Project Description;

The conflict in Yemen is now in its third year despite the concerted efforts of the UN and the international community towards a peace agreement. Analysis of the current situation indicates that the parties to the conflict show no signs of backing down from their demands, nor towards effecting any form of peace agreement that may allow an easing in the severity of the humanitarian crisis that is unfolding in the country. Yemen is now in a precarious situation. As the current outbreak of Cholera would suggest, state institutions have reached a high level of dysfunction and incapacity that the national response to this crisis has had to be overwhelmingly supported, organized, financed and at times implemented by external organizations including the UN. This however is just one example of a crisis exposing the vulnerability of the state to respond to emerging crises. The situation is as critical in other sectors including education, agricultural extension and security.

The international community needs to maintain the highest level of essential humanitarian support to Yemen as is possible in the current context, however it cannot overlook the looming and longer lasting crisis that would emerge if the Yemeni state is allowed to crumble completely. The current crisis has severely undermined Yemeni Government capacities to the extent that many stakeholders believe a complete collapse of certain specific public institutions may be imminent if appropriate support is not provided urgently.

The undermining of certain core state institutions could undermine the very viability of the state in the longer term making any effort towards stabilizing the country in the wake of a peace agreement even more difficult if not impossible. In addition to core state functions, local institutions and systems (for example, health, nutrition, education, water and sanitation, justice, social protection systems) need to be supported and if required augmented to help support the peace building process but at the local level. This would include mechanisms for dispute resolution, community policing and social cohesion within communities that have been strained by the religious and regional nature of the present conflict.

At this early stage, and given the sensitivities, the aims are;

•To strengthen the capacities that exist at the local level, including improving connections between communities, sub-national and national police and justice services providers.

•To help address urgent protection concerns for people in detention, particularly women and children, including access to services and improvements in basic conditions.

Following the three consultations with the OSESGY and international partners (Nov. 2016; March 2017; and September 2017), it was agreed to design early interventions that would respond to the immediate needs and also support OSESGY to contribute to the political, security and human rights aspects of the peace process. Further, they could serve as the basis for long-term development intervention in a sub-sequent phase of the programme.

Objectives of the assignment;

Under the direct supervision of the Team Leader on Governance and Peacebuilding in UNDP Yemen the international expert will:

• Provide technical support to Phase 1 of the Joint UN corrections project, ‘Responding to protection needs and supporting resilience in places of detention’.
• Support the inception of the anticipated community security and access to justice programme in four governorates of Yemen.
• Support the preparation and revision of proposals for rule of law funding to other donors, including the European Union.

Scope of Work:

Provide technical support to Phase 1 of the Joint UN corrections project, ‘Responding to protection needs and supporting resilience in places of detention;

• Coordinate UN project partners (UNICEF, UN Women, UNDP) to align activities and results, in accordance with the project document.
• Pending the recruitment of a project manager, manage the planning and delivery of UNDP activities, monitoring and reporting.
• Prepare Terms of Reference and provide quality assurance in the selection of NGO project implementing partners.
• Provide technical inputs for the preparation of the Phase 1 ‘Capstone workshop’, to collate the results of Phase 1 assessments and determine phase 2 strategy;
• Following the recruitment of a project manager, provide technical expertise on detention, justice and human rights issues to the project manager.

Support the inception of the anticipated community security and access to justice programme in four governorates of Yemen.

• Provide technical support to the finalization of UNDP’s anticipated community security and access to justice programme.
• Prioritize and sequence activities which are feasible to undertake in Yemen, in accordance with the project document and annual workplan.
• Prepare Terms of Reference and provide quality assurance in the selection of NGO project implementing partners.
• Provide technical expertise on access to justice and human rights issues.
• Liaise with stakeholders to define project monitoring arrangements, including defining baselines, project impact measurements and potential role of third party monitors

Finalize Proposals for submission to other donors

• Support UNDP and UNCT with the formulation of proposals on Rule of Law issues for other donors, including the European Union.
• Collaborate with other stakeholders to avoid duplication of effort and build synergies between rule of law actors.

Monitoring and Progress controls

• Monitoring of progress will be carried out by UNDP Yemen.;
• Monthly reports by the Consultant indicating progress on project.

The deliverables will be reviewed on a monthly basis;

Expected outputs and Deliverables:

Institutional Arrangement:

The consultant will be supervised by Team Leader, Governance and Peace-Building, UNDP Yemen. Achievement of Milestones and Deliverables will be approved by the Team Leader, Governance and Peace-building, before payments are made.

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments:

1. Lump sum

Achievement of Milestones and Deliverables will be approved by the Team Leader, Governance and Peace-building, before payments are made.

Education

Education Requirement: Master’s Degree in law, international relations or any relevant disciplines.

Experience

• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience, including at least five years in a senior position in an international development role in Rule of Law, access to justice and community security reform;
• Experience of sector wide approaches to justice and RoL reform in crisis contexts including experience working with all of the major actors is required.
• Experience in UNDP programming and with Joint Programming is desirable.
• Previous experience with UNDP or another UN entity engaged in Rule of Law, including and UN Peace Operations, political missions and PBSO desirable.
• Previous experience in Arab States and/or Africa and in conflict/post conflict contexts preferably with the UN / UNDP would be an advantage;

Language: 

Excellent written and spoken English, Arabic is an asset