Consulting for Updating Care Procedures in Shelters for Victims of Human Trafficking in El Salvador At Pan American Development Foundation

Leave a Comment / El Salvador / By

TERMS OF REFERENCE

INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT

No. 2802.1.1.3

Consulting for updating care procedures in shelters for victims of human trafficking in El Salvador

1. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION:

Victim participation in the court process can be an incredibly empowering and healing experience. However, victims must decide whether they want to participate and must be prepared for the type of testimony or evidence they will have to provide, and what the possible outcomes might be. They also need to trust the people they interact with during the trial process.

The Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) believes in creating a hemisphere of opportunity for all people. For 60 years, PADF has worked to create opportunities and address challenges affecting the entire region, fostering healthier, more just, peaceful, resilient, and sustainable communities. We partner and empower civil society, governments, and the private sector for the common good of the region.

Within this framework, the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) proposes implementing a project aimed at strengthening access to justice for victims of human trafficking and reducing impunity for perpetrators. The project is based on more than six years of PADF experience in Central America in the field of human trafficking, its collaboration with the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), and its established presence in El Salvador as a trusted partner in the region.

The project is justified by the urgent need to:

  • Update and harmonize victim care and referral protocols, with a differentiated, rights-based approach.
  • Strengthen inter-institutional and inter-sectoral coordination between the government and civil society.
  • Increase the technical capacity of justice sector operators to investigate, prosecute, and punish trafficking cases with a trauma-informed approach.
  • Ensure that survivors of human trafficking have the necessary support to actively participate in judicial processes and access appropriate protection services.

2. OBJECTIVE:

To design, in coordination with CONAPINA and ISDEMU, standardized guidelines for the provision of shelter services to victims of human trafficking in El Salvador, ensuring standards of protection and care, non-revictimization, and a differential approach, through a participatory process of technical analysis, document review, and consultation with key stakeholders.

Specific objectives:

  1. Analyze existing protocols, guidelines, and operating procedures in institutions that provide shelter services to victims of human trafficking, identifying gaps, regulatory gaps, areas for improvement, and the level of compliance with national and international protection standards.
  2. Facilitate participatory consultation spaces with shelter staff, institutional technical teams, and key stakeholders to learn about current practices, operational challenges, and replicable best practices.
  3. Prepare a technical analysis report that integrates the findings of the documentary assessment and consultations, including specific recommendations for updating or developing institutional guidelines.
  4. Draft two protocol proposals, integrating a human rights approach, differentiated care, and institutional sustainability, for validation by the National Council against Human Trafficking, CONAPINA, ISDEMU, PADF, and INL.

This consultancy responds directly to the following activity:

Activity 1.3: Review, update, and/or create protocols and guidelines for Salvadoran government institutions that provide shelter services to victims of human trafficking.

3. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CONSULTANT:

The consultant will be responsible for facilitating the technical process of reviewing, analyzing, and proposing regulatory guidelines in close coordination with PADF, INL, and the institutions that manage shelters (CONAPINA, ISDEMU). Their responsibilities include:

  1. Plan and coordinate the document review process, covering protocols, SOPs, and internal guidelines related to care for victims of human trafficking in shelters.
  2. Conduct interviews and focus groups with shelter staff and institutional technical teams to identify effective practices, operational challenges, and proposals for improvement.
  3. Prepare a technical analysis report (output 1.3.1) that includes a comparative assessment with national and international standards, as well as recommendations for strengthening or reformulating existing protocols.
  4. Draft two proposals for updated protocols, applying a human rights approach, non-revictimization, and differentiated care (children, adolescents, adult women, migrants, etc.).
  5. Provide technical support for the institutional validation process, incorporating technical input and observations from key stakeholders.
  6. Deliver final products on time and in the correct format, in accordance with PADF requirements and in editable formats.

4. PLACE(S) OF ASSIGNMENT:

This consultancy will be conducted remotely and will require some in-person consultations and product presentations within Salvadoran territory, as established by government institutions.

5. CANDIDATE PROFILE:

The ideal candidate must possess the following:

Academic training:

  • University degree in Law, Social Sciences, Psychology, Social Work, Public Policy or related fields.
  • Postgraduate training in victim care, especially for women, early childhood, childhood and adolescence, access to justice, or related areas will be considered.

Professional experience:

  • At least 5 years of proven experience in designing, implementing, or reviewing victim care protocols in protection or shelter settings.
  • Technical knowledge on human trafficking, migration, women’s rights, and children’s and adolescents’ rights.
  • Knowledge of the Salvadoran legal framework regarding human trafficking and victim protection.
  • Mastery of non-revictimization approaches, trauma-informed care, and differentiated care .
  • Technical writing, regulatory analysis, and facilitation of participatory consultations.

Key knowledge and skills:

  • Up-to-date knowledge of the Salvadoran and international legal framework on human trafficking, victim protection, and access to justice.
  • Ability to apply non-revictimization and differential approaches in technical processes.
  • Assertive communication skills, empathy, and active listening, especially when interacting with survivors or frontline workers.
  • Ability to interact with government actors, international organizations, and strategic allies, with a collaborative and diplomatic approach.
  • Mastery of systematization tools, document analysis, and presentation of results in a clear and structured manner.

Other requirements:

  • Available for in-person or virtual meetings with PADF, ISDEMU, CONAPINA, and the National Council Against Human Trafficking.
  • Organizational capacity, compliance with schedules and deliverables.
  • Desirable: knowledge of the Salvadoran context and previous experience with projects funded by international organizations.

6. CONTRACTUAL MECHANISM:

For this consultancy, there is a maximum budget of six thousand United States dollars ($6,000.00). Below is a table of deliverables:

Schedule of Milestones/Deliverables:

  1. Estimated completion date: November 20, 2025
    1. Milestone: Approval of the work plan and detailed consultancy schedule.
    2. Deliverables: Consulting work plan and methodology, including data collection instruments (guides for focus groups and/or interviews for PADF review and approval), and table of contents for the study.
    3. Percentage of total: 20% of total
  2. Estimated completion date: December 19, 2025
    1. Milestone: Delivery of the technical report with findings and recommendations for CONAPINA and ISDEMU shelters.
    2. Deliverables: Document that summarizes the documentary analysis of current protocols, international standards, participatory consultations, and identified gaps, with recommendations for updating or redesign.
    3. Percentage of total: 25% of total
  3. Estimated completion date: January 30, 2026
    1. Milestone: Presentation of updated protocol proposal/guidelines for care in CONAPINA and ISDEMU shelters.
    2. Deliverables: Proposal for updated protocols.
    3. Percentage of total: 30% of total
  4. Estimated completion date: March 23, 2026
    1. Milestone: Closure of the consultancy with delivery of a consolidated final report and recommendations.
    2. Deliverables: Final consultancy report.
    3. 8 Percentage of total: 25% of total

The consultant must provide a pricing model for each deliverable listed in the table above.

7. PROPOSAL DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED:

  1. Please attach your curriculum vitae (CV) to demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the terms of reference.
  2. Include descriptions of similar projects or assignments and at least three client references.
  3. Letter of interest.
  4. Technical and economic proposal.

8. DURATION OF THE CONTRACT:

The estimated start date of the contract is November 10th. The contract will last approximately five months from the date of signing.

9. PARTICIPATION DATA:

  1. Applications must be received no later than October 24, 2025. All application materials should be sent to hbolanos@padf.org following the guidelines outlined in these Terms of Reference.
  2. Amendments: At any time before the deadline for proposal submissions, PADF may, for any reason, modify the Terms of Reference document by means of an amendment that will be posted on the PADF website and/or communicated by email.
  3. Clarifications: Questions can be sent no later than one week after this publication to hbolanos@padf.org. The email subject should include the number and title of the terms of reference.

10. TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

Result of the award

These Terms of Reference (TOR) do not obligate PADF to execute a contract, nor do they obligate PADF to pay any costs incurred in preparing or submitting proposals. Furthermore, PADF reserves the right to reject any and all bids if such action is deemed to be in PADF’s best interest. PADF will select the winning proposal and is not obligated to share the results of the individual evaluation.

Confidentiality

All proprietary information provided by the bidder will be treated as confidential and will not be shared with potential or existing applicants during the bidding process. This includes, but is not limited to, price quotes, cost proposals, and technical proposals. The results of the PADF evaluation are confidential.

The contracted person will sign a confidentiality agreement with respect to the information obtained within the framework of this consultancy.

How to apply

Applications must be received no later than October 24, 2025. All application materials should be sent to hbolanos@padf.org following the guidelines outlined in these Terms of Reference.