Within the framework of the project “Coordinated Civil Society Action to Promote Rule of Law for All”, implemented by the Legal Policy Research Centre (LPRC) and the International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) with the financial support of the European Union, a call for proposals is announced for financial support of a project on monitoring the state of the Bar and legal aid within the criminal justice system of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Lot №3: Monitoring the state of the Bar and Legal Aid within the criminal justice system of the Republic of Kazakhstan using the developed Methodology for Monitoring the Criminal Justice System (Spheres 4 and 5) and preparation of final analytical reports.

1. Context

The assignment is implemented under the project “Coordinated Civil Society Action to Promote Rule of Law for All”, carried out by LPRC and IPHR with EU financial support. According to the project’s work plan, monitoring of compliance with international standards in the field of the Bar and legal aid in Kazakhstan is envisaged, based on the developed Methodology for Monitoring the Criminal Justice System (Spheres 4–5).

2. Objective of the Assignment

To conduct a comprehensive monitoring of the Bar and legal aid in the Republic of Kazakhstan in accordance with the Methodology for Spheres 4 and 5: (Sphere 4 “Bar”: https://admin.rolforall.kz/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/sfera-4.-advokatura_final.pdf, Sphere 5 “Legal Aid”: https://admin.rolforall.kz/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/sfera-5.-yuridicheskaya-pomoshh.pdf) and to prepare separate reports analyzing the compliance of legislation and practice with international standards, using the template developed by the client (sample reports: https://iphronline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/rus-analytical-report-on-the-bar-of-the-kyrgyz-republic.pdf and https://iphronline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/rus-analytical-report-on-legal-aid-in-the-kyrgyz-republic.pdf).

3. Expected Results

4. Methodology and Approach

Monitoring should be carried out strictly in accordance with the Methodology for Spheres 4 and 5, including:

• Legislative analysis (Constitution, special laws regulating the Bar, internal acts of the Bar such as Charter and regulations of territorial Bars, as well as acts of the Ministry of Justice regarding the Bar);
• Surveys and interviews with:
  • leadership of the national and territorial Bars,
  • practicing lawyers,
  • representatives of the Ministry of Justice;
• Review of open sources (media, reports of international and local organizations);
• Collection and analysis of statistics (upon request or from open data);
• Triangulation of data for verification.

Monitoring tools (questionnaires, checklists) may be adapted but must cover all indicators of the Methodology.

5. Geography of Monitoring

• National Bar Association;
• Territorial Bars in at least half of Kazakhstan’s regions and the 3 cities of national significance.

6. Timeframe

Start: 1 November 2025

Completion: no later than 6 months afterwards Interim reports and approvals – according to agreed schedule.

7. Language of the Assignment

All documents and reports must be submitted in Russian.

8. Budget and Financing

The total cost of services for this assignment must not exceed EUR 40,000 (including all taxes and charges, if applicable).

Financing is provided under the current grant contract with the European Union and includes:

• 95% (up to EUR 38,000) – funded by the EU project;
• 5% (up to EUR 2,000) – own contribution of the implementer, to be ensured in monetary form (e.g. staff time, office rent, logistics, etc.).

The budget proposal must be in euros and include a transparent breakdown (fees, transport, accommodation, fieldwork, report preparation, etc.). Costs must be necessary, justified, realistic, and provide value for money.

Payment will be made in installments according to delivery and approval of results:

• 40% – upon submission of the monitoring plan;
• 40% – upon submission of the interim report and evidence of monitoring;
• 20% – upon approval of the final report.

9. Eligibility Criteria

Applicants (CSOs/legal entities or consortia) must:

• Be a non-profit legal entity registered in Kazakhstan;
• Have proven experience in human rights monitoring;
• Have experience in legal analysis in the field of criminal justice;
• Have experience in data collection, analysis, and interpretation using quantitative and qualitative methods (surveys, interviews, observations);
• Desirable: experience preparing reports for international donors (EU, UN, OSCE, etc.);
• Have a qualified team, including:
  • lawyer/human rights defender with relevant experience,
  • sociologist/analyst in quantitative and qualitative methods,
  • specialists on vulnerable groups;
• Ensure coordination of fieldwork and cooperation with state and non-state bodies;
• Ensure confidentiality, gender sensitivity, inclusiveness;
• Properly administer the contract (accounting, reporting, cost verification);
• Provide own contribution of at least 5% of total cost;
• Work with confidential data and adhere to ethical standards;
• Confirm absence of conflict of interest with state bodies, the Ministry of Justice, and/or stakeholders;
• Act in accordance with principles of independence, impartiality, professional ethics, non-violence;
• Be ready to attend training on the methodology.

10. Application Procedure and Deadlines

Applications accepted: 25 September – 9 October 2025 (Astana time).

Application package must include:

• Completed Application Form in Russian (Appendix 1, max 15–20 pages, based on Spheres 4–5 Methodology);
• Completed Budget Form in English (Appendix 2, in euros);
• Registration certificate of the organization in Kazakhstan;
• List of projects implemented/ongoing (2023–2025), with donor and budget;
• CVs of key project team members.

Forms can be downloaded here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1VTqYwRlCFqoYueqzUKacNhEHTmAfuUiZ?usp=sharing

All documents must be sent to: apply@iphronline.org Subject line: “Lot №3 – Monitoring of the Bar and Legal Aid – [organization name]”.

📅 Info-session for potential applicants: 30 September 2025, 17:00 (Astana time)

📍 Format: online (link provided upon request)

📩 To receive the link, send an email with subject “Info-session – Lot №3” to omiroshnichenko@hotmail.com by 30 September 2025, 16:00.

11. Evaluation Criteria

12. Special Conditions

• One organization/consortium may submit only one application for Lot 3 and win only one competition among the 5 lots.
• Other lots to be announced:
  • Lot 2: Monitoring of trial stage (Sphere 7);
  • Lot 4: Monitoring of criminal policy, judiciary, prosecution (Spheres 1–3);
  • Lot 5: Monitoring of pre-trial stage (Sphere 6).

This publication was funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Legal Policy Research Centre and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union. This publication has been prepared within the project “Coordinated Civil Society Action to Promote the Rule of Law for All”, which is implemented by the Legal Policy Research Centre (LPRC) and the International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR), with the financial support of the European Union.