CT PHARE Consultancy Call
About the IIJ
The International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law (IIJ) is a multinational organisation focused on building the capacity of justice practitioners to fight terrorism, violent extremism and transnational crime in line with human rights and the rule of law. It designs and delivers tailored training and capacity-building programmes as well as activities that help governments and practitioners address—in a practical, effective and collaborative manner—the evolving nature of contemporary transnational threats. The IIJ was founded in 2014 and has a Governing Board of Administrators consisting of 14 Member States and the European Union. For more information, visit the IIJ website: https://theiij.org/.
Background of the Consultancy
On 21st March 2023, the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law (IIJ) launched the Counter-Terrorism Platform for Human Rights Engagement (CT PHARE), funded by the European Union (EU). This initiative began with an Expert Group Meeting at the IIJ’s headquarters in Malta, where four main workstreams were identified. One of these workstreams focused on oversight and accountability mechanisms in counter-terrorism operations, specifically to ensure redress for victims and to monitor government policies related to counter-terrorism. Since its launch, in this field CT PHARE has organised four regional activities across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), West Africa, East Africa, and South/Southeast Asia. These events aimed to address regional challenges related to counter-terrorism, human rights, and accountability.
Furthermore, during the inaugural 2023-2024 term of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) Initiative on Oversight and Accountability, an Expert Reference Group collaborated closely with CT PHARE to draft The GCTF Brussels Memorandum on Good Practices for Oversight and Accountability Mechanisms in Counterterrorism (hereafter referred to as The Brussels Memorandum). This was finalised during a transregional GCTF side-event in Nairobi, Kenya, in February 2024.
Finally, on 25th September 2024 in New York, the GCTF Ministerial Meeting endorsed The Brussels Memorandum, which is set to be officially launched at a two-day High-Level Meeting in Brussels during Q3 or Q4 of 2025. To support this initiative and with the aim to operationalise it, a Transregional Network will be established to foster a comprehensive, regionally diverse, and peer-supported network of experts and practitioners that strengthens the independence, effectiveness, and transparency of oversight bodies. Despite the non-binding nature of The Brussels Memorandum, its 15 good practice mechanisms provide a powerful framework for enhancing oversight systems and ensuring human rights safeguards in counter-terrorism activities. By incorporating, expert engagement, knowledge sharing, capacity building, and civic participation, this network seeks to create more robust systems of accountability. This in turn will contribute to improved counter-terrorism efforts by strengthening legal compliance, including in relation to reasonableness and necessity, and by strengthening the discipline, professionalism, and adherence to official procedures of those with counter-terrorism responsibilities.
The IIJ CT PHARE requires the services four consultants to lead one of the working groups that will form part of the Transregional Network. The four working groups will focus on: (1) Intelligence and security agencies; (2) National Human Rights Institutions and civil society organisations; (3) Legislative oversight; (4) and Law enforcement and police. These working groups will provide an opportunity for experts and practitioners to collaborate on key challenges, share knowledge, and develop practical solutions. Comprising a balanced mix of regional and thematic expertise, the working group will facilitate the exchange of regional insights and thematic best practices. The consultants will be responsible for guiding focused discussions on specific topics within the different areas, driving the working groups’ progress, and ensuring that the outcomes are actionable and aligned with the overall goals of the initiative.
Specific key tasks and deliverables
Under the overall guidance of the IIJ Executive Secretary, the consultants will work closely with the Project Lead and the Project Manager in charge of the implementation of CT PHARE.
The consultants will entail the following responsibilities:
- Preparatory Work
· To conduct legal and administrative reviews of relevant national laws and regulations on national/regional oversight practices.
· To assess the institutional design of national oversight and accountability mechanisms. - Support the creation of one of the four working group
· To assist in recruiting renowned experts and practitioners in the field.
· To help facilitate specific focus group discussions and interventions within the working group.
· To organise and facilitate the first online meeting of the working group to discuss the workplan and determine the next steps. - In-person meeting
· To organise an in-person meeting with the other working groups.
Consultant criteria and qualifications
To successfully carry out the tasks outlined above, the ideal consultant will need to demonstrate a comprehensive skill set and a broad range of competencies, including:
· Expertise in oversight and accountability mechanisms, with a focus on one of the following areas: (1) Intelligence and security agencies; (2) National Human Rights Institutions and civil society organisations; (3) Legislative oversight; (4) and Law enforcement and police.
· Experience with the GCTF framework, specifically The Brussels Memorandum, and its focus on best practices for counter-terrorism and security sector reform.
· Previous experience working on international or transregional networks, especially in contexts related to governance, human rights, and security.
· Experience in facilitating focused discussions and working groups, including maintaining productive dialogue and ensuring the implementation of action points.
· Experience in drafting detailed action plans, regional roadmaps, and technical assistance programs based on stakeholder input, with a clear focus on operationalising The Brussels Memorandum.
Application Submission
All interested applicants meeting the qualifications should submit a cover letter and resume to the IIJ Executive Secretariat at hr@theiij.org and ameriof@theiij.org clearly stating “CT PHARE_O&A2025” in the subject line. The deadline for submission is 16 March 2025.