UNDP Language Assistant Deadline 21 November 2008

Vacancy Announcement
Position Title: Language Assistant
Duration: 6 months (with possible extension)
Type of Contract: Service Contract
Duty Station: Dili
Number of Post: 1 post
Expected Start date: November 2008
Project: Capacity Building of the PDHJ Project

A. Background:
UNDP/OHCHR HUMAN RIGHTS CAPACITY BUILDING PROJECT
The Ombudsman (Provedoria) for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ) is the national human rights institution (NHRI) of Timor-Leste. Its current mandate is “to combat corruption and influence peddling, prevent maladministration and protect and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms of natural and legal persons throughout the national territory.” (Article 5, Law 2004/7 on the establishment of the PDHJ)

UNDP, with OHCHR and the PDHJ as partners, has established a project that supports institutional capacity building of the PDHJ to ensure its effectiveness in developing and implementing programmes in accordance with its mandate. The project is a comprehensive and long-term capacity building effort, extending support to both substantive/technical and operational functions of the PDHJ. Project activities are carried out in close coordination with all stakeholders to the project, under the guidance of the Project Steering Committee.

One of the upcoming support to PDHJ is the provision of a investigator mentor. Based on a Memorandum of Understanding with a independent civilian police oversight from another country, PDHJ will receive for a initial period of 6 months a police investigator to act as mentor for human rights cases related to alleged violations committed by security forces. The identified mentor possesses technical skills in police oversight but does not possess language skills in Tetum or Indonesian and PDHJ therefore requires a language assistant to support with communication for this capacity development.

B. Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent will work as language assistant in the Provedoria for Human Rights and Justice, providing language interpretation and translation to facilitate communication between international mentor and PDHJ staff. Through the work of the language assistant, it is expected that language barriers between mentor and mentees will be decreased and opportunities for capacity development and sharing of experience between mentor and mentees maximized.

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Investigation Department of the Human Rights Division and the Project Manager of the UNDP/OHCHR Project, the incumbent will be responsible for:

- interpretation of discussions and meetings from Tetum - English - Tetum
- written translation of documents within Tetum- English - Tetum (example of documents: draft reports on investigation, written guidelines or comments on strengthening investigation skills, summaries of hearings and interviews with witnesses and victims, etc)
- Any other related tasks as may be assigned by the supervisor.

The language assistant will be based in Dili. He/she must observe total confidentiality regarding information obtained in the performance of his/her duties, participate in all the on-the-job training activities organized, share information and help his/her colleagues when requested to do so.

C. Qualification and Professional Experience:
- Bachelor degree or experience as interpreter/translator
- Fluency written and oral, in English and Tetum.
- Basic computer skills.

Personal competencies:
- Good interpersonal skills
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Able to work in multi-cultural environment
- Professionalism and respect to confidentiality of information
- Commitment to promotion and protection of human rights in Timor-Leste

Interested candidates must submit the following information and documents:
1. Curriculum vitae,
2. P11 Form
3. Other relevant supporting documents to the following address:

UNDP Timor-Leste
Procurement Unit
UN House, Caicoli Street
Dili, Timor-Leste
Email: ssa.tp@undp.org copy to pedro.guterres@undp.org & sandra.cunha@undp.org
Website: http://www.undp.org.tl

The deadline for submission of applications is 21 November 2008

Only short-listed candidates will be notified.
Eligible female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.