UNDP Jobs - 89036- International Consultant to Establish a Legal Aid

International Consultant to Establish a Legal Aid Scheme

Location :

Monorovia, LIBERIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

06-Jan-2020

Application Deadline :

16-Dec-19 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

40 Working Days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

40 Working Days

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 UNDP/OHCHR Joint Programme aims to support the Government of Liberia in its efforts to build a society based on the principles of rule of law, human rights and justice. The programme is geared towards enhancing the capacities of, and public confidence in, rule of law institutions, as well as strengthening access to justice and security, especially for women and girls. Interventions are designed with a view to ensuring sustainability and linking activities to ‘system-level’ policy development.

Support rests on a supply and demand equation that combines enhanced service delivery by resilient justice and security institutions with the public’s ability to access such services and hold duty-bearers to account. By increasing public confidence in the sector, support is designed to be catalytic, strengthening state-society relations and creating an enabling environment for development. As such, the programme is oriented around the following four mutually reinforcing interventions:

Capacity of justice and security institutions strengthened and linkages forged
Civil society contribution to rule of law and community access to justice enhanced
Gender responsiveness of justice, security and legislative actors strengthened and women and girls’ access to justice and security improved
Capacity of key actors and stakeholders to monitor progress and results in rule of law development increased

The outcomes and outputs are based on a clearly defined theory of change, building on the lessons learned during the UN system’s engagement with Liberian rule of law sector since 2003. Capitalising on the comparative advantages of each of the implementing partners, activities are carefully designed to achieve outputs and contribute to outcome level change that impacts the lives of beneficiaries and engenders systemic resilience and human development.

Providing pro bono legal aid and the development of an institutional framework remain a key component of UNDP’s support. In this vein, UNDP is seeking suitable candidates for the position of Legal Aid Expert to implement a number of key deliverables. Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor/Programme Manager - Rule of Law, the Legal Aid Expert is expected to set up a network of legal aid providers and develop a pro bono legal aid scheme in collaboration with the Liberian National Bar Association and other legal aid providers. The legal aid network aims at complementing efforts towards ensuring that a unified method for delivering legal aid is implemented by all legal aid providers.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

Under the direct supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor/Programme Manager - Rule of Law, and in close cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, Liberian National Bar Association, CSOs and legal aid providers, the Legal Aid Expert will be responsible for:

Support the review of the existing laws and policies for the establishment of the national legal aid scheme in consultation with the Liberia National Bar Association, MoJ etc;
Establish a network of legal aid providers and accompanying organic documents;
Facilitate the development a comprehensive legal aid scheme in line with the laws, define the role of key players, provide clear eligibility criteria and other guidelines to govern the scheme.
Develop a framework for a pilot legal aid system and a programme for continuous legal education for lawyers.

Deliverables

In close conjunction with the Ministry of Justice, Liberian National Bar Association, CSOs as well as UNDP and OHCHR, develop inception report which should include a literature review and methodology and conduct an inception meeting. (4 days, 10%)
Consult with key stake holders regarding the establishment of a network of legal aid providers, and support the development of a terms of reference. (10 days, 30%)
Investigate and make recommendations on the possibility of setting up a pilot paralegal system. (5 days, 5%)
Develop draft legal aid scheme and terms of reference for network of legal aid providers. (10 days, 30%)
Develop programme for continuous education for practising lawyers. (5 days, 10%)
Submit final consultancy report. (6 days, 10%)

Impact of Results

Aimed at further strengthening clinical legal education as well as providing basic but important legal aid services to marginalised groups, UNDP and OHCHR intend to complement efforts towards ensuring that a unified method for delivering legal aid is implemented by all legal aid providers.

In trying to reach out to socially disadvantaged groups and providing them with basic legal information and advice, it is hoped the support provided will help foster a pro bono culture by offering future legal professionals a better understanding of the legal problems commonly faced by the poor.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN values and ethical standards
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
Treats all people fairly without favouritism

Functional Competencies

Knowledge Management and Learning

In-depth knowledge of development issues
Ability to provide and advocate for policy advice
Sound analytical skills

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Ability to lead and manage audits
Up-to-date knowledge of capacity development principles and approaches
Familiarity with UN/UNDP processes and procedures

Interpersonal Skills

Focuses on impact and results for the client and responds positively to feedback
Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors
Remains calm, in control and good-humoured even under pressure

Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills

Acts with tact and diplomacy
Remains calm, in control and good-humoured, even under pressure.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree or equivalent, in Law

Experience:

A minimum of 7 years of progressive clinical legal education experience
Extensive experience in the design, management and implementation of justice and security sector reform processes and/or capacity development initiatives
Experience of working in countries/contexts affected by fragility
Extensive experience of working with academic institutions as well as government institutions and civil society organisations
Knowledge of the Liberian legal system constitutes an advantage
Knowledge of UN/UNDP procedures, rules and regulations for project/programme implementation constitutes an advantage

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English, including excellent writing skills.

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments:

Consultant shall quote an all-inclusive Daily Fee for the contract period. The term “all-inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, communications, consumables, etc.) that could be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment are already factored into the daily fee submitted in the proposal. If applicable, travel or daily allowance cost (if any work is to be done outside the IC’s duty station) should be identified separately. Payments shall be done upon verification and completion of deliverables and approval by the IC’s supervisor. In general, UNDP shall not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

(Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF attachment as the system only allows upload of one document):

Personal CV or P11 including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references
(blank form can be downloaded from http://www.eurasia.undp.org/content/dam/rbec/docs/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc);
Cover Letter, outlining the main methodological approaches planned for the assignment
Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the assignment
Two (2) samples of previous work (in English) similar to the assignment (links can be shared as well)

Technical proposal:

Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment;
A methodology, on how they will approach and complete the assignment.

Evaluation

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:

Cumulative analysis

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 * Technical Criteria; [70 points]

Technical Criteria – Maximum 70 points

Criteria

Technical skills, given by qualifications and training record (Master’s Degree in Law or equivalent) 15 points
Overall experience in the provision with the services given above 35 points
- design, management and implementation of justice and security sector reform processes and/or capacity development initiatives- 10
- Experience of working in countries/contexts affected by fragility-5
- Extensive experience of working with academic institutions as well as government institutions and civil society organisations-10
- Knowledge of the Liberian legal system constitutes an advantage- 8
- Knowledge of UN/UNDP procedures, rules and regulations for project/programme implementation constitutes an advantage -2
Adequacy of competencies & skills responding to the Terms of Reference, (TOR) 20 points
Methodology relevance to the TOR 30 points

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 30 points.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and requested to provide a financial offer

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.