UNDP Jobs - 79477- International Legal Consultant

International Legal Consultant

Location :

Monrovia, LIBERIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

16-Jul-2018

Application Deadline :

29-Jun-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

3 Months over a period of 5 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

3 Months over a period of 5 months

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

The United Nations Development Programme and National Elections Commission work in partnership with the European Union, Sweden, Ireland and Canada to support strengthen the electoral system in Liberia. Our partnership is based on recognition that credible democratic elections are essential for development. Since 2015 the Support to the 2015-2019 Liberia Elections cycle has provided important support and assistance to the election commission, which is continuing following successful 2017 general elections. A key principle in the project’s approach is the view election assistance is most effective and sustainable when it works throughout the electoral cycle building national capacity and capabilities in the field of elections.

The capacity of Liberia to adopt legal and regulator reforms enhancing the electoral and political spheres after the 2017 elections will be a vital indicator of the strength and stability of democratic institutions to achieve change peacefully. Election observation missions deployed to Liberia concluded elections in 2017 were generally well managed and took place in a largely peaceful manner despite challenges. It is expected the observer groups will make a number of key recommendations for improving aspects of the elections for the future. Following past elections the failure to develop a post election strategy through the development of a comprehensive reform agenda has meant an absence of substantial progress towards achieving a system fully compliant with regional and international standards for elections abided for by Liberia. As a consequence, recommendations issued remain largely unaddressed. These require constitutional, legislative and policy level review and a deepening of public policy engagement.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of UNDP chief technical advisor (CTA) and in close collaboration with the NEC, the consultant will support:

Assist NEC in revising and where required (re)drafting regulations, guidelines and other legal documents as necessary in light of the recent 2017 election experience and election observer recommendations.
Identify areas for legal reform and formulate these into a clear legal analysis identifying international and regional standards, outlining reasons for reform proposal, and options for new or revised legislative or regulatory provision.

Outline in a policy paper the legislative and soft policy options to improve the representation of women in public and political life including the use of temporary special measures and how these can be applied to the first-past-the-post electoral system.

Conduct information sessions on election law amendments for decision makers, electoral practitioners and other stakeholders.
Perform other related duties as required by the CTA.

Key deliverables

Assist the National Elections Commission review all legislative and regulatory provisions related to the elections against regional and international standards;
Make recommendations for constitutional and legislative reform of articles in the context of the 2017 election experience and election observer recommendations ;
Produce a working compendium of legal and regulatory recommendations with suggestions for changes to articles if required to align these to best practices;
Produce in cooperation with the National Elections Commission 3 legal reform briefing papers on electoral reform that outline the issues, provide a short regional comparison, provide reference points to international and regional standards, build points for discussion and ideas for reform and solutions;
Produce a short legal review of legal and soft measures to promote more inclusive public and political spheres including the issue of special temporarymmeasures and how these can be employed in Liberia’s electoral and legal framework;
Following discussion with the National Elections Commission leadershipbdevise a legal reform strategy that should include minimally: identification of areas for reform, annual timetable and roadmap with key milestone targets set out; strategy for targeting key stakeholders and drivers of reform; selection of platforms and tools for most effectively pursing recommendations and reform;
Assist in the revision of regulations, guidelines and other legal documents for electoral reform and preparing the legal section and hearing offices to incorporate any such reforms into their working practices;
Design an appropriate complaints and legal tracking system to be used by the National Elections Commission’s legal unit. Train and mentor staff on how to employ the tracking system and ensure clear ownership and responsibilities of the tracking updates;
Conduct specialized training and information sessions for staff and external stakeholders including professional bodies on electoral and legal reform;
Provide expertise and training for the National Elections Commission’s hearing office and election magistrates on various election reform related issues.

Competencies

Functional competencies:

Strong organizational, analytical and writing skills;
Ability to work strategically to realize organizational goals, develop strategies, set clear policy related to core assignment.
Results oriented, strong team player with good interpersonal and coordination skills;
Ability to effectively interact with a wide range of national and international interlocutors, reach agreements and promote ideas;
Ability to work independently and under pressure and meet deadlines;
Demonstrated ability to manage complex tasks and openness to change;
Computer skills including Microsoft Word, MS Excel and Power Point;
Capacity to work independently and demonstrate initiative;
Advanced skills in acquiring and providing information;
Ability to handle multiple tasks without compromising quality of work, team spirit and positive working relationships.

Corporate competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modelling UN core values and ethical standards.
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP.
Displays cultural, gender, religious, racial, national and age-elated sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree in the field of law, public policy or social/ political science, or a related field, or equivalent experience in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

A minimum of 7 years of related professional experience or relevant experience working in the area of electoral systems or electoral legal reform;
Proven track record in legal research;
Experience in drafting or reviewing recommendations of election observer groups and turning these into legal recommendations and policy issues and advocacy strategies;
United Nations experience or positions in similar international organisation;
The post requires considerable cultural and political sensitivity and an ability to meet deadlines.

Languages:

Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

Application procedure:
Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:
Technical proposal:

Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work;
Providing brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work;
Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references (please use the UNDP P11 form provided in Annex 2 @ the following links) http://www.lr.undp.org/content/liberia/en/home/operations/procurement/ ;http://procurement-notices.undp.org/).

Financial proposal
The financial proposal shall specify a daily rate. Payments will be made to the Individual Consultant based on specific and measurable deliverables as specified in the TOR upon completion of the deliverables.
In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of the total amount (communications, transportation etc). Please use the Financial Proposal Form provided in Annex 3 for the submission of your financial proposal @ the following links) http://www.lr.undp.org/content/liberia/en/home/operations/procurement/ ;http://procurement-notices.undp.org/).
Travel
All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal.
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:
Cumulative analysis
The award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

* Technical Criteria weight: 70%;
* Financial Criteria weight: 30%;
Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% of the maximum points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation
Criteria Weight Max. Point
Technical

Relevance of Academic Qualifications 10.5% 15;
Professional Experience in similar projects 24.5% 35;
Appropriateness of proposed methodology for the requirements 21% 30;
Adequacy of competencies and skills 14% 20;
Financial 30 points x price of the lowest price proposed / price of proposal 30%.

Proposals should be submitted to bids.lr@undp.org.