Background

Instructions to Applicants: Click on the "Apply now" button. Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. Please ensure that CV or P11 and the Cover letter are combined in one file.

1. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
2. A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.
3. Three writing samples.

Travel:  

1. UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services.
2. The Specialist will cover the cost of visa and work permit that UNDP will facilitate

Office/Unit/Project Description

Strengthening accountability and tackling corruption are essential pre-requisites for Iraq's long-term stability, economic recovery, and development. Both Iraqi and regional Kurdish governments have recently initiated steps to drive an ambitious anticorruption agenda. However, significant gaps remain in legislative and strategic framework, investigation and adjudication, enforcement and recovery of stolen assets. Iraq adopted in March 2021 the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, but implementation measures are needed. UNDP in Iraq launched a project in May 2021 to support public partners at federal and the Kurdistan Regional Government to improve their capacity and legal framework to combat corruption and conduct commercial litigation.

The project titled “support to justice initiatives curbing corruption and promoting commercial dispute resolution” (hereinafter, Anti-Corruption & Arbitration Initiatives, ACAI) is funded by the European Union for a period of four years. The project works closely with the Prime Minister Office in Baghdad and supports directly the Commission of Integrity, the Higher Judicial Council and the Legal and Integrity Committees of the Council of Representatives. In Erbil, the project follows a similar mechanism of collaboration. Further, the project works with key civil society and investigative media organizations.

The project has the following specific outcomes: (1) Improved Legislative and Strategic Framework for Anti- Corruption Reforms; (2) The justice sector, lawyers and CoI are better equipped to process corruption offences due to (2.1) improved technical skills relevant for corruption investigation, prosecution, adjudication and (2.2) improved integrity rules of the justice sector; (3) Improved capacity and legal framework to conduct commercial litigation through (3.1) better legal framework and capacity building for arbitration and (3.2) further development of the commercial court; (4) Create a climate of support in Parliament for anti-corruption reforms; (5) Increased transparency and public accountability.

Institutional Arrangement:

The Specialist shall report directly to the Project Manager, Anti-Corruption & Arbitration Initiatives (ACAI), to whom all deliverables should be provided within agreed timelines. The Specialist will closely work with a team a Specialists and management support.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Project Manager, the Senior Anti-Corruption and Integrity Specialist will provide provide advisory and technical support to assess and review the integrity rules of the judiciary, provide training to justice professionals on codes of conduct, develop implementation and oversight mechanisms for the federal and regional anti-corruption strategies, and build the capacity of Iraqi institutions to assess corruption risks in selected sectors. Specifically, the Specialist will undertake the following:

• Design, plan and implement a comprehensive assessment of the standards of conduct within federal and regional judiciaries and bar associations;
• Ensure ownership and buy-in from the stakeholders notabley the Judical Supervisory Authorities and the Iraqi and Kurdish Bar Associations;
• Undertake a survey of judges, prosecutors, investigators, lawyers and other justice professionals to determine their understanding and level of awareness of the judicial integrity standards;
• Provide high quality technical assistance to federal and regional Judicial Supervisory Authorities and the bar associations to review disciplinary and integrity measures within each institution;
• Analyze Iraqi and Kurdish standard operating procedures of the judicial integrity in line with international legal instruments and best practice to establish a system of background checks and vetting upon entry into the service of the judiciary and promotion or assignment to specialized courts; identify and validate by the Judicial Supervisory Authorities shortcomings and proposed measures;
• Mobilize, promote and advocate for institutionalization of global judicial standards such as the Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct, 2002, the International Framework on Court Excellence (IFCE) as well as under Article 11 of the UNCAC during the assessments and review of integrity standards;
• Find innovative solution for judicial integrity adapted to Iraq and Kurdistan that capture success and learn from failture in legislative design in other countries;
• Support the Judicial Supervisory Authorities in hosting multiple consultative sessions and discussion with a wide range of judicial stakeholders, including members of bar associations, civil society and legal academia / experts in the development of revised framework on Code of Conduct and Ethics for the judiciary in Iraq;
• Assist the Judicial Supervisory Authorities in the publication and wide dissemination of the Code of Conduct and Ethics in the form of pocket booklets for all members of the judiciary as well as make it available for public dissemination on the website and through other public legal awareness initiatives of the Higher Judicial Councils of Iraq and Kurdistan;
• Support the Judicial Supervisory Authorities and the Judicial Training Institutes to develop comprehensive training materials for initial courses for newly hired judges and in-service courses for practising judges and prosecutors to increase their awareness of the new standards of conducts;
• Support the Judicial Supervisory Authorities and the Judicial Training Institutes to conduct ToTs from among the judicial supervisors to improve their understanding of ethics and integrity;
• Build the capacity of executive and administrative staff of bar associations to enforce the codes of ethics and develop training material for their members;
• Work closely with the integrity committees of the Council of Representatives and of the House of Representatives in Kurdistan region to advise on parliamentary codes of conduct to support initiative to strengthen the integrity of parliament.
• Ensure consistency within institutional integrity frameworks in working with Iraqi and Kurdish state institutions;
• Train and mentor public officials from federal and KRG Commissions of Integrity and where appropriate officials from sectoral ministries or institutions on corruption risk assessment, ensure that at least two corruption risk assessments are conducted by federal and regional institutions annually; develop tailored made training material for corruption risk assessment;
• Ensure learning, capture knowledge and lessons learned for UNDP and Iraqi;
• Support the communication unit with drafting material for publication on integrity rules of the judiciary and Parliament; draft memoranda, talking points, and policy analysis aimed at publicly disseminating;
• Advise on ways to incorporate and apply HRB/ RBM/MDGs approaches in the provision of technical assistance and advisory support
• Support the management team on donor and internal UNDP reporting.

Competencies

UN CORE VALUES AND COMPETENCIES

Professionalism: Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Communication:Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients " and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Required Skills and Experience