Project Lead for DIGNITY’s engagements in Ukraine and Moldova

1. About DIGNITY

DIGNITY, the Danish Institute Against Torture is a Danish and international human rights organization fighting for a world without torture. We work to ensure that no one is subjected to torture and that the effects of torture do not live on with traumatized survivors and their families.

For more than 35 years, DIGNITY has been a driving civil society force in the global fight against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In Denmark, DIGNITY operates one of the first rehabilitation centres for survivors of torture, where highly specialized rehabilitation is provided to survivors of torture and other forms of violence. Moreover, as part of the Danish National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), DIGNITY’s expertise contributes towards the prevention of torture and ill-treatment in places of detention.

In addition to its national work, DIGNITY works in more than 20 countries worldwide in close partnerships with human rights defenders, civil society organizations and, where possible, local authorities.

DIGNITY pursues two core objectives in its programs: (1) to prevent torture and other forms of violence, and (2) to restore dignity and functioning of survivors through access to timely and quality mental health and psychosocial support/rehabilitation and justice.

Moreover, DIGNITY works to generate new knowledge, through research and evaluations, on how to address the widespread torture, ill-treatment and violence that affect marginalized and/or stigmatized populations in low-and middle-income countries.

2. Background for task

Since 2019 DIGNITY has supported Ukrainian civil society partners in ensuring access to justice, redress and rehabilitation for torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Responding to the urgent and acute needs of the civilian population following the Russian military offensive in Ukraine in February 2022, DIGNITY launched new project engagements in Ukraine and Moldova focused on alleviating the suffering of persons affected by the conflict through the provision of humanitarian aid and access to adequate mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). In a joint consortium with Plan Børnefonden, DIGNITY’s Ukrainian and Moldovan civil society partners provide life-saving multi-sectoral assistance to displaced and non-displaced persons affected by the hostilities, through the provision of acute humanitarian assistance, Child Protection in Emergencies, and access to adequate mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). The engagements are funded by the Danish Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Denmark and the Danish Emergency Relief Fund (DERF).

On July 1st 2022 DIGNITY launched a new project aimed at reducing the suffering of detainees in Ukraine through the provision of humanitarian aid to detainees and former detainees, preventive monitoring of places of detention in government-controlled areas, and documentation of human rights violations.

3. Objectives

The consultant will be appointed DIGNITY Project Lead for DIGNITY’s engagements in Ukraine and Moldova which includes the following three projects:

• Acute Humanitarian Assistance for Conflict-Affected Population in Ukraine
• Acute Humanitarian Assistance for Ukrainian refugees in Moldova
• Reducing suffering of Detainees in the Context of War in Ukraine.

4. Scope of work, including activities

It is estimated to be a full-time position with 5 working days per week for the period September – December. The consultant’s tasks include (but are not limited to):

• Lead the implementation of the three above-mentioned projects, including coordination of DIGNITY project groups involving relevant technical staff from other departments at DIGNITY
• Monitor and revise project budgets, in coordination with relevant DIGNITY staff and in line with DIGNITY guidelines and agreements
• Maintain regular communication and coordination with Ukrainian and Moldovan project partners and serve as their main DIGNITY focal point
• Maintain regular communication with project donors on project progress, evaluation and reporting
• Ensure timely preparation of narrative and financial donor reporting for the assigned projects, in line with relevant DIGNITY guidelines
• Coordinate external project communication in liaison with DIGNITY’s Communications department
• Liaise with various development / humanitarian aid coordination fora
• Liaise with other stakeholders: relevant national authorities, IGOs, INGOs, local CSOs as needed
• Draft, process and maintain all project contracts in compliance with DIGNITY’s guidelines
• Contribute towards fundraising processes with close involvement of implementing partners and DIGNITY expertise in line with DIGNITY’s strategic framework and partnership policy
• Contribute to the development of a comprehensive DIGNITY Eastern Europe strategy.
• Support the scaling-up of DIGNITY’s engagement in the Region.

5. Expected results

The consultant will ensure the competent management of DIGNITY’s project engagements in Ukraine and Moldova and contribute to the development of new project engagements in alignment with relevant DIGNITY strategies and policies.

6. Deliverables and timeline

The timeframe for this consultancy is 1 September until 31 December 2022.

7. Reporting

The consultant will report to the COO / Director of International Programmes.

8. Professional qualifications

• Relevant degree at Master’s level in a development/human rights related field
• Strong competencies in Log Frame/Theory of Change – ability to lead development of Log Frame/ Theory of Change
• Strong competencies in budget development, management, and implementation – ability to lead development of project budgets
• Strong competencies in project monitoring, results-based reporting, and experience with Outcome Harvesting
• Languages: Fluent English is a minimum. Ukrainian or Russian is considered a big advantage.

9. Personal qualifications

• Good collaboration skills
• Sense of humour
• Ability to manage several work streams simultaneously
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment
• Flexibility and ability to adjust to fast-changing circumstances, prioritization of tasks
• Ability to receive and give constructive feed-back.