Extended Deadline – Request for proposals – Scientific Consultant

Scientific Consultant to assess and improve the methodology of data collection and analysis for Civil Society Monitoring of Harm Reduction in Europe

RFP Number C-EHRN2024-01
RFP Title Consultancy Civil Society Monitoring Methodology
RFP Closing date & time 29 March 2024

C-EHRN was established in 2004 in Amsterdam (NL) as a European civil society network and centre of expertise in the field of drug use, harm reduction and social inclusion. C-EHRN is hosted by Foundation De Regenboog Groep (FRG) – a non-governmental low-threshold organisation in Amsterdam, providing harm reduction services to people who use drugs and other individuals and communities disproportionately affected by social and health inequalities.
C-EHRN works towards a Europe that embodies a compassionate and equitable society where people who use drugs and other communities disproportionately affected by stigma, discrimination, and harmful (drug) policies have universal access to sustainable, high-quality health and social care, where social justice principles guide policies, and individuals and communities affected by harmful drug policies find empowerment and dignity.

As part of an Operating Grant for our activities in 2024, C-EHRN is looking for a Scientific Consultant to assess and improve the methodology of data collection and analysis for Civil Society Monitoring of Harm Reduction in Europe and strongly encourages professionals within the Network to submit proposals. Due to funding regulations, we specifically invite candidates from the EU Member States, whose GNI per inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU average (1).

BACKGROUND

Civil society has an important role in holding governments and donors accountable, among others, by engaging in independent monitoring and evaluation of services and programmes. In combination with advocacy, the application of monitoring tools are crucial strategies to hold governments accountable and to improve the implementation of policies and programmes in line with the needs of people who use drugs and their environments.

Since 2018, C-EHRN has developed a framework for European civil society-based monitoring of harm reduction, aiming, in the long-term, at improving harm reduction responses and policies in Europe. The Monitoring seeks to reflect the experiences of harm reduction service providers, focusing on how drug policies and specific harm reduction guidelines are (or are not) being implemented at the street level. Such in-depth and rich information is crucial to inform the development of policies and services for people who use drugs and can be of great value for civil society organisations advocacy and for policymakers.

Civil society and community-led monitoring of harm reduction in Europe plays a crucial role as a complementary source to existing monitoring mechanisms, particularly those operating at the European level, such as the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA).

We realise that our monitoring approach has its limitations. Accurate monitoring is a long-lasting process, requiring sufficient resources, annual evaluation, subsequent adjustments and improvements in its methods and indicators to increase data quality and consistency.

One of the network activities in 2024 aims to further develop C-EHRN monitoring, building on our previous work in the area. More specifically, C-EHRN will work with a consultant to critically assess, update and  improve the methodology used in parts of the C-EHRN Civil society-led monitoring of harm reduction in Europe, namely those related to HCV care and HR essential services. 

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE CONSULTANCY

The development of the C-EHRN Monitoring methodology will involve a number of activities, including:

1) Participation in an in-person kick-off meeting in Amsterdam (2-3 days) to discuss and develop the detailed work plan for the consultancy

2) review and critical assessment of the current methodology of Civil society-led monitoring in the context of needs of various stakeholders (including review and critical assessment of the data collection instruments: Hepatitis C survey questionnaire and Essential Harm Reduction Services survey questionnaire and indicators of each of the data collection instruments); identification of the strengths and weaknesses of the current methodology

3) participation in relevant online meetings and consultations with C-EHRN Focal Points, Scientific Advisory Board and regular communication with the C-EHRN Research Team

4) development of an improved methodological framework for data collection and analysis to be used in the future.

REQUIREMENTS

PROPOSED TIMELINE

All activities should be completed by the end of December 2024, with the preliminary work to be presented during the Focal Points meeting in December 2024. A specific timeline will be established in negotiation with the consultant.

HOW TO APPLY

To be eligible as a consultant, individuals must comply with C-EHRN’s Mission and Vision, which are available here.

Applicants must submit a short letter of interest and a CV. These documents should reflect the candidate’s competency to complete the consultancy, including references to the requested skills, knowledge and professional experience.

Please, submit your application to administration@correlation-net.org until the 29th of March 2024 23:59 CET. In the subject line of your e-mail, please indicate the Reference Number, the title of the Consultancy and your name:

Reference Number | Consultancy Title | Name & Family Name

Note: Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Important: The availability of this position is contingent upon securing funding. We anticipate having more clarity on the funding situation by late March or the beginning of April.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

All submitted applications will be reviewed by an Evaluation Panel composed of the Management Team of C-EHRN. The panel will assess the extent to which the proposals meet the requirements of each of the consultancies. 

Additionally, the consultants should:

  1. Have no conflict of interest (to be declared in the letter of interest).
  2. Have proven experience and expertise in the area of work.
  3. Have an excellent level of English writing.
  4. Offer a good and reasonable price-quality ratio.
  5. Be based in an EU Member State whose GNI per inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU average.

Candidates and experts who have already contributed with satisfactory results to the work of C-EHRN in the previous years will be prioritised to ensure the quality of work.

Candidates with the highest evaluation will be invited for negotiation and signature of an agreement. C-EHRN reserves the right to enter into negotiations with one or more applicants to obtain clarifications or additional information and agree on the conditions and timing of the consultancy.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

administration@correlation-net.org

(1) EU Member States whose GNI per inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU average: Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia

Call for Abstracts – 6th European Harm Reduction Conference

The European Harm Reduction Conference 2024 invites researchers, practitioners, policymakers, activists, and advocates to submit abstracts for presentations, workshops, and discussions across various tracks to advance harm reduction efforts in Europe and beyond. The conference will be held in Warsaw and will provide a platform for sharing knowledge, experiences, and innovative approaches to harm reduction. 

Under the overarching Conference Theme “Putting People First – Empowering communities and driving innovation”, the conference aims to not only reflect on the progress made but also to move us forward by exploring innovative approaches, fostering collaboration, and sharing knowledge and experiences that will shape the future of harm reduction in Europe and beyond.

We encourage reflective, innovative submissions that offer pragmatic solutions to the challenges faced in our field. This conference is your platform to share original research findings, best practice case studies, and theoretical analyses and discuss the challenges and solutions related to service delivery, advocacy, policy action, and more.

Abstract Submission Deadline: 12 May 2024
Please read the Abstract Guideline carefully before submitting an abstract. For more information, visit the conference website.

C-EHRN Advisory Committee Elections 2024 | Announcement Update

Announcement
Application open to organisational and individual members of Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network

In March 2024, C-EHRN will organise Advisory Committee (AC) elections. As per normal practice outlined in the Terms of Reference [ToR], four of the current Advisory Committee members will rotate and five will remain. This means that for this election, we are looking to fill four positions.

The AC should represent the diversity of its network members and be balanced in terms of geographical coverage, skills, expertise and background. Candidates apply for an AC seat in their individual capacity; they must be a C-EHRN member or belong to one of the organisational members of the Network.  Supporting members are not eligible to apply for the AC, or vote in the elections.

The deadline for candidate submission is 22 March 2024. This means that all applications and related supporting documents should be submitted until then.

What is the Advisory Committee?

 

The Advisory Committee (AC) is one of the most important governing bodies of C-EHRN. The major goal of the AC is to facilitate the fulfilment of the Network’s mission by developing and supporting policies, strategies and operational implementations. In a nutshell, the tasks of the AC involve:

1. To initiate the discussion on specific issues, related to activities and/or critical issues.
2.  To represent the Network at European, regional and national meetings and conferences, including the interaction with multilateral organisations and political bodies.
3.  To advocate and negotiate on behalf of the Network interests in the various working fields on European, regional, national and local level.
4.  To develop, implement, monitor and evaluate future plans, priorities, projects and activities of the network in consolation with various stakeholders in Europe.
5.  To review and decide upon the planning and execution of annual action plans.
6.  To provide technical guidance on the Network priority areas in relation to their specific field of experience.

Who is currently a Member of the Advisory Committee?

After this rotation, Tony Duffin (Chair), Perrine Roux, Daan Van Der Gouwe, Christos Anastasiou and Tuukka Tammi remain as Members of the AC.

Marianella Kloka, Alina Bocai, Péter Sarosi and Róisín  Downes will rotate out of the AC. C-EHRN would like to express its gratitude to these Members for all their commitment, contributions, support and passion for the Network in the past years.

Interesting! But… am I eligible to apply?

All organisational and individual C-EHRN Members can stand for elections.

To ensure a balanced and diverse composition amongst our Advisory Committee, in terms of background, geographical coverage, experience and expertise, we strongly encourage proposals from candidates with the following profile:

  • Based in the South Eastern European region

  • Experience in media, communication and advocacy

  • Youth and young adults [under 30 years old] working in the field of drug policy and harm reduction

  • Experience in drug-checking, safer nightlife and  recreational drug use

  • People of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression and sex characteristics; people living with HIV; or sex workers.

Equally, C-EHRN strongly encourages proposals of candidates across all the spectrums of lived experience of drug use, gender, sexual orientation, sex characteristics, involvement in sex work, homelessness, ethnic origin, age, physical or neural ability, migratory background, religious belief or responsibility for dependants.

Sounds like a good fit! How do I apply?

Applications are open from now until Friday 22 March 2024. To apply, you are required to complete THIS Google form application (click the link) where you must upload the form of consent. If you have any questions or issues regarding the form please contact Stefanie Kolle at administration.co@correlation-net.org

Please read the full Terms of Reference for the AC  for more detailed information.

“Whats the timeline?”

The timeline for the elections is as follows:

  • Deadline for applications Friday 22nd March 2024
  • Publication of the list of AC candidates and launch of the election process: Tuesday 2nd April 2024
  • Voting: 2nd-12th April
  • Announcement of results Friday 12th April 2024

If you have a question, please drop the C-EHRN office an email at administration.co@correlation-net.org

We look forward to your submissions!

Communication Internship Opportunity at Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network

We are looking for a Communications Intern for at least 2 days a week, who wants to go the extra mile to make social, health and harm reduction services available for marginalised and underserved communities.

Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network is a European civil society network and centre of expertise in the field of drug use, harm reduction and social inclusion, bringing together more than 280 community-based and community-led organizations in Europe. We are hosted by De Regenboog Groep – a low-threshold service provider based in Amsterdam.

At the C-EHRN Secretariat, we are a small and international team working from our office in Amsterdam.

As our Communication Intern, you will be responsible for supporting our communications officer in planning and creating engaging and informative content to promote our network activities, projects and results. You are ambitious, fluent in English and have excellent communication and time management skills.

 

This internship will involve engaging in a variety of tasks, including:

This internship suits you if you:

We offer you:

How to apply?

You read the details and find it a good fit? Send your CV & short motivation letter to communication@correlation-net.org by the 17th of March!

You can contact Hanna Szabó in case you have any questions: hszabo@correlation-net.org

We are an inclusive organisation, and we welcome all applications. We want our workforce to be truly representative of the communities we serve.

 

 

More about C-EHRN

Visit our website: www.correlation-net.org

Our vision
C-EHRN envisions a future where Europe embodies a compassionate and equitable society where people who use drugs and other communities disproportionately affected by stigma, discrimination, and harmful (drug) policies have universal access to sustainable high-quality health and social care. We conceive an inclusive and respectful environment where social justice principles guide policies, and individuals and communities affected by harmful drug policies find empowerment and dignity.

Our mission
C-EHRN’s mission is to create spaces for dialogue and action to reduce social and health inequalities and promote social justice in Europe. Bringing together the harm reduction movement in Europe, C-EHRN serves as an agent of change by promoting and supporting rights-based and evidence-informed policies, services and practices that improve the health and well-being of people who use drugs, and other communities disproportionately affected by stigma, discrimination, health inequalities and harmful (drug) policies.

Call for Images for the Poster of the 2024 European Harm Reduction Conference

Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network is in the process of creating the poster for the European Harm Reduction Conference 2024 in Warsaw!

Our vision is that of a dynamic collage that captures the essence of the Polish Harm Reduction movement. We are looking for visuals to include as part of the collage, which could be images, photos, and artworks that are related to iconic moments or key themes in Harm Reduction efforts in Poland. Of course, all contributing artists featured in the final poster collage will be credited for their works. The poster will be developed following the same, collage-like style of the save-the-date banner that you can see above.

Do you want to submit an image, or suggestions on must-have elements, symbols, or references for the poster? You can do so through this form!

If you know people who might be interested in contributing to this initiative, feel free to forward this initiative to them – we would greatly appreciate it! Any thoughts on must-have elements, symbols, or references for the poster? Your suggestions would be super helpful!

For any questions, or if you wish to submit your images/ideas through e-mail, you can contact arogialli@correlation-net.org

Fill in the European Region Survey to Explore the Experiences of Living with Hepatitis B and/or Hepatitis C

Have you experienced stigma or discrimination around hepatitis B or C? Make your voice heard by taking part in the world’s first survey about it! The survey is a pilot and is currently open for people from Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Romania and Spain. It can be filled in the following languages:

 

The World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA), in collaboration with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), is working to understand the experience of stigma and discrimination* of people living with hepatitis B and C in the European region**. This survey is the first survey of stigma and discrimination related to hepatitis to be conducted in the region. We hope the information collected through this survey will help policy makers formulate informed policies and strategies to reduce stigma and discrimination among people living with hepatitis and improve the quality of life for people with hepatitis. The results of the survey will also enable the monitoring of trends over time, help identify targeted interventions to tackle stigma and discrimination, and explore the complex dynamics related to viral hepatitis stigma.

If you are 18 years of age or older and living with hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C, or have ever had hepatitis C, then you can help out by answering this survey. The survey should take around 10 minutes to complete. Please note that the survey is anonymous, confidential, and no information will be collected that allows for the identification of participants. All data collected as part of the survey will be handled in strict accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) guidelines.
We are aware that some of the questions are sensitive. Please do not answer any question that you feel uncomfortable with. If you would like further support, please click the link at the end of the survey to find a list of local organisations working with people who have hepatitis B and hepatitis C that you can contact.

*Please check the WHA’s report on stigma and discrimination if you want to learn more about it.
**Countries within the European Region: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, and Vatican City.

Collaborative Steps: Crafting a Joint European Advocacy Strategy for Improved HIV, HCV and TB Services for People Who Use Drugs

On 30 and 31 January 2024, partners of Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network and the BOOST Project met in Amsterdam to discuss the development of a European advocacy strategy to ensure access to comprehensive HIV, HCV and TB services for people who use drugs in Europe.

The development of a Joint European Advocacy Strategy is unique as it will be supported and implemented by 4 European Networks, including Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network (C-EHRN), the Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA), the European Network of People Who Use Drugs (EuroNPUD) and Drug Policy Network South East Europe (DPNSEE) and is based on a broad European consultation of nearly 100 experts and members of the different networks.

4-5 Advocacy Priorities and related Advocacy Objectives are identified during the Amsterdam meeting, covering the forthcoming 5 years (2024-2028). The final Strategy is expected to be launched and published in March 2024 and will be implemented with the support of a broader network of European harm reduction and drug policy organisations.

The Amsterdam meeting is part of a greater trajectory of the advocacy activities in the multi-annual BOOST Project. The results will feed into follow-up activities, including the organisation of Policy Webinars, a European Policy Dialogue Meeting during the European Harm Reduction Conference 2024 and the preparation of a series of Policy Papers.

In February, the networks will launch a call for local harm reduction services to support the development and implementation of Local Advocacy Plans in 6 countries/cities.

 

The Amsterdam meeting was co-organised by C-EHRN (coordinator of the BOOST Project) and EHRA, in close cooperation with EuroNPUD and DPNSEE.

The ENDCR has elected its Core Group!

The European Network of Drug Consumption Rooms [ENDCR] has elected the members of its Core Group! The Core Group comprises the Chairs of the different Work Groups, and its role is to strengthen the overall Network’s policy, strategic planning and activities.

Currently, the ENDCR counts the following Work Groups:

Five organisations that demonstrated outstanding qualifications, experiences and dedication were elected as members of the Core Group, to which they will all contribute. These are:

Ares do Pinhal | Portugal

Currently, Ares do Pinhal manage several harm reduction projects. These include a drug consumption room, access to screenings for communicable diseases, basic hygiene services, psychosocial support, wider healthcare, and a low-threshold methadone outpatient program. Additionally, they operate an emergency shelter.

Associació Benestar i Desenvolupament (ABD) | Spain

The ABD Group strives to defend people’s rights and personal autonomy in situations of social vulnerability, supporting them through different moments of their vital trajectories and taking action within their communities to promote social coexistence. Among other harm reduction projects, the ABD Group hosts Sala Baluard, a Drug Consumption Room in Barcelona.

Association Gaïa Paris | France

Gaïa Paris is an association that aims to improve the health of people who use drugs in Paris through services such as needle distribution, opioid agonist treatment, a drug consumption room, a mobile awareness and screening service for communicable diseases and liver fibrosis, and an integration programme.

CNDS Abrigado | Luxembourg

Abrigado is an organisation offering low-threshold health and social support to people who use drugs in Luxembourg. Their services include a drug consumption room, needle exchange programs, day centres, healthcare services, and emergency shelters.

Prindsen Reception Centre | Norway

The Prindsen Reception Centre is a low-threshold health and social care service that aims to prevent harm and offer support based on individual needs to people who use drugs. The centre hosts a drug consumption room and provides counselling, sterile harm reduction equipment, and other healthcare and support services.

The next steps include the organisation of the first meeting of the newly established Core Group, in which the responsibilities of WG Chairs will be distributed among the elected organisations.

[The European Network of Drug Consumption Rooms [ENDCR] is a membership-based civil society platform uniting organisations operating or planning to implement a Drug Consumption Room [DCR] in Europe. Its goal is to enhance the availability, accessibility and quality of these services. Hosted and coordinated by Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network [C-EHRN], the ENDCR is governed by a Core Group and channels its activities through various thematic Work Groups.]

Open Call for Trainers – Workshop Series for Community-led Communicable Diseases Services

We are excited to announce an open call for trainers for Project CORE‘s Workshop Series!

 

Project CORE – “Community Response to End Inequalities” focuses on reducing inequalities in HIV, TB, and viral hepatitis response by promoting, strengthening, and integrating community responses that have proven key in reaching vulnerable communities. We are looking for trainers to lead workshops within Work Package 4, which aims to strengthen the capacity of Community Health Workers and peers to conduct community-led interventions for those experiencing intersectional vulnerabilities to scale up testing services. The workshop series will be organised by Deutsche Aidshilfe in cooperation with Africa Advocacy Foundation, European Sex Workers’ Rights Alliance and C-EHRN in an online format from March 2024 until September 2024.
 
The workshops will focus on the following key topics:
1. Key Populations in HIV/HCV prevention and care
2. Culturally competent services
3. Legal and Policy Landscape
4. Overcoming Barriers
5. Sustainability of services
6. Mental health
 
Trainers are expected to:
  • Deliver a detailed, experience-based presentation.
  • Facilitate discussions where peers and community health workers can exchange experiences and best practices.
  • Establish feedback mechanisms for participant input.
  • Encourage an inclusive and respectful environment for open dialogue.
  • Ensure workshops stay on schedule and cover all relevant agenda items.
  • Synthesize the key points and outcomes of the meeting for future reference and reporting.

Responsibilities:

  • Developing workshop content based on the specified theme.
  • Conducting interactive and engaging online workshops.
  • Facilitating discussions, activities, and exercises.
  • Providing constructive feedback and support to participants.
 
The ideal trainer should possess the following qualifications and expertise:
  • Strong knowledge of HIV/HCV/TB prevention strategies, particularly in diversity and intersectionality.
  • Experience in moderating meetings and facilitating discussions on sensitive topics.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Sensitivity to cultural, social, and gender-related issues, and a commitment to ensuring inclusive participation.
  • Strong organisational skills and effective time management.
  • Proficiency in spoken English.
 
Application process:

For detailed information, read the Terms of Reference!
To apply, please fill in this online form.
You can apply as a trainer for more than one topic.

Looking forward to receiving your applications!

ACHIEVE Call to Action for the new EU legislature 2024-2029

“Viral hepatitis B and C are two deadly viruses whose burden is greater than HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis combined.

According to the WHO Global Strategy from 2016, which builds on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), viral hepatitis B and C can be eliminated by 2030. An effective vaccine exists for hepatitis B, and affordable, easy-to-administer, effective treatments are available for both hepatitis B and C. For hepatitis C, the cure rate is almost 98% and, in the absence of a vaccine, treatment in addition to the harm reduction measures serves also as prevention for virus transmission. Hepatitis B vaccination also prevents co-infection hepatotropic viruses, such as hepatitis D, which puts patients at risk.

However, the EU as a whole is not on track for elimination, leading to significant inequalities across Europe. This is nothing short of a tragedy for those infected, those at risk of becoming infected, their families, Europe’s health and social systems, and the economy. This tragedy can and must be prevented.

Read the ACHIEVE Call to Action for the new EU legislature 2024-2029 to find out more about the key obstacles to viral hepatitis B and C elimination, the EU mechanisms that exist and can help, and which actions the different actors (Member States, Stakeholders, European Commission and European Parliament) can take to eliminate viral hepatitis B and C in the EU/EEA.”

 

(Text originally published on ACHIEVE’s website)