Academy of the Ruhr-University Bochum
Background
The Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV) is one of the leading academic institutions in Europe for teaching and research in the context of humanitarian crises. Within the framework of a consortium project with the Umbrella Organization of German NGOs for Development and Humanitarian Relief (VENRO), the IFHV conducts more than 20 trainings to improve the quality of programs of humanitarian NGOs in Germany.
On behalf of the IFHV, the Academy of the Ruhr-University intends to commission external service providers to design and conduct an online training workshop on the topic “International Humanitarian Law – An Introduction for Humanitarian Practitioners”. The event is aimed at staff of humanitarian NGOs, practitioners that are new to the field, recent graduates and career path changers seeking to pursue a career in humanitarian action. The training will be advertised and conducted under the umbrella of the academy for humanitarian action (aha) and is part of the aha’s certification program on “Foundations of Humanitarian Action”.
We invite you to bid with a written proposal on the services described below by email by September 2, 2022, at 12:00 noon (CEST).
Service description: Online Training workshop on the topic “International Humanitarian Law – An Introduction for Humanitarian Practitioners” (3 full days, 24 working hours)
Location, Time and Language: Online event, expected in November or December 2022. The workshop can be delivered either in English or in German.
Objectives of the workshop:
- The participants know what International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in general is, and when and to whom it applies.
- They learn about basic principles and provisions of IHL and why these are important for humanitarian work.
- They know how IHL distinguishes from, relates to and complements other rules that govern humanitarian work and the contexts it is applied in, such as International Human Rights Law, humanitarian principles and quality standards.
- They are able to critically reflect on the applicability, enforceability, relevance and limitations of IHL in different contexts of contemporary humanitarian work.
Brief Description of Content:
Armed conflicts and its numerous political, economic and social repercussions are major drivers of humanitarian needs worldwide. In these volatile contexts, International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is one of the primary instruments to protect civilians as well as medical and humanitarian aid workers. From the 1949 Geneva Conventions to more recent agreements that, for example, address the special rights and roles of children in armed conflict, awareness of IHL’s protective provisions has proven essential for humanitarians to safeguard humanitarian personnel and civilians, as the latest example of the Ukraine war and numerous others have shown. However, these examples also illustrate the limitations of IHL and the difficulties to enforce its implementation and compliance in practice.
This three-days online training therefore offers a comprehensive introduction to IHL and its relevance for humanitarian practitioners, newcomers to the field and those aspiring to work in the humanitarian sector. Participants should learn what IHL is, how it is distinguished from other rules, norms and fields of international law and when it is applied. Throughout the training, they should familiarize themselves with the most fundamental principles and provisions of IHL as well as their application, enforcement and limitations in concrete humanitarian settings.
The methodological approach of the training should contain different methods, such as individual or group work, input by the lecturer(s), open discussions or peer-to-peer exercises. Innovative methods and/or practical examples are highly appreciated. Sensitivity and empathy towards the experiences of participants who have already worked in conflict contexts should be reflected in the trainer’s approach and the design of the training in order to avoid triggering traumata when dealing with topics around warfare and armed actors.
The training is part of a certification program on “Foundations of Humanitarian Action”. As such, it complements previous introductory courses on the humanitarian system, MEAL, participatory methods, the international donor landscape, WASH or needs assessments. The proposal should include an optional final exam for participants that serves to test the knowledge of what has been learned and should be integrated into the training. IFHV staff are available to advise on the concrete design of the examination.
Services to be provided
The following services are to be provided under the scope of this call:
1) Planning: Conceptual planning of a training (3 full working days) for a minimum of 15 participants. Preparation of a detailed agenda (about two DIN A4 pages) showing the contents, methods and objectives of the individual sections of the events. It should be hands-on and designed for humanitarian practitioners. All logistical planning matters (i.e. registration procedure, incl. any additional questions and/or pre-course assessments that will help to facilitate the training) will be handled by the RUB Academy and are not part of this tender.
2) Implementation: Professional input and independent moderation of the event. The proposal may include the commissioning of external speakers for additional professional input on certain topics. IFHV will support with technical and logistical assistance during both events. Additional assistance services (co-moderation, technical support etc.) can be provided by arrangement.
3) Documentation: Preparation of a photo documentation and a short summary (max. 5 pages) of the most important discussion points of the training.
Please note: All services are provided in close consultation with the responsible IFHV staff member. Ongoing arrangements regarding the conception as well as documentation of the training (via e-mail and telephone) are part of the service provision and will not be remunerated separately. A transfer of property rights to the training material (concepts, working materials, powerpoints, etc.) are not part of the tender and remain with the trainer or his/her organization.
How to apply
Further information on submitting proposals:
- Please send your written and signed tender documents as a PDF-document by e-mail only to [email protected]. Please note: Tenders that are sent to a different e-mail address will not be considered.
- The deadline for submitting tenders expires on September 2, 2022, at 12:00 noon (CEST). The tender should enumerate separately the costs (without VAT) and daily rates for the service areas a) planning, b) implementation, c) documentation (please note that the training will be VAT exempted under §4 Nr. 21 UStG under German law).
- Please add a written sketch of the schedule (with a suggested title) to the offer, which shows the content, methods and goals of the events (max. two A4 pages). The goals formulated in your offer may deviate from the goals listed here if this appears sensible from your point of view.
- Please also send us the curriculum vitae of all trainers or speakers, showing relevant work experience (in terms of content and methodology).
- The decision to award the contract will be made on the basis of the costs (50%) and the quality of the tender (in terms of fit of the individual elements of the schedule to the objective, feasibility of the approach and variety of methods) (40%), as well as the experience of the provider in conducting training in humanitarian action (10%).
We are looking forward to receiving your offer.
For questions on the call for proposals, kindly consult Sören Schneider at [email protected].