Antecedentes

UNDP Afghanistan Mission Statement:
 
Afghanistan’s justice system faces extraordinary challenges. Justice sector infrastructure has often been destroyed or damaged by fighting or decay during the years of conflict; a large number of Afghanistan’s court houses are in need of construction or rehabilitation. Legal professionals are very often the victims of violence by insurgent groups who target them as agents of the state; threatening of justice officials, particularly in the less secure regions of the country is absolutely commonplace, and assassinations are very common. Corruption is a constant concern; judges and other justice system officials are poorly paid, justice system capacity to prosecute corruption is very limited, and corruption is perceived as rampant both within and outside the justice system. The Government of Afghanistan (GoA) and international community are concerned about bolstering the credibility of the “formal” justice system, recognizing that Afghanistan’s traditional justice system plays a major role in resolving conflicts yet does so at times in violation of national and international human rights obligations, particularly the rights of women.
 
Following continuous engagement in supporting Afghanistan’s justice sector since 2002, UNDP Afghanistan’s justice sector support has now entered a new phase. The Justice and Human Rights in Afghanistan (JHRA) Project draws on the lessons learned through two previous UNDP justice projects– Strengthening the Justice System of Afghanistan (SJSA) and Access to Justice at District Level (AJDL). The JHRA Project continues many activities piloted by these projects, while also adding several new activities identified as key priorities by Government partners.
 
The 1st phase of JHRA Project was implemented from June 2009- 30 June 2012. The project was designed to support the achievement of the priorities and benchmarks on human rights, rule of law and justice as highlighted in the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS) and the Afghanistan Compact. The JHRA project worked to improve access to justice at the national and provincial levels in Afghanistan. Programmatic interventions were undertaken by using human rights based approach that simultaneously strengthened citizens’ capacity to claim their rights and enhanced the capacity of justice delivery system actors to deliver justice in compliance with the rule of law and human rights standards. The Project activities included awareness raising through training justice officials, and raising the human rights awareness of community members including school teachers and students, and the general public and villages throughout districts in Afghanistan. It also engaged with the rehabilitation of district justice facilities providing emergency infrastructure works and basic equipment so facilities can function. At the national level, the project assisted the three national justice institutions including; the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), the Supreme Court (SCt), and the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) in strengthening their capacity so as to be able to better contribute to the justice reform process and the realization of human rights in Afghanistan.
 
The new phase of JHRA is expected to be initiated by January 2013. At present, a Project Initiation Phase is being implemented. During this period a comprehensive project document for the second phase (JHRA Phase II) is being developed for implementation under a direct implementation modality. JHRA Phase II will leverage on the work undertaken in Phase I and deepen the interventions at the national level and provincial levels and attempt to work across the justice sector, involving the rule of law service providers. The project will also be introducing a component on legal empowerment for the poor and work on labour deficits and other civil law issues.
 
The Human Rights Support Unit (HRSU) is a part of the national level support that is provided by the JHRA to the Ministry of Justice (MOJ). The HRSU was established within the MoJ in 2010. The HRSU is responsible for strengthening the Government’s capacity to fulfil its international human rights obligations in conformity with the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and its ratified human rights treaties. It acts as an inter-ministerial mechanism within the MoJ to assess and evaluate executive functions from human rights perspectives. In 2011, the HRSU was made a part of the MoJ Tashkil (organisational structure).
 
Note: UNDP Afghanistan reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP Afghanistan at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and education requirements.

Deberes y responsabilidades

The Capacity Development Specialist will be in charge of the overall day to day management of UNDP’s support to the HRSU. The Capacity Development Specialist will report directly to the Policy, Legislations and Human Rights Specialist and on a regular basis also coordinate with the National Project Manager. The Capacity Development Specialist will work closely with the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) to ensure all programmatic work is aligned with the project mandate and the annual workplans. Also new areas of work will be developed in close coordination with the CTA. The Capacity Development Specialist will be based at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
 
S/he will also play the lead role in providing technical guidance on human rights issues to the MoJ, in coordination with the Policy, Legislations and Human Rights Specialist and the CTA. The Capacity Development Specialist will provide technical guidance to the HRSU staff (national staff under UNDP contract; staff under government contract and consultants). The person will be responsible for ensuring implementation of rules of business of the HRSU in line with the MoJ and other departments such as Legislative Drafting Department and Strategic Planning, Policy and Foreign Affairs Department. Negotiations maybe undertaken to ensure that coordination mechanisms are enforced between MOJ departments and other Government bodies, including line ministries.
 
The Capacity Development Specialist will mentor the staff of HRSU to conduct high quality trainings, provide trainings on analyzing national legislations based on treaties and conventions signed by Afghanistan; provide global best practices and facilitate and mentor state reporting providing through coordination, technical support where necessary with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and other relevant ministries. 
 
Summary of Key Functions:
 
  • Ensure mentoring and coordination.
  • Facilitate and mentor state reporting through coordination, technical support where necessary with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and other relevant ministries. 
  • Support the Component Manager on Policy, Legislations and Human Rights in the overall management, coordination of and reporting on the HRSU activities to ensure quality outputs are achieved within the time frames defined, as well as support in the fundraising activities. 
Ensure mentoring and coordination:
 
  • Ensure that HRSU is in line with the Ministry of Justice rules of business.
  • Coordinate with other departments such as Taqnin (Legislative Drafting Department) and Strategic Planning, Policy and Foreign Affairs Departments. Facilitate internal communication flow between Taqnin and the HRSU to ensure that the HRSU reviews all laws with human rights implications.
  • Negotiations maybe undertaken to ensure that coordination mechanisms are enforced between MOJ departments and other Government bodies, including line ministries.
  • Support the HRSU to establish regular liaison with and provision of expertise to human rights focal points across key ministries at the national level.
  • Provide technical and advisory support to the MOJ and to MOJ senior staff on necessary management measures and on Human Rights issues.
  • Mentor all staff of HRSU to conduct high quality trainings.
  • Undertake trainings for HRSU staff to analyze national legislations based on treaties and conventions signed by Afghanistan.
  • Provide global best practices on human rights trainings for justice service providers and other government and institutional actors; share learning materials to undertake and showcase trainings on law making processes.
  • Support the HRSU in the development, adoption and maintenance of M&E mechanisms and transfer knowledge to key ministries, Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) and other stakeholders.
  • Support Taqnin and HRSU in the organization of trainings in law-making and law-making processes for Government officials and legislators as relevant to legislative calendar.
  • Support the HRSU in the organization of regular training, sensitization and information sessions for state institutions on the implementation of treaty recommendations.
  • Support the HRSU in the development of manuals on human rights for target groups.
Facilitate and mentor state reporting through coordination, technical support where necessary with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and other relevant ministries:
 
  • Support the HRSU in provision of technical support to MOFA to develop and submit State Reports on the UNCAT/ICCPR and UN Res. 1325.
  • Support the HRSU in the facilitation of approval of the action plan on implementation of recommendations from UPR, CRC, ICSCR bodies and monitoring of its implementation.
  • Develop cooperation structures between the HRSU and partners in the line ministries, including a framework for coordination of work with other line ministries.
  • Develop communication structures between the HRSU and MoFA.
  • Advise the Component Manager and the MOJ, as well as senior MOJ staff on progress of state reporting processes and progress on the human rights compliances of national legislations and policy documents.
  • Assist HRSU in developing agreements and MOU’s for technical assistance from other national and international institutions.
  • Assist with and contribute to human rights related projects for and with the MOJ.
Support the Component Project Manager, in the overall management, coordination of and reporting on the HRSU activities to ensure quality outputs are achieved within the time frames defined, as well as support in the fundraising activities. 
 
  • Manage day to day administrative matters for HRSU activity under the direction of Component Manager.
  • Support the Component Manager on Policy, Legislations and Human Rights and provide weekly update reports on the progress of the HRSU.
  • Develop workplans, terms of reference (TOR) etc in consultation with relevant persons of Ministry of Justice.
  • Monitor project progress against annual and quarterly work plans and budgets.    
  • Prepare donor briefings and reports in accordance with UNDP reporting requirements
  • for the Component Project Manager, National Project Manager and CTA to enable them to provide regular reporting and mobilize the resources necessary for the support of the HRSU.
  • Support the Component Manager in managing calls for bids and for proposals and selection of implementing partners within the UNDP contractual framework for project activity implementation. Design the scope of works and TORs for the bids and call for proposals.
  • Play the lead role in providing the vision for the establishment of ongoing operations of the HRSU.
  • Identify risks and challenges to the establishment and ongoing operations of the HRSU and provide advice to Component Manager and CTA on mitigation strategies.
  • Facilitate the recruitment of, and manage the team of staff who will collaborate in the implementation of the HRSU; Manage performance of consultants and specialist advisers.
  • Ensure full national ownership of the HRSU by working in constant collaboration with the MoJ and other Government partners.
  • Ensure that the national HRSU implementation Task Force meetings are held regularly.
  • Preparation of project implementation activities, selection of implementing partners, (service providers and NGOs).
  • Perform other tasks as required.

Competencias

Corporate Competencies:
 
  • Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Project implementation experience with the UN system a strong asset;
  • Strong organizational and reporting skills;
  • Results oriented, strong team player with outstanding interpersonal and coordination skills;
  • Ability to work independently;
  • Strong managerial competency with experience in results based management and results oriented approach to project implementation;
  • Ability to establish substantive professional relationships with all stakeholders;
  • Familiarity with post-conflict environments is an asset.
Functional Competencies:
 
Knowledge Management and Learning
 
  • Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office;
  • 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 provide top quality policy advice;
  • In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues.
  • Good interpersonal and diplomacy skills that allow for working productively as part of a larger team;
  • Ability to use critical thinking, conceptualize ideas, and articulate relevant subject matter in a clear and concise way.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills in English;
  • Ability to communicate effectively with and relate to people of different cultures, demonstrating an ability to see issues from other perspectives;
Development and Operational Effectiveness
 
  • Ability to lead implementation of new systems (business side), and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change.
Management and Leadership
 
  • Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
  • Shows conflict resolution skills;
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
  • Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;
  • Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:
  • Master’s degree in law, human rights, or a related discipline.
Experience:
  • Minimum 5 years of experience in Human Rights related work, of which at least 3 years should be in positions of increasing responsibility in the fields of institutional reform, capacity building of Government Institutions, and/or implementation of human rights programming;
  • Experience working with justice institutions with senior government functionaries such as ministers.
  • Experience in managing staff, budgets and programmes;
  • Proven ability to interact with a range of governmental, bilateral and multilateral agencies.
  • Good interpersonal skills;
  • Initiative and good organizational and leadership skills;
  • Commitment to gender equality and ethnical diversity;
  • Experience in working in Shari’a law contexts, UN organizations (especially UNDP).
  • Previous work experience in Afghanistan is an assets;
  • Excellent computer skills, with MS. Office (Word, Excel, Power Point). 
Language Requirements:
  • Excellent knowledge of English and ability to communicate clearly in written and spoken English;
  • Working knowledge of Dari, Pashto is a strong asset.
Interested and qualified international candidates should apply on-line through the UNDP Jobs site at http://www.undp.org.af/Jobs/index.htm  and please ensure that to fill up and upload Personal History Form-P.11 which is available at http://www.undp.org.af/Jobs/index.htm   in the relevant field of the on-line application
 
Incomplete applications or applications received after the closing date (31 December 2012) will not be given consideration. Please note that only applications who are short-listed will be contacted.
 
For more detailed information about UNDP Afghanistan please visit our website at www.undp.org.af   
 
Successful candidates must be prepared to start work within 3 weeks of the offer of appointment.
 
Internal candidates who have served a minimum of 12 months in the current assignment are invited to apply.
 
Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.