UNDP Jobs - 74812- SLE/IC/2017/043 Individual Consultant

SLE/IC/2017/043 Individual Consultant - National Mediation Expert to strengthen Capacity of Political Party Registration Commission (PPPRC) Staff and Political Parties in Mediation, Dialogue and Peacebuilding Processes

Location :

Freetown, SIERRA LEONE

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

16-Oct-2017

Application Deadline :

05-Oct-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

30 working Days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Sierra Leone has achieved significant institutional reforms in democratic governance, human rights, transparency and accountability and conducted three successive peaceful and credible elections, since the end of its civil war in 2002. The withdrawal of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL) in 2014 was a strong indication of the international community’s confidence in the gains Sierra Leone has made towards sustainable peace and development. UNDP significantly contributed to these achievements, investing in the improvement of democratic institutions, security sector reforms, access to justice and rule of law. Despite these achievements, Sierra Leone’s peace and sustainable development remains fragile. While recognizing the country’s progress towards sustainable peace, the United Nations Security Council, noted that “important work remained to further embed peace and to secure equitable prosperity for the benefit of all Sierra Leoneans”.

In March 2018, Sierra Leone will conduct Presidential, Parliamentary, and Local Council elections. It will be the first time the country goes through an electoral cycle without a Security Council mandate since 2002. As the lead agency on governance UNDP is supporting the Government, people of Sierra Leone and relevant electoral management bodies (EMB’s)/institutions to ensure that preparations and conduct of these elections are peaceful and credible. Given the civil war background, the fragile development setting and the fact that the 2018 elections must bring in new leadership at the helm makes for a highly politically sensitive environment. In view of this, UNDP has a project, “Conflict Prevention and Mitigation during the Electoral Cycle in Sierra Leone” funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund and DFID which works towards two outcomes namely; “political dialogue, peace advocacy and violence prevention enhanced and Public security, civil protection, human rights promotion and peaceful response capacities sustained.

The UNDP Conflict Prevention and Mitigation during the electoral cycle Project aims at increasing awareness among all political parties and aspirants, including new and emerging parties, in peace advocacy and human rights, and adopt and publicly endorsing a joint code of conduct, including the renunciation of electoral/political violence and non-state actors as security agents. Special attention will be paid to women and youth party members, through the reorganization of the All Political Party Youth Association (APPYA) and All Political Party Women’s Association (APPWA) that were particularly effective at sustaining peace and promoting dialogue during the 2012 elections. Specific meetings will take place with political parties’ campaign managers and spokespersons to sensitize them against the use of hate speech.

The UNDP conflict prevention project will work closely with the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC), established under the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone and strengthened with the Political Parties Act of 2002 which has the responsibility for registering and monitoring political parties. It sponsors and monitors the Political Parties’ Code of Conduct, a voluntary instrument by which political parties and aspirants agree to abide by electoral laws and to refrain from violent or intimidating campaigning methods. Before the 2012 elections, political parties and other national stakeholders adopted a Declaration on the Elections, which was disseminated countrywide, in which all stakeholders committed to adhere to their respective codes of conduct. The PPRC has successfully mediated several intense intra and interparty disputes, while the District Code of Conduct Monitoring Committees, with membership from the PPRC and all political parties, had become forums for the mediation of low-level conflicts among parties. In 2012, attention was paid to creating an increased number of forums for the discussion of conflict and peaceful resolution with the cooperation of PPRC. These ranged from high-level All Political Party Meetings, to Political Party Youth and Women forums and they played important roles in preventing violence during the 2012 elections.

A new Executive Chairman of the PPRC has been recently appointed and it is expected that the Commission will fully engage in conflict mitigation and dispute resolution between political parties during the 2018 elections.

In this context, UNDP Sierra Leone is looking for an Individual Consultant (National) as a Senior Mediation Expert to work with an International Senior Mediation expert to strengthen capacity of the PPRC with mediation skills to conduct peaceful and violent free elections.

The International Senior Mediation Advisor will organise training for Political Party Registration Commission (PPPRC) staff and political party executive members, mentor and coach PPRC mediation team to mediate between and among Political Parties.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of work

Support the International Senior Mediation Expert to undertake desk review and political conflict mapping study, this will provide the framework for identifying root causes of political disputes in developing effective strategies for dispute resolution and prevention;
Support the International Senior Mediation Expert to undertake a stakeholder mapping of peace and conflict analysis of elections in Sierra Leone;
Support the lead consultant to review mediation training manuals, and organizing mediation, dialogue, and peace building trainings;
Support coordination of stakeholder meetings in cooperation with PPRC.

Competencies

Highly motivated, with drive and commitment;
Professionalism and integrity;
Promotes knowledge sharing and learning;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Builds strong relationships with partners, focus on impact and results for the partner and responds positively to feedback;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Ability to work with recipient counterparts in building individual and institutional capacity.

Required Skills and Experience

Educational background

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Conflict Prevention and Peace Building or any other relevant degrees.

Experience

Minimum 7 years of professional experience as a Judge, legal practitioner or as a law lecturer/professor;
Of which at least 5-7 years of prior work experience in the field of training and development of specific training modules for judiciary, prosecution, police and/or civil society and preferably in Sierra Leone /West African countries employing common law;
Demonstrated knowledge and experience in conducting needs assessments and developing training modules/curriculum, training materials etc;
Knowledge of the concepts of electoral law and complexities within this field will be an advantage;
Demonstrated experience and skills in the delivery of training of trainers and facilitating larger training programs
A minimum of six years of progressively responsible experience including five at the international level in managerial dispute resolution or related fields. Experience in conflict management and different approaches to mediation is desired. UN experience is an asset.
Experience working in Africa will be an added asset.

Language:

Fluent in English.

Applicction procedure:

Though this position is advertised in the jobs.undp.org, this is a procurement process and will be evaluated as such. Any proposals with Financial and Technical proposals will not be considered. Because of the possible bulkiness, you are advised to submit your proposals in the procure.sle@undp.org given in the complete advert at the UNDP procurement notices via http://procurement-notices.undp.org/ 41135.