Background

Background

Many people in South Sudan have unmet justice and security needs countrywide for both everyday disputes and severe abuses and threats. After decades of war, the country was left with a barely functioning justice and policing system, and institutions are unable to provide the coverage, accessibility and effectiveness of services people require. Where they are delivered, services are unequal, untimely and outcomes are often unfair. Despite security improvements, crime rates are high, SGBV remains prevalent; and human rights violations are regularly reported. The delays to implement the R-ARCCS widens the justice gap and human rights deficit, as the review of essential laws, security concerns, as well as conflict-related abuses of the past and root causes of conflict remain unaddressed in the absence of transitional justice, accountability, reconciliation, healing and other constitutional and security sector reforms.

Eastern Equatoria State has seven counties, and it is one of the states most affected by food insecurity due to the 2009/2010 rainfall shortages. The immediate impact of food insecurity has resulted in inter-ethnic violence and conflicts and increased acts of banditry in the State. This competition over natural resources by cattle keepers, including land grazing and water points' availability for pastoralist activities, has also affected relations between ethnic groups, such as the Toposa, Buya and Logir and the local communities. These perpetual tensions and clashes between local communities and the cattle keepers, especially in the areas of Ikwotos, Lafon, Kiyala, Moli Tukuro, Moli Andru, Pageri, Loa, Kerepi, Mugali and Nyongwa Bomas, as well as Kapoeta South, East, North, Budi and Torit Counties, have become areas and sources of insecurity in Eastern Equatoria State.

Domestic and gender-based violence in the State especially, Torit and Magwi Counties, is a serious concern, considering the proximity to army deployments in Nimule town areas. This is attributed to limited livelihoods opportunities leading to a high divorce rate, alcohol brewing (armed soldiers drinking with locals), and survival sex. Patriarchal nature has contributed to the above security challenges. For example, civilians, particularly women, do not get along with security personnel. Women and girls are secluded in community 

policing initiatives because of their gender, and this has triggered hatred and the conception by women for uniformed personnel as unfair and impartial. The Police lack the operational and functional capacities to address security issues in a gender-sensitive manner because men and women think differently and have varying perspectives. Police investigators and prosecutors lack the technical capacities to present their cases before the Court; community members, particularly the vulnerable groups (women and girls), are not well informed about their fundamental human rights and legal assistance that is available to them. Finally, the breakdown of law and order filled with criminality by organized gang groups in Torit who call themselves "niggers” is still in existence and chiefs and sub-chiefs are exposed to harassment by SSPDF soldiers when they intervene in civil-military disagreements.

UNDP's Access to Justice, Security and Human Rights Programme responds to this by supporting the Judiciary of South Sudan; the Ministry of Justice; and the Ministry of Interior, including the South Sudan National Police Service and the National Prisons Service of South Sudan, the Law Reform Commission and the South Sudan Human Rights Commission to increase access to justice, strengthen security including law enforcement and promote human rights in South Sudan as enablers for sustaining peace and development. Using a sector-wide approach, UNDP's strategy for achieving this is twofold. Firstly, by providing support to the priorities of the rule of law institutions as articulated in their institutional strategic and/or action plans. This includes both infrastructural and institutional development support. Secondly, by promoting access to justice and safety by linking the rule of law institutions with community and civil society initiatives. Additionally, the Program accompanies the government in implementing its rule of law-related commitment in the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, 2018.

Under the guidance and supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor and Programme Manager for Access to Justice, Security and Human Rights Strengthening and working closely with the State Rule of Law Specialist, the Law Enforcement Officer will work closely with the other members of the Access to Justice team and in coordination with the State-level justice actors that include the state Police Commissioner, Prisons Director, Prosecutor, Lawyers, Traditional leaders, community security platforms, other justice actors and Transitional Mechanisms to improve justice and security services using a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP (United Nations Development Programmes) rules and regulations to develop and implement policy and legal reforms, strengthen policing, law enforcement and prison management and initiate inclusive community security activities to improve security in Eastern Equatoria State.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work and Tasks

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor for Rule of Law and Program Manager, or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the Law Enforcement Officer - Consultant will perform the following tasks:

• Establish and operationalize police-community relations committees (PCRCs) in conflict hotspot locations in the Eastern Equatoria State.
• Conduct weekly PCRC meetings in existing thirty (30) locations and operational in Torit and Kapoeta South counties to increase security patrols presence.
• Provide support to community members in the existing PCRCs locations to develop sustainable security plans and locally owned community policing approaches in Eastern Equatoria State for long term use as provided in the PCRC policy and SOPs in South Sudan.
• Develop functional and operational capacities of women and youths through crime prevention awareness on best practices and concepts of community-oriented policing in locations where PCRCs are established and operational to build their confidence to report crimes.
• Develop and build capacities of SSNPS through training with basic knowledge of law enforcement (crime scene management, evidence collection, handling, storage, and presentation to Court) as provided by the South Sudan Police Service 2009 Act and other legislation to safeguard the human rights of victims and witnesses and ensure fair trials
• Provide mentorships to improve the operational capacities of the Special Protection Unit (SPU) of Torit Municipal Police Station and professional skills of Police Officers, Prison Officers and GBV social workers with emphasis on prevention, swift and improved tailored investigation of GBV cases in gender and victim sensitive approach
• Support the Project Engineer in conducting assessment and monitoring visits to the construction site for the two (2) proposed police posts in Kiyala and Magwi Counties to conform to project construction guidelines and donors' specifications to support SSNPS and community policing in crime prevention.
• Provide reports (monthly/quarterly and final) according to reporting requirements, including key results on deliverables, to the Chief Technical Advisor/Program Manager.

Expected Deliverables

• 5 Police-community relations committees (PCRCs) established and operationalized in 5 conflict hotspot locations, with at least 65% of them being women and youth-led.
• Sustained operationalization of existing twenty-four (24) PCRCs in Torit and six (6) in Kapoeta South through the conduct of weekly PCRC meetings for crime prevention and early response within 6 months.
• At least 15 sustainable security plans and locally owned community policing approaches developed in the existing thirty (30) PCRCs locations in Eastern Equatoria State for long term use as provided in the PCRC policy and SOPs in South Sudan.
• Functional capacities of at least one thousand (1000) women and one thousand (1000) youths developed and strengthened through crime prevention awareness and on community radio to increase their confidence to report crimes to the SSNPS.
• Professional capacities of at least fifty (50) SSNPS officers in Torit developed and improved on basic knowledge of law enforcement as provided by the South Sudan Police Service 2009 Act to support in executing their policing duties.
• Reports (monthly/quarterly and final) produced and submitted according to reporting requirements, including key results on deliverables, to the Chief Technical Advisor/Program Manager.

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Payment modality

Payment shall be done upon completion of deliverables as per below percentages:

Deliverables:                                                                                                                                                   Amount (% of the total amount )

1. Inception report covering understanding of the Terms of Reference (ToR), methodology and work plan.                           15%

2. Report on established PCRCs and training of PCRC members                                                                                           15%

3. PCRCs meetings and security plans reports                                                                                                                         20%

4. PCRCs Community outreaches and radio talk shows reports.                                                                                             15%

5. Report on training of SSNPS officers (investigators, prosecutors, and CID)                                                                         15%

6. Final report produced according to reporting requirements                                                                                                    20%

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Demonstrates diplomacy and tact in dealing with sensitive and complex situations.
• Effective communication, team building, interpersonal, analysis, and planning skills.

Professionalism

• Effective communication
• Problem-Solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment.
• Shows pride in work and achievements.
• Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results.

Planning & Organizing

• Organizes and accurately completes multiple tasks by establishing priorities while considering special assignments, frequent interruptions, deadlines, available resources, and multiple reporting relationships.
• Plans, coordinates, and organizes workload while remaining aware of changing priorities and competing deadlines.
• Establishes, builds, and maintains effective working relationships with staff, partners, and beneficiaries to achieve the planned results.

Knowledge sharing/Continuous learning:

Takes responsibility for personal learning and career development and actively seeks opportunities to learn through formal and informal means. Learns from others inside and outside the organizations adopting best practices created by others. Actively produces and disseminates new knowledge

Valuing diversity:

• Demonstrates an international outlook, appreciates differences in values and learns from cultural diversity. 
• Takes actions appropriate to the religious and cultural context and shows respect, tact, and consideration for cultural differences.
• Observes and inquires to understand the perspectives of others and continually examines his/her own biases and behaviors

Managing Relationships:

Working in teams:

• Works collaboratively with colleagues inside and outside of UN (United Nations) to allow the achievement of common goals and shared objectives. Actively seeks resolution of disagreements and supports the decisions of the team.

Communicating information and ideas:

• Delivers oral and written information in a timely, effective, and easily understood manner.
• Participates in meetings and group discussions actively listening and sharing information.
• Frankly expresses ideas with the intent to resolve issues, considers what others have to say and responds appropriately to criticism.

Conflict and self-management:

• Manages personal reactions by remaining calm, composed and patient even when under stress or during a crisis and avoids engaging in unproductive conflict. Expresses disagreement in constructive ways that focus on the issue not the person. 
• Tolerates conditions of uncertainty or ambiguity and continues to work productively.

Working with people:

Empowerment/Developing people/Performance management:

• Integrates himself/herself into the work unit, seeking opportunities to originate action and actively contribute to achieving results with other team members.
• Knows his/her limitations and strength, welcomes constructive criticism and feedback, and gives honest and contractive feedback to colleagues and supervisors. Seeks new challenges and assignments and exhibits a desire to learn. 
• Accepts responsibility for personal performance, participating in individual work planning and objective setting, seeking feedback and acting to continuously improve performance. 

Required Skills and Experience

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, at the national and international levels, in planning, developing, managing, and monitoring legal, security reforms, Police and prisons management; knowledge of United Nations or international organizations procedures will be an asset.
• High-level planning, facilitation, communication and capacity development skills with a demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge and skills in a complex institutional environment.
• Experience of working in conflict/post-conflict settings.
• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development.
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;
• Good knowledge of the justice institutions, transitional justice standards, human rights, conflict and community resolution and other relevant issues in South Sudan.
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Speaking in Arabic is a must.

Evaluation criteria

Applicants shall be evaluated using a Combined Scoring method, where the technical evaluation (qualifications, required Skills and Experience) will be weighted 70%, and combined with the price offer weighted 30%. Contract award is to the 3 candidates who obtain the highest score; ranked 1st and 2nd  in the location marked as applied and  in the combined score.

The criteria to be used for rating the qualifications, required Skills and Experience is outlined below:

Criteria:

Relevant Educational Experience (20%)

• Master's degree relevant to law or international development or human rights, criminology, security studies, Women Peace and Security Studies

Relevant Work Experience as per TOR (Terms of Reference) Requirements (50%)

• At least 4 years of proven experience working in the rule of law or legal sector 
• Good knowledge of justice institutions, transitional justice standards, human rights, conflict, and community resolution 
• Working experience in post-conflict countries. Local working experience or engagement with various levels of government in South Sudan is preferred.   

Competencies, Skills & language (30%)

• Proven ability to work under pressure with tight deadlines, delivers on time and within cost
• Excellent communication, analytical and reporting skills.

• Proficiency and proven experience in using Microsoft Office suite (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is required.

  Proficiency in English and Arabic is an added advantage.

NOTE: Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the Technical Evaluation will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Financial evaluation (total 30 points)

The financial proposals of all the technically qualified applicants will be scored up to 30 points based on the formula provided below. The maximum points (30) will be assigned to the lowest financial proposal. All other proposals shall receive points according to the following formula: p = y (x/z)

Where:

• p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated
• y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal (30).
• X = price of the lowest-priced proposal
• z = price of the proposal being evaluated.