Background

Legal Aid Society (LAS) is implementing a programme focused on strengthening the state’s response to sexual violence, child marriage, and domestic violence across Pakistan. A key strategic intervention in Punjab is the development of a costed action plan and PC-1 for the scaling of Anti-Rape Crisis Cells (ARCCs) across the province – building on the existing ARCC at Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH) in Bahawalpur as the provincial anchor model.

This consultancy requires a dual-output approach: first, a costed action plan that maps implementation steps, staffing, infrastructure needs, and budget estimates for ARCC scale-up across Punjab; and second, a Planning Commission-compliant PC-1 drawing from that action plan to provide the formal government planning instrument required for institutional investment. Both outputs must be grounded in an assessment of BVH’s existing infrastructure and capacity, a review of relevant legal and regulatory frameworks, and structured consultations with Punjab government departments.

The objective of this consultancy is to develop (1) a comprehensive costed action plan for the scaling of ARCCs across Punjab, and (2) a Planning Commission-compliant PC-1 drawing from that action plan – grounded in a field assessment of BVH Bahawalpur, a review of relevant legal and regulatory frameworks, and stakeholder consultations with Punjab government departments.

The Policy/Planning Consultant will undertake the following:

• Conduct a situational analysis of the existing ARCC at BVH Bahawalpur including infrastructure, staffing, operational capacity, and gaps – through a field visit and review of ARCC SOPs and relevant legal frameworks.
• Review ARCC SOPs, the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act 2021 and related rules, and BVH’s existing infrastructure and operational capacity.
• Conduct one structured stakeholder consultation with relevant Punjab government departments including Health, Home, Law, and Social Welfare to align the action plan with departmental commitments and budgetary processes.
• Develop a comprehensive costed action plan covering implementation steps, staffing requirements, infrastructure needs, phased timelines, and budget estimates for scaling ARCCs across Punjab.
• Develop a draft PC-1 in accordance with Planning Commission of Pakistan prescribed format, drawing directly from the costed action plan.
• Incorporate LAS and stakeholder feedback and deliver finalised versions of both the costed action plan and the PC-1.

Payment will be made per deliverable upon submission and written approval by LAS. The consultant must receive written approval before proceeding to the next deliverable.

• Minimum 10 years of hands-on experience in public policy, development planning, health sector planning, or government project development in Pakistan.
• Demonstrated experience developing PC-1s or similar planning documents for submission to the Planning Commission of Pakistan or provincial planning departments.
• Prior experience conducting field assessments of health facilities or institutional infrastructure for planning purposes.
• Strong knowledge of Punjab government structures – particularly the Health, Home, Law, and Social Welfare departments – and their mandates and procedures.
• Familiarity with the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act 2021, national ARCC frameworks, and Punjab’s medico-legal infrastructure is strongly preferred.
• Prior experience engaging with Punjab government departments for policy or planning purposes is strongly preferred.
• Track record of delivering high-quality planning documents on time.

The Policy/Planning Consultant will report directly to the Program Manager, Legal Aid Society. All deliverables must be submitted to the Program Manager for review. Written approval from LAS is required before the consultant may proceed to the next deliverable and before any payment is processed.

LAS reserves the right to request revisions to any deliverable within 10 working days of submission. The consultant must incorporate all feedback and resubmit within 5 working days of receiving comments.

All materials, documents, field visit records, consultation notes, and outputs produced under this consultancy are the sole property of Legal Aid Society. The consultant may not share, publish, or use any project materials without prior written consent from LAS.

LAS is committed to diversity and equal opportunity. All applications will receive consideration regardless of sex, age, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.

LAS is committed to the prevention and protection from all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse. The selected consultant will be required to sign and adhere to LAS’s PSEA policy throughout the engagement.