Application Deadline: Tuesday, 12 May 2020
Job ID: 30118
Practice Area – Job Family: Democratic Governance
Vacancy End Date: (Midnight New York, USA) 12/05/2020
Duty Station: Torit, South Sudan
Education & Work Experience: G-Bachelor’s Level Degree – 4 year(s) experience, I-Master’s Level Degree – 2 year(s) experience
Languages: English
Grade: SB4
Vacancy Type: Service Contract (SC)
Posting Type: Common System
Bureau: Africa
Contract Duration: 1 year with possibility of extension
Background
The 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) renewed national commitment to stabilize and sustain the peace. With the formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU), South Sudan has embarked on implementation of a transitional period with a renewed promise of no return to war, and a responsibility to reintegrate refugees and internally displaced persons, undertake legal and institutional reforms, enforce accountable economic management and improve service delivery to citizens.
South Sudan will advance some of these commitments through immediate and medium-term interventions by addressing the constraints in the administration of justice and enforcement of the law. Many years of underfunding, inadequate professional staff, infrastructure, equipment, and supplies in the justice systems has prolonged trials, created backlogs of cases and resulted in congested detention. Also, there is limited presence or absence of rule of law institutions in remote parts of the country as such, communities and vulnerable groups such as women, survivors of SGBV, displaced populations and children face significant legal, cultural, physical and linguistical barriers to justice. The limited support through the extension of justice and policing services has diminished public confidence in the formal systems of justice, with most people relying heavily on the customary court system or resorting to self-help.
A new phase of the UNDP’s access to justice and rule of law program has been developed, as a successor project that build on previous and past gains. It will respond to emerging issues arising from implementation of the R-ARCSS mechanisms and milestones. To this end, the Access to Justice, Security and Human Rights program (2020-2024) will supports the Judiciary of South Sudan; the Ministry of Justice; and the Ministry of Interior, including the South Sudan National Police Service and the National Prisons Service of South Sudan, the Law Reform Commission and the South Sudan Human Rights Commission to increase access to justice, strengthen security and promote human rights in South Sudan.
UNDP South Sudan now seeks a national Rule of Law Specialist to provide technical and implement its Access to Justice, Security and Human Rights program in Torit.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor and Program Manager for Rule of Law, and in coordination with the Security (Law Enforcement) Specialist in Torit, the national Rule of Law Specialist will perform the following functions:
Provision of advice and technical support:
Advise the state level stakeholders in improving or establishing sustainable mechanisms for access to justice, including statutory, traditional conflict resolution mechanisms, human rights and transitional justice mechanisms;
Advise the stakeholders on policies, strategies, systems, methods of management and training needs of justice actors;
Liaise with the Chief Technical Advisor to provide overall technical guidance on matters of government policy on access to justice, human rights respect and transitional justice;
Put in place policies, strategies and systems for inclusive law reform, effective access to justice, human rights promotion, impunity against SGBV and transitional justice;
Capacity building of state level rule of law stakeholders:
Support state institutions to develop and implement policies, long term strategies, systems and action plans for the establishment of effective legal and justice services and monitoring of human rights trends;
Support the development and practice of alternative and modern methods of increasing access to justice especially for vulnerable groups and resolving communal disputes;
Develop and implement capacity building strategies to meet the capacity and training needs of the state institutions involved in dispute resolution and human rights protection;
Support community-based organizations and group, state government, traditional authorities and vulnerable groups to develop community solutions for the protection of individual and community rights;
Promote mainstreaming gender, respect for human rights and support to vulnerable groups into reform priorities of and service delivery by statutory and traditional justice actors;
Coordinate and manage implementation of capacity building support to state institutions of justice including formal and traditional;
Identify and support initiatives for providing legal assistance such as the expansion of community-based NGOs, legal aid centres and community mobilisers to advise victims, detainees and families of abducted groups, and provide basic legal aid services;
Organize and/or conduct human rights and rule of law trainings
Support to Program planning and implementation:
Provide substantial inputs to program planning, implementation and monitoring, including drafting of relevant project documents including memos, briefs, talking points, meeting debriefs, minutes;
Develop detailed Program Annual Work Plans for the state together with the Program Specialist, and provide inputs to develop the consolidated Program Annual Work Plans;
Support development of ToRs for Small Grants, oversee the work of beneficiaries of Small Grants Facility, and ensure quality of outputs in keeping with grants applications;
Implement program work plans in the state and supervise UNDP supported work undertaken in the state as and when required.
Submit quarterly analytical reports and provide inputs into other reporting requirements to donors and M&E activities in the rule of law area to the Program Manager on work done and further prospects as decided by the program.
Support the program management to develop necessary documentation (concept notes, briefs, and fundraising notes) to operationalize and steer programmatic initiatives and activities;
Facilitation of strategic partnerships:
Develop strong working relationships with all local stakeholders and between the state and traditional justice institutions, and with the security actors, other relevant government agencies, CSOs and international partners;
Liaise with partners and facilitate communication on Program-related activities including organizing joint thematic learning and networking events on justice, human rights and transitional justice topics;
Develop and maintain close working relationships with local civil society and community groups to facilitate project implementation, as well as identify issues, risks, priorities, and opportunities that support effective project implementation;
Liaise with and establish strong working relationships with other UN agencies and international organizations to promote a coordinated approach to the development and implementation of justice, human rights and transitional justice programs;
Knowledge management and communication of results:
Collect Program monitoring data on a regular basis and issue updates on activities in the rule of law area including changes in legislation and national or regional strategies or action plans;
Monitor the key interventions of the Program on rule of law particularly for vulnerable groups such as IDPs, children, the elderly, and survivors of SGBV;
Monitor and report on justice, human rights and transitional justice issues locally, and identify emerging trends using program mapping and other available data;
Communicate results based on corporate principles of gender-responsive communications and non-discriminatory language.
Competencies
Competencies and Skills:
Innovation – Ability to make new and useful ideas work
Leadership – Ability to persuade others to follow
People Management – Ability to improve performance and satisfaction
Communication –Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform
Delivery – Ability to get things done while exercising good judgment
Professionalism: willingness to accept wide responsibilities and work independently; responsive and client-oriented; able to apply good judgement, liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions;
Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNDP in daily activities and behaviors while acting without consideration of personal gains; able to resist undue political pressure, stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest and not abuse authority;
Teamwork and respect for diversity: able to establish and maintain effective and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment team with sensitivity and adaptability;
Commitment to continuous learning: takes initiative and willing to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise, able to adapt to changes in work environment.
Planning and organization: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; able to work under pressure, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;
Communication: good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports, conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely well as make and defend recommendations;
Required Skills and Experience
Qualifications/requirements
- a) Qualifications:
Education
First university degree in in Law, Public Administration, Social Sciences or related field from an accredited/recognized institution.
Master’s degree in either law, human rights, international relations or public administration is an added advantage.
Experience
A minimum of five years of relevant experience, at the national level in planning, developing, managing and monitoring legal, human rights and judicial/justice sector reform processes.
Relevant experience in capacity development with a demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge and skills in a complex institutional environment;
Proven experience of managing projects in conflict/post-conflict situations;
Demonstrated experience in coordinating with the work of diverse teams and financial resources;
Experience in drafting, formulation, reporting skills and document production.
Disclaimer
Application Procedure :
Kindly note that this vacancy announcement is for qualified South Sudanese nationals only
To start the application process, applicants are required to register at http://jobs.undp.org by creating a personal profile and completing UNDP Personal History Form. Please note that UNDP only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Only applications received through http://jobs.undp.org will be considered and applications received after closing date will not be considered. Due to the large number of applications received for UNDP South Sudan vacancies, only applicants short-listed for written test and interview will be contacted.
For Application Details: https://jobs.partneragencies.net/psc/UNDPP1HRE2/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_CE.GBL?Page=HRS_CE_JOB_DTL&Action=A&SiteId=2&PostingSeq=1&JobOpeningId=30118&
