UNDP Jobs - 59378- Legal Translator/Interpreter English-Somali/Somali

Legal Translator/Interpreter English-Somali/Somali-English

Location :

Mogadishu, SOMALIA

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

01-Nov-2015

Application Deadline :

04-Sep-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SC-9

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

One Year

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

Somalia is undergoing a historic process of change, moving towards peace from decades of violent conflict, which ravaged the country and resulted in widespread suffering of its people. The Provisional Constitution of the Somali Republic was agreed and endorsed on 1 August 2012. The 275 Members of the House of the People were subsequently selected by a group of 135 clan elders through August and September 2012 and resulted in a parliament widely recognized as representative and credible.

The National Federal Parliament and its members have a critical role to play in Somalia’s divided context today. If supported to effectively fill its place in the new political infrastructure of Somalia, the legislature will operate as a venue for the debate and discussion of issues of national importance. Potential sources of conflict can be aired, debated and addressed publicly and in a bi-/multi-partisan manner. In order to achieve these objectives, both Members of Parliament and the Parliamentary Secretariat require urgent support. Apart of the National Federal Parliament (NFP) functioning parliaments exist in Garowe/Puntland and in Hargeisa/Somaliland and new assemblies are currently formed in the emerging states.

Under the Provisional Constitution, the NFP has also been tasked with leading the process of constitutional review and implementation, which is required in order to finalize a national Federal Constitution and set in place a framework for national elections. Parliament has set up a Constitutional Oversight Committee, and legislation was enacted in July 2013 to establish an Independent Constitutional Review and Implementation Commission (ICRIC) intended to provide technical support to the Committee. In a Memorandum of Understanding dated 8 March 2015 the cooperation between the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs, the Oversight Committee and the ICRIC the division of labor between these three institutions has been agreed.

Significant support needs to be provided to the parliaments and assemblies, the MPs, the MoCA, the Oversight Committee, the ICRIC, and sub-national authorities to build capacities of these institutions, to facilitate the constitutional review process of the Provisional Constitution and to support an improved legislation.

UNDP through its two projects - the Parliamentary Support Project and the Constitutional Review Process Support Project – which are implemented by the same project team provides technical assistance to the parliaments and supports the ongoing constitutional review process.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Performs written translations;
Performs oral interpretation;
Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing.

Written translations:

Translate drafts and legislative documents from Somali into English and vice versa (English into Somali), for Parliamentary Support Project and the Constitutional Review Process Support Project;
Translate project reports from Somali into English and vice versa (English into Somali on a variety of subjects for Parliamentary Support Project and the Constitutional Review Process Support Project;
Translate legal documents of international origin from English into Somali and from Somali into English;
Producing qualitative written Somali/English and vice versa legal and general translation of documents;
Translate official correspondence from government offices, papers, etc. in a concise manner from English to Somali and from Somali to English, as requested;
Deliver translation services provided at specific requests;
Proofread, edit and provide final translated versions with a grammatical, well-expressed version of the translated text in conformity with UNDP standards;
Work with other translators and revise translations made by other staff as needed;
Perform terminology research to ensure the accuracy, quality and appropriateness of all translations;
Provision of any administrative and operational support associated to the translation work as requested;
File all translated documents properly in both hard and soft copy;
Meet deadlines as established by supervisor;
Remain flexible for traveling to provinces if required.

Oral interpretation:

Provision of legal and general interpretation (consecutive or simultaneous) into English/Somali and vice versa and ensure quality, smoothness and accuracy of the interpretation provided at bilateral and multilateral meetings, negotiations, conferences, workshops, seminars;
Provision legal and general interpretation (English/Somali) for international staff during meetings with counterparts and field trips to project sites;
Provide interpretation and translation support to legal training and legal aid/legal empowerment mentoring activities;
Other interpretation as needed within the project implementation;
Work closely as a team member with project team leader and the project team.

Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing by focusing on achievement of the following results:

Organize training for Project Staff and partners on legislative and constitutional issues;
Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in legislative & constitutional issues.

Impact of Results

The key results will have an impact on the overall success of the specific areas of cooperation under the UNDP country programme. In particular, the key results will have a direct impact on the effectiveness of the design, implementation and outcome of key project activities results under the specific Programme portfolio.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge and Learning Management:

Contributes to UNDP Practice Areas and actively works towards continuing personal learning and development;
Builds knowledge in at least one practice areas, and shares;
Ability to provide top quality policy advice services on related issues;
In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

Ability to conduct results-based management and reporting;
Solid knowledge in financial resources and human resources management, contract, asset and procurement, information and communication technology, general administration.

Management and Leadership:

Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Leads teams effectively and shows mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills;
Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in law, foreign languages or any related field;
A first level university degree in law, foreign languages or any related field with 2 additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

5 years experience translating texts in at least one of the areas listed here below (democratic governance, rule of law, poverty reduction, environment and energy, crisis prevention and recovery, gender, HIV/AIDS, or capacity development translation and interpretation of documents from English to Somali and Somali to English;
Proven good translation skills with capacity to detect and understand nuances in the original text; knowledge of agreed terms for international and Government organizations and development concepts; good grasp of the subject matter; ability to use all sources of reference; attention to detail and ability to maintain an adequate speed and volume of output;
Good knowledge and working experience on Somali legal and justice system is a requirement;
Two samples of recent, relevant translation work not being longer than three pages, will be requested from candidates that UNDP has further interest in;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Office, etc.) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.

Language:

Fluency in both oral and written English and Somali.