Background

NDP Nepal is working with government agencies, national human rights institutions, and civil society organizations, to implement a Strengthening the Rule of Law and Human Rights Protection System in Nepal’ Programme (ROLHR).  The ROLHR programme aims to propagate the principle of the rule of law in Nepal, as an essential foundation for sustainable peace, human rights, and human development.  The Programme focuses on supporting systemic changes in national legislative, policy, and institutional structures, and delivering tangible results at the local level.  As part of this process, development a more strategic and coordinated approach to justice reform; development of an integrated (‘one door’) socio-legal aid system, and an effective, cohesive, human rights protection and promotion system in Nepal are the key areas identified in the programme.
  
There are three major components in the programme related to justice sector coordination, legal aid and human rights. The justice sector reform process will be implemented through the Justice Sector Coordination Committee to support policy dialogue, strategic planning, research, monitoring and evaluation, and pilot activities to improve the administration of justice across the sector.  It is intended that these components will result in the development of a national strategy for justice sector reform in Nepal, supported by a multi-donor funding mechanism. The programme will support the Ministry of Law, Justice, Constituent Assembly and Parliamentary Affairs (MoLJCAPA) to lead reform in Nepal’s legal aid landscape, towards the establishment of an integrated system which coordinates and regulates relevant, accessible socio-legal aid service provision throughout Nepal and the Supreme Court to facilitate the justice sector coordination initiative in Nepal.  The Programme will support the MoLJCAPA to lead revision of legislation not aligned with the constitution and international human rights instruments to which the Government of Nepal is a State Party.  The Programme will also support the development of the human resource capacities needed to implement those laws.
 
The ROLHR will support the National Human Rights Commission to develop the core institutional capacities it needs to execute its crucial ‘watchdog’ role for the protection and promotion of human rights, monitoring, advocacy, and complaints handling through investigations and to enable other national human rights institutions and actors to work together to achieve critical mass on human rights issues.  The programme will also support a credible transitional justice process for victims of conflict-related human rights violations.

Support to democratic interactions on rule of law and human rights issues is mainstreamed throughout the Programme. These will enable vulnerable groups and their ‘defenders’ to participate in reform processes; foster the development of responsive legal frameworks; and hold government institutions accountable for their implementation of protective legislations and protection and promotion of human rights in Nepal. 
 
The Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) will be responsible for the technical guidance and advices for the effective implementation of the programme and achievement of expected results. Likewise, s/he will also facilitate and promote coordination and collaboration with other actors in these sectors both national and international.
The CTA will work in consultation with National Project Director, UNDP donors and other international and national partners to successfully implement and monitor all  of the ROLHR components i.e. justice sector coordination, access to justice and legal aid, law enforcement, human rights and transitional justice.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance and in coordination with UNDP Country Office (CO) and implementing partners, the CTA will provide technical support to implement the programme activities and ensure that the programme objectives are met as set out in the programme document. The CTA will report directly to the Deputy Country Director (Programme) and be responsible to the National Project Director.
Summary of key functions:
 
The CTA will be responsible for the overall guidance and strategic direction to the programme management and administration  of the programme and  will have the following responsibilities under the guidance of the Project Executive Board; 
  • Ensures proper oversight of project activities and results.
  • Provides technical guidance for the overall management and administration of rule of law programme area
  • Provides policy advice and technical support to government and other partners on justice sector reform.
  • Supports partnership building and resource mobilization.
  • Supports sector-wide coordination and strategic planning efforts and partnership
  • Ensures knowledge management and professional capacity development of the ROLHR programme team and national counterparts.
  • Any other tasks as assigned by the Deputy Country Director (Pogramme).
  • The incumbent will assist the Supreme Court of Nepal, the MOLJCAPA and other justice sector institutions in the emerging areas of rule of law, access to justice and rule of law. S/he will assist the implementing partners in coordinating with the donor community and other stakeholders (civil society organizations, media sources and international organization.

Functions/ Expected Results: Ensures proper oversight of project activities and results; 

  • Provide advices to plan the activities of the programme and monitor progress against the initial quality criteria.
  • Develop an effective monitoring and evaluation systems for ROLHR programme for regular reporting to national stakeholders and development partners. 
  • Provide advice and direction on strategic and policy issues and ensure gender sensitive activities are integrated in the programme plan and implementation strategy.
  • Continuously review the project status and provide strategic and policy advice to the Project Board on required follow up and or corrective action.
  • Create professional development opportunities and oversee the work of ROLHR programme staff and ensure quality and timeliness of delivery
 
Functions/ Expected Results: Provides technical guidance for the overall management and administration of rule of law programme area; 
  • Provide technical advice to the programme in developing baseline indicators for programme monitoring and evaluation.
  • Ensure a proportional approach, cohesion and coordination between different components of programme. 
  • Provide technical advice on rule of law issues and technical guidance to the overall strategic vision with a view to building national capacities, strengthening the rule of law, to support the overarching peace-building objective of the UN.
  • Support programme component and coordinators in managing delivery of the programmes components
  • Ensure the integration of cross-cutting issues, such as peace building and human rights into rule of law project designing, monitoring and evaluation;
  • Ensure a  good coordination and collaboration with suppliers, senior beneficiaries and other implementing partners

Function / Expected Results: Provides policy advice and technical support to government and other partners on  justice sector reform;

  • Provide strategic policy advice to government counterparts, donors and other partners on issues related to the rule of law, justice sector coordination, and access to justice, legal aid and human rights as well as transitional justice mechanisms as a function of strengthening the broader framework of the rule of law.
  • Provide technical assistance with regards to case management, execution of court judgement, formulation of national justice sector strategy and legal aid policy, legislative review and strategy for law enforcement and victim support programme, support for CSO initiatives and multi-stakeholder dialogues.
  • Represent UNDP in coordination and expert bodies on rule of law, as requested by the country office of UNDP.
  • Provide substantive inputs to the preparation of Government and UNDP policy notes, statements, etc., for important events (e.g. donor coordination meeting, forums, international conferences, etc.).
  • Provide strategic policy advice to UNDP senior management on rule of law issues and prepare strategic policy papers.
 Function / Expected Results:  Supports partnership building and resource mobilization;
  • Advocate for UNDP rule of law work and represent UNDP Nepal with national authorities, UN concerned agencies and UNCT, the donor community, and international financial institutions.
  • Liaise regularly and forge close linkages with other UN programmes, agencies and entities, as well as other international and national stakeholders concerned with or providing assistance on access to justice rule of law issues in Nepal to maximise synergies and avoid duplications.
  • Contribute to the harnessing of effective partnerships and competitive selection of partners for the implementation of UNDP projects.
  • Build partnerships with justice sector agencies via coordination mechanisms such as case-management committees and case-management reforms.
  • Develop pilot initiatives for functional partnerships between justice sector stakeholders and non-governmental organizations, local media and the public.
  • Support resource mobilization for the programme in close consultation with senior management.
  • Liaise with and maintain regular contact with line ministries, UN agencies, national human rights institutions and development partners, and  support ongoing coordination efforts, and
  • Develop pilot initiatives for functional partnership between justice sector stakeholders and non-governmental organizations, local media and public.

Function / Expected Results: Supports sector-wide coordination and strategic planning efforts and partnership; 

  • Promote joint programming and UN reform, and collaborate effectively in established frameworks for UN and other international coordination.
  • Develop and help in the coordination mechanism for rule of law programming in Nepal, as requested by government partners and donor community. 
  • Provide technical guidance to establish and institutionalize justice sector coordination.
  • Convene regular meeting with national partners and development partners in Nepal to discuss on the rule of law issues.

Function / Expected Results: Ensures knowledge management to build the capacity and knowledge of national counterparts:
  • Promote the identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned from the project area for organizational sharing and learning as well as external information.
  • Actively participate in UNDP knowledge and learning and takes advantage of best practices and lessons learned that are available in the region and globally.
  • Create a culture of knowledge sharing and learning in the project.
  • Identify and assist in recruitment of relevant expertise needed for delivery of project objectives.
  • Support capacity and knowledge building of national counterparts through on- the job training, knowledge sharing workshops, publications and organization of study tours;
  • Promote the participation of UNDP-Nepal in regional and global programme activities related to the project areas as appropriate;
  • Advocate for UNDP with Government counterparts and ensure access to best available expertise, and
  • Support capacity-building of national counterparts. 

 Performance Indicators:

  • Policy and technical advice of high quality and relevance
  • Strategy and portfolio development advice and provide proposals as needed relating to project strategy and portfolio development
  • Inputs into project progress reports and work plans, and review -comments of and assist the preparation of the quarterly work plans and annual progress report
  • Advice on day -to-day functions
  • Appropriate international and national consultants recruited and effectively coordinated and used in project implementation including the provision of, guidance on selection criteria and quality assurance)
  • Provide effective communication styles in different situations
  • Provide effective training delivery skills and styles
  • Effective and active networking and partnerships
Impact of Results:
 
Through this programme the strategic positioning of UNDP in the justice sector and rule of law agenda will be consolidated as one of the leading actors, capable of effectively partnering with a range of government and international agencies and coordinating overall efforts in the sector. In addition, the programme will substantively contribute to and bear responsibility for achieving UNDAF outcomes 4 and 8.1.

Timely implementation of programmes and strategies is essential, together with flexibility to adjust to changing circumstances which will enhance UNDP’s credibility and create trusted and effective partnership with the Government, civil society, and donors.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:
  • Demonstrates high moral integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards, sound political judgment, as well as diplomacy, impartiality and discretion and proved capacity of initiative, leadership and autonomy
  • 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:
 
Knowledge Management and Learning
  • Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example
  • Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
  • Excellent knowledge of post-conflict situation and issues and processes of transitional justice.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

  • Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
  • Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of rule of law projects, as well as resource mobilization skills
  • Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change
  • Demonstrates capacity to respond flexible and positively to change through active involvement and generation of innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations.

Management and Leadership

  • Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
  • Effective communication skills and ability to establish good working relationships with national and local authorities, and international interlocutors
  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
  • Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.
  • Ability to work and act under pressure and with discretion in a politically sensitive environment, with a minimum of comfort
  • Ability to travel under harsh conditions within the country whenever required
  • Proven networking, team building, organizational and communication skills 
  • Proven negotiation, analytical, networking and organizational skills.

Communications and Networking

  • Have excellent oral communication skills in English and conflict resolution competency to manage inter-group dynamics and mediate conflicting interests of varied actors.
  • Have excellent written communication skills in English, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize project outputs and relevant findings for the preparation of quality project reports.
  • Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior and high ranking members of national and international institutions, government and non-government.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Advanced master's degree preferably in law, human rights, international studies, social sciences or a related field.
 
Experience:  
  • At least 10 years of experience are required in the field of rule and law, of which at least 5 years in the field of rule of law, access to justice, justice sector coordination, legislative reform and human rights.
  • A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience of post-conflict recovery, including 3 years of field experience in emergency and post-conflict situations. Experience working in support of transitional justice initiatives is desirable.
  • Previous experience with the United Nations System, including UNDP is desirable.
  • Experience in working, liaising and collaborating with election officials, governments' representatives, civil society organizations, and public international organizations.
Language Requirements: 
  • Demonstrated excellent command of spoken and written English.

FC:

  • 04160