Background

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is one of the most fragile provinces of Pakistan. Against a backdrop of higher than national average poverty rates, low literacy, limited access to health care, and a geographic profile for natural disasters, the province also faces violent militancy on a daily basis. The north-western KP region of the Malakand Division can be described as a microcosm of these realities. By the end of 2009, the damage left in the wake of intense extremist activities in the Malakand Division was immense. Local state and its various agencies were severely weakened. The formal justice system virtually collapsed. Lawyers were threatened not to take cases. Police were targeted and killed, government buildings attacked. The courts largely ceased to function, while local services were disrupted and discontinued.

After security operations were undertaken in 2009, the next step was the restoration and establishment of the state’s civilian writ in the area and with it, the rule of law. Militants had identified and exploited the lack of access to justice and security services as a means to make inroads and gain support. As stated by the government’s 2010 Post-Crisis Needs Assessment:

“Pervasive governance deficits have created a broad political space for the militant groups to exploit, presenting themselves as a viable alternative to the state, able to provide rapid administration of justice…contextualizing their appeals for support and recruits in the nomenclature of opportunity, social justice, equity and state failure."

Today, supporting the rule of law – both as an end and as a means to counter conflict – remains a recognized priority by national partners. Based on the relatively recent violence, its geopolitical context and history, the Malakand Division as well as other affected districts, remain vulnerable to future crises. A national and locally recognized need remains to consolidate peace efforts and support confidence-building measures as part of a longer-term vision for lasting stability and resilience.  Two of the most critical areas in doing this in the rule of law sector are the judiciary and the public’s access to justice.

In 2012, UNDP began the implementation of the Strengthening Rule of Law Project (SRLP) in the post-crisis area of Malakand Division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).  Based out of Peshawar, the project is currently in the process of expanding its remit to include three additional districts in KP as well maintaining project activity in all 7 districts of the Malakand Division.

The Programme’s overarching goal is to support sustainable peace through improved access to justice for men and women through effective and accountable justice and security service delivery. 

This outcome is achieved through 4 outputs:

• Output 1: Increased access to justice, legal aid and representation mechanisms, including for vulnerable groups;
• Output 2: Improved court capacity to provide effective and timely justice services;
• Output 3: Improved police service to local communities via policy and operational reform as well as targeted criminal justice system support to prosecution services; and
• Output 4: Supporting alternative dispute resolution mechanisms consistent with the Pakistan Constitution and human rights standards.

Under the direct supervision of the Pragramme Manager of the Rule of Law Project, the Programme Specialist will be responsible for general programme management support to the Programme manager, with a special focus on synergies across the justice chain (all four outputs). The incumbent will provide reporting support to ensure that all output reports are of a high quality. The incumbent will also provide support to output teams where necessary in order to improve empirical-based monitoring and reporting against proper baselines in both a qualitative and quantitative respect. He/she will also liaise with UNDP’s Strategic management Unit (SMU) to ensure that project evaluations and audits are carried out according to schedules and findings and recommendations are implemented and followed up.

The Programme specialist will supervise 2 monitoring and evaluation staff (SB5 and SB 4), and two researchers at the SB 3 level.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

• Management support: general programme management support to the Project manager;
• Results based management: lead and manage an effective and integrated monitoring and evaluation system for the project as a whole;
• Capacity Development for Institutional Reform and Development;
• Strategic theoretical and practical policy advice: leads the strategy to design and implement activities that focus on creating synergies across the justice chain (all four outputs.

Management support:

• Thorough analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation in the country and preparation of substantive inputs to the Integrated Development Framework, Country Programme Document, SRLP Programme Documents and other documents;
• Identification of areas for support and interventions within the thematic/sectoral areas, but also across the justice chain;
• Provides input and deputizes for the Project Manager;
• Promote identification and implementation of synergies within and across pillars;
• Coordinate the preparation of SRLP’s annual work plans, quarterly procurement and HR plans;
• Ensures high quality reporting against programme interventions in line with strategic frameworks and outcomes;
• Knowledge management and communications: leads on the European Union’s visibility and communication strategy for the project;
• Support the Project Manager in the day-to-day functioning of the SRLP for achieving results in line with the outputs and activities outlined in the project documents and annual work plans of the unit;
• Coordinate and prepare as required monthly, quarterly and annual progress reports and organize, correspondingly, monthly, quarterly and annual progress reviews.

Results based management:

• Support the preparation, review or revision of programme document and action plans and ensure alignment with the Common Country Programme Action Plan and other strategic frameworks;
• Ensure, in close consultation the SMU, the effective monitoring of programme using RBM tools, elaboration and implementation of coherent work plans, project and program documents, preparation of proposals and achievement of results;
• Ensure regular monitoring or programme results and resources framework and assist in the preparation of SRLP project board;
• Coordinate and oversee the development of the project’s M&E plans and schedules for field visits;
• Assist project team in preparing component or output-based concept or strategy papers and implementation of manuals/guidelines;
• Support the preparation of results frameworks for the project including establishment of performance and impact assessment indicators and systems;
• Review and document implementation processes and results through pillar-based professional reports;
• Financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the projects, identification of operational and financial problems, development of solutions and  participation in audit of projects;
• Follow up on audit recommendations and ensure timely reporting of all exception;s
• Aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes. Preparation of donor reports.

Capacity Development for Institutional Reform and Development:

• Support the unit’s capacity building efforts aimed at government counterparts, local authorities and development organizations;
• Document the experience of capacity development initiatives and prepare the national policy and strategy;
• Monitor the achievements of capacity development initiatives and ensure follow-up support.

Strategic theoretical and practical policy advice:

• Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues;
• Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to programme country policy goals;
• Support to development of policies and institutions that will address the country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners;
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
• Organization of trainings for the projects staff on programme issues;
• Provide policy recommendation to the SRLP project, UNDP Pakistan and Government counterparts on issues related to Governance and Rule of Law.

Impact of Results

The key results of the post will have a significant impact on the success of the UNDP state building strategy in general in providing result-oriented and sustainable assistance towards strengthening the KP province.

The key results would also have an impact on the design, operation and programming of a new SRLP to support the Judiciary, Prosecution, Police, Prisons, ADR/SJM efforts, Forensics Labs, legal aid, media and civil society as well as creating and strengthening strategic partnerships to achieve the resource mobilization targets of the project.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Good knowledge of UNDP/UN rules, regulations, policies, procedures and practices;
• Good understanding of UNDP programming modalities, particularly in crisis and post-conflict settings.

Functional/Technical Competencies:

Managerial Competencies:

• Ability to establish effective working relations in a multicultural team environment;
• Excellent team-building, diplomatic, and interpersonal skills. Resourcefulness, initiative and maturity of judgment.

Behavioural Competencies:

• Strong communication and advocacy skills;
• Ability to work in a complex environment requiring liaison and collaboration with multiple actors;
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity, tact and diplomacy;
• Excellent analytical, organizational and negotiation skills, especially resource management systems;
• Excellent networking skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree in development, law, political sciences, management or other relevant fields.

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of relevant work experience including professional experience in programme/project management in the field of development;
• Experience in providing advisory services in the area of rule of law and governance;
• Experience the design and management of rule of law strengthening programmes in an international context, preferably in a post-conflict setting;
• Proven management experience, preferably within UNDP or another a UN agency, with sound knowledge and experience in all aspects of project cycle (design, implementation, monitoring & evaluation);
• Proven skills in effective fundraising, resource mobilization and donor relations and experience in partnership building and networking;
• Advanced computer skills and strong knowledge of various software including Excel, PowerPoint and Word;
• Previous experience in KP province an advantage;
• Experience in managing UNDP resources including infrastructure and capacity building components.

Language:

• Excellent knowledge of English and ability to communicate clearly in written and spoken English;
• Proficiency in Urdu or Pashto an asset.