would likely involve travel to several countries to meet with government officials, UNHCR staff and representatives of other IGOs, foreign embassy representatives, representatives of civil society groups – as well as migrants and refugees themselves. HRF staff may accompany the consultant for some or all of the in-country research.

Based upon the Phase 2 research, the consultant will work with HRF staff to produce a report for public release. This report will:
• Describe in general terms the problem as it exists in a wide range of countries as well as the challenges to addressing it;
• Describe the nature and scale of the problem in more detail in
5-8 profile countries using information gathered during Phase One as well as during the additional research and travel in Phase Two;
• Outline efforts undertaken in the targeted countries by the government, U.N. agencies, IGOs, NGOs and other actors to address the problem;
• Describe the shortcomings in efforts to address the problem;
• Develop recommendations, working closely with HRF staff, that could be addressed to the government, the U.S. government, the UNHCR, and other UN and intergovernmental bodies. There could be general recommendations (for a wide range of countries) as well as more targeted recommendations (for the 5-8 profile countries).

Qualifications
• Familiarity with HRF’s approach to advocacy in general and to refugee protection and fighting discrimination specifically.
• Knowledge of international human rights and refugee protection standards, and human rights enforcement mechanisms; expertise on issues of discrimination, intolerance, and xenophobia.
• Strong research skills and an ability to work comfortably in a variety of settings.
• Excellent communications skills and an ability to translate highly technical material for a variety of audiences.
• Willingness to travel for several weeks at a time as necessary.
• Fluency in a language other than English is highly desirable.

How to Submit a Proposal
If interested, please submit the following materials to Innokenty Grekov at [email][email protected] Proposals will be considered on a rolling basis.
• Cover letter describing interest, qualifications and availability for this project;
• Resume;
• Names and contact details for three (3) references
• Writing Sample(s)

An estimate of consultant fees to be charged for both phase one and phase two of the project.
Please send replies to Jesse Bernstein: [email][email protected]