Antecedentes

Insecurity, the circulation of weapons as well as the weakness of justice and security institutions are a major obstacle to the consolidation of peace and sustainable development in Chad. This uncertainty is largely due to the relationship between Chad and its neighboring countries. The 2010 peace agreement between Chad and Sudan was an important step forward in stabilizing the security situation in the East even if the ongoing situation in Darfour is still a huge challenge for Chad and its capacity to receive more refugees in the region of Tissi. In addition, recent regional developments, in particular the crisis in Libya and in Central African Republic and also conflict between Cameroon army and Boko Haram at the south part of the country, are new destabilizing factors. The impact of the Libya crisis on Chad - the massive return of Chadian workers from Libya, the loss of their remittances and the influx of weapons - has exacerbated the already vulnerable situation of communities. This has particularly affected the Sahel belt, already striving to cope with cyclical shocks, epidemics, high food insecurity and multi-layered conflicts as well as rural communities in the North and the East of the country, where returnees, IDP’s and refugees compete over resources in communities.

The conflicts and underinvestment in the judicial sector have resulted in the absence of a functioning formal system in most of the country, especially in the East. Few courts are functioning and the capacity of the judiciary is still very low, hence prosecutions for criminal offences are low and impunity is rampant. Legal pluralism (formal, customary, religious), different levels of jurisdictions and lack of clarity of how customary/traditional mechanisms relate to the formal system further complicate the situation. In the absence of courts at the regional and sub-regional level, many “sous-préfet” have been appointed to act as “juge de paix” to communities. The legal literacy of these government officials is limited and this means that cases are often not adjudicated according to the formal law, but based on customary practices which risk exacerbating unequal treatment of vulnerable groups and further weakens the formal law and thus the state. Hence due to these challenges, and because of geographical and financial challenges, access to justice services for most Chadians is seriously impeded.

Internal security units remain dominated by the military (ANT), the “Garde Nationale et Nomade du Tchad (GNNT)” and the “gendarmerie”. The civilian police is also represented at the community level, but its numbers are still in the minority and they remain less visible. The dominance of military actors at the community level further undermines public confidence in the state to provide justice and security services while increasing grievances, mistrust and impunity.

From 2009-2012, UNDP implemented the Recovery Program in Eastern Chad (PRET 2009-2012) and provided joint support with UNHCR to the DIS “Détachement intégré de sécurité”. Specific activities were implemented which had an impact on strengthening the rule of law in Eastern Chad. Technical assistance was provided to courts and to the ‘juges de paix’ and with UNDP’s support mobile courts were held in rural areas. In collaboration with the Chadian Bar Association and with civil society organizations, UNDP supported the establishment of the Lawyers’ House in Abéché (in 2010) and four legal aid offices (BAJ) in the region (in 2012), which included the recruitment and training of paralegals. At the national level, UNDP has been supporting the preparation of a draft law on legal aid, which will be an important element for the institutionalization of legal aid.

However, there are major challenges to the establishment of an efficient judicial system in Eastern Chad, including the security conditions for magistrates, the lack of basic infrastructure and the inadequacy of financial and human resources allocated to the justice sector. While through capacity building support to judicial institutions, the legal aid offices and the Lawyers’ House and former support to the DIS, justice and security services where delivered to the population in the East, the sustainability of this UNDP supported service delivery remains a challenge.

Capitalizing on the previous results and the excellent relations with local authorities and civil society in the East, UNDP will implement a new project on Rule of Law (2015-2017) aiming the consolidation of the achievements and the sustainability of the initiatives. The project aims to strengthen the Rule of Law and Access to Justice in Eastern Chad in close collaboration with the Ministry of Justice in Chad. The project will develop and increase the delivery of legal aid and access to justice for vulnerable groups.  Emphasis will be placed on the fight against impunity for sexual violence and gender-based in regions severely affected by conflict and instability.

Under the general supervision of the UNDP Country Director and direct supervision of the CPR Coordinator (Axe 4 CPAP/Axe 2 CPD) or Transition and Peace Consolidation Coordinator (P5), the Project Manager (Rule of Law, Justice and Security) is responsible for providing advice and proposal for the direction and successful implementation of the rule of law programme as well as the SSR component. The Project Manager shall provide policy advice to the relevant national counterparts, provide programmatic oversight, lead policy advocacy, and liaise with the Government as well as other UN Agencies, the European Union, technical Project Manager s and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society in the areas pertaining to  the Rule of Law and SSR portfolio.  The Project Manager will also ensure coordination and close collaboration with UNDP’s HQ unit on Rule of Law, Justice and Security at the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) and alignment with the UNDP/BPPS Global Programme on Rule of Law and the new GFP arrangement.

The project will be implemented as one out of four components in the framework of the “Programme de “prévention des crises et relèvement” (2014-2016)”. The objective of this component is to contribute to the strengthening of the rule of law in areas affected by crises in the East and to focus on the consolidation of peace and human security. The project will be focused on access to justice for vulnerable people, rights awareness of the population, implementing legal aid and legal assistance, support to jurisdictions, reinforcement of justice actors’ capacities, etc.                     

Gender issues will increasingly be mainstreamed in the new programming phase, while providing special attention to women victims of sexual violence. In addition, UNDP will support activities related to the monitoring of judicial system in order to identify the main issues to focus on and to create a baseline study and tool of indicators for the next interventions in the sector of justice and Rule of Law in Chad.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Under the direct supervision of CPR Coordinator (Axe 4 CPAP/Axe 2 CPD) or Transition and Peace Consolidation Coordinator (P5) the Rule of Law Project Manager will :

• Manage and supervise the implementation of UNDP project “reinforcement of the access to justice and Rule of Law in Eastern Chad”, including planning and conceptualizing the activities of the current existing written project;
• Advise UNDP Chad country office on strategies and responses in the rule of law context, oversee rule of law and SSR programming, and develop and implement a rule of law/SSR programming approach with increased coordination towards other implementers, and in particular the EU;
• Supervise the staff, manage the resources and develop appropriate linkages with other actors involved in supporting access to justice and judicial reform across the eastern region;
• In particular provide direction and supervision of national Rule of Law Officers in the field. She/he is responsible for the delivery of project activities in her/his assigned geographic area;
• Ensure the integration of cross-cutting issues, such as gender and SGBV, peace building, and human rights into justice and security project design, monitoring and evaluation;
• Ensure regular monitoring and evaluation, including but not limited to, regular field visits;
• Prepares the project Annual Work Plan for approval of the Project Board in alignment with internal, national and regional priorities and ccontributes to periodic reports and the preparation of other project documentation as required;
• Represents the UNDP Rule of Law interventions in Eastern Chad and, when required, at the national level in N’Djamena;
• Liaise with implementing partners on a regular basis and provide technical guidance as needed;
• Organize regular meetings with counterparts to ensure timely and effective program delivery;
• Assist the UNDP country team in the development, negotiation and implementation of any additional initiatives elaborated in Rule of Law area of intervention, including mobilization strategies;
• Supports knowledge building and the dissemination of lessons learned in the area of access to justice and judicial reform;
• Provide recommendations on SSR-related issues and strategy;
• Contribute to the harnessing of effective partnerships and competitive selection of partners for implementation of UNDP projects;
• Promote justice and rule of law results, ensuring appropriate levels of visibility and public awareness on results and ongoing activities;
• Provide policy advice to UNDP Senior Management in Chad, government counterparts, donors and other partners on issues related to rule of law and SSR;
• Ensures overall accountability of the use of project funds as well as the strict and consistent application of UNDP rules and regulations in all project operations;
• Provides leadership in overseeing the effective provision of services to counterparts including fair and transparent procurement, efficient logistics and sound financial management;
• Ensures the integrity of financial systems and directly oversees the administrative, financial and budgetary aspects of the project;
• Liaises with field staff, reviews project requests for direct payment, monitors payment requests from the field and ensure timely and regular payments of monies. Ensures the empowerment of field officers on professional matters;
• Ensures the planning and supervises regular risk analysis and monitoring activities and ensures the maintenance of the Project Risk Log and Issues Log, and;
• Undertake any other activities as designated by the Programme Coordinator as needed.

Competencias

Corporate Competencies :

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Functional Competencies :

• Very good knowledge of the region, including the political environment and legal statutes as they pertain to human rights;
• Ability to work and act under pressure in a politically and psychologically difficult environment, with a minimum of comfort and in dangerous security conditions;
• Sound political judgment, impartiality, diplomacy and discretion;
• Proven ability to provide effective leadership and transfer advice and knowledge staff at all levels and from different national and cultural backgrounds;
• Proven effective supervisory skills; ability to mentor staff and provide guidance and support;
• Proven ability to establish priorities and to plan, organize, coordinate and monitor own work plan and provide advice and guidance to others; in-depth understanding of division's strategic direction; resourcefulness, sound judgment and decision-making skills;
• Demonstrated sound judgment in resolving issues/problems; ability to proactively seek and recommend sound policy initiatives;
• Ability to actively seek to improve programmes/services, offer new and different options to solve problems/meet client needs;
• Excellent and effective communication (verbal and written) skills, including ability to prepare reports and conduct presentations by clearly formulating positions on issues, articulating options concisely conveying maximum necessary information, making and defending recommendations; diplomacy and tact; ability to convey difficult issues and positions to senior officials;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity;
• Effective negotiating skills and ability to work with others to reach mutually benefiting and lasting understandings.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education :

• Advanced University degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) security studies or law, preferably with specialization in human rights or criminal law.

Experience :

• At least 5 years’ work experience dealing with issues in conflict and post-conflict countries and substantial direct experience on access to justice, judicial reform and/or strengthening of the rule of law; 
• Proven experience in project management and very good knowledge of the project management tools;
• Detailed knowledge of development process and post-conflict related issues, particularly in the reactivation and development of accountable rule of law institutions in a post-conflict environment;
• Professional experiences in most of these areas: justice sector reform, access to justice, gender justice, capacity building, security sector reform and related issues;
• Experience in security sector governance, institutional development and oversight;
• Experience in ensuring gender-sensitive security sector reform;
• Experience in drafting UNDP program documents;
• Experience in national security consultations, sector wide coordination and strategic planning, including through linking SSR to related practice areas such as wider rule of law engagement;
• Proven experience in transition and development coordination and resource mobilization;
• Prior experience within the United Nations, in particular UNDP, is desirable but not a requirement.

Language requirements :

• Fluency in spoken and written French and English;
• Knowledge of Arabic would be a strong advantage.