TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) Selection of a Lead Expert in Socio-Legal Research and Environmental Justice Activity A1.3: Conducting a study on gaps in access to environmental justice
1. General Information
Contracting Organization: Association (Network of Non-Governmental Organizations of Doukkala) –RADNG-
Project: "From Standard to Effectiveness: Advocacy for Environmental Justice in the Doukkala Region (Provinces of El Jadida and Sidi Bennour)"
Program Framework: DIALOGUE Project "TAKWIA – IBTIKAR – HIWAR – TAGHYIR," funded by the European Union, in partnership with Lawyers Without Borders (ASF Morocco), Handicap International, and AMANE.
Type of Procedure: Request for quotation
Place of Execution: Doukkala Region (Provinces of El Jadida and Sidi Bennour)
Duration of the Assignment: 1 month
Submission Deadline: July 25, 2026, at 6:00 PM
2. Context The Network of Non-Governmental Organizations of Doukkala (RADNG) has worked since 2002 to strengthen the capacities of civil society organizations and to promote human rights, good governance, and sustainable development. As part of the project "From Standard to Effectiveness: Advocacy for Environmental Justice in the Doukkala Region," RADNG is implementing a series of activities aimed at improving the effectiveness of environmental rights and strengthening citizens' access to environmental justice mechanisms. Activity A1.3 consists of conducting an in-depth study on the gaps in access to environmental justice in the provinces of El Jadida and Sidi Bennour. This study will analyze the legal, institutional, administrative, economic, social, and territorial obstacles that limit the effective exercise of the right to a healthy environment and the population's access to complaint, oversight, and appeal mechanisms. The study will be based on a participatory approach involving key institutional actors, local authorities, decentralized state services, civil society organizations, legal professionals, and affected populations, in both urban and rural areas. The results will help identify the main shortcomings of the current environmental justice access system, document the needs of the population, and formulate operational recommendations aimed at strengthening the project's advocacy actions, improving legal support mechanisms, and promoting better effectiveness of environmental rights.
3. Purpose of the Contract This contract aims to select a Lead Expert in legal and institutional analysis, an individual consultant, firm, or study bureau, tasked with carrying out an analytical mapping of complaint, oversight, and appeal mechanisms related to environmental justice in the provinces of El Jadida and Sidi Bennour.
4. Objectives of the Assignment
Overall Objective This contract aims to select a Lead Expert in socio-legal research and environmental justice, an individual consultant, firm, or study bureau, tasked with conducting a study on the gaps in access to environmental justice in the provinces of El Jadida and Sidi Bennour. The assignment will include the methodological design of the study, scientific and technical supervision of fieldwork, supervision of surveyors, analysis of collected data, drafting of the study report, and presentation of results to stakeholders.
Specific Objectives
Identify the main legal, institutional, administrative, and practical gaps limiting access to environmental justice.
Analyze the difficulties encountered by the population, particularly women, youth, and vulnerable groups, in accessing complaint, oversight, and appeal mechanisms.
Assess the level of knowledge of environmental rights and appeal mechanisms among citizens.
Examine the practices of the institutions concerned in handling environmental complaints.
Produce a documented analysis of the factors influencing the effectiveness of environmental justice in the provinces of El Jadida and Sidi Bennour.
Formulate operational recommendations likely to improve public policies, institutional mechanisms, and the project's advocacy actions.
5. Expected Results By the end of the assignment, the following results must be achieved:
A complete study on the gaps in access to environmental justice in the targeted provinces.
An in-depth analysis of the legal, institutional, administrative, economic, social, and territorial obstacles encountered by the population.
An evaluation of the functioning of existing environmental complaint, oversight, and appeal mechanisms.
A comparative analysis of the realities observed in urban and rural areas.
An identification of the needs of citizens, civil society organizations, and institutional actors regarding access to environmental justice.
Practical recommendations aimed at improving the effectiveness of environmental rights and strengthening legal protection mechanisms.
A basis of analysis to feed into advocacy actions, awareness-raising activities, and legal assistance mechanisms planned under the project.
6. Tasks and Responsibilities
6.1 Documentary and Legal Analysis
Conduct a review of applicable legislative and regulatory texts.
Identify the competent institutions at the national, regional, and local levels.
Examine existing administrative and judicial procedures.
6.2 Institutional Mapping
Identify the institutional actors involved in handling environmental complaints.
Describe the competencies of each institution.
Map the relationships between the various oversight, appeal, and sanction mechanisms.
6.3 Analysis of Access Conditions
Identify the legal and administrative conditions for access to the various mechanisms.
Analyze the costs, timeframes, documentary requirements, and procedural constraints.
Identify the obstacles encountered by the population, particularly vulnerable groups.
6.4 Drafting and Validation
Develop a study on the gaps in access to environmental justice.
Produce a critical analysis of existing mechanisms.
Formulate operational recommendations.
Present the results at the feedback workshops organized by the project.
7. Deliverables The consultant must provide:
A validated methodological note.
An analytical report.
A final study on the gaps in access to environmental justice, incorporating the observations.
The final report.
An executive summary in French and Arabic.
8. Required Profile The consultant must meet the following criteria:
Master's or Doctorate degree in law, political science, public administration, or an equivalent field.
Proven experience in legal, institutional, or environmental governance analysis.
Good knowledge of the Moroccan legal framework relating to the environment, local authorities, and access to justice.
Experience in conducting institutional mapping and public policy analysis.
Excellent analytical, synthesis, and writing skills.
Proficiency in French and Arabic.
Experience with programs funded by international donors is an asset.
9. Duration and Contractual Terms
Duration of the assignment: 1 month.
Type of contract: service provision.
Status: individual consultant, firm, or study bureau.
10. Financial Terms
Payment in the form of fees.
50% upon signing the contract.
50% after validation of the final deliverables. Travel, communication, and logistics expenses, consultation workshop (room, logistics, refreshments), and data processing and analysis are entirely the responsibility of the service provider.
11. Application File The application file must include:
Detailed curriculum vitae.
Statement of interest.
Methodological note.
Implementation timeline.
Detailed financial offer (MAD, all taxes included).
References from similar assignments.
12. Eligibility Criteria Candidates must:
Be legally registered.
Have the required technical and scientific competencies.
Be able to carry out the assignment within the given deadlines.
13. Evaluation Criteria Offers will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Quality of the technical and scientific offer.
The provider's experience in legal and institutional studies.
Relevance of the proposed methodology.
Understanding of environmental justice issues.
Financial offer.
14. Submission Terms 📧 Email: reseau.jiha@gmail.com 📅 Deadline for receipt of offers: July 25, 2026, at 6:00 PM
15. Special Conditions The service provider agrees to:
Respect the principles of professional ethics.
Guarantee the confidentiality of the information collected.
Respect the values and principles of RADNG as well as the requirements of the project partners.
Integrate an approach sensitive to gender, inclusion, and accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Respect the principles of participation and data protection.
16. Final Provisions
RADNG reserves the right not to proceed with this call for consultation without any obligation to justify its decision.
The selected service provider must comply with the contractual and technical requirements of the project partners, particularly those of Lawyers Without Borders (ASF Morocco), in accordance with the provisions of the DIALOGUE program "TAKWIA – IBTIKAR – HIWAR – TAGHYIR."