To address the challenges of VAWG, the European Union (EU) and the United Nations have embarked on a new multi-year programme- the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative. The Spotlight Initiative aims to support transformative change on the ground to end violence against women and girls and harmful practices, in numerous countries globally. The Initiative comes with the highest level of commitment globally and is governed by the UN Deputy Secretary-General and the Vice President of the EU Commission.

The Spotlight Initiative in Timor-Leste will be implemented through five UN agencies (UN Women, UNFPA, UNDP, UNICEF, and ILO) with a focus on addressing intimate partner violence and domestic violence. In addition to the five agencies above, the Programme will involve collaboration with the International Organization for Migration, the Human Rights Advisor’s Unit, and the World Health Organization.

The overall vision of the Spotlight Initiative in Timor-Leste is that women and girls enjoy their right to a life free of violence, within an inclusive and gender equitable Timor-Leste.

The programme, aligned to the Timor-Leste "National Action Plan on Gender based Violence (2017-2021)" will contribute to the elimination of domestic violence/ intimate partner violence (DV/IPV) by responding to the needs of women and girls and addressing the underlying causes of violence against women and girls using a multi-sectoral and intersectional approach to implement intervention on the following six outcomes areas:

• Pillar 1: Legislation and Policies

• Pillar 2: Institutional strengthening

• Pillar 3: Prevention of violence

• Pillar 4: Available, accessible, and acceptable, quality services

• Pillar 5: Quality and reliable data

• Pillar 6: Supporting women’s movements and relevant civil society organizations

The Programme is grounded on the core principle of leaving no one behind and reaching the furthest behind first. The interventions have been designed to target women and girls most marginalized (rural, poor, with disabilities), at higher risk of intimate partner violence and groups that face multiple or intersecting forms of discrimination.

To ensure effective and meaningful impact of the Spotlight Initiative in Timor-Leste, the Programme will focus on a comprehensive set of actions at the national level, alongside community-based interventions in 3 municipalities (of the country’s 13 municipalities). Based on a preliminary analysis of needs, gaps and opportunities, from a thematic and geographic lens and consultations with various stakeholders, the Programme will focus its community-level efforts in Ermera, Viqueque, and Bobonaro municipalities.

For the support to the National Parliament, UNDP is hiring a Legal Adviser to the Standing Committees that will provide technical support to Parliament Committee (F) for Health, Social Security and Gender Equality, the Grupo de Mulheres Parlamentares de Timor-Leste (GMPTL – Women Caucus) and the National Parliament Gender Center. In addition, his/her role will also include to provide all necessary professional advice to Committee F and individual members of Parliament in all its portfolio. Where appropriate, the legal adviser will also assure the upgrading of the skills of the Secretariat staff assigned to the committees to prepare them to assume full responsibility for functions.

The Legal Adviser will be in the Parliamentary Gender Centre throughout the assignment.

This consultancy service relates is to provide technical support to Parliament Committee (F) for Health, Social Security and Gender Equality, the Grupo de Mulheres Parlamentares de Timor-Leste (GMPTL – Women Caucus) and the National Parliament Gender Center and to provide all necessary professional advice to Committee F and individual members of Parliament in all its portfolio.

Incorporating the preliminary and final findings of the Participatory Action Research[1] as well as the conclusions of the Gender Justice research:

• Provide bill drafting/amendment and legal and analytical and research expertise to the national parliament, with primary assignment to assist Committee F (Health, Social Security and Gender Equality Committee) in drafting and reviewing legislation to the discussion and approval legislation to prevent and fight gender based violence (GBV) and intimate partner violence (IPV)
• Work on developing concrete revisions of existing legislation to ensure the harmonization of criminal legislation with international commitments and best practices regarding gender-based violence and ending violence against women and girls;
• Work on developing a strategy on the practice and link between customary law and formal law, with a focus on gender-based violence and VAWG issues;
• Provide legal advice and assistance to standing committees other than committee of primary assignment, as work schedule permits and in collaboration with that committee´s specialist international adviser;
• Provide advice to the Grupo de Mulheres Parlamentares de Timor-Leste (GMPTL – Women Caucus) and assistance to standing committees;
• Assist committees with the preparation and implementation of committee annual work plans;
• Conduct legislative research for committees, individual members of Parliament as work schedule permits it;
• Ensure compliance with UNDP’s operational, policies rules and regulations in the implementation of project activities.
• Ensure gender and vulnerability mainstreaming on the legislation discussions, parliamentary debates and legal opinions.

The international consultant specific responsibility will include:

1. Parliamentary Legislative Capacity-Building Responsibilities

• Provide bill drafting/amendment and legal analytical and research expertise to the National Parliament, with primary assignment to assist Committee F on the discussion and approval of all draft bills and policies related with Gender Base Violence and Intimate Partner Violence;
• Develop, in close collaboration with the Committee F, concrete revisions of existing legislation to ensure the harmonization of criminal legislation with international commitments and best practices regarding gender-based violence and ending violence against women and girls, including domestic violence and intimate partner violence;
• Develop, in close collaboration with the relevant Committees, a strategy on the practice and link between customary law and formal law, with a focus on gender-based violence and VAWG issues;
• Provide legal advice, also in the gender related perspective, and assistance to standing committees other than committee of primary assignment, as work schedule permits and in collaboration with that committee’s specialist international Adviser;
• Assist Committee F with the preparation and implementation of the committee’s annual work plan;
• Conduct legislative research for committee F, individual deputies, as required.
• Advise Committee President/mesa on the management of committee workload and revise committee systems and procedures as required.
• Provide legal advice and consultation to other project staff as requested.
• Assist in skills development training of the staff of the Secretariat’s Committee in bill drafting, legal analysis and committee record-keeping, filing and archiving.
• Participate in negotiations, as requested by Parliament Project management, with education providers concerning the possibility of offering tailored training courses to Members of Parliament and staff in the techniques of legal drafting and legal analysis.
• Prepare, in collaboration with the other committee Advisers, committee, legal drafting and procedures manuals as necessary.
• Continually work to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Parliament by focusing on fostering a culture of transparency and on the transfer of technical knowledge and skills to national parliamentary staff through mentoring and coaching.

1. Parliamentary Oversight Responsibilities

• Provide program implementation oversight expertise to the National Parliament and in particular to the Committee F, in conjunction with the budget experts;
• Provide technical Advisory services to Committee F in conducting oversight of government ministries and programs within its jurisdictional areas;
• Provide assistance and guidance in the development of standards and mechanisms to enable the Parliament and in particular Committee F to measure policy performance against national goals and the Sustainable Development Goals;
• Provide support for the development of mechanisms and processes to hold public hearings and secure public input from the Timorese citizens in the work of committees.
• Assist Members of Parliament, committees and Secretariat staff in the understanding and effective utilization of the various oversight tools and mechanisms available to the Parliament;

1. Ensuring gender and vulnerability mainstreaming within the project

• Ensure that gender is effectively mainstreamed throughout the activities of the projects, work plans, budgets, reports, researches and, where specifically relevant, analyzed in detail;
•  Ensure that gender equality and needs of vulnerable groups are mainstreamed throughout team, consultant and staff management activities.

1. Supervision and reporting

• Responsible for producing quarterly activity reports, providing information on the overall planned activities of Committee F;
• Available to participate in the activities of the Parliamentary Training Center;
• Liaise regularly with the CTA to discuss project progress and provide advice on challenges and further strategies;
• Supervise the National Legal Adviser to be contracted to support the International Legal Adviser’s work;
• Oversee the CSO contracted to organize public consultations on the legislation being revised under the project, and attend these public consultations;
• Capture lessons learnt during project implementation – a lessons learnt log can be used in this regard;
• Ensure full compliance of UNDP rules regulations.
• S/he shall work in close coordination and collaboration with Parliamentary Human Resources department;
• All activities shall be closely coordinated with other parliament advisers.

[1] The Participatory Action Research led by UNWomen in collaboration with rights holders, especially civil society groups representing women survivors or at risk of intimate partner violence and marginalized groups (women with disabilities, young women, women in rural areas), will analyze the existing legal gaps on Domestic Violence in Timorese legislation. This research aims to increase understanding of the protection and gaps in the Penal Code, LADV, NAP GBV and related legislation (including in the context of alternative dispute resolution and customary justice practices), and in regards to alignment with TL's commitments to CEDAW and the SDGs.

• Excellent interpersonal and networking skills, including the ability to liaise effectively at project management levels.
• Ability to communicate and function effectively in an international, multicultural environment.
• Ability to work effectively in a team
• Strategic vision, strong technical and analytical capabilities.
• Ability to work in a team, develop synergies and establish effective working relation with government counterparts, donors, NGOs, professional organizations, and other development partners.
• Strong reporting and writing abilities.
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback
• Ability to accommodate additional demands on short notice.
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations.
• Ability to manage heavy workload and solve complex problems with minimum supervision.
• Enjoys working with complex project and advocating for green design

• Bachelor or master’s degree in Law; a qualification in, or/and experience of working in gender equality and /or domestic violence projects. 

• Minimum ten (10) years of professional of relevant experience or other relevant activities which demonstrate a deep understanding of the nature of parliamentary legislative and oversight responsibilities;
• Work experience in gender equality and/or domestic violence projects is essential;
• Substantial work experience in a government context essential;
• Work experience in Timor-Leste in a government institution is an asset;
• Experience of working in developing and post-conflict country environment and rural areas is highly desirable;
• Excellent drafting and communication skills; good editorial capacity;
• Experience in staff development preferably in a developing country environment a plus;
• Ability to work under pressure in a multicultural and complex environment.
• Excellent command of written and spoken Portuguese and English;
• Preparedness to learn Tetum is essential.

Interested applicants are mandatory to apply online through: https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?job_id=95772. Supporting documents/filled templates to be submit along with the applications are following, and those templates can be download from:  https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=73615

1. UN P11 Form

2. Individual Contract Offerors Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability

3. Individual Contract Reference Check (at least from two referee)

4. CV

Any request for clarification must be sent in writing to procurement.staff.tp@undp.org with subject line: JOBID:95772- Legal dviser for Health Social and Gender Equality Committee F