Background

Under the auspices of the Somali Compact 2014 – 2016 that was agreed in September 2013 and the United Nations Somalia Integrated Strategic Framework 2014 – 2016 signed with the Federal Government on 29 October 2014, the Somalia Joint Rule of Law Programme (‘the Programme’) has been developed. The Programme is designed to support the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) in achieving the Somali Compact Peace-building and State-building Goals (PSGs) 2 Security (Policing component) and 3 Justice, which identifies the strategic objectives of establishing unified, capable, accountable and rights-based Somali federal security institutions providing basic safety and security for all; and establishing independent and accountable justice institutions capable of addressing the justice needs of the people of Somalia by delivering justice for all. In accordance with the Compact’s Special Agreement for Somaliland, the Programme also includes separate work-plans for Justice & Corrections and Police as well as the associated results frameworks that are aligned to the Somaliland needs and priorities.

The Programme is founded on the Somalia Rule of Law Programme Priorities which were developed by the PSG 2 and PSG 3 Working Groups and endorsed by the Somali Development and Reconstruction Facility (SDRF) Steering Committee on 31 August 2014 as a thematic priority for part of the initial funding pipeline for the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund (UN MPTF). The Programme adopts the thematic approach of rule of law for support to police, justice and corrections and builds on previous support provided to rule of law, and in particular the progress already made under the Somali Compact as reported by PSG 2 and 3 Working Groups and discussed in Copenhagen in November 2014.

The Programme represents a joint approach by the United Nations Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) and the UN Country Team to strengthen collaboration, focus and coherence to support the implementation of the Somalia Rule of Law Programme Priorities. The Programme builds on the positive gains, experience, expertise and added value of relevant UN partners under the Global Focal Point Arrangement to advance rule of law and constitutes a key landmark to maximize impact of UN interventions, minimize overlapping activities and maximize UN MPTF resources and know-how of the UN to “deliver as one” to enhance justice and security for all Somalis. The Programme framework ensures that collective UN action to enhance rule of law retains capacity building, gender equality and human rights principles as cross-cutting issues of this approach as outlined in the Somali Compact.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Project Manager Rule of Law Project, he/she is responsible for the management of the UNDP Justice Technical Team with regards to capacity building to justice and corrections institutions and actors. He/she will develop and coordinate UNDP’s efforts to develop and strengthen the justice system in Somalia, with a special focus on the establishment of an independent and accountable judiciary.

S/he will work in close collaboration with the national Justice experts in the UNDP Area offices, the Police Technical Team, National Area Project Managers, operations team, programme staff in other UN Agencies, and Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful implementation of capacity building related activities.

S/he will provide strategic guidance and advisory services to the national counterparts including but not limited to policy making processes, legislation review, capacity building and institutional reform mechanisms.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

• Ensures capacity building of Justice and Corrections Institutions;
• Effective capacity building of the Justice System Stakeholders;
• Provides effective technical and advisory services to institutional reform processes;
• Ensures effective and efficient results-based project management;
• Ensures knowledge building and management.

Ensures capacity building of Justice and Corrections Institutions in the area of policy making and legislative drafting processes focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Provide technical advice to the Judiciary with a view to building national capacities and strengthening the rule of law;
• Ensure capacity-building of national counterparts including the Ministries of Justice, the Attorney General Offices and the Judiciaries at the Federal and state levels;
• Provide support to development of Judiciary policies and institutions in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners;
• Contribute to  the establishment of the Judiciary Service Commission in Mogadishu;
• Ensure strengthening of the Bar Association to act as professional representative body for lawyers and legal aid professionals;
• Provide concrete technical inputs and advice to the Policy and Legal Drafting Unit and the Joint Implementation Support Unit of the Ministry of Justice in enhancing their skills in drafting and implementing policies and laws;
• Work closely with the Judiciary, Ministry of Interior and Security institutions to develop mechanisms and implement strategies to improve security of Judicial staff and court users;
• Provide technical and advisory support to the Ministry of Justice Technical Dispute Resolution Mechanism;
• Provide support to key accountability and oversight bodies. Contribute to the establishment of a Human Rights Bill and Commission.

Effective capacity building of the Justice System Stakeholders to cater for the capacity development needs of all justice actors (judges, prosecutors, lawyers, legal aid providers, court clerks) focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Provide support to the Judicial Training Institute in conducting needs assessment, formulation and implementation of training policies and programmes for judges and prosecutors;
• Provide capacity development support to practicing lawyers and legal service providers (due process, counselling and representation, referral etc.);
• Establish support to faculties of law and scholarship programmes for members of the Judiciary to receive induction training, advanced judicial training and develop strategies to increase the knowledge and capacity of the staff of the Judiciary;
• Conduct training programmes including “training of trainers” to transfer training skills to designated national actors;
• Contribute to developing and streamlining regulations and procedures to standardize court functions and minimize opportunities for interference and arbitrariness;
• Conduct awareness raising campaigns on justice services and legal rights. Raise public awareness on constitutional rights and general legal processes;
• Coordinate rehabilitation projects and oversee support to infrastructural improvements of court buildings in prioritized regions of Somalia, including court construction/rehabilitation;
• Develop capacity building strategies to improve the operations of Mobile Courts and expand their services in prioritized regions of Somalia;
• Conduct training programmes including “training of trainers” to transfer training skills to designated national actors;
• Develop and ensure implementation of case management systems and tools within courts and prosecution offices.

Provide technical and advisory services to institutional reform processes focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Development of accreditation standards for law schools to ensure the quality and uniformity of legal education. Ensure that UNDP assistance builds national capacity to operate legal education and professional training institutions;
• Provide technical advice to strengthen the judiciary, including developing indicators for measuring improvements;
• Facilitate the development of mechanisms and procedures to ensure that the selection and appointment of judges is based on professional, merit-based criteria in a transparent and independent process which represents the diversity of the country;
• Provide technical and advisory support to the Judicial Training Institute in identifying training needs of justice actors and formulate training curricula and modules tailored to address specific needs;
• Provide substantive inputs and support to the Judicial Training Institute in monitoring and evaluating training curricula;
• Develop strategies for mechanisms to improve the monitoring and enforcement of judicial decisions;
• Develop strategies to support internal self-regulation of the Judiciary as well as external mechanisms including the implementation and enforcement of the codes of conduct for judges, prosecutors and lawyers;
• Develop the capacity of government officials in developing laws, regulations and policies. Support the formulation of a legal aid policy and framework;
• Provide technical assistance to the establishment and development of the Attorney General’s Office;
• Contribute to the development of standards of performance and internal regulations for the justice sector.

Ensures effective and efficient results-based project management focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Ensure that Judiciary programme resources are used in a balanced way that confirms the application of the Human Rights based approach and contributes to peace building;
• Manage the delivery of inputs and outputs in line with the project’s approved annual work plan in the context of activities, ensuring proper monitoring and evaluation of the project;
• Facilitating day-to-day management of the judiciary project activities, covering all phases of the project and adhering to the Project Document and annual work plans;
• Working with government officials and the UNDP area-offices, serve as a liaison between government officials and the Project Management;
• Undertake regular monitoring visits to project sites and produce monitoring reports;
• Ensure project documents are in compliance with UNDP policies and procedures and undertake reporting on Project progress and constraints;
• Ensure the preparing and maintaining of spreadsheets of project activities;
• Facilitate judiciary meetings and missions;
• Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets and monitoring achievement of results;
• Follow up on audit recommendations. All exceptions are timely reported;
• Ensure that aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes;
• Preparation of donor reports;
• Create and coordinate partnerships with the UN Agencies, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society in the specific thematic areas based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities;
• Ensure sector-wide coordination and strategic planning efforts and partnership;
• As required, represent the project in national/international fora/discussions on the Judiciary.

Ensures knowledge building and management: 

• Identify sources of information related to capacity development of  the judiciary and  judicial institutions, and lessons learned directly linked to the rule of law;
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
• Organize trainings for the key Rule of Law partners on judiciary issues;
• Coordinate development of Policies and institutions in relation to Judicial and capacity development needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners;
• Facilitate knowledge building and management of the ROL project team members and national counterparts;
• Analyze results/lessons learned, and provide strategies for improved delivery of project interventions;
• Ensure project lessons learned and best practices are captured and documented to inform wider policies and programmes..

Impact of Results

Successful implementation of the Rule of Law Programme  2015-2016 and the New Deal Compact state and peace building goals (particularly PSG 2 and 3) will  ensure increased injection of both short and longer term institutional capacity development at national, state and district levels, resulting in the overall success of the country programme.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
• Self-development, initiative-taking;
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
• Creating synergies through self-control;
• Managing conflict;
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others;
• Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.

Functional Competencies: 

Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda:

• Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences advocating on behalf of UNDP’s mandate;
• Creates effective advocacy strategies;
• Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses.
• Results-Orientation and Development Effectiveness:
• Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals;
• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Ability to lead implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, mobilize resources;
• Ability to formulate and manage budgets, manage transactions, conduct financial analysis and reporting.

Building Strategic Partnerships:

• Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UNDP’s mandate and strategic agenda;
• Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners;
• Promotes UNDP’s agenda in inter-agency meetings;
• Develops positive ties with civil society to build and strengthen UNDP’s mandate;
• Identifies needs and interventions of capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners;
• Sensitizes UN partners, donors and other international organizations to UNDP’s strategic agenda, identifying areas for joint efforts.

Resource Mobilization:

• Analyses information on potential bilateral donors and national counterparts to recommend a strategic approach;
• Identifies and compiles lessons learned;
• Develops a resource mobilization strategy at the country level;
• Developing promotional projects and organizational messages;
• Identifies and develops activities to enhance the visibility of UNDP;
• Develops promotional activities based on monitoring/evaluation information identifying areas requiring higher visibility;
• Reviews documents and materials intended for use within and outside the organization in order to ensure consistency and validity of messages;
• Creates and cultivates networks of partners to promote UNDP’s image;
• Conducts assessments of activities to improve impact and effectiveness.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

• Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
• Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

• Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
• Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments;
• Demonstrates substantive and technical knowledge to meet responsibilities and post requirements with excellence;
• Is motivated and demonstrates a capacity to pursue personal development and learn.

Creating Visibility for UNDP/Supporting UNDP’s Capacity to Advocate:

• Identifies and develops activities to enhance the visibility of UNDP;
• Develops promotional activities based on monitoring/evaluation information identifying areas requiring higher visibility;
• Reviews documents and materials intended for use within and outside the organization in order to ensure consistency and validity of messages;
• Creates and cultivates networks of partners to promote UNDP’s image;
• Conducts assessments of activities to improve impact and effectiveness.

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals:

• Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses;
• Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for global advocacy work and adapts it for use at country level.

Developing innovative and creative approaches:

• Leverages different experiences and expertise of team members to achieve better and more innovative outcomes;
• Leverages multi disciplinary, institutional knowledge and experience of other countries and regions to promote UNDP’s development agenda;
• Participates in dialogue about conceptual innovation at the country and regional levels.

Client Orientation:

• Anticipates client needs;
• Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider;
• Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective;
• Solicits feedback on service provision and quality.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:         

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Law, Human Rights, Political Science, or law related field.

Experience:      

• Minimum of 7 years relevant work experience in law or other relevant legal area;
• Relevant experience in formulating and conducting capacity development trainings;
• Experience in the design and implementation of rule of law support programmes, preferably in developing countries and/or countries emerging from crisis;
• Experience with informal justice and alternative dispute resolution mechanism preferred;
• Strong IT skills.

Language:      

• Excellent oral and written English skills.