UNDP Jobs - 50873- Legal Specialist Justice

Legal Specialist Justice

Location :

Bamako, MALI

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

28-Oct-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

12 mois

Languages Required :

English French

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

Since the coup d’état in March 2012, Mali is facing a political and security crisis that has weakened the structures of the state and is threatening to undermine democratic achievements made over the last twenty years. On 21 March 2012, a discontent military group attacked several locations in the capital Bamako, including the presidential palace, state television, and military barracks. The coup resulted in an abrupt change of leadership and rebel Islamist and Touareg groups seized control over the Northern part of the country. Following the deposition of the President and the seizure of control of the North, the UN Security Council authorized the deployment of African–led international support, as it considered the entrenchment of terrorist and criminal groups posing a serious threat to the whole Sahel region. In January 2013 the rebel groups advanced further, gained control over two major cities in the South and threatened to advance towards Bamako, which led France to intervene militarily. In the spring of 2013 the Security Council agreed to deploy a peace keeping mission. The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) was established 1st July 2013, through resolution 2100 of 25 April 2013.

Two years after the crisis in Mali started, the justice sector and state authorities have yet to be re-established in several places. Courts, police stations, detention centers and prisons were completely destroyed in the many areas in the Northern regions of Mali. The national justice and security actors have little or no presence beyond the city centers and the judiciary and corrections are not operational, except for the presence of a few personnel on the ground. While security forces have, to some extent, returned to population centers, the national police has little or no equipment for protection and communications, which is affecting its efficiency and safety.

There is an urgent need to provide state services to the population in the entire process of the penal chain in order to build confidence in the government and addressing needs in particular for vulnerable groups such as women, children, IDPs and returnees.
Re-establishing state authorities and formal justice authorities is key for any post conflict situation and needs to be pursued in a way so as to rebuild lost confidence in state authorities, to avoid triggering new conflicts and to establish accountability and trust in state-citizen relations that might have been lacking pre-crisis. Post-conflict interventions therefore need to ensure that long-standing concerns and issues are addressed in the process and that underlying reasons for conflicts are analyzed.

While the rule of law situation in Mali remains challenging, progress has been made in some areas. The Ministry of Justice arranged a workshop on transitional justice in June 2013, and one of the outcomes of the workshop was to establish a truth, justice and reconciliation commission. Several rebel leaders have been arrested for human rights violations during the crisis, including General Haya Sanogo, the former head of the military junta. The Malian government has shown willingness to investigate and prosecute atrocities during the crisis. Additionally, some courts and correction facilities have been restored and re-staffed, and in some places the national police is operating from temporary facilities while their old buildings are being restored. Training is ongoing of the Police National and the Garde National Academies.

The Global Focal Point on the Rule of Law (RoL) is providing programme support for Mali, both with quick impact solution and longer term development goals. The situation in the North compared to the rest of the country is complex and needs particular attention from MINUSMA and UNCT.

In this context, UNDP joined hands with MINUSMA for the programme ‘Redeployment of State Administration and Consolidation of the Rule of Law’, which has been launched for the Northern regions of Mali. The aim of this cooperation is a) the mobilization of material and financial assistance for the rehabilitation of key rule of law infrastructure; b) the provision of equipment; and c) the re-deployment of police, justice and corrections officials in areas freed from armed groups.

The Malian authorities need further assistance with restructuring and re-equipment of justice institutions, but in particular with capacity building and support to justice officials to improve access to justice in the country. In order to address these challenges and to ensure better coordination of the UN’s support to the justice sector reform, led by the Government of Mali in the framework of its peacebuilding and development efforts, UNDP and MINUSMA are looking into developing a sector wide approach.

UNDP is looking for a P3 level Programme Specialist in Rule of Law, with experience in RoL programming and who can advise the UNDP senior management on current as well as future activities and strategies in that area.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Programme Specialist will be based in the Governance and Rule of Law team of UNDP Mali in Bamako and report to the Deputy Country Director program.

The objective of this position is to assist the country office with the implementation of the Access to Justice and Rule of Law programme. The incumbent will support UNDP and the Malian government in ensuring that technical expertise and advice are given as appropriate for the implementation of the programme. In addition, the Programme Specialist will support the UNDP country office with tasks related to the development of new projects and in particular the coordination of activities with MINISMA Rule of Law colleagues. Finally the Programme Specialist is expected to support the CO with regard to resource mobilization for the RoL projects.

The Programme Specialist will perform the following duties:

Provide strategic direction on the Rule of Law portfolio;
Start implementation of new Rule of Law programme in Mali;
Assist the Country Office with the implementation and reporting of projects within UNDP’s RoL portfolio;
Assist the Country Office with the planning and conceptualization of justice activities in the framework of the new Rule of Law programme;
Liaise closely with colleagues at country office and technical teams;
Contribute to reports and the preparation of other documentation as required;
Assist the Country Office in the development, negotiation and implementation of any additional initiatives elaborated in the context of the portfolio’s area of intervention;
Engage actively with Governmental authorities related to the Rule of Law portfolio;
Engage actively with MINUSMA and other GFP partners on joint planning and implementation of RoL interventions;
Provide support in developing new partnerships between UNDP and stakeholders – including national authorities, UN agencies, community leaders, community-based organizations, local and international NGOs, donor partners to support capacity building in the of RoL, including SALW control;
When required, ensure the representation/leadership of UNDP in inter-agency working group meetings or other coordination mechanisms on Rule of Law;
Undertake any other activities as designated by the CO management as needed;
Liaise with implementing partners in all of UNDP’s focus area on a regular basis and provide technical guidance as needed, and support capacity building activities with the justice system and local civil societies.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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 favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Results driven, ability to work and act under pressure in a politically and psychologically difficult environment, with a minimum of comfort and in dangerous security conditions;
Ability to plan work assignments, establish priorities and to meet strict assignment deadlines; Capacity to adjust priorities as required to use time efficiently;
Ability to design and implement projects;
Knowledge of use of M&E tools;
Ability to report on results;
Sound political judgment, impartiality, diplomacy and integrity;
Ability to build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders and to focus on impact and results;
Demonstrates aptitude to coordinate activities with other international organizations, donors and national partners;
Capacity to coordinate monitoring activities in the field, to mentor program/project staff and provide guidance and support;
Demonstrates sound judgment in resolving issues/problems and delivering strategic insight and analysis;
Ability to proactively seek and recommend sound legal positions;
Compelling communication (verbal and written) skills, including ability to prepare reports, formulate and defend sound recommendations and articulate options concisely conveying maximum necessary information;
Negotiating skills and ability to work at all levels with others to reach mutually benefiting and lasting understandings;
Excellent interpersonal skills; capacity to recognize and respond appropriately to the ideas, interests and concerns of others;
Promotes a knowledge sharing in the office and actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more practice areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills;
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity;
Knowledge of the region, including the political environment and legal statutes as they pertain to human rights, is desirable.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master) in law, preferably with specialization in human rights and/or international criminal law, or related relevant field;
A relevant combination of university degree (Bachelor), professional training and 2 additional years of experience may be considered in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:

At least 5 years’ work experience dealing with issues related to access to justice, judicial reform and/or strengthening of the rule of law in conflict and post-conflict countries or similarly relevant experience;
Prior experience within the United Nations, in particular UNDP, is desirable.

Language requirements:

Proficiency in written and spoken French; and
Working knowledge level in English.