UNICEF Maldives Country office is looking for a qualified company for the drafting of strategy and a national plan of action for de-institutionalization and alternate care for children

A very first children’s home Islaahiyya (reformatory) was established in 1979 under the Unit for the Rights of Children, at the Ministry of Home Affairs. It functioned as a boarding school for boys, who were not able to access education due to poverty, orphaned or abandoned children. In addition, adolescent boys demonstrating challenging behaviour was sent to this institution to instil discipline[1]. The name Islaahiyaa was later changed to the Education and Training Centre for Children (ETCC) and placed under the Ministry of Education. In 2013, ETCC temporarily closed for renovations and remains closed.The Maldives, unlike most countries, have very few childcare institutions and a small number of children in these institutions. Kudakudhinge Hiya, was established in 2004, and catered for boys and girls between the age of 0-9 years. Kudakudhige Hiya, with the increased demand, later moved to cater for children below 18 years. Fiyavathi was established in in 2016. Currently, Kudakidhinge Hiya caters for children between 13 – 18 years while Fiyavathi for children below 13 years. In many countries, institutionalized children face discrimination and stigmatization, and that is often expressed in the abusive attitudes and behaviors of poorly trained staff and reflected in the public’s lack of concern for the violence that children experience in institutions. Because state alternative care institutions for children are closed to public scrutiny, incidents of violence against children in institutions remain hidden from the general public and state bodies. The “Assessment of State Alternative Care Institutions for Children in the Maldives’ done in 2013 (Unpublished) showed the same.

The Maldives is committed to put an end to institutionalisation of children and move towards a family-based option and attend to the root causes of separation of children from their parents. The commitment furthers the pledge to strengthen families and the care they provide to children, and if the separation is in the best interest of the child, children will be placed in a family or community-based care[2]. Furthermore, the ratification of the Child Rights Protection Act in November 2019 mandates the state to establish family-based options for alternative care. The Act entails necessary details of the quality of alternate care for children.

For this purpose the UNICEF office is the Republic of Maldives is seeking to hire a reputable institution  to provide technical support to the Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services to draft the strategy and action plan for de-institutionalisation and alternative care for children.

Attached please find the following documents 

RFP-2020-9162084 - This will provide all the necessary information with regard to the submission process, kindly note that all bidders are supposed to submit the complete bid submission form in the page 3 of the document.

Annex B- Terms of Reference 

Annex C- Technical Evaluation criteria 

Annex D- Price Schedule

All interested parties please submit the proposals via email to snathif@unicef.org. Subject line RFP-2020-9162084

For the bid to be completed the following documents need to be submitted 

1. Bid form on page 3 of the PRP document 

2. Technical proposal 

3. Annex D- Price proposal 

Kindly note that the deadline for submission is on 19th October 15:00 hrs

For any clarifications please submit the questions via email by 18th October 2020

Please don't hesitate to contact by email to snathif@unicef.org