Expert Consultant – Development of HIV Code of Ethics in Prisons

The selected expert consultant will undertake the following tasks:

• Conduct a thorough desk review of existing national legal frameworks, policies, and guidelines related to HIV, public health, human rights in detention, and correctional practices.
• Review relevant international guidelines, conventions, and best practices concerning HIV in prisons (e.g., WHO, UNAIDS, UNODC, UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners - Mandela Rules, international human rights instruments).
• Analyze existing gaps and challenges in the ethical management of HIV within the Lebanon prison system, particularly concerning confidentiality, informed consent, non-discrimination, access to treatment, and prevention.

• Develop a methodology and tools for effective consultation with a wide range of national stakeholders.

• Based on the desk review and stakeholder consultations, draft a comprehensive HIV Code of Ethics for the Lebanon prison system. The Code should:
  • Clearly articulate fundamental ethical principles (e.g., human dignity, non-discrimination, confidentiality, informed consent, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice).
  • Address key areas such as HIV prevention (including harm reduction measures where appropriate), voluntary testing and counseling, access to treatment and care, privacy and confidentiality of HIV status, management of opportunistic infections, prevention of discrimination and stigma, and reintegration considerations.
  • Provide practical guidance for prison staff and health personnel on implementing these ethical principles in daily practice.
  • Be written in clear, accessible language, understandable to both professional staff and prisoners.
• develop a draft Code of Ethics

• Obtain the feedback and validation from selected stakeholders.
• Prepare a final version of the HIV Code of Ethics.
• Develop concrete recommendations for the dissemination, implementation, and monitoring of the Code within the prison system, including suggestions for training programs for prison staff.
• Prepare the Code of Ethics endorsement process at the ISF Academy.

4. Deliverables

The expert consultant will be responsible for delivering the following:

1. Inception Report: Detailing the work plan, methodology, and timeline for the consultancy within 7 days of contract signing.
2. Desk Review and Situational Analysis Report: Summarizing findings from the review of national and international frameworks, and identifying key ethical challenges and gaps.
3. Consultation Report: Documenting the findings from stakeholder consultations, including key themes, ethical dilemmas identified, and areas of consensus.
4. First Draft of the HIV Code of Ethics for Prisons: Submitted for review and feedback.
5. Assessment Report of ISF Academy's Policy/Curriculum Endorsement Procedures.
6. Proposed Endorsement Strategy and Work Plan.
7. Draft Official Endorsement Request Package.
8. Final HIV Code of Ethics for Prisons in English: A comprehensive, clear, and actionable document incorporating all feedback.
9. Recommendations for Dissemination, Implementation, and Monitoring: A concise document outlining practical steps for operationalizing the Code, including training needs.