Background

The Rule of Law Indicators Study (RoLIS) is relevant to conflict/post conflict countries and was developed by the Department of Peace Keeping Operations (DPKO-UN) and OHCHR between 2008-2011 in collaboration with UNDP and other UN agencies. It was subsequently endorsed by the United Nations Secretary-General, the World Bank, and member States as a UN system-wide tool to be initiated by national governments and meant to enhance their capacities. RoLIS is an important tool that provides justice institutions (JIs) with substantive information and data to make informed policy decisions.

At present,a significant challenge is the effective coordination of the multiple donors and partners working in the justice sector. To date the JIs lack the capacity and comprehensive data to monitor progress and identify areas for which to request more support. The RoLIS is expected to provide the JIs with tools to monitor performance and change, and will provide a powerful instrument to inform policies and direct donor support. The RoLIS has been implemented in South Sudan, Liberia and Haiti, and unlike other baseline/M&E tools it is designed specifically to be implemented by national actors with the aim to develop their M&E capacities. This tool will be contextualized for Afghanistan based on a Mission that facilitated discussions between national justice sector stakeholders and international agencies in 2012. Further discussions between the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and UNDP in 2013haveidentified the implementation modalities of this project.

At present the Government of Afghanistan lacks an M&E framework to monitor the progress of national level activities and other activities that are jointly being implemented by international agencies with their national counterparts in the justice sector. This will affect the ability to measure the progress of the National Priority Programme and its progress. It is therefore important to establish a national baseline in Afghanistan in select provinces where work is expected to be undertaken by UNDP and other agencies with the national JIs.

The RoLIS has several tools that will be jointly administered by UNAMA and JHRA-UNDP, and the details of the implementation modality are provided below:

Tools for RoLIS:
  • Identification of rule of law indicators.

Methodology proposed for Afghanistan:

  • Coordination to be provided by international expert with UNAMA, UNDP, justice sector institutions.

Responsible party:

  • Coordination role to be provided by Policy and Planning Department of MoJ for engagement with JIs; technical support to be provided by senior international consultant recruited by UNDP. UNAMA Rule of Law Unit to participate in the identification process.
Tools for RoLIS:
  • Administrative Data Collection

Methodology proposed for Afghanistan:

  • Administrative Data to be collected under supervision of the PPD/MOJ with the help of one UNV (I) researcher. Further support to be provided by P4 Policy, Legislations and Human Rights Specialist of JHRA-UNDP and one senior international consultant.

Responsible party:

  • PPD/MOJ will be supported by one UNV (I) recruited by UNDP. Support from other UN or international agencies maybe undertaken for cross checking the data based on ground realities.
Tools for RoLIS:
  • Expert Survey.
Methodology proposed for Afghanistan:
  •  FGD’s based on indicators.
Responsible party:
  • UNAMA Rule of Law Unit.
Tools for RoLIS:
  • Public Survey.

Methodology proposed for Afghanistan:

  • FGDs to be undertaken at the provincial level based on indicators.
Responsible party:
  • JHRA-UNDP and Department of Justice officials.
Tools for RoLIS:
  • Document Review.

Methodology proposed for Afghanistan:

  • Two national consultants recruited by UNDP to be supported by one international UNV legal researcher and staff of PPD/MOJ. Supervision by one international expert consultant and one p4 Policy, Legislations and Human Rights Specialist.

Responsible party:

  • JHRA-UNDP and Policy and Planning Department of MoJ.
Responsible party:
  • JHRA-UNDP and Department of Justice officials.
Tools for RoLIS:
  • Field Data – observation reports.
Methodology proposed for Afghanistan:
  •  Observation reports.
Responsible party:
  •  UNAMA Rule of Law Unit.
Tools for RoLIS:
  • Final report.

Methodology proposed for Afghanistan:

  • To be coordinated by the senior international consultant recruited by UNDP

Responsible party:

  • PPD/MOJ, UNAMA, UNDP with international agencies and justice sector institutions.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

The Senior Consultant will be working on a daily basis with the Director of Policy and Planning Department of the Ministry of Justice and will report directly to the Component 1 Policy, Legislation and Human Rights Specialist, and coordinate closely with the Chief Technical Advisor and National Project Manager where necessary. The Consultant will be expected to work at the JHRA office based at the Annex building of the Ministry of Justice and at the Ministry of Justice in Kabul.

 The RoLIS includes:
  • Identification of basket of indicators;
  • Design of FGD’s for public and experts and observation framework;
  • Technical support for the preparation of legal document review and administrative data analysis.
  • Final report.
Description of tasks
 
Identification of basket of indicators:
  • Design indicators for rule of law baseline study covering the civil and criminal justice systems of Afghanistan;
  • The institutions that will be covered are: Afghanistan National Police, Attorney General’s Office, Supreme Court, Ministry of Justice Legal Aid Department and Huqoq Department, Afghanistan Independent Bar Association, and the Central Prisons Department;
  • The indicators will be designed to measure four major dimensions of civil and criminal justice institutions against performance; integrity, transparency and accountability; treatment of members of vulnerable groups; and capacity.
 Designing FGD discussions for public &expert and design observation schedule:
  • A series of FGDswill be designed thatwill be implemented at the provincial or district levels with a set of indicators based on each institution with the following target audiences: (1) provincial councils; 2) Shuras/maliks/ulemas; (3) students and academics in law faculties; (4) women’s groups; (5) IDP’s or Afghan returnees. Judges, lawyers, Huqoq officials of the Department of Justice, prison officials, police and NGO’s etc., will be engaged in separate FGDs;
  • The FGDs with the public will be undertaken by the JHRA-UNDP, while the expert-level FGDs will be undertaken by UNAMA Rule of Law Unit;
  • The training of the FGD implementation teams will be undertaken by the International Consultant;
  • Further, the Consultant will be expected to design the FGDs and develop the questionnaires for these sessions. The results from these discussions will be documented by the respective implementation teams.
  • UNAMA Rule of Law Teams will assist in observing the JIs at the provincial and district levels, where possible;
  • The International Consultant will be expected to provide the design and orientation to the teams for this purpose.
 Technical support for desk review and administrative data collection:
  • An International UNV is expected to coordinate the administrative data collection with the staff of the Policy and Planning Department at the Ministry of Justice;
  • Further, the UNV will provide assistance and direction on the procedures that will be adopted to enter this data into the system that can be easily used and analyzed;
  • The UNV will receive the necessary support in this regard from data entry operator/s;
  • The UNV will be expected to lead in coordination and organize regular meetings to undertake a consistentflow of information between the organisations andthe national justice institutions and report on the progress, identify challenges, and coordinate to ensure progress;
  • The Senior Consultant will be expected to provide assistance in the coordination meetings where necessary and help find solutions for challenges and bottlenecks;
  • Overall supervision of the desk review and analysis of administrative data will be the responsibility ofthe Senior Consultant. During this period the Senior Consultant will also be expected to provide mentoring to the PPD staff.
 Final report:
  • The resulting analyses, such as the public FGD reports, experts & observations of justice sector institutions, desk review, and administrative data, will be collated;
  • The Senior Consultant will prepare the final report with the assistance of the UNV (I);
  • The final report will be translated presented by the PPD and the Senior Consultant at a national workshop;
  • The final report of 40-50 pages will document the findings of the analysis of the justice sector using appropriate measures and indicators for assessment of the implications for future interventions.
 Key Deliverables
  • Preparation of work plan within two weeks of joining;
  • Identification of indicators within 50 workdays of starting the assignment;
  • Design FGDs for public and experts and observation sheets will be a part of the implementation package. The indicators that will be used for this purpose are to be completed within 70 workdays;
  • Training of core team of experts for implementation of FGD’s and expert survey within 80 workdays;
  • One report will be finalized, translated and presented at a national workshop with the Policy and Planning Department within 8 months of commencement of the assignment.

Competencies

Competencies:
  • Knowledge of Mapping of Justice Sector;
  • Experience of working with prosecutors, judges and lawyers;
  • Demonstrated ability to interact with decision-makers and beneficiaries to develop productive partnerships and excellent networking skills.
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;
  • Ability to remain calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.
  • Strong managerial competency;
  • Ability to establish substantive professional relationships with all stakeholders;
  • Familiarity with post-conflict environments is an asset.
Functional Competencies:
  • Knowledge Management and Learning;
  • 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. 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Master`s degree or equivalent in Law, International Development Studies , Human Rights or Political Science or other relevant field.
Experience:    
  • At least 6 years of relevant national/international working experience in international development sector especially working in the justice sector;
  • In-depth knowledge of mapping of the justice sector;
  • Knowledge and experience of working on human rights and justice is highly desirable;
  • A range of experience in the United Nations, a governmental, other multilateral and/or civil society organization in a developed or developing country highly desirable;
  • Deep understanding of work of the police,prosecutors, judges and lawyers in a developing country;
  • Previous work experience in conflict/post conflict countries is required; previous work experience in Afghanistan is desirable.
Computer Skills
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office software;
  • Proficiency with Online communication, including Skype, etc.
Language Requirements:
  • Excellent knowledge of English and ability to communicate clearly in written and spoken English;
  • Working knowledge of Dari is a strong asset. 
FC: 30000