Vacancy Announcement
Project Title: Justice System Programme
Position Title: National Access to Justice Officer –Central level (2 posts)
Duty Station: Dili, Timor Leste
Type of Contract: Service Contract
Level: SB-3
Duration: 6 months (with possible extension)
Expected Start date: February 2010
Organizational Unit: UNDP, Governance
Entitlement/Benefits: Please obtain from Human Resources Unit
Background:
The Justice System Programme
“Strengthening the Justice System in Timor-Leste” (Project no. 00014955)
The “Strengthening the Justice System in Timor-Leste” Programme was launched in 2003. This project was revised and a new project document was signed in December 2005, focused on institutional capacity development of the justice sector, including the Courts, Prosecution Service, Public Defenders Office, and the Ministry of Justice. Overall project management responsibility was entrusted to a Council of Coordination, consisting of the President of the Superior Council of the Judiciary, Prosecutor-General and the Minister of Justice. The crisis of April-May 2006 and its aftermath drastically altered the domestic environment, unduly burdening this project which, as the most comprehensive vehicle of support to the justice sector, was called upon to respond to emergency needs for crisis response and recovery. In July-August 2007, an independent, external evaluation of the project made recommendations for far-reaching changes in the structure, scope and size of the project. In light of those recommendations, this project was revised in 2008, with significant changes in scope, structure, and size, including a new focus on the ‘demand’ side of justice. The revised project commenced in 2009 and provides for a strengthened Programme Management Unit, with five revamped programme units: Capacity Development, Justice Decentralization, Prosecution, Corrections and Access to Justice.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Under the overall supervision of the International Access to Justice Specialist and as a counterpart to the International Access to Justice Officers in the Ministry of Justice, the National Access to Justice Officer shall perform the following duties:
· Participate in the development of the policy and implementation plans on Access to Justice.
· Provide support and assist the national justice counterparts in establishing and enhancing access to justice at the central and district level.
· Implementing activities related to national strategies and policies for access to justice and conflict prevention, including access to justice for women, juveniles/children, IDPs, and other vulnerable groups in society.
· Coordinate the implementation of access to justice activities such as: legal aid; legal awareness; community-level dispute resolution mechanisms, and confidence-building measures.
· Advising the MoJ officers at central level in matters related to Access to Justice.
· Conducting assessments of the situation of access to justice in the district.
· Monitor progress of access to justice activities in the district and assess impact of results.
· Assist with the production of reports and compilation of information at central level.
· Assist the Access to Justice Specialist in legal research related to Access to Justice.
· Support the development of networks and linkages between national actors/stakeholders, such as the Courts, Prosecution, Public Defender’s Office, Private Lawyers; customary authorities and Civil Society Organizations, and the coordination with other actors involved in supporting access to justice at the field level.
· Promote people’s participation, consultation processes and other forms of national ownership.
· Perform other tasks as requested.
Qualification and Professional Experience:
· Qualifications:
- Bachelor Degree in law (strongly preferable), political science, international studies, development studies, public administration, management or any other related field.
- Studies in human rights or justice highly regarded.
- Master degree an advantage.
· Experience – 3 years of professional experience in one or more of these areas:
- Administration of justice, local customs and/or customary law.
- Legal defense or promotion of human rights.
- Working within the Timor-Leste legal framework.
- Legal Research in relation to justice systems.
- Community development programmes.
- Social services.
- Any other related field.
· Language skills:
- Tetum.
- Fluent in English (written and spoken).
- Skills in the national language of one of the specific districts.
- Portuguese language skills an asset.
· Personal competencies:
- Sound interpersonal skills.
- Able to work under pressure.
- Able to work in multi-cultural environment.
- Knowledge of the social and cultural reality of Timor-Leste.
Please submit your applications together with your curriculum vitae, including a list of references and relevant supporting documents (including academic qualifications) to the following address:
Human Resources Unit
United Nations Development Programme
Obrigado Barracks Compound, Building 11
Caicoli Street
Dili, Timor-Leste
Fax: +670 3313534
The deadline for submitting applications is 20 January 2010
Only short-listed candidates will be notified. Women candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
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