UNDP’s work focuses on poverty reduction, good governance, climate change and as well as economic development. Access to justice is a vital part of the UNDP mandate to reduce poverty and ensure sustainable development.

Rooted in principles of inclusiveness and Leave No One Behind (LNOB), UNDP is planning to conduct capacity building training for respective national partners on legal aid on civil and administrative laws and to develop new guidelines on legal aid.

Under this output, UNDP is planning to review the effectiveness of the legal aid schemes to identify opportunities for their improvement. The findings and insights will be shared with the relevant government partners. As national partners, the CO will partner with the Ministry of Justice, Bar Association, Justice Academy, and clinics functioning under the law faculties of the universities. 

OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT 

The purpose of the assignment is to conduct a review on the effectiveness and efficiency of legal aid schemes in the areas of civil law and administrative law for vulnerable groups (in compliance with UN and CoE standards).

SCOPE OF WORK

Specifically, the responsibilities of the international consultant will include to carry out a review on the existing legal framework on civil and administrative laws of Azerbaijan for vulnerable communities in compliance with UN and CoE standards. For this purpose, international consultant will be:

• Developing a detailed methodology for the data collection, which has a specific focus on mainstreaming the legal aid for the vulnerable communities.
• Conducting the desk review of the existing studies and reports on legal aid and relevant normative documents on civil and administrative law of Azerbaijan.
• Conducting empirical research to provide evidence about the costs of different ways of expanding the legal aid scheme for civil and administrative cases.
• To provide a clear guidance and methodology to the local expert on conducting consultations with the relevant stakeholders on a national and local level, among which are the Ministry of Justice, Bar Association, Mediation Council, judges and their organizations, human rights and law reform NGOs, academics of legal backgrounds and CSOs to collect comprehensive data.

The output of the international consultant will be:

• A detailed Review Report on effectiveness and efficiency of legal aid schemes in the areas of civil and administrative laws for the vulnerable communities (in compliance with UN and CoE standards)
• A series of Recommendations on improvement of legal aid scheme on the civil and administrative laws for the vulnerable communities.

• Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making
• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience
• Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources
• Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms

Education:

• University degree in international human rights law, legal studies, rule of law or related field 

Experience: 

• At least 10 years of experience as human rights law expert, legal adviser, lawyer, legal or human rights officer 
• Excellent knowledge of UN and CoE standards on effectiveness and efficiency of legal aid schemes in the areas of civil law and administrative law for vulnerable groups
• Proven experience in delivery of review or gap analyses of domestic legislature on Legal Aid on the areas of civil and administrative laws 
• Excellent knowledge of the civil and administrative laws 
• Proven work experience with international organisations 

Language skills:

• Excellent English writing skills 

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on Lowest price and technically compliant offer:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) offering the lowest price/cost

Evaluation of technical criteria:

I Academic Qualifications:

• University degree in international human rights law, legal studies, rule of law or related field – 15 points

II. Years of Experience:

• At least 10 years of experience as human rights law expert, legal adviser, lawyer, legal or human rights officer – 20 points
• Excellent knowledge of UN and CoE standards on effectiveness and efficiency of legal aid schemes in the areas of civil law and administrative law for vulnerable groups - 20 points
• Proven experience in delivery of review or gap analyses of domestic legislature on Legal Aid on the areas of civil and administrative laws – 15 points
• Excellent knowledge of the civil and administrative laws – 10 points
• Proven work experience with international organisations – 5 points
• Approach to work – 10 points

III. Language requirements:

• Excellent English writing skills – 5 points

Note: Maximum possible score is 100 points. In order to be eligible, the candidate has to score at least 70 points (70% of maximum possible score)

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS.

The system accepts only one attachment, so please submit your technical and financial proposal in one attachment. 

a) Duly accomplished OFFEROR’S LETTER TO UNDP CONFIRMING INTEREST AND AVAILABILITY using the template provided by UNDP (please download the form from https://www.az.undp.org/content/azerbaijan/en/home/procurement.html, under Individual Contract Application Forms heading)

b) Personal CV or P11 form, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.

c) Approach to work document.

UNDP reserves the right to reject the application if above documents are not provided by the deadline.

This is a home-based assignment and the travel to the duty station is not expected.