UNDP Jobs - 49563- Chief Technical Advisor - SELAJSI

Chief Technical Advisor - SELAJSI - (Open to Sri Lankan Nationals Only)

Location :

Colombo, SRI LANKA

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

01-Nov-2014

Application Deadline :

26-Sep-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

One Year

Languages Required :

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges.

The Strengthening Enforcement of Law, Access to Justice and Social Integration (SELAJSI) Programme was developed based on the experience accumulated from Phase I and Phase II of the former Equal Access to Justice Project which has facilitated processes and mechanisms at the local level to improve the systems delivery, in particular on legal aid, prison administration and access to documentation. It has set informal mechanisms for a more coordinated approach between justice sector institutions.

Building on these positive results, the SELAJSI Programme (http://www.lk.undp.org/content/dam/srilanka/docs/governance/SELAJSI%20Abridged%20Prog%20Doc%20FINAL%20signed.pdf) will build on systemizing and up scaling some of these coordination blocks for more upstream reforms for justice. It will focus on supporting state capacity to implement Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) recommendations as well as the National Human Rights Action Plan and the National Policy Framework for Social Integration by strengthening institutional planning capacities across the sector. It will also promote bottom up evidence based planning by supporting models at sub national level to improve the administration of criminal justice between agencies and ensure that good results from these inform national planning and policy making. Emphasis will be placed on capacity strengthening of the whole penal chain including police, prosecution, courts, legal aid service providers and prison management. Moreover, It will focus on sequencing and prioritizing to address issues of administration of justice that adversely affect the most vulnerable.

This Programme is nationally implemented by the Ministry of National Languages and Social Integration (MNLSI), Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Ministry of Prison Reforms and Rehabilitation (MPRR) and Ministry of Child Development and Women Affairs (MCDWA).

UNDP has put in place a Technical Assistance Team (TAT), comprising of long- and short-term experts on the technical areas covered by the programme. The TAT will provide:

Policy advisory services to the Programme Board; as well as
Guidance and technical assistance to each of the four Programme Implementation Units (PIUs) under the MNLSI, MoJ, MRPR, and MCDWA respectively, in support of the day-to-day management, planning, implementation and monitoring ofProgramme activities with a view to achieving the outcomes and outputs in accordance with Guidelines for Nationally Implemented Programmes.

The TAT will be headed by a Chief Technical Advisor (CTA). The CTA will provide technical guidance, advice and inputs to achieve the results of the Programme, as well as ensure the coordination and complementarity of all interventions under the SELAJSI Programme. The following four Technical Coordinators (forming part of the TAT) aligned to the respective mandates of each of the Implementing Partners have been recruited:

Access to Justice;
Prison Reforms;
Social Integration; and
Gender Empowerment.

The TAT, together with the PIUs, will focus on capacity development of relevant government entities, as well as identifying and supporting measures that promote closer cooperation, coordination and systems as well as their institutionalization amongst the justice and social integration actors. The TAT will also support the strengthening of partnerships between government entities and civil society organizations as well as improved planning and policy-making for the justice and social integration sectors. The key functions of the TAT will also include supporting the various Committees (Technical and High Level Forums) to identify and commission relevant studies/assessments and interventions (where possible as joint initiatives with other potential partners); to improve A2J and social integration outcomes; to function as a high-level advocacy engine to enable translation of identified bottlenecks in the administration of justice and social integration process into an agenda for reform; and to facilitate the move towards a more holistic approach for budgeting and planning across the justice and social integration sectors. The TAT will on all Programme matters report to the Programme Board.

Duties and Responsibilities

Function/Expected Results: High level advisory and technical guidance for the achievement of the SELAJSI Programme results framework:

Ensure the technical work undertaken across the SELAJSI Programme is in line with good practice and is most suitable for the local context;
Provide technical advice to identify entry points and systems development to achieve a mixture of short-, medium- and long-term results which produce tangible improvements to access to justice;
Ensure technical soundness of SELAJSI Programme activities in achieving the expected outputs and outcomes;
Within the framework of the SELAJSI Programme, provide technical advice and concrete inputs to justice sector stakeholders on a range of strategic policy issues related to justice sector reform and social integration;
Build a strong understanding of the dynamics of the justice sector to identify the drivers and blockers of change and then develop strategies to ensure that Programme implementation is sustainable and brings about meaningful change;
Identify challenges that hamper the delivery of timely justice services and facilitate cost effective and innovative solutions to address them;
Undertake any other tasks assigned by the Supervisor with respect to the SELAJSI Programme.

Function/Expected Results: Technical guidance, advice and concrete inputs provided for the efficient management and implementation of Programme activities:

Manage the SELAJSI Programme as an integrated framework and ensure the TAT provides day-to-day technical inputs to the Implementing Partners;
Oversee the move towards a holistic approach of planning and budgeting across the access to justice, prison reforms, social integration and gender empowerment components of the Programme;
Ensure timely support is provided to the Implementing Partners to prepare annual and quarterly work plans and budgets for the Programme;
Support the Implementing Partners to deliver outputs as per annual work plans and in keeping with the budgets.
Ensure the integration of cross-cutting issues, such as gender, youth, conflict sensitivity, etc;
Identify and support the Implementing Partners to take strategic measures that promote closer cooperation, coordination and systems as well as their institutionalization amongst the access to justice, prison reforms, social integration and gender empowerment actors;
Assist the Implementing Partners in setting up and supporting relevant Committees (i.e. Technical and High Level Fora) identified for implementing activities and achieving results under the Programme framework (where possible as joint initiatives with other potential partners);
Undertake any other tasks assigned by the Supervisor with respect to the SELAJSI Programme.

Function/Expected Results: Effective coordination, Management and knowledge-sharing among the Technical Assistance Team:

Work in close coordination with and provide strategic guidance to the Technical Coordinators with regard to their respective roles and responsibilities under the SELAJSI Programme;
Ensure the TAT supports each PIU with the day-to-day smooth planning, implementation and monitoring of the related activities under the Programme;
Lead the TAT with identification of long and short term Technical Specialists/Consultants to support the Programme and to quality assure the inputs of long and short term Technical Specialists/Consultants;
Lead the TAT in the follow up with PIUs on the adoption/implementation of the recommendations/inputs provided by Technical Consultants;
Coordinate and ensure the conduct of regular TAT team meetings;
Support capacity and knowledge building of Implementing Partners and TAT;
Ensure the incorporation of the latest developments nationally and internationally relating to prison reforms, access to justice, women in development, and the human rights based approach to development;
Actively participate in knowledge networks, keep abreast of regional and global good practices and lessons learned, and encourage the Implementing Partners and TAT to adopt these where contextually relevant by creating a culture of knowledge and learning;
Undertake any other tasks assigned by the Supervisor with respect to the SELAJSI Programme.

Function/Expected Results: Effective coordination facilitated with Partners to achieve SELAJSI Programme objectives and strategies:

Liaise with high ranking Officials of the Implementing Partners, and other government and non-government actors in relation to Programme activities;
Lead the process of strengthening partnerships between government entities and civil society organizations, including improved planning and policy-making for the access to justice, prison reforms, social integration, and gender empowerment components.
Ensure the TAT coordinates between the four PIUs, UNDP Country Office, the Programme Board, Working Groups/Committees, donors and stakeholders (as relevant) in carrying out day-to-day tasks;
Represent the overall SELAJSI TAT at various stakeholder discussions, as and when required;
Undertake any other tasks assigned by the Supervisor with respect to the SELAJSI Programme.

Function/Expected results: Effective and efficient monitoring, evaluation and reporting ensured with respect to the SELAJSI Programme:

Ensure regular results-based monitoring and evaluation, including but not limited to regular field visits and documentation of results and lessons learnt;
Ensure the required support is provided by the TAT to Implementing Partners to fulfill their monitoring, evaluation and reporting (narrative and financial) obligations. This includes the provision of concrete inputs for the finalization of results-based quarterly and annual reports;
Lead the conduct of annual project reviews, annual audits and programme evaluations as per UNDP guidelines;
Undertake any other tasks assigned by the Supervisor with respect to the SELAJSI Programme.

Impact of Results:

Strong partnerships established with government institutions, with an emphasis on the justice sector stakeholders, with a view to achieving the objectives of the SELAJSI Programme;
Institutional capacities of the Implementing Partners/ Programme Implementation Units strengthened and relevant systems established/developed;
Efficient and coordinated implementation of Programme activities;
The achievement of results and delivery targets as outlined in the SELAJSI Programme results framework and work-plan.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrate integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promote the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religious, racial, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Excellent knowledge of the justice sector in Sri Lanka and on working with its key institutions/stakeholders.
In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues;
Ability to lead strategic planning, change processes, oversight of implementation, results based management and reporting
Proven problem solving skills;
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills;
Excellent analytical skills and proven ability to work independently;
Ability to work with accuracy under time constraints and pressure in a stressful environment; with patience, tactfulness, maintain confidentiality, take initiative and exercise good judgment;
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships, in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment and respects diversity;
Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and encourage sharing of knowledge to achieve organizational goals;
A team player with excellent inter-personal skills. Leading cross-cultural teams would be an advantage.
Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioral/attitude change;
Ability to not only lead a team but also plan own work and use time efficiently, manage conflicting priorities and work under pressure of tight and conflicting deadlines.

Technical Competencies:

Specialist theoretical and practical knowledge of the legal system in Sri Lanka, including a thorough understanding of the penal chain and the role, dynamics and functions of the different institutions;
Ability to engage with high ranking Government Officials and the donor community and provide policy advisory support services and substantive inputs;
Excellent knowledge on human rights based approaches to programming, particularly in the justice sector;
Strong analytical skills and comparative knowledge on justice sector reforms;
A solid understanding of the cross-sectoral linkages between access to justice, prison reforms, social integration and gender empowerment;
A solid understanding of the Lessons Learnt Reconciliation Committee (LLRC) Report Recommendations, the National Action Plan for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights, and National Policy Framework on Social Integration;
Ability to design and prepare strategies and action plans for interventions aimed at finding durable solutions to enabling access to justice which thereby contributes to the achievement of social integration.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree in Law, Development Studies, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or related field, would be essential
Attorney-at-Law qualification would be an advantage.

Experience:

A minimum of 12 years of work experience, including proven experience of at least seven (7) years of specialist expertise in rule of law, access to justice, and/or in senior position in a national and/or an international development role in judicial or law reforms;
Prior experience working with the justice sector in Sri Lanka is essential.
Prior experience with the UN system/UNDP is highly desirable;
Knowledge of and/or exposure to the human rights based approach to programming;
Demonstrated project management skills including: results-based orientation, preparation of work plans, monitoring and evaluation would be an advantage;
Usage of computers and office software package (MS Word, Excel etc) is essential, and knowledge of database packages desirable;
A consistent track record of self-motivation and achievement;
A genuine interest in and understanding of the problems facing disadvantaged groups in accessing justice;

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English, including excellent written and oral communication skills and a working knowledge of Sinhala and/or Tamil is essential.